भट्टिकाव्यम् (रावणवधः) — प्रथमः सर्गः | bhaṭṭikāvyam (rāvaṇavadhaḥ)

अभून्नृपो विबुधसखः परंतपः
श्रुताऽन्वितो दशरथ इत्युदाहृतः ।
गुणैर्वरं भुवनहितच्छलेन यं
सनातनः पितरमुपागमत्स्वयम् ॥

Karandikar There lived a king, a friend of the wise (or gods), an annoyer to the enemies, conversant with the Vedas, superior by his qualities, known as Dasaratha, whom the Eternal Himself approached as (His) father on the pretext of benefitting the world.

१.२

सोऽध्यैष्ट वेदांस्त्रिदशानयष्ट
पितॄनपारीत्सममंस्त बन्धून् ।
व्यजेष्ट षड्वर्गमरंस्त नीतौ
समूलघातं न्यवधीदरींश्च ॥

Karandikar He studied the Vedas, sacrificed to the gods, satisfied the manes, honoured the kinsmen, vanquished the host of the six enemies(vices), took delight in politics and destroyed his foes, cutting them down at their very roots.

१.३

वसूनि तोयं घनवद्व्यकारी-
त्सहाऽऽसनं गोत्रभिदाऽध्यवात्सीत् ।
न त्र्यम्बकादन्यमुपास्थिताऽसौ
यशांसि सर्वेषुभृतां निरास्तत् ॥

Karandikar He distributed riches just as the cloud scatters water, sat with Indra on (his) throne, worshipped none else than Siva and (by his might) destroyed the reputations of all archers.

१.४

पुण्यो महाब्रह्मसमूहजुष्टः
संतर्पणो नाकसदां वरेण्यः ।
जज्वाल लोकस्थितये स राजा
यथाऽध्वरे वह्निरभिप्रणीतः ॥

Karandikar Resorted to by groups of eminent brahmins, that excellent and holy king who satiated the gods, shone with ardour for the preservation of his subjects, like the holy fire consecrated in the sacrifice.

१.५

स पुण्यकीर्तिः शतमन्युकल्पो
महेन्द्रलोकप्रतिमां समृद्ध्या ।
अध्यास्त सर्वर्तुसुखामयोध्या
मध्यासितां ब्रह्मभिरिद्धबोधैः ॥

Karandikar He of auspicious fame and similar to Indra, lived in Ayodhya which, in prosperity, resembled Amaravati, was pleasant in all seasons and was inhabited by brahmins with blazed intellect;

१.६

निर्माणदक्षस्य समीहितेषु
सीमेव पद्माऽऽसनकौशलस्य ।
ऊर्ध्वस्फुरद्रत्नगभस्तिभिर्या
स्थिताऽवहस्येव पुरं मघोनः ॥

Karandikar 6.-(Ayodhya) which, seemed to be the limit of the expertise of the undertakings of the Creator who was careful in (the art of) creating, and stood laughing, as it were, at the city of Indra, with the rays from its jewels scintillating upwards ;

१.७

सद्रत्नमुक्ताफलवज्रभाञ्जि
विचित्रधातूनि सकाननानि ।
स्त्रीभिर्युतान्यप्सरसामिवौघै-
र्मेरोः शिरांसीव गृहाणि यस्याम् ॥

Karandikar -(Ayodhya) which had residences provided with excellent jewels, pearls and diamonds, having various metals (or mineral dyes), was provided with gardens thronged by ladies, thus resembling Mt. Meru thronged by streams of divine damsels, having the best jewels, pearls and diamonds, different metals and forests

१.८

अन्तर्निविष्टोज्ज्वलरत्नभासो
गवाक्षजालैरभिनिष्पतन्त्यः ।
हिमाऽद्रिटङ्कादिव भान्ति यस्यां
गङ्गाऽम्बुपातप्रतिमा गृहेभ्यः ॥

Karandikar –(Ayodhya) wherein the bright colours of the effulgent jewels stored within, being diffused through latticed windows, shone forth like the waterfalls of the of the Ganges from the peaks of the Himalayan mountain.

