The World of Valmiki-15

The World of Valmiki-15

Tools

धनुरादाय सगुणं खनित्रपिटकाधरः ।
अग्रतस्ते गमिष्यामि पन्थानं तव दर्शयन् ॥२/३१/२५॥
Carrying a stringed bow, a pickaxe and a basket I will go in front showing you the way.

तत्रासीत् पिङ्गलो गार्ग्यः त्रिजटो नाम वै द्विजः ।
क्षत्रवृत्तिः वने नित्यं फालकुदाललाङ्गली ॥२/३२/२९॥
There was a Brahmin of Gargya lineage by name Trijata pale in colour who had lost his (normal) means of livelihood and who carried an axe, a spade and a ploughshare.

केचित् कुठारैः टङ्कैश्च दात्रैः छिन्दन् क्वचित् क्वचित् ।२/८०/६॥
Some cut them down with axes, hatchets and sickles.

Weapons

दंष्ट्राभिः बहुभिः शूरैः शूलपट्टिशपाणिभिः ।
रक्षितां राक्षसैर्घोरैः गुहामाशिविषैरिव ।।५/२/२५॥
(He saw the city), which was protected by terrible looking tusked rakshasa's wielding Shoola (spike) and pattisha in the manner a cave is protected by snakes. 

शक्तिवृक्षायुधांश्चैव शूलपट्टिशधारिणः ।
क्षेपणीपाशहस्तान्श्च ददर्श स महाकपिः ॥५/४/२१॥
The great monkey saw them carrying Shakti, trees, Shoola, pattisha, kshepani(javelin) and paasha( perhaps a leather-whip).

समाधिसंयोगविमोक्षतत्त्ववित्
शरानथ त्रीन् कपिमूर्ध्न्यताडयत् ।५/४७/१४॥
(Aksha), who was well versed in fixing his gaze on the target, to fit an arrow to the bow and release it hit the head of the monkey with
three arrows.

तत्रेषूपलयन्त्राणि बलवन्ति महान्ति च ।६/३/१२॥
There were strong and large mechanical contrivances (catapults) which could throw darts and stones.

शतशो रचिता वीरैः शतघ्न्यो रक्षसां गणैः ।६/३/१३॥
Hundreds of Shataghnee's (Literally mens "kills in hundreds". Thought to be a spiked heavy iron ball.) have been manufactured by the brave rakshasa's.

द्वारेषु तासां चत्वारः संक्रमाः परमायताः ।
यन्त्रैरुपेता बहुभिः महद्भिः गृहपङ्क्तिभिः ॥६/३/१५॥
At the gate ways there are four draw-bridges which have several mechanical contrivances and great rows of houses.

अभिलक्ष्येण तीव्रेण कुम्भेन निशितैः शरैः ।
आचितास्ते द्रुमा रेजुः यथा घोराः शतघ्नयः ।६/७६/६८॥
The trees covered all over by the arrows shot by the fierce Kumbha looked like terrible shataghnees.

असिभिः पटिशैः शूलैः गदाभिः मुसलैः हलैः ।
शक्तिभिः तीक्ष्णधाराभिः महद्भिः कूटमुद्गरैः ॥
यष्टिभिः विविधैः चक्रैः निशितैश्च परश्वधैः ।
भिन्दिपालैः शतघ्नीभिः अन्यैश्चापि वरायुधैः ॥६/९५/२५-२६॥
(The rakshasas came out roaring) carrying swords, pattishas, spikes, maces, long wooden pestles, ploughs, sharp edged spears, hammers, staff of varied kind, discuses, sharp battle axes, slings, shataghnees and other valued weapons.

Transport

तं प्रयान्तं मुनिवरमन्वयादनुसारिणाम् ।
शकटीशतमात्रं च प्रयाणे ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥१/३१/१७॥
Hundreds of carts of his Brahmin(Vedic exponents) followers followed the great sage (Viswamitra) on his journey.

समाहिता वेदविदो ब्राह्मणा वृत्तसम्मताः।
गोरथैर्भरतं यान्तमनुजग्मुर्महात्मनः ॥ २/८३/१६॥
The great Brahmins, who were versed in the Vedas, who were respected for their conduct and and were composed followed Bharata in bullock carts.

Rural folk

ज्ञातयश्चापि योधाश्च मित्राणि सुहृदश्च नः ।
त्वामेव हि प्रतीक्षन्ते  पर्जन्यमिव कर्षकाः ।२/११२/१२॥
Our relatives, soldiers and friends are waiting for you like farmers look forward to the rains.

Hermit and hermitage

Hermit

वैखानसा वालखिल्या सम्प्रक्षाला मरीचिपाः ।
अश्मकुट्टाश्च बहवः पत्राहाराश्च तापसाः ॥
दन्तोलूखिलिनश्चैव तथैवोन्मजकाः परे ।
गात्रशय्या अशय्याश्च तथैवानवकाशिकाः ॥
मुनयः सलिलाहारा वायुभक्षास्तथापरे ।
आकाशनिलयाश्चैव तथा स्थण्डिलशायिनः ।
तथोर्ध्ववासिनो दान्ताः तथार्द्रपटवाससः ।
सजपाश्च तपोनिष्ठाः तथा पञ्चतपोऽन्विताः ॥३/६/२-५॥
The Vaikhanasas (born of Brahma's nails), Valakhilyas ( born of Brahma;s hair), sages who washed their vessels without keeping anything for another time, those who lived off leaves, those who lived on suns rays, those who powdered grains by stones for their food, those who who used teeth as mortar and pestle, those who did penance in water, those who used their own limbs as bed, those who never used a bed, those who had no spare time due to their penances, those who took water for food, those who lived off air only, those for whom open-sky was the residence, those who slept on ground, those  who lived in high altitudes, those who lived wearing a wet cloth, those who were engrossed in their penances, those who did penance sitting at the centre of four fires and looking at the sun, (all these came and met Rama.)

Hermitage

स तत्र ब्रह्मणः स्थानं अग्नेः स्थानं तथैव च ।
विष्णोः स्थानं महेन्द्रस्य स्थानं चैव विवस्वतः ॥
सोमस्थानं भगस्थानं स्थानं कौबेरमेव च ।
धातुः विधातुः स्थानं च वायोः स्थानं तथैव च ॥
स्थानं च पाशहस्तस्य वरुणस्य महात्मनः ।
स्थानं तथैव गायत्र्याः वसूनां स्थानमेव च ॥
स्थानं च नागराजस्य गरुडस्थानमेव च ।
कार्तिकेयस्य च स्थानं धर्मस्थानं च पश्यति ॥३/१२/१८-२१॥
He sees there the altars for Brahma, Agni, Vishnu, Indra, Sun-god, Moon-god, Bhaga (A form of Siva?), Kubera (God of the North), Dhata (?),Vidhata(?), Vayu (Wind-god), Varuna (Water-god) wielding a pasha (noose), Gayatri, Vasu's, Nagaraja(Serpent-king), Garuda (King of birds), Kartikeya (son of Siva) and Dharma (God of Death).
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