Introduction
Rama and Lakshmana proceeding with Vishvamitra sojourn in a hermitage at a place where River Ganga and River Sarayu are confluent. Once god Shiva with his third eye burnt down the physical entity of Manmatha, the Love-god, at this place.
Verse 1
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः |
अभ्यभाषत काकुत्स्थौ शयानौ पर्णसंस्तरे || १-२३-१
At dawn after that night the great saint Vishvamitra spoke to the legatees of Kakutstha, Rama and Lakshmana, those that are sleeping on a grass bed. [1-23-1]
1. sharvaryaam prabhaataayaam tu = after night, at dawn; mahaamuniH = great saint; Vishvamitra; kaakutsthau = to the legatees of Kakutstha – Rama and Lakshmana; parNasamstare shayaanau = sleeping on the grass bed; abhyabhaaSata = spoke.
Verse 2
कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते |
उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम् || १-२३-२
“Fortunate is Kausalya to beget you as her son Rama… get up oh, tigerly-man, eastern aurora is emerging, daytime tasks towards gods are to be performed.” [1-23-2]
2. kausalya supraajaa = Kausalya, the lucky begetter [Kausalya is fortunate because she begot you, such as you are]; raama = oh Rama; puurva sandhyaa = eastern, aurora; pravartate = verily emerging; uttiSTha = get up; narashaarduula = tigerly man; daivam = to gods; aahnikam = daytime tasks; kartavyam = is to be performed.
Verse 3
तस्यर्षेः परमोदारं वचः श्रुत्वा नरोत्तमौ |
स्नात्वा कृतोदकौ वीरौ जेपतुः परमं जपम् || १-२३-३
On hearing the benign words of the sage those valorous and best ones among men got up, bathed, and on offering water oblation they meditated upon the supreme hymn, namely Gayatri. [1-23-3]
3. viirau = valorous ones; narottamau = best among people – Rama Lakshmana; tasya R^iSeH = that, sage’s; paramodaaram vachaH = very benign, words; shrutvaa = on listening; they got up snaatwaa = bathed; kR^itodakau = having performed water oblation; paramam japam jepatuH = meditated upon supreme hymn.
Verse 4
कृताह्निकौ महावीर्यौ विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम् |
अभिवाद्यातिसंहृष्टौ गमनायाभितस्थतुः || १-२३-४
On performing their dawn time duties those two stalwarts, Rama and Lakshmana, enthusiastically presented themselves before the ascetically rich sage Vishvamitra for further journey, duly venerating him. [1-23-4]
4. mahaaviirau = great stalwarts; kR^itaahnikau = after performing duties of dawn; atisamhR^iSTau = very enthusiastically; vishvaamitram tapodhanam = to Vishvamitra, whose ascesis is his wealth; abhivaadya = venerated; gamanaaya abhitasthatuH = to travel, they presented themselves [before the sage.]
Verse 5
तौ प्रयान्तौ महावीर्यौ दिव्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम् |
ददृशाते ततस्तत्र सरय्वाः संगमे शुभे || १-२३-५
Then on travelling some more distance those two great valiant ones, there they have seen the divine river that courses in three ways, namely Ganga, at the auspicious confluence of River Sarayu. [1-23-5]
5. tataH = then; tau mahaaviiryau = those two, great valiant ones; prayaantau = on travelling [some distance]; te = they; tatra shubhe sarayvaaH sangame = there, at auspicious, Sarayu, confluence; divyaam = divine; tripathagaam nadiim = three way going [coursing]; river [namely Ganga]; dadR^ishaate = they have seen.
Verse 6
तत्राश्रमपदं पुण्यं ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम् |
बहुवर्षसहस्राणि तप्यतां परमं तपः || १-२३-६
There they have seen the merited hermitage of sages with contemplative souls, and who are practising supreme ascesis for many thousand years. [1-23-6]
6. tatra = there; bahuvarSasahasraaNi = many thousands of years; paramam tapaH tapyataam = practising supreme ascesis; bhaavitaatmanaam R^iShiiNaam = contemplated souls, of sages; puNyam aashramapadam = merited, hermitage [they have seen.]
