Summary
Janaka narrates his lineage [descendents] while offering his daughters as brides to Rama and Lakshmana. In doing so, he elaborates more about his brother Kushadhvaja, whose daughters are the would-be-wives of Bharata and Shatrughna. They even fix the timings for marriage.
Chapter [Sarga] 71 – in Detail
evam bruvaanam janakah pratyuvaaca kritaanjalih |
shrotum arhhasi bhadram te kulam nah parikiirtitam || 1-71-1
When sage Vashishta said that way, Janaka reverentially made palm fold and said this in reply, oh, sage, let safeness betide [to happen to] you all... now, it will be apt [suitable] of you all to listen to our distinguished lineage [descendents]... [1-71-1]
pradaane hi muni shrestha kulam niravashesatah |
vaktavyam kula jaatena tan nibodha mahaamune || 1-71-2
Oh, eminent sage Vashishta, he who is born in a particular noble genes has to inform about his parentage [origin] in its entirety, especially when he offers a bride... thereby oh, great sage, let all be informed of about our lineage... [1-71-2]
raajaa abhuut trisu lokesu vishrutah svena karmanaa |
nimih parama dharmaatmaa sarva sattvavataam varah || 1-71-3
Once there was an emperor Nimi, who was renowned in the triad of worlds by his own accomplishments, and who was uniquely seraphic-souled [an order of angels] and a best one among all stalwart [marked by outstanding strength and vigor of body, mind, or spirit] emperors... [1-71-3]
tasya putro mithih naama janako mithi putrakah |
prathamo janako naama janakaat api udaavasuh || 1-71-4
And his son was named as Mithi, and Janaka was Mithi's son... the first one to be designated as Janaka... and even from that Janaka it is Udaavasu who took birth... [1-71-4]
udaavasoh tu dharmaatmaa jaato vai nandivardhanah |
nandivardhana putrah tu suketuh naama naamatah || 1-71-5
From Udaavasu it is noble souled Nandivardhana took birth, and Nandivardhana's son is named as Suketu, by his name... [1-71-5]
suketoh api dharmaatmaa devaraato mahaabalah |
devaraatasya raajarseh brihadratha iti smriutah || 1-71-6
From Suketu the highly powerful and virtue-souled Devaraata is born, and from that kingly sage Devaraata, it is Brihadratha who took birth, thus we have heard... [1-71-6]
brihadrathasya shuuro abhuut mahaaviirah prataapavaan |
mahaaviirasya dhritimaan sudhritih satya vikramah || 1-71-7
From Brihadratha it is the highly braving, courageous and valiant Mahaaviira has come, and the bold and truth-valiant Sudhriti from Mahaaviira... [1-71-7]
sudhriteh api dharmaatmaa dhristaketuh su dhaarmikah |
dhristaketoh ca raajarseh haryashva iti vishrutah || 1-71-8
Form Sudhriti, the right-minded and highly generous Dhristaketu took birth, and from the kingly sage Dhristaketu it is highly renowned Haryashva is the son... [1-71-8]
haryashvasya maruh putro maroh putrah pratiindhakah |
pratiindhakasya dharmaatmaa raajaa kiirtirathah sutah || 1-71-9
Haryashva's son is Maru, and Maru's, son is Pratiindhaka, and the son of Pratiindhaka's is noble-souled king Kiirtiratha... [1-71-9]
putrah kiirtirathasya api devamiidha iti smritah |
devamiidhasya vibudho vibudhasya mahiidhrakah || 1-71-10
The son of Kiirtiratha is remembered as Devamiidha, and the son of Devamiidha is Vibudha, and Vibudha's son is Mahiidraka... [1-71-10]
mahiidhraka suto raajaa kiirtiraato mahaabalah |
kiirti raatasya raajariseh mahaaromaa vyajaayata || 1-71-11
Mahiidraka's son is the great mighty king Kiirtiratha, and the son born to sagely king Kiirtiratha is Mahaaroma... [1-71-11]
mahaaromnah tu dharmaatmaa svarnaromaa vyajaayata |
svarnaromnah tu raajarseh hrasvaromaa vyajaayata || 1-71-12
From Mahaaroma it is the virtue-souled Swarnaroma, and from kingly sage Swarnaroma it is Hrasvaroma... [1-71-12]
tasya putra dvayam jajne dharmajnasya mahaatmanah |
jyestho aham anujo bhraataa mama viirah kushadhvaja || 1-71-13
Two sons are born to that knower of virtue and noble souled Hrasvaroma, I am the elder, and my younger brother is this brave Kushadhvaja... [1-71-13]
