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Success may have only one face. But it has many brains, eyes, hands and legs behind. The CEO gets projected, but there are several smart and hard working executives and experts behind the scenes. The leader gets projected, but there would be several lieutenants behind him, that contribute to the success.
This Sarga sings the glory of the ministers that are behind the successful and ideal rule of king Daṡaratha. Vālmeeki makes a point to give the credit where it is due.
1.7.1
தஸ்யாமாத்யா குணைராஸந்நிக்ஷ்வாகோஸ்து மஹாத்மந: ।
மந்த்ரஜ்ஞாஸ்சேங்கிதஜ்ஞாஸ்ச நித்யம் ப்ரியஹிதே ரதா: ॥
tasyāmātyā guṇairāsannikṣvākōstu mahātmanaḥ ।
mantrajñāṡcēṅgitajñāṡca nityaṃ priyahitē ratāḥ ॥
That king from Ikshwāku dynasty was
assisted by highly qualified ministers
capable of assessing his intent and forging a strategy
that furthers his best interests.
1.7.2
அஷ்டௌ பபூவுர்வீரஸ்ய தஸ்யாமாத்யா யஸஸ்விந: ।
ஸுசயஸ்சாநுரக்தாஸ்ச ராஜக்ருத்யேஷு நித்யஸ: ॥
aṣtau babhūvurvīrasya tasyāmātyā yaṡasvinaḥ ।
ṡucayaṡcānuraktāṡca rājakṛtyēṣu nityaṡaḥ ॥
The well reputed Veera (Daṡaratha)
has eight ministers who are completely vested
in providing clean administration consistently.
How come there is no good word in English equivalent to 'Veera' ?
1.7.3
த்ருஷ்டிர்ஜயந்தோ விஜய: ஸித்தார்தோ ஹ்யர்தஸாதக: ।
அஸோகோ மந்த்ரபாலஸ்ச ஸுமந்த்ரஸ்சாஷ்டமோऽபவத் ॥
dhṛṣtirjayantō vijayaḥ siddhārthō hyarthasādhakaḥ ।
aṡōkō mantrapālaṡca sumantraṡcāṣtamō'bhavat ॥
Their names are: Dṛshṭi, Jayanta, Vijaya, Siddhārtha,
Artha Sādhaka, Aṡoka, Mantrapāla and Sumantra.
Interestingly, of the eight names, four are evergreen and sound as modern as any other name.
And it is interesting to know that both the words Aṡoka and Siddhārtha which were popularly associated with Buddha are also names of Daṡaratha's ministers.
1.7.4
ருத்விஜௌ த்வாவபிமதௌ தஸ்யாஸ்தாம்ருஷிஸத்தமௌ ।
வஸிஷ்டோ வாமதேவஸ்ச மந்த்ரிணஸ்ச ததாऽபரே ॥
ṛtvijau dvāvabhimatau tasyāstāmṛṣisattamau ।
vasiṣṭhō vāmadēvaṡca mantriṇaṡca tathā'parē ॥
Daṡaratha had two great Ṛshis, Vasishṭha and Vāmadēva.
as his Ṛtviks whom he especially likes.
He also has many other ministers.
1.7.5-6
வித்யாவிநீதா ஹ்ரீமந்த: குஸலா நியதேந்த்ரியா: ।
ஸ்ரீமந்தஸ்ச மஹாத்மாந: ஸாஸ்த்ரஜ்ஞா த்ருடவிக்ரமா: ॥
கீர்திமந்த: ப்ரணிஹிதா யதாவசநகாரிண: ।
தேஜ:க்ஷமாயஸ:ப்ராப்தா: ஸ்மிதபூர்வாபிபாஷிண: ।
vidyāvinītā hrīmantaḥ kuṡalā niyatēndriyāḥ ।
ṡrīmantaṡca mahātmānaḥ ṡāstrajñā dṛḍhavikramāḥ ॥
kīrtimantaḥ praṇihitā yathāvacanakāriṇaḥ ।
tējaḥkṣamāyaṡaḥprāptāḥ smitapūrvābhibhāṣiṇaḥ ।
His ministers are trained in many skills
and knowledgeable in many Ṡāstras.
They are humble and had full mastery of their senses.
They are tactful and had pleasant disposition.
They are stead-fast in their prowess.
They are discerning and judicious.
They are known for their brilliance and forbearance.
They are Mahātmas and they always stood by their word.
They are all well to do and well-regarded.
1.7.7
க்ரோதாத்காமார்தஹேதோர்வா ந ப்ரூயுரந்ருதம் வச: ॥
தேஷாமவிதிதம் கிஞ்சித் ஸ்வேஷு நாஸ்தி பரேஷு வா ।
க்ரியமாணம் க்ருதம் வாபி சாரேணாபி சிகீர்ஷிதம் ॥
krōdhātkāmārthahētōrvā na brūyuranṛtaṃ vacaḥ ॥
tēṣāmaviditaṃ kiñcit svēṣu nāsti parēṣu vā ।
kriyamāṇaṃ kṛtaṃ vāpi cārēṇāpi cikīrṣitam ॥
The do not lie, even in a moment of anger or desperation.
The do not involve in dubious activities
to fulfill their desires or for gaining riches.
Their spies and informants are everywhere and
there is nothing they do not know about
their people and other people,
that is happening, had happened or would be happening.
1.7.8
குஸலா வ்யவஹாரேஷு ஸௌஹ்ருதேஷு பரீக்ஷிதா: ।
ப்ராப்தகாலம் து தே தண்டம் தாரயேயு: ஸுதேஷ்வபி ॥
kuṡalā vyavahārēṣu sauhṛdēṣu parīkṣitāḥ ।
prāptakālaṃ tu tē daṇḍaṃ dhārayēyuḥ sutēṣvapi ॥
Their loyalty is time-tested.
They are tactful in dealing with all manners of issues.
They brought everyone to justice, as needed,
even if it were their own children.
1.7.9
கோஸஸங்க்ரஹணே யுக்தா பலஸ்ய ச பரிக்ரஹே ।
அஹிதம் வாபி புருஷம் ந விஹிம்ஸ்யுரதூஷகம் ॥
kōṡasaṅgrahaṇē yuktā balasya ca parigrahē ।
ahitaṃ vāpi puruṣaṃ na vihiṃsyuradūṣakam ॥
They are experts in keeping the treasury full
and army filled with the strongest of the people.
They never gave trouble without reason even to adversaries.
1.7.10
வீராஸ்ச நியதோத்ஸாஹா ராஜஸாஸ்த்ரமநுஷ்டிதா: ।
ஸுசீநாம் ரக்ஷிதாரஸ்ச நித்யம் விஷயவாஸிநாம் ॥
vīrāṡca niyatōtsāhā rājaṡāstramanuṣṭhitāḥ ।
ṡucīnāṃ rakṣitāraṡca nityaṃ viṣayavāsinām ॥
They are Veeras on their own right.
They are always lively and motivated.
They adhered to sound principles of administration.
They avidly protected the good people, who lived in the kingdom.
1.7.11
ப்ரஹ்மக்ஷத்ரமஹிம்ஸந்தஸ்தே கோஸம் ஸமபூரயந் ।
ஸுதீக்ஷ்ணதண்டா: ஸம்ப்ரேக்ஷ்ய புருஷஸ்ய பலாபலம் ॥
brahmakṣatramahiṃsantastē kōṡaṃ samapūrayan ।
sutīkṣṇadaṇḍāḥ samprēkṣya puruṣasya balābalam ॥
They managed the treasury without laying
undue burden on Brāhmaṇas and Kshatriyas.
The punishment they meted out to various offenders
was within the limits of the offender's ability to bear.
1.7.12
ஸுசீநாமேகபுத்தீநாம் ஸர்வேஷாம் ஸம்ப்ரஜாநதாம் ।
நாஸீத்புரே வா ராஷ்ட்ரே வா ம்ருஷாவாதீ நர: க்வசித் ॥
ṡucīnāmēkabuddhīnāṃ sarvēṣāṃ samprajānatām ।
nāsītpurē vā rāṣtrē vā mṛṣāvādī naraḥ kvacit ॥
They were clean and united in matters of the state.
Under their watch, no one in the cities
or in the entire kingdom dared to lie.
1.7.13
கஸ்சிந்ந துஷ்டஸ்தத்ராஸீத் பரதாரரதோ நர: ।
ப்ரஸாந்தம் ஸர்வமேவாஸீத்ராஷ்ட்ரம் புரவரம் ச தத் ॥
kaṡcinna duṣtastatrāsīt paradāraratō naraḥ ।
praṡāntaṃ sarvamēvāsīdrāṣtraṃ puravaraṃ ca tat ॥
There are no evil or mean people,
and no one would seduce others' women.
The entire kingdom and its capital are peaceful.
1.7.14
ஸுவாஸஸ: ஸுவேஷாஸ்ச தே ச ஸர்வே ஸுஸீலிந: ।
ஹிதார்தம் ச நரேந்த்ரஸ்ய ஜாக்ரதோ நயசக்ஷுஷா ॥
suvāsasaḥ suvēṣāṡca tē ca sarvē suṡīlinaḥ ।
hitārthaṃ ca narēndrasya jāgratō nayacakṣuṣā ॥
The ministers are well dressed and well mannered.
They ensured the best for the king by
being politically alert at all the times.
1.7.15
குரௌ குணக்ருஹீதாஸ்ச ப்ரக்யாதாஸ்ச பராக்ரமே ।
விதேஸேஷ்வபி விஜ்ஞாதா: ஸர்வதோ புத்திநிஸ்சயாத் ॥
gurau guṇagṛhītāṡca prakhyātāṡca parākramē ।
vidēṡēṣvapi vijñātāḥ sarvatō buddhiniṡcayāt ॥
They are eager to learn from the elders.
They are renowned for their prowess.
They are known for their smartness
not only at home but also abroad.
1.7.16-17
ஸந்திவிக்ரஹதத்த்வஜ்ஞா: ப்ரக்ருத்யா ஸம்பதாந்விதா: ।
மந்த்ரஸம்வரணே ஸக்தா: ஸ்லக்ஷ்ணாஸ்ஸூக்ஷ்மாஸு புத்திஷு ॥
நீதிஸாஸ்த்ரவிஸேஷஜ்ஞா: ஸததம் ப்ரியவாதிந: ॥
sandhivigrahatattvajñāḥ prakṛtyā sampadānvitāḥ ।
mantrasaṃvaraṇē ṡaktāḥ ṡlakṣṇāssūkṣmāsu buddhiṣu ॥
nītiṡāstraviṡēṣajñāḥ satataṃ priyavādinaḥ ॥
They know when and how to make peace
and when and how to press on.
They are naturally opulent. They are of fine intellect.
They are good at guarding their strategies from others.
They are extremely good at the principles of statecraft.
They always spoke in a pleasant manner.
1.7.18
ஈத்ருஸைஸ்தைரமாத்யைஸ்ச ராஜா தஸரதோऽநக: ।
உபபந்நோ குணோபேதைரந்வஸாஸத்வஸுந்தராம் ॥
īdṛṡaistairamātyaiṡca rājā daṡarathō'naghaḥ ।
upapannō guṇōpētairanvaṡāsadvasundharām ॥
Accompanied with such of those virtuous ministers
the exalted king Daṡaratha ruled the earth.
1.7.19-20
அவேக்ஷமாணஸ்சாரேண ப்ரஜா தர்மேண ரஞ்ஜயந் ।
ப்ரஜாநாம் பாலநம் குர்வந்நதர்மம் பரிவர்ஜயந் ॥
விஸ்ருதஸ்த்ரிஷு லோகேஷு வதாந்ய: ஸத்யஸங்கர: ।
ஸ தத்ர புருஷவ்யாக்ர: ஸஸாஸ ப்ருதிவீமிமாம் ॥
avēkṣamāṇaṡcārēṇa prajā dharmēṇa rañjayan ।
prajānāṃ pālanaṃ kurvannadharmaṃ parivarjayan ॥
viṡrutastriṣu lōkēṣu vadānyaḥ satyasaṅgaraḥ ।
sa tatra puruṣavyāghraḥ ṡaṡāsa pṛthivīmimām ॥
King Daṡaratha, tiger among men,
with full grasp of the kingdom through informants and spies
governed the people according to Dharma,
keeping them off unethical and wrong behavior,
earning a name in all the three worlds
for his generosity and his adherence to truth.
1.7.21
நாத்யகச்சத்விஸிஷ்டம் வா துல்யம் வா ஸத்ருமாத்மந: ।
மித்ரவாந்நதஸாமந்த: ப்ரதாபஹதகண்டக: ।
ஸ ஸஸாஸ ஜகத்ராஜா திவம் தேவபதிர்யதா ॥
nādhyagacchadviṡiṣtaṃ vā tulyaṃ vā ṡatrumātmanaḥ ।
mitravānnatasāmantaḥ pratāpahatakaṇtakaḥ ।
sa ṡaṡāsa jagadrājā divaṃ dēvapatiryathā ॥
With many good allies, subdued provincial kings,
thornies that were killed, and with no enemy left
that can be counted as equal or better,
King Daṡaratha ruled the earth
just as Indra ruled the heaven.
1.7.22
தைர்மந்த்ரிபிர்மந்த்ரஹிதே நியுக்தைர்வ்ருதோऽநுரக்தை: குஸலை: ஸமர்தை: ।
ஸ பார்திவோ தீப்திமவாப யுக்தஸ்தேஜோமயைர்கோபிரிவோதிதோऽர்க: ॥
tairmantribhirmantrahitē niyuktairvṛtō'nuraktaiḥ kuṡalaiḥ samarthaiḥ ।
sa pārthivō dīptimavāpa yuktastējōmayairgōbhirivōditō'rkaḥ ॥
With the help of those able, talented
well-wishing and strategic ministers
the king shined gloriously like
the sun rising in the east spreading bright rays.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
ஸ்ரீமத்பாலகாண்டே ஸப்தம: ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ṡrīmadbālakāṇḍē saptamaḥ sargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the seventh Sarga
in Bāla Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
We completed reading 285 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.