Verse 7
तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतौ राघवौ पुण्यमाश्रमम् |
ऊचतुस्तं महात्मानं विश्वामित्रमिदं वचः || १-२३-७
On seeing that merited hermitage Rama and Lakshmana are highly pleased and said this word to that great-soul Sage Vishvamitra. [1-23-7]
7. tam puNyam aashramam dR^iSTvaa = on seeing that merited hermitage; paramapriitau = highly pleased; raaghavau = Raaghava-s [Rama and Lakshmana]; mahaatmaanam = great soul; tam vishwaamitram idam vachaH = this word to him, Vishvamitra; uchatuH = said.
Verse 8
कस्यायमाश्रमः पुण्यः को न्वस्मिन्वसते पुमान् |
भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छावः परं कौतूहलं हि नौ || १-२३-८
“Whose hermitage is this merited one? Indeed who is the celebrity that lives therein? Oh, godly sage, we are interested to listen, and we are truly inquisitive about it.” Thus they asked. [1-23-8]
8. bhagavan = oh god; ayam puNyaH aashramaH kasya = whose is this merited hermitage ; asmin kaH nu pumaan vasate = indeed who celebrity dwells in this; shrotum icChaavaH = we are interested to listen; nau param kautuuhalam hi = truly much inquisitiveness to us.
Verse 9
तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुंगवः |
अब्रवीच्छ्रूयतां राम कस्यायं पूर्व आश्रमः || १-२३-९
On hearing their words the eminent sage Viswamitra said smilingly, ” whose hermitage is this in earlier times that may be listened.” Thus Vishvamitra started to narrate. [1-23-9]
9. munipungavaH = the eminent sage; tayoH tat vachanam shrutvaa = on hearing their that word; prahasya = smiled; abraviit = said; puurva = in earlier times; ayam aashramaH = this, hermitage; kasya = whose is; shruuyataam = may be listened.
Verse 10 & 11
पस्यन्तमिह स्थाणुं नियमेन समाहितम् || १-२३-१०
कृतोद्वाहं तु देवेशं गच्छन्तं समरुद्गणम् |
धर्षयामास दुर्मेधा हुंकृतश्च महात्मना || १-२३-११
“When Love-god was with his body wise men used to call him Kama, the passion. At this place, that Love-god with his naughty intent braved god of gods Shiva who had been practising ascesis and who concentrated observantly, and who was returning after his marriage along with his followers, namely the Wind-gods, and that great soul Shiva disapprovingly roared at Love-god. [1-23-10, 11]
10, 11. kandarpaH = Manmatha [Love-god]; muurtimaan aasiit = was there with body ; budhaiH kaamaH iti ucyate = thus is called as Kama by wise men; durmedhaaH = with naughty intent [Love-god]; iha = here, at this place; tapasyantam = one who is practising ascesis; niyamena samaahitam = observantly, concentrating; kR^itodvaaham = having been married; samarudgaNam = along with Wind-gods; gacChantam = while going [returning]; devesham = god’s god [ Shiva]; sthaaNum = Shiva is; dharSayaamaasa = braved; mahaatmanaa = by great souled [Shiva]; humkR^itaH cha = he made [disapproving] roar, also – Shiva roared at Love-god.
Verse 12
अवध्यतश्च रौद्रेण चक्षुषा रघुनन्दन |
व्यशीर्यन्त शरीरात् स्वात् सर्वगात्राणि दुर्मतेः || १-२३-१२
“And Rama, the wrathful third-eye of Shiva destroyed the lewd-minded Love-god making all his limbs to fall down from his body. [1-23-12]
12. raghunandana = Raghu’s legatee – Rama; raudreNa chakShuShaa avadhyataH = one who is destroyed with wrathful eye [third eye]; durmateH = lewd-minded one’s; svaat = from his own; shariiraat sarvagaatraaNi = body, all limbs; vyashiiryanta = fall down.
Verse 13
तत्र गात्रं हतं तस्य निर्दग्धस्य महात्मनः |
अशरीरः कृतः कामः क्रोधाद्देवेश्वरेण ह || १-२३-१३
“There the body of Love-god is evanesced when that great soul Shiva burnt it down, and by the anger of that god of gods Shiva, Love-god is rendered as a bodiless entity. [1-23-13]
13. mahaatmanaH = by great soul [ Shiva]; nirdagdhasya = completely burnt down; tasya gaatram = his, body; tatra hatam = there, dissipated; deveshvareNa krodhaat = by god of gods – Shiva, by his anger; kaamaH ashariiraH kR^itaH = made Love-god as body less one.
Verse 14
अनङ्ग इति विख्यातस्तदाप्रभृति राघव |
स चाङ्गविषयः श्रीमान् यत्राङ्गं स मुमोच ह || १-२३-१४
Then onwards Love-god is renowned as Ananga, as he is without body, and where his body is given up that is renowned as Anga province. [1-23-14]
14. tadaaprabhR^iti = from then onwards; Raghava; anangaH = without body – Love-god; iti vikhyaataH = thus, renowned as; yatra angam pramumocha ha = where gave up body, indeed; saH cha = that, also; shriimaan = prosperous one – Love-god; angaviSayaH = [that is] Anga, province.
Verse 15
तस्यायमाश्रमः पुण्यस्तस्येमे मुनयः पुरा |
शिष्या धर्मपरा वीर तेषां पापं न विद्यते || १-२३-१५
“This merited hermitage thus belongs to Shiva and, oh, brave Rama, these sages abiding in virtue are Shiva’s disciples at one time, thus sin is unverifiable with them. [1-23-15]
15. viira = oh brave one [Rama]; ayam tasya punyaH aashramaH = this is, his [Shiva’s,] merited, hermitage; puraa tasya shiShyaaH ime munayaH = at one time, his [Shiva’s,] disciples, these, sages are; dharmaparaaH = abiding in virtue; teSaam paapam na vidyate = sin is not evident [sinless] with them.
Verse 16
इहाद्य रजनीं राम वसेम शुभदर्शन |
पुण्ययोः सरितोर्मध्ये श्वस्तरिष्यामहे वयम् || १-२३-१६
“Let us stay for this night in this hermitage situated in between two meritorious rivers Ganga and Sarayu, oh, Rama with auspicious mien, tomorrow we will cross over the River Ganga. [1-23-16]
16. shubhadarshana = oh auspicious one in mien; Rama; vayam = we; adya rajaniim = today, night; iha puNyayoH saritoH madhye = here in between meritorious rivers; vasema = we will stay; shvaH = tomorrow; tariSyaamahe = we will cross over [River Ganga.]
Verse 22
कथाभिरभिरामभिरभिरामौ नृपात्मजौ | –
रमयामास धर्मात्मा कौशिको मुनिपुङ्गवः || १-२३-२२
Staying very comfortably in the precincts of Kaama hermitage, then that virtuous sage Vishvamitra, saint the eminent, delighted the delightful princes with delighting stories…..[1-23-22]
22. dharmaatmaa = virtue-souled one; munipungavaH = the eminent saint; kaushikaH = Viswamitra; abhiraamau = delightful ones; nR^ipaatmajau = king’s sons; abhiraamabhiH kathaabhiH = with delightful, stories; ramayaamaasa = delighted [later in the night.]
