The Arrival of Sage Vishwamitra
Balakanda - Sarga 18
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Balakanda - Sarga 18
King Dasaratha finished the Ashwamedha (horse sacrifice) and Putreshti (sacrifice for sons) rituals. The deities took their share of offerings and returned to their heavenly homes.
Dasaratha, having completed his vows, went back to Ayodhya. His queens, servants, army, and chariots accompanied him. He honored the visiting rulers, who then left for their kingdoms after paying respects to the great sage Vasishta.
As the kings' armies departed, their forces looked bright and cheerful. Dasaratha, led by the chief priests, entered Ayodhya.
Sage Rishyashringa, properly honored, left with his wife Santa. The wise King Romapada and his followers went with them. After saying goodbye to all guests, Dasaratha lived happily in Ayodhya, thinking about having sons.
A year passed after the sacrifice. In the twelfth month of Chaitra, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight, a special star alignment occurred:
Punarvasu star was rising
Five planets (Sun, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus) were in their strongest positions
The constellation was Cancer
Jupiter aligned with the Moon
At this lucky time, Queen Kausalya gave birth to Rama. He was:
Part of Lord Vishnu
Lord of the whole universe
Respected by all worlds
Full of good signs
The future of the Ikshvaku family
Kausalya glowed with her son's glory, like the goddess Aditi with her son Indra, the thunderbolt-wielder.
Kaikeyi had Bharata, who was a quarter of Vishnu. He was virtuous and truthful.
Sumitra had twins, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. They were brave, good with all weapons, and also part of Vishnu.
The births happened under different star signs:
Bharata: Pushya star in Pisces
Lakshmana and Shatrughna: Aslesha star in Cancer, at sunrise
The four noble sons were born one after another. They were virtuous and bright like the Purvabhadra and Uttarabhadra stars. Their births were celebrated grandly:
Celestial musicians sang beautifully
Heavenly dancers performed
Divine drums played
Flowers fell from the sky
Ayodhya was full of joy
Dasaratha gave many gifts to singers, praise-givers, and priests, including thousands of cows and valuables.
Eleven days later, they named the princes. The happy sage Vasishta chose these names:
Rama (Kausalya's son)
Bharata (Kaikeyi's son)
Lakshmana (Sumitra's first son)
Shatrughna (Sumitra's second son)
The princes grew up to be skilled in many areas:
They knew the Vedas well
They were brave and good
They cared about people's welfare
They were very knowledgeable
Rama was special:
Everyone loved him, like the pure moon
He was good at riding elephants, horses, and chariots
He was excellent in archery
He always served his parents
Lakshmana was very close to Rama, while Shatrughna was devoted to Bharata.
From childhood, Lakshmana was deeply devoted to his eldest brother, Rama. Rama, beloved by all, cherished Lakshmana more than his own body. Their connection was so strong that Lakshmana seemed like Rama's life force outside his body.
Their closeness showed in many ways:
Rama couldn't sleep without Lakshmana nearby
Rama wouldn't eat, even the best food, unless Lakshmana joined him
When Rama went hunting, Lakshmana followed with a bow to protect him
Shatrughna and Bharata shared a similar bond:
Shatrughna was more precious to Bharata than his own life
Bharata was equally dear to Shatrughna
King Dasaratha delighted in his four noble sons, much like the god Brahma rejoiced in the deities.
As they grew, the princes developed admirable qualities:
They gained vast knowledge
They embodied all virtues
They were humble yet renowned
They understood many things and could foresee future events
Dasaratha took pride in his glorious sons, just as Brahma, the lord of the worlds, delighted in his creations.
The princes, as strong as tigers, focused on their education and duties:
They studied the Vedas (ancient scriptures) diligently
They always served their parents willingly
They became experts in archery
As time passed, the virtuous Dasaratha began to consider marriages for his sons. He discussed this important matter with his priests and relatives.
While the king was deep in thought among his advisors, an unexpected visitor arrived: the great sage Vishwamitra, known for his spiritual radiance.
Eager to meet the king, Vishwamitra told the palace guards:
"Quickly tell the king that Vishwamitra, son of Gadhi and descendant of Kushika, is here."
Hearing this, the guards rushed to the royal chambers, excited and slightly fearful. They hurried to inform Dasaratha about Vishwamitra's arrival.
Dasaratha was overjoyed at the news. He and his chief priest went to welcome Vishwamitra, much like the god Indra greeting Brahma.
The king saw the sage glowing with spiritual power, a result of his strict vows. With a happy face, Dasaratha offered him water to wash his feet, a traditional way to honor guests.
Vishwamitra accepted the offerings according to custom. Then he asked about the welfare and prosperity of Dasaratha's kingdom.
The virtuous Vishwamitra asked detailed questions about the kingdom:
How were the cities faring?
Was the treasury in good shape?
How were the villagers doing?
Were the king's relatives and friends well?
He also inquired about specific matters:
Were neighboring kings obedient to Dasaratha?
Had he defeated his enemies?
Was he properly performing both religious duties and public service?
Vishwamitra then greeted sage Vasishtha and other distinguished sages present. Following protocol, he asked about their well-being too.
All the sages, with joyful hearts, entered the palace. They were honored based on their rank and took their seats.
King Dasaratha, filled with joy, addressed the great sage Vishwamitra:
"Your arrival, O great sage, is as welcome as:
Finding nectar
Rain in a parched land
A son born to a childless couple
Recovering lost wealth
A great celebration
O Brahmin, what is your greatest wish? How may I fulfill it? You are a model of righteousness. I'm fortunate you've come! Your presence has made my life meaningful.
You were once known as a royal sage. Through your spiritual practices, you've now attained the status of a Brahmin sage. You deserve my worship in many ways.
O Brahmin, your visit has brought me great joy and purity. By seeing you, I feel I've gained the merit of a pilgrimage.
Please tell me the purpose of your visit. I'm eager to help you achieve your goal. Don't hesitate to share your mission. I'll do everything in my power to assist you. You are like a god to me.
Your arrival has brought me great fortune. It has fulfilled all my religious duties."
Hearing these humble, heartwarming words from the wise King Dasaratha, the great sage Vishwamitra was filled with supreme joy. Vishwamitra, known for his virtues and fame, was touched by the king's sincerity.
Thus ends the eighteenth sarga (chapter) of Balakanda (The Book of Youth) of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.