१.९

धर्म्यासु कामाऽर्थयशस्करीषु
मतासु लोकेऽधिगतासु काले ।
विद्यासु विद्वानिव सोऽभिरेमे
पत्नीषु राजा तिसृषूत्तमासु ॥

Karandikar Just as a learned person takes delight in the three best lores that are consistent with duty, conducive to love, riches and glory, are honoured in the world and are acquired at proper time, (so also the king rejoiced with his three lawfully wedded, excellent wives, who were accepted at proper times, conducive to love, wealth and fameand honoured by the world

१.१०

पुत्रीयता तेन वराऽङ्गनाभि
रानायि विद्वान्क्रतुषु क्रियावान् ।
विपक्त्रिमज्ञानगतिर्मनस्वी
मान्यो मुनिः स्वां पुरमृष्य शृङ्गः ॥

Karandikar By him, desirous of having sons, was , through lovely women, brought to his own city, the learned, high-souled and revered sage Rsyastiga, well-versed in sacrifices and fully ripened in his access to learning.

१.११

ऐहिष्ट तं कारयितुं कृताऽऽत्मा
क्रतुं नृपः पुत्रफलं मुनीन्द्रम् ।
ज्ञानाऽऽशयस्तस्य ततो व्यतानी-
त्स कर्मठः कर्म सुताऽनुबन्धम् ॥

Karandikar The self-controlled king desired the great sage to get performed a sacrifice with sons as its fruit. Expert in his work, he (the sage) who understood his (the king's) intention, performed the sacrifice that would result in sons.

१.१२

रक्षांसि वेदीं परितो निरास्थ- दङ्गान्ययाक्षीद्भितः प्रधानम् । शेषाण्यहौषीत्सुत-संपदे च वरं वरेण्यो नृपतेरमार्गीत् ॥

Karandikar The most-covetted (sage) drove away the raksasas from around the altar, performed subsidiary rites at both ends of the main sacrifice, poured (into the fire) the remaining ( main part ) of the oblations and sought for the boon of plenty of sons

१.१३

निष्टां गते दक्त्रिमसभयतोषे
विहित्रिमे कर्मणि राजपत्न्यः ।
प्राशुर्हुतोच्छिष्टमुदारवंश्या-
स्तिस्रः प्रसोतुं चतुरः सुपुत्रान् ॥

Karandikar The prescribed ritual, of satisfying the members of the assembly with gifts, having reached its completion, the three wives of the king, born of illustrious families, ate the remnants of the oblations in order to beget four noble sons.

१.१४

कौसल्ययाऽसावि सुखेन रामः
प्राक्केकयीतो भरतस्ततोऽभूत् ।
प्रासोष्ट शत्रुघ्नमुदारचेष्ट
मेका सुमित्रा सह लक्ष्मणेन ॥

Karandikar First Rama was given birth to, in ease, by Kausalya : then was born Bharata from Kekyai ; Sumitra alone gave birth to Satrughna of magnificent deeds along with Laksmapa.

१.१५

आर्चीद्द्विजातीन्परमाऽर्थविन्दा
नुदेजयान्भूतगणान्न्यषेधीत् ।
विद्वानुपानेष्ट च तान्स्वकाले
यतिर्वशिष्टो यमिनां वरिष्ठः ॥

Karandikar Vasistha, the learned ascetic and the supermost of the observers of restraint, honoured the brahmins that had realised the highest reality, drove away the hosts of terrific devils that caused (people) to tremble and had them (the princes) initiated (i.e., their thread ceremony performed) at the proper time.

१.१६

वेदोऽङ्गवांस्तौरखिलोऽध्यगायि
शस्त्राण्युपायंसत जित्वराणि ।
ते भिन्नवृत्तीन्यपि मानसानि
समं जनानां गुणिनोऽध्यवात्सुः ॥

Karandikar By them was learnt the Vedic lore along with its auxiliaries, and were acquired victory-giving weapons; (thus) those virtuous ( princes) settled themselves equally into the hearts of the people even though they (the people) had different vocations

१.१७

ततोभ्यगाद्गाधिसुतः क्षितीन्द्रं
रक्षोभिरभ्याहतकर्मवृत्तिः ।
रामं वरीतुं परिरक्षणार्थं
राजाऽऽजिहत्तं मधुपर्कपाणिः ॥

Karandikar Later, Visvamitra whose performance of sacrifices had been hampered by demons, approached that king to seek Rama for the protection (of the sacrifices). The king honoured him with madhuparka offerings in his hand.

१.१८

ऐषीः पुनर्जन्मजयाय यत्त्वं
रूपाऽऽदिबोधान्न्यवृतच्च यत्ते ।
तत्त्वान्यबुद्धाः प्रतिनूनि येन
ध्यानं नृपस्तच्छिवमित्यवादीत् ॥

Karandikar The king spoke thus : 'I hope that you are free from hindrances in your meditations intended for the conquest of rebirth which cease after the realisation of the (UltimateForm, and other things, and through which you grasp the subtlest principles.'

