बाल-काण्ड > दल बल सहित दशरथ का आगमन, जनक द्वारा स्वागत सत्कार



Dasharatha arrives at Mithila and Janaka receives him reverentially, as he belongs to a crowning dynasty, called Ikshvaku-s. Then, after the usual exchange of royal pleasantries and protocol, all of them stay in Mithila comfortably.
ततो रात्र्याम् व्यतीतायाम् स उपाध्यायः स बान्धवः |
राजा दशरथो हृष्टः सुमंत्रम् इदम् अब्रवीत् || १-६९-१
On the next dawn that heartened king Dasharatha who is with his teachers and his relatives then said this to his minister Sumantra. [1-69-1]
अद्य सर्वे धन अध्यक्षा धनम् आदाय पुष्कलम् |
व्रजंति अग्रे सु विहिता नाना रत्न समन्विताः || १-६९-२
"Now let the chancellors of exchequers draw ample riches, gems and numerous other items that are used in the marriage from bridegroom's side, all-inclusively, and let them travel in advance and let them be well-prepared for any exigency... [1-69-2]
चतुरंग बलम् च अपि शीघ्रम् निर्यातु सर्वशः |
मम आज्ञा समकालम् च यानम् युग्मम् अनुत्तमम् || १-६९-३
"Let the quadruple forces start off in a trice from everywhere at my order, and others shall start with unexcelled vehicles like palanquins, sedan chairs, litters etc., and with those that can be yoked with horses, like cabined-coaches and horse-carriages... [1-69-3]
वसिष्ठो वामदेवः च जाबालिः अथ काश्यपः |
मार्कण्डेयः च दीर्घायुः ऋषिः कात्यायनः तथा || १-६९-४
एते द्विजाः प्रयान्तु अग्रे स्यंदनम् योजयस्व मे |
यथा काल अत्ययो न स्यात् दूता हि त्वरयन्ति माम् || १-६९-५
"Vashishta, Vaamadeva, Jaabaali and Kaashyapa, and the long-lived Maarkandeya, and Sage Kaatyaayana... let these Brahmans travel in forefront... and let horses be yoked to my royal-cariole, and as the messengers of Janaka are hastening me arrange for the travel without time lapse..." Thus Dasharatha ordered. [1-69-4, 5]
वचनात् च नरेन्द्रस्य सेना च चतुरंगिणी |
राजानम् ऋषिभिः सार्धम् व्रजंतम् पृष्ठतो अन्वगात् || १-६९-६
On the word of that best king the fourfold opulence, and even the fourfold forces up to some extent followed rearward of the king who is going after the sages who are going afore of him. [1-69-6]
गत्वा चतुर् अहम् मार्गम् विदेहान् अभ्युपेयिवान् |
राजा तु जनकः श्रीमान् श्रुत्वा पूजाम् अकल्पयत् || १-६९-७
Travelling on a four-day-route Dasharatha reached the fringes of Videha kingdom, and on hearing this, the illustrious king Janaka arranged for welcome ceremonies at the outskirts of the city. [1-69-7]
ततो राजानम् आसाद्य वृद्धम् दशरथम् नृपम् |
जनको मुदितो राजा हर्षम् च परमम् ययौ || १-६९-८
Then the king Janaka who is by far gladdened went into a state of ecstatic elation when he met the senescent king and paladin of people, namely Dasharatha, as the pace for the marriage celebrations is quickened because of the immediate arrival of Dasharatha. [1-69-8]
उवाच वचनम् श्रेष्ठो नरश्रेष्ठम् मुदा अन्वितम् |
स्वागतम् ते नरश्रेष्ठः दिष्ट्या प्राप्तो असि राघव || १-६९-९
पुत्रयोः उभयोः प्रीतिम् लप्स्यसे वीर्य निर्जिताम् |
And the best one among men, king Janaka, gleefully said this commendable sentence to Dasharatha, the best legatee of Raghu, "oh, king, a hearty welcome to you. Oh, legatee of Ragu, your arrival to my city is just by my providence... you will now get delectation on seeing your sons who won accolades just by their valorousness in the act of raising and breaking Shiva's bow... [1-69-9, 10a]
दिष्ट्या प्राप्तो महातेजा वसिष्ठो भगवान् ऋषिः || १-६९-१०