maam tu jyestham pitaa raajye so abhisicya naraadhipa |
kushadhvajam samaaveshya bhaaram mayi vanam gatah || 1-71-14
He that king and father of ours, Hrasvaroma, anointing [choose] me in kingdom as I am the elder, and vesting [giving] the duty of looking after Kushadhvaja in me, he departed to forests... [1-71-14]
vriddhe pitari svar yaate dharmena dhuram aavaham |
bhraataram deva sankaasham snehaat pashyan kushadhvajam || 1-71-15
On the departure of our aged father to heaven, I am looking after this Godlike Kushadhvaja with brotherliness and lugging [pulling] around the burden of this kingship... [1-71-15]
kasyacit tu atha kaalasya saamkaashyaat agamat puraat |
sudhanvaa viiryavaan raajaa mithilaam avarodhakah || 1-71-16
Then after sometime, a valorous king named Sudhanva came beleaguering [to trouble] Mithila, from his city Saamkaasha... [1-71-16]
sa ca me presayaamaasa shaivam dhanuh anuttamam |
siitaa kanyaa ca padmaaksii mahyam vai diiyataam iti || 1-71-17
The unexcelled bow of Shiva shall be given to me, along with the lotus-eyed virgin, Seetha...' thus he started to urge [provoke] me... [1-71-17]
tasya apradaanaat brahmarse yuddham aasiit mayaa saha |
sa hato abhimukho raajaa sudhanvaa tu mayaa rane || 1-71-18
Oh, Brahma sage Vashishta, for the reason of my non-bestowal [not using] of bow or bride he warred [to engage in warfare] with me, and when he affronted me in that war I have put that Sudhanva to the sword... [1-71-18]
nihatya tam munishrestha sudhanvaanam naraadhipam |
saamkaashye bhraataram shuuram abhyasi.ncam kushadhvajam || 1-71-19
Oh, best sage Vashishta, on eliminating king Sudhanva, I have anointed [given] my valiant brother Kushadhvaja the kingdom of Saamkaasha... [1-71-19]
kaniiyaan esa me bhraataa aham jyestho mahaamune |
dadaami parama priito vadhvau te munipu.ngava || 1-71-20
siitaam raamaaya bhadram te uurmilaam laksmanaaya vai |
Oh, best saint Vashishta, this is that younger brother of mine, and I am the elder. Oh, eminent-saint, I am bestowing those brides with a highly gladdened heart... Seetha for Rama, and Urmila for Lakshmana, let there be felicity [something that causes happiness] for all... [1-71-20, 21a]
viirya shulkaam mama sutaam siitaam sura suta upamaam || 1-71-21
dvitiiyaam uurmilaam caiva trih vadaami na sa.mshayah |
dadaami parama priito vadhvau te munipu.ngava || 1-71-22
My daughter Seetha is the bounty for bravery and in simile she is the daughter of the divine providence [state or people], and thus the second one Urmila too... oh, eminent-saint, with a highly gladdened heart I reiterate [to state or do over again or repeatedly] thrice while I bestow those brides, there is no doubt about it... [1-71-21b, 22a]
raama laksmanayo raajan go daanam kaarayasva ha |
pitri kaaryam ca bhadram te tato vaivaahikam kuru || 1-71-23
Oh, king Dasharatha, let the preceding ritual of samaavartna, be undertaken, and let manes [forefathers] be propitiated by the ritual, naandi shraadha, and afterwards you make happen the wedding celebrations ... thus, all will be blest... [1-71-22b, 23]
maghaa hi adya mahaabaaho tritiiye divase prabho |
phalhgunyaam uttare raajan tasmin vaivaahikam kuru |
raama laksmanayoh arthe daanam kaaryam sukhodayam || 1-71-24
Oh, great dexterous Dasharatha, the star ruling today is magha, isn't it... oh, lord, on the third from now, say day after tomorrow, when the star phaalguni comes, in its later part, namely uttara phaalguni, you may make happen this wedding, and the bounties like go, bhuu, tila, hiranya, aadi i.e., ' cows, lands, grains, gold etc., that ensue [follows] the wellbeing of Rama and Lakshmana, may be accorded to the eligible generously... [1-71-24]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande eka saptatitamah sargah
Thus, this is the 71st chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate