May 25 - Sargas 69 and 70 of Balakanda.
We read about Dasharatha's journey to Mithila and the cordialities exchanged. Sage Vasishtha also introduces the royal dynasty of king Dasharatha formally to king Janaka and his court.
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एते द्विजाः प्रयान्त्वग्रे स्यन्दनं योजयस्व मे ।
यथा कालात्ययो न स्याद्दूता हि त्वरयन्ति माम् ॥
वचनात्तु नरेन्द्रस्य सा सेना चतुरङ्गिणी ।
राजानमृषिभिः सार्धं व्रजन्तं पृष्ठतोन्वगात् ॥
ततो राजानमासाद्य वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम् ।
जनको मुदितो राजा हर्षं च परमं ययौ ॥
King Dasharatha asked Sumantra to get all those in charge of the royal treasury to bring abundant riches and gifts for the occasion. He also instructed that his gurus and sages like Vasishtha and Vamadeva should all travel with the entire four-fold forces ahead. His chariot should be got ready without any delay as Janaka's messengers had requested.
King Dasharatha with his gurus and others was preceded by all his forces and they all reached Mithila which had been got up specially for the grand reception.
On receiving the elderly king Dasharatha, king Janaka was immensely pleased. The kings greeted each other in supreme happiness.
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King Janaka told Dasharatha that it was God's grace that he was able to receive the great king and sage Vasishtha and others. It was as if Indra had arrived with all the gods.
King Janaka said that Dasharatha would meet his valiant sons on the morrow and the wedding would be conducted after the yajna's conclusion.
Dasharatha graciously said he would abide by all formalities as it was customary to respect the host (and bride's father) and his arrangements.The sages from both sides mixed with one another in great happiness.
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Next morning king Janaka informed his preceptor Shatananda that his younger brother Kushashwaja was the able king of the kingdom of Sankashya on the bank of Ikshumati river. He should be kindly requested to come and join in the celebrations. Messengers were sent with glad tidings and a very happy Kushadhwaja arrived.
Now king Janaka sent his able minister Sudamana to escort king Dasharatha, his wonderful sons, sages and rest of the entourage to the assembly.
King Dasharatha arrived and after courtesies said:
वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठो वैदेहमिदमब्रवीत् ।
विदितं ते महाराज इक्ष्वाकुकुलदैवतम् ॥
वक्ता सर्वेषु कृत्येषु वसिष्ठो भगवान् ऋषिः।
विश्वामित्राभ्यनुज्ञातः सह सर्वैरमहर्षिभिः ॥
एष वक्ष्यति धर्मात्मा वसिष्ठो मे यथाक्रमम् ।
Then king Dasharatha, expert in speech, said, "Oh Maharaja, it is but proper that you are told the history of my lineage. Sage Vaaishtha is the worshippable preceptor of Ikshwakus. He is therefore our spokesperson also on all such important occasions. With concurrence from sage Vishwamitra and other rishis present, by my request he will narrate to you in order my lineage.
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Sage Vasishtha began to narrate how the Ikshwakus had descended from the eternal creator Brahma through Marichi, Kashyapa, Vivaswan, Manu, and so on. King Sagara, many others, Dileepa, Bhagiratha, Raghu, Ambareesha, Nahusha, Yayati, Nabha and Aja were each a most glorious name in the history of the region. King Dasharatha was Aja's son.
इक्ष्वाकुकुलजातानां वीराणां सत्यवादिनाम् ।
रामलक्ष्मणयोरर्थे त्वत्सुते वरये नृप ॥
Sage Vasishtha told king Janaka, "oh king, you have heard of this glorious line. The scions of Ikshwakus, full of valour and upholders of truth, are Rama and Lakshmana. Please give your daughters in marriage to these princes. "
Post-edit:
Why was king Sagara so named?
His father Asita was rather weak and so defeated snd exiled by enemies. He went to tge Himalaya mountain with hia two wives and a small retinue of preceptors ans soldiers. There, when his wives werw pregnant, he breathed his last.
That place was called Bhriguprasravana, sancitifed by the Bhrigu scion sage Chyavana.
The very distressed pregnant elder wife of Asita, by name Kalindi, went to seek his blessings. She had in fact been poisoned by his younger wife, who did not want her to have a child who would be her own child's rival and apparent heir.
Kalindi serves the rishi who gave her blessings. He told her that eventhough she had been poisoned, she would deliver a son who would survive and thrive. Si it happened that the child was born with poison in him which still dis not affect him. He was named Sa+gara (one who has poison).
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