सह सर्वैः द्विज श्रेष्ठैः देवैः इव शतक्रतुः |
"Providentially bechanced is the arrival of this great-resplendent and godly sage Vashishta, who arrived here with all of these eminent Brahmans, like Indra himself with all gods... [1-69-10b, 11a]
दिष्ट्या मे निर्जिता विघ्ना दिष्ट्या मे पूजितम् कुलम् || १-६९-११
राघवैः सह संबंधात् वीर्य श्रेष्ठैः महात्मभिः |
"Providentially my hindrances are overcome by the arrival of godlike sages, and providentially my lineage too is gloried owing to this hymeneal engagement with noble-souled Raghava-s, who are the most valorous among all the valorous people... [1-69-11b, 12a]
श्वः प्रभाते नरेन्द्र त्वम् सम्वर्तयितुम् अर्हसि || १-६९-१२
यज्ञस्य अन्ते नरश्रेष्ठ विवाहम् ऋषि सत्तमैः |
"Because you are born in first and foremost Ikshvaku dynasty, hence you are the Indra of Indra-like kings on earth... and hence, it will be apt of you to initiate the celebrations of marriage tomorrow, and the marriage itself after the culmination of the Vedic-ritual in three or four days, and the date and time for the marriage, that which is agreeable to the best sages can be decided, and you can get it performed on that date, through those great sages... [1-69-12b, 13a]
तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा ऋषि मध्ये नराधिपः || १-६९-१३
वाक्यम् वाक्यविदाम् श्रेष्ठः प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम् |
On hearing that sentence of king Janaka the sententious king Dasharatha replied the king Janaka from amongst the sages. [1-69-13b, 14a]
प्रतिग्रहो दातृ वशः श्रुतम् एतत् मया पुरा || १-६९-१४
यथा वक्ष्यसि धर्मज्ञ तत् करिष्यामहे वयम् |
"Recipiency rests with the restitutor... so I have heard earlier. Hence, whatever you say, for you are the knower of probity and nothing goes amiss in your astute thinking, that we will do... [1-69-14b, 15a]
तत् धर्मिष्ठम् यशस्यम् च वचनम् सत्य वादिनः || १-६९-१५
श्रुत्वा विदेह अधिपतिः परम् विस्मयम् आगतः |
On listening that sentence of that affirmer of principles, namely Dasharatha, that which is conformable to the principles of marriages and familial glory, a thrill of joy came over the king of Videha. [1-69-15b. 16a]
ततः सर्वे मुनि गणाः परस्पर समागमे || १-६९-१६
हर्षेण महता युक्ताः ताम् निशाम् अवसन् सुखम् |
Then, on the forgathering of sages from Vashishta's side with the sages of Mithila all the sages have attained extreme joy and they spent that night happily. [1-69-16b, 17a]
अथ रामो महातेजा लक्ष्मणेन समम् ययौ || १-६९-१७
विश्वामित्रम् पुरस्कृत्य पितुः पादौ उपस्पृशन् |
Then that most brilliant Rama, keeping Vishvamitra ahead, and strutting in step with Lakshmana, strutted to touch the feet of his father Dasharatha. [1-69-17]
राजा च राघवौ पुत्रौ निशांय परिहर्षितः || १-६९-१८
उवास परम प्रीतो जनकेन सुपूजितः |
On seeing his two sons, the super medallists in Raghu's dynasty, King Dasharatha is highly rejoiced and he resided in Mithila with a high contentment, for the reverence of Janaka is that high. [1-69-18]
जनको अपि महातेजाः क्रिया धर्मेण तत्त्ववित् |
यज्ञस्य च सुताभ्याम् च कृत्वा रात्रिम् उवास ह || १-६९-१९
Even the great-resplendent Janaka on performing ritual acts according to scriptures for the Vedic-ritual on hand, and the preparatory rituals for handing out both of his daughters in marriage, went into the sleep of the just, with his palm on his chest. [1-69-19]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे एको न सप्ततितमः सर्गः