१.१९

आख्यन्मुनिस्तस्य शिवं समाधे-
र्विघ्नन्ति रक्षांसि वने क्रतूंश्च ।
तानि द्विषद्वीर्यनिराकरिष्णु-
स्तृणेढु रामः सह लक्ष्मणेन ॥

Karandikar The sage told him, ''(There is) welfare for my meditation. But the demons destroy the sacrifices in the forest. Along with Laksmana, let Rama, capable of destroying the prowess of the enemykill them.'

१.२०

स शुश्रुवांस्तद्वचनं मुमोह
राजाऽसहिष्णुः सुतविप्रयोगम् ।
अहंयुनाऽथ क्षितिपः शुभंयु
रूचे वचस्तापसकुञ्जरेण ॥

Karandikar Unable to bear separation from his sonsthe King who heard that speech fainted . That protector of the earth (the King) who possessed good fortune was then addressed these words by the eminent sage possessed of egotism.

१.२१

मया त्वमाप्थाः शरणं भयेषु
वयं त्वयाऽप्याप्स्महि धर्मवृद्ध्यै ।
क्षत्रं द्विजत्वं च परस्पराऽर्थं
शङ्कां कृथा मा प्रहिणुस्वसूनुम् ॥

Karandikar You have been approached by me as a protector in calamities; we also have been approached by you for the prosperity of Dharma. The Ksatriya race and the Brahmana raceare for each other. Do not enterain any fear. Send (your) son.

१.२२

घानिष्यते तेन महान्विपक्षः
स्थायिष्यते येन रणे पुरस्तात् ।
मा मां महाऽऽत्मन्परिभू-
र्योग्ये न मद्विधो न्यस्यति भारमग्र्यम् ॥

Karandikar By him, who will stand at the vanguard in the battlefield, (even a) great adversary will be killed. Oh high-souled one, do not disregard me. One like me does not lay the supreme burden upon an unworthy (person). "

१.२३

क्रुध्यन्कुलं धक्ष्यति विप्रवह्नि-
र्यास्यन्सुतस्तप्स्यति मां समन्युम् ।
इत्थं नृपः पूर्वमवालुलोचे
ततोऽनुजज्ञे गमनं सुतस्य ॥

Karandikar ''The raging fire in the form of the brahmin's will burn out my race. By going, (my) son will torment only my grief-striken self." Thus did the king reflect first and then permit the departure of his son.

१.२४

आशीर्भिरभ्यर्च्य मुनिः क्षितीन्द्रं
प्रीतः प्रतस्थे पुनराश्रमाय ।
तं पृष्ठतः प्रष्ठमियाय नम्रो
हिंस्रेषुदीप्ताऽऽप्तधनुः कुमारः ॥

Karandikar Having honoured the protector of the earth with blessings, the delighted sage again set forth for his hermitage .The humble prince having a trustworthy bow glowing with (sharp) killing arrows, followed him wholed in the front.

१.२५

प्रयास्यतः पुण्यवनाय जिष्णो
रामस्य रोचिष्णुमुखस्य घृष्णुः ।
त्रैमातुरः कृत्स्नजिताऽस्त्रशस्त्रः
सध्र्यङ्रतः श्रेयसि लक्ष्मणोऽभूत् ॥

Karandikar Dedicated to (Rama's) well-being, the daring Laksmana, who had three mothers and had acquired all the missiles and weapons, became the fellowtraveller of the victorious Rama who had a beaming face and had set out for the holy forest.

१.२६

इषुमति रघुसिंहे दन्दशूकाञ्जिघांसौ
धनुररिभिरसह्यं मुष्टिपीडं दधाने ।
व्रजति पुरतरुण्यो बद्धचित्राऽङ्गुलित्रे
कथमपि गुरुशोकान्मा रुदन्माङ्गलिक्यः ॥

Karandikar As Rama, who had put on a wonderful finger-guard and was holding tightly in his fist his bow with arrows intent on killing harmful demons and unbearable to the enemies, was leaving, the auspicious young ladies of the city, somehow, avoided weeping though their grief was heavy.

१.२७

अथ जगदुरनीचैराशिषस्तस्य विप्रा-
स्तुमुलकलनिनादं तूर्यमाजघ्नुरन्ये ।
अभिमतफलशंसी चारु पुस्फोर बाहु-
स्तरुषु चुकुवुरुच्चैः पक्षिणश्चाऽनुकूलाः ॥

Karandikar The brahmins loudly proclaimed blessings on him ; others (trumpeteers) played on their instruments loud sweet notes; his (right) arm throbbed foretelling the desired results; and , birds chirped loudly from the trees in an auspicious manner.

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