Verse 17 & 18a
अभिगच्छामहे सर्वे शुचयः पुण्यमाश्रमम् |
इह वासः परोऽस्माकं सुखं वस्त्यामहे वयम् || १-२३-१७
स्नाताश्च कृतजप्याश्च हुतहव्या नरोत्तम |
“Let us all purify ourselves by taking our bath, performing our meditations, offering our daily oblations, and then let us enter this meritorious hermitage, thus our stay in here will be comforting to us.” So said Vishvamitra to Rama and Lakshmana. [1-23-17, 18a]
17, 18a. narottama = oh best one among men, Rama; sarve = we all; snaataaH cha = taking a bath, also; kR^itajapyaaH cha = performing meditations, also; hutahavyaaH cha = enkindling oblations into fire, also; shuchayaH = purifying ourselves; puNyam aashramam abhigacChaamahe = let us enter meritorious hermitage; iha vaasaH paraH = here, staying; asmaakam sukham = for us, comforting; vastyaamahe vayam = we will stay.
Verse 18b & 19
तेषां संवदतां तत्र तपोदीर्घेण चक्षुषा || १-२३-१८
विज्ञाय परमप्रीता मुनयो हर्षमागमन् |
अर्घ्यं पाद्यं तथातिथ्यं निवेद्य कुशिकात्मजे || १-२३-१९
When they are discussing there the sages of that hermitage are highly gladdened to perceive them with their sixth-sense, and on approaching them enchantedly they offered water for hands and feet wash and then offered hospitality firstly to Sage Vishvamitra. [1-23-18, 19]
18b, 19. tatra = there; teSaam = them; samvadataam = when discussing; munayaH = saints; tapodiirgheNa chakShuSaa = by the extent of asceticism’s of [inner] eye [by sixth-sense]; vij~naaya = on perceiving; paramapriitaaH = highly gladdened; harSam aagaman = they obtained enchantment; on approaching them; arghyam = water for hand-wash; paadyam = water for feet-wash; tathaa = then; aathithyam = hospitality; kushikaatmaje = Kushi’s son, Viswamitra; nivedya = [firstly] offered.
Verse 20
रामलक्ष्मणयोः पश्चादकुर्वन्नतिथिक्रियाम् |
सत्कारं समनुप्राप्य कथाभिरभिरंजयन् ||१-२३-२०
Afterwards those sages of that hermitage have accorded reception to Rama and Lakshmana, and applauded by Vishvamitra for their hospitality those sages have entertained Rama and other guests with myths and legends. [1-23-20]
20. pashchaat = afterwards; raaamalakShmaNayoH = to Rama, Lakshmana; akurvan atithikriyaam = accorded, guest’s works [reception]; satkaaram samanupraapya = compliments, on obtaining; [munayaH = saints of that hermitage]; kathaabhiH = with [myths and] legends; abhiranjayan = delighted, [entertained the guests.]
Verse 21
यथार्हमजपन् संध्यामृषयस्ते समाहिताः |
तत्र वासिभिरानीता मुनिभिः सुव्रतैः सह || १-२३-२१
न्यवसन् सुसुखं तत्र कामाश्रमपदे तथा |
Those sages with concentrated minds and according to one’s own aptitude have meditated upon the deity of sunset when it is sundown, followed by Rama and others. Then led into hermitage by those sages who are with pious commitments and who are dwelling there, Rama and others have very comfortably stayed in the precincts of Shiva’s hermitage. [1-23-21]
21. te R^iShayaH samaahitaaH = those, sages, concentrating their minds; yathaarham = according to their aptitude; sandhyaam ajapan = meditated upon deity at sunset – Gayatri ; [whom Rama and others have followed]; tatra vaasibhiH = there, who are dwelling [Rama and others]; suvrataiH = [sages] with pious commitments; munibhiH saha = along with sages; aaniitaaH = those [guests] that are led forth [into hermitage]; tathaa tatra = that way, there; kaamaashramapade = in Kaama – Shiva’s hermitage’s precincts; susukham nyavasan = very comfortably, they stayed.
