THE VALMIKI RAMAYANA

BALA KANDA

   ct¤TI:      sgI:   Canto 4(Contd)

½£ramsBaya|      kSlvagmnm¯    Arrival   of   Kusa   and  Lava   in   Rama's   Assembly
¾va       ãps|p°aW    tav¤BaW    ¢nytÞtda    .
uvac    lßmN|    ram:    SæO¤G"|    Brt|    tTa    ¡ 31¡  
¾va    seeing
    only
ãps|p°aW    with handsome features
taW    those
uBaW    two
¢nyt:    practising observances
tda    then
uvac    said
lßmN|    to Lakshmana
ram:    Sri Rama
SæO¤G"|    to Shatrugna
Brt|    to Bharatha
tTa    as under

Sri   Rama,   seated   on   a   shining   golden   throne   and   surrounded  by   ministers and   his   brothers;   that   Lord   Sri   Rama,who   is   a   scorcher   of   enemies   and keen   in   the   observances   of   austerities,   seeing  those   two   of   extremely handsome   features,   then   spoke to Bharatha,   Lakshmana   and   Shatrugna   (30-31).  
½¥yta¢mdmaÁyanmnyaErdEvvcIsaE:   .
iÏy¤?va    sSaW    taW       gaykaW   tav¤vac   h ¡
¢v¢cæOaTIpd|    sØyÂgayÓtaW    smcaEdyt¯         ¡ 32¡
½¥yta|    may it be heard
id|    this
AaÁyan|    story
AnyaE:    these two
dEvvcIsaE:    possessing divine halo
i¢t    like this
u?va    saying thus
sSaW    looking alike
taW    those two
    pointing to
gaykaW    singers
taW    they
uvac    said
h    How wonderful!
¢v¢cæOaTIpd|    comprising unique meanings and words
sØyk    with interest
gayÓtaW    singers
smcaEdyt¯    encouraged them

`May   this   rendering   of   the   story,   consisting   of   wonderful   words   and   sense be   attentively   listened   to   from   these   two,   having   the   radiance   of celestials'.So   saying,   (Rama)   addressed   the   two   singers,   who   were   equal to   one   another;Lo!   and   Behlod!   He  also   enthused   both   the   singers   (32).  
taW   ca¢p   mD¤r|   r³|    Þv¢·tayt¢n:Þvnm¯   .
tÓæO£lyvdÏyTI|    ¢v½¤taTImgaytam¯           ¡ 33¡
taW    those two
c    and
A¢p    therefore
mD¤r|    sweet
r³|    tuneful
Þv¢·tayt¢n:Þvnm¯    consisting of reverential and long tunes
tÓæO£lyvt¯    in consonance with the rhythm strings of the Veena
AÏyTI|    very
¢v½¤taTI|    with clear meaning
Agaytam¯    sang

Upon   this   those   two   rendered   in   musical   form   (the   poem)   in   a   melodious voice,   set   to   fine   tunes,   observing   the   rhythm   similar
to   the   rhythm strings   of   the   Veena   and   with   a   detailed  delineation   of   the   notes   of   music exposing   the   meanings  very   clearly   (33).

hladyÏsvIgaæOa¢N    mna|¢s    ¶dya¢n    c .
½aEæOa½ys¤K|    gEy|    tëBaW    jns|s¢d        ¡ 34¡
adyt¯    gladdened
svIgaæOa¢N    everyone's body
mna|¢s    minds
¶dya¢n    hearts
c    and
½aEæOa½ys¤K|    euphony to the ears
gEy|    song
tt¯    that
bBaW    shone
jns|s¢d    in the people's court

That   musical   rendering   was   pleasing   to   the   ears   of  those  in  the   assembly and   gladdend   the   hearts,   minds   and   limbs   of   everyone   (34).  
imaW   m¤n£   pa¢TIvlXNa¢ÓvtaW  kS£lvaW    cWv   mhatp¢ÞvnaW .
mma¢p    të¢tkr|    p#cßytE    mhan¤Bav|    c¢rt|    ¢nbaEDt     ¡ 35¡
imaW    these
m¤n£    sages
pa¢TIvlXNa¢ÓvtaW    sport the features of royalty
kS£lvaW    Kusa and Lava
c    moreover
ev    also
mhatp¢ÞvnaW    engaged in great penance
mm    to me
A¢p    also
tt¯    that
B¥¢tkr|    bestower of the highest aim of life
p#cßytE    being told
mhan¤Bav|    of the great personage
c¢rt|    life history
¢nbaEDt    pray listen
 
Sri   Rama   said,`These   two   Kusa   and   Lava   manifest  royal features
in   them, despite   being   sages   with   extreme   penance   and   practices,   Moreover,   may   you listen   attentively   to   this   great   story   being   narrated,   which   is   beneficial even   to   me'   (35).  
ttÞt¤    taW    ramvc:p#caE¢dtavgayta|    magI¢vDans|pda        .
s    ca¢p    ram:    p¢rxét:    SnWb¤IB¥xya    s³mna    bB¥v   h ¡ 36¡
tt:    thereafter
    now
taW    those two
ramvc:p#caE¢dtaW    enthused by the words of Sri Rama
Agayta|    sang
magI¢vDans|pda    in the wonderful melody called Marga
s:    that
c    and
A¢p    therefore
ram:    Sri Rama
p¢rxét:    entering the court
SnW:    slowly
b¤B¥xya    with the desire to enjoy (the music)
s³mna:    attracted
bB¥v    became
h    How wonderful!

Being   encouraged   by   these   words   of   Sri   Rama,   now   those   two   adopting the   `Marga'   style   of   music   sang   soulfully,   resulting   in  that   Sri   Rama gradually   joined   the   assembly   out   of   desire   to   listen and   his   mind was   drawn   to   it.   What   more   to   say!   (36).  
iÏyaxI    ½£md#amayNE    vaÚm£k£yE    Aa¢dkaÛyE balkaÎfE    ct¤TI:    sgI:¡4¡  
Thus   ends   canto   four   of   the   Bala   kanda    of   the   first   and   ancient   poetical   work   Srimad   Ramayana   of   Valmiki  


PROCEED TO SARGA 5
RETURN TO PREVIOUS SLOKAS
RETURN TO INDEX OF BALA KANDA