तथा वसिष्ठे ब्रुवति राजा दशरथः स्वयम्। प्रहृष्टवदनो राममाजुहाव सलक्ष्मणम्॥
Upon Vasistha's representing this, king Dasaratha himself, with complacent countenance, summoned to him Rāma and Laksmana.
कृतस्वस्त्ययनं मात्रा पित्रा दशरथेन च। पुरोधसा वसिष्ठेन मङ्गलैरभिमन्त्रितम्॥ स पुत्रं मू[पाघ्राय राजा दशरथस्तदा॥
And when the auspicious rites had been performed by both Rāma's father and mother, and when the priest Vasiştha had uttered mantras, king Dasaratha, smelling his son's crown, with a glad heart, made him over to the descendant of Kusika.
ततो वायुः सुखस्पर्शो नीरजस्को ववौ तदा। विश्वामित्रगतं रामं दृष्ट्वा राजीवलोचनम्॥ पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीद् देवदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनैः। शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः प्रयाते तु महात्मनि ॥
Then there blow a Breeze free from dust and of delicious feel, on witnessing the lotus-eyed Rāma at the hands of Viśvāmitra. And as the high-souled one was about to set out, blossoms began to shower down copiously, accompanied with the sounds of celestial kettle-drums and the loud blares of conch.
विश्वामित्रो ययावग्रे ततो रामो महायशाः। काकपक्षधरो धन्वी तं च सौमित्रिरन्वगात्॥
Viśvāmitra went first, and next the highly famous Rāma with the side-locks, holding the bow. And him followed Sumitrā's Sun
कलापिनौ धनुष्पाणी शोभयानौ दिशो दश। विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं त्रिशीर्षाविव पन्नगौ॥ अनुजग्मतुरक्षुद्रौ पितामहमिवाश्विनौ। अनुयातौ श्रिया दीप्तौ शोभयन्तावनिन्दितौ॥
And equipped with quivers, and with bows in hand, gracing the ten cardinal points and resembling three-hooded serpents, they followed the high-souled Viśvāmitra, like the two stalwart Asvins following the Grand-sire.
तदा कुशिकपुत्रं तु धनुष्पाणी स्वलंकृतौ। बद्धगोधाङ्गलित्राणौ खङ्गवन्तौ महाद्युती॥ कुमारौ चारुवपुषौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। अनुयातौ श्रिया दीप्तौ शोभयेतामनिन्दितौ॥ स्थाणुं देवमिवाचिन्त्यं कुमाराविव पावकी।
Those effulgent ones of faultless limbs went in the wake of the ascetic, illumining him with their grace. And like to those sons of him Skandha and Višākha following the incomprehensible deity, Sthāņu, those youthful brothers of comely persons and faultless limbs Rāma and Lakşmana, highly effulgent, carrying bows in hand, adorned with ornaments, and equipped with scimitars, with their fingers encased in Guana skin, flamingly followed Kusika's son, beautifying him with their splendour.
अध्यर्धयोजनं गत्वा सरय्वा दक्षिणे तटे॥ रामेति मधुरां वाणीं विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत। गृहाण वत्स सलिलं माभूत् कालस्य पर्ययः॥
And having proceeded over half a Yojana, and arriving at the right bank of the Sarayū, Viśvāmitra addressed these sweet words to Rāma, O Rāma! do you, O child, take of this water: let no delay occur.
मन्त्रग्रामं गृहाण त्वं बलामतिबलां तथा। न श्रमो न ज्वरो वा ते न रूपस्य विपर्ययः॥ न च सुप्तं प्रमत्तं वां धर्षयिष्यन्ति नैऋताः। न बाह्वोः सदृशो वीर्ये पृथिव्यामस्ति कश्चन ॥
Do you receive the mantras Bala and Atibala, and you will not feel fatigue or fever or undergo any change of look, and whether asleep or heedless, the Rākşasas will not be able to surprise you. And, O Rāma, the might of your arms will be unequalled in this world,-nay, in all the three worlds.
त्रिषु लोकेषु वा राम न भवेद् सदृशस्तव। बलामतिबलां चैव पठतस्तात राघव॥ न सौभाग्ये न दाक्षिण्ये न ज्ञाने बुद्धिनिश्चये। नोत्तरे प्रतिवक्तव्ये समो लोके तवानघ॥ एतद्विद्याद्वये लब्धे न भवेत् सदृशस्तव। बला चातिबला चैव सर्वज्ञानस्य मातरौ ॥
Do you, O Rāghava, recite Bala and Atibala, O child! And, O sinless one, when you have secured these two kinds of knowledge, none in this world will equal you in good fortune, or in talent or in philoscphic wisdom, or in subtle apprehension, or in the capacity of answering a controversialist; for Bala and Atibala are the nurses of all knowledge.
क्षुत्पिपासे न ते राम भविष्येते नरोत्तम। बलामतिबलां चैव पठतस्तात राघव॥ विद्याद्वयमधीयाने यशश्चाथ भवेद् भुवि। पितामहसुते ह्येते विद्ये तेजः समन्विते॥
And, O Rāma, O foremost of men, if you recite Bala and Atibala on the way, neither hunger nor thirst will exercise you, O descendant of Raghu! And if you recite these, you will attain fame on earth. Those sciences fraught with energy are the daughters of the Grandsire.
प्रदातुं तव काकुत्स्थ सदृशस्त्वं हि पाथिव। कामं बहुगुणाः सर्वे त्वय्येते नात्र संशयः॥ तपसा सम्भृते चैते बहुरूपे भविष्यतः।
I intend to confer them upon you, O Kākutstha; and, O lord of earth, they are worthy to be conferred upon you; and they are possessed of various virtues. You need not entertain any doubt about it. And if you bear them in consonance with the precepts, they will prove of manifold good to you.
ततो रामो जलं स्पृष्ट्वा प्रहृष्टवदनः शुचिः॥ प्रतिजग्राह ते विद्ये महर्षे वितात्मनः।
Thereat Rāma with a cheerful countenance sipning water with a purified body received those sciences from the Maharși of subdued soul.
विद्यासमुदितो रामः शुशुभे भीमविक्रमः॥ सहस्ररश्मिभगवाञ्शरदीव दिवाकरः।
And furnished with the sciences, Rāma of dreadful prowess appeared resplendent, even like the adorable autumnal Sun invested with a thousand rays.
गुरुकार्याणि सर्वाणि नियुज्य कुशिकात्मजे॥ ऊषुस्तां रजनीं तत्र सरय्वां ससुखं त्रयः।
Then Rāma having rendered to Kuśika's son all the duties pertaining to a spiritual guide, the three happily spent that night on the banks of the Sarayu.
दशरथनृपसूनुसत्तमाभ्यां तृणशयनेऽनुचिते तदोषिताभ्याम्। कुशिकसुतवचोऽनुलालिताभ्यां सुखमिव सा विबभौ विभावरी च॥
And although those excellent of Dasaratha lay down on an unbeseeming bed of grass, yet in consequence of the sweet converse of Kusika's son, the night seemed to pass pleasantly away. sons