ततो नारायणो विष्णुर्नियुक्तः सुरसत्तमैः। जानन्नपि सुरानेवं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ उपायः को वधे तस्य राक्षसाधिपतेः सुराः। यमहं तं समास्थाय निहन्यामृषिकण्टकम्॥
Thus besought by the foremost of the celestials, that searcher of hearts, Visnu, although cognizant of the means whereby Rāvana was to be destroyed, asked the gods these amiable words,-What, you gods, is the means of compassing which I could slay that thorn of the ascetics? Nara means a multitude, and Ayana, dwellingplace. He whose dwelling-place is a multitude, is Nārāyana. Metaphorically, the word means evidently the Scorcher of hearts, worlds, and dreadful to ascetics!
एवमुक्ताः सुराः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुर्विष्णुमव्ययम्। मानुषं रूपमास्थाय रावणं जहि संयुगे॥
Thus addressed, the deities answered Visnu, incapable of deterioration, saying,-Assuming the form of a human being, do you in battle slay Rāvana!
स हि तेपे तपस्तीवं दीर्घकालमरिंदमः। येन तुष्टोऽभवद् ब्रह्मा लोककृल्लोकपूर्वजः॥
He, O repressor of foes, had for a long course of time performed rigid austerities; and thereat, that creator of all, the first-create Brahmā, was well pleased.
संतुष्टः प्रददौ तस्मै राक्षसाय वरं प्रभुः। नानाविधेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो भयं नान्यत्र मानुषात्॥
And propitiated by his penances, the Master conferred a boon on the Raksasa to the effect, that, save man, no fear should come to him from the various beings.
अवज्ञाताः पुरा तेन वरदाने हि मानवाः। एवं पितामहात् तस्माद् वरदानेन गर्वितः॥
And in the matter of that boon-bestowing, man had formerly been disregarded (by Ravana). And puffed up with pride in consequence of the boon he received from the Grand-sire.
उत्सादयति लोकांस्त्रीन् स्त्रियश्चाप्युपकर्षति। तस्मात् तस्य वधो दृष्टो मानुषेभ्यः परंतप॥
He commits ravages upon the three worlds and carries away the fair sex by violence. Therefore, O subduer of enemies, we have even fixed upon man for bringing about his death.
इत्येतद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सुराणां विष्णुरात्मवान्। पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम्॥
Hearing this speech of the celestials, Vişnu of subdued soul chose even king Dasaratha for his father.
स चाप्यपुत्रो नृपतिस्तस्मिन् काले महाद्युतिः। अयजद् पुत्रियामिष्टिं पुत्रेप्सुररिसूदनः॥
At that time, eagerly wishing to have sons, that destroyer of enemies, the effulgent king Dasaratha, who was sonless, was celebrating the sacrifice that confer male offspring.
स कृत्वा निश्चयं विष्णुरामन्त्र्य च पितामहम्। अन्तर्धानं गतो देवैः पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः॥
Then, having ascertained the course to follow, Visnu, having greeted the Grand-sire, vanished there, worshipped by deities and the Maharsis.
ततो वै यजमानस्य पावकादतुलप्रभम्। प्रादुर्भूतं महद् भूतं महावीर्य महाबलम्॥ कृष्णं रक्ताम्बरधरं रक्तास्यं दुन्दुभिस्वनम्। स्निग्धहर्यक्षतनुजश्मश्रुप्रवरमूर्धजम्॥ शुभलक्षणसम्पन्नं दिव्याभरणभूषितम्। शैलशृङ्गसमुत्सेधं दृप्तशार्दूलविक्रमम्॥ दिवाकरसमाकारं दीप्तानलशिखोपमम्। तप्तजाम्बूनदमयों राजतान्तपरिच्छदाम्॥ दिव्यपायससम्पूर्णां पात्री पत्नीमिव प्रियाम्। प्रगृह्य विपुलां दोभ्यां स्वयं मायामयीमिव ॥
And then himself bearing in his hands a capacious vessel made of burnished gold, with a silver cover, dear like that of a spouse, and resembling the divine Creative energy, filled with celestial Payasa, (A preparation of milk, rice, and sugar). from out the sacrificial fire of Dasaratha initiated into the ceremony, there arose a mighty being, of unparalleled prowess, high energy, and huge strength, black, and wearing a crimson apparel, with a red face, uttering the blares of a trumpet, and having a body covered with leonine hair, having whiskers and an excellent head of hair, furnished with auspicious marks, and adorned with celestial ornaments, and resembling a mountain-peak, and bearing the prowess of a flaming tiger, and like to the Sun or tongues of flaming fire. And with his eyes fixed upon Dasaratha.
समवेक्ष्याब्रवीद् वाक्यमिदं दशरथं नृपम्। प्राजापत्यं नरं विद्धि मामिहाभ्यागतं नृप॥
He addressed the king, saying, O monarch, take me as a person commissioned by Prajāpati.
ततः परं तदा राजा प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः। भगवन् स्वागतं तेऽस्तु किमहं करवाणि ते॥
Hearing him speak thus, Dasaratha, with folded hands, said, Lord, you are welcomed? What can I do for you?
अथो पुनरिदं वाक्यं प्राजापत्यो नरोऽब्रवीत्। राजन्नर्चयता देवानद्य प्राप्तमिदं त्वया ॥
Thereupon, that person despatched by Prajapati again spoke thus, O king, having adored the deities, you have to-day obtained this.
इदं तु नृपशार्दूल पायसं देवनिर्मितम्। प्रजाकरं गृहाण त्वं धन्यमारोग्यवर्धनम्॥ भार्याणामनुरूपाणामश्नीतेति प्रयच्छ वै। तासु त्वं लप्स्यसे पुत्रान् यदर्थं यजसे नृप॥
O tiger of a king, accept this excellent and divinely-prepared Pāyasa, conferring sons, health, and affluence, which you are to give to your worthy consorts, saying, Partake it. Through them you will, O monarch, obtain sons, for obtaining whom you have performed this sacrifice.
तथेति नृपतिः प्रीतः शिरसा प्रतिगृह्य ताम्। पात्री देवानसम्पूर्णा देवदत्तां हिरण्मयीम्॥ अभिवाद्य च तद्भूतमद्भुतं प्रियदर्शनम्। मुदा परमया युक्तश्चकाराभिप्रदक्षिणम्॥
Thereupon, saying, So be it, the lord of men delightedly placed that divinely-bestowed golden vessel filled with the divine Payasa upon his head. And having saluted that wonderful being of gracious presence, he in excess of joy began to go round him again and again.
ततो दशरथः प्राप्य पायसं देवनिर्मितम्। बभूव परमप्रीतः प्राप्य वित्तमिवाधनः॥ ततस्तदद्भुतप्रख्यं भूतं परमभास्वरम्। संवर्तयित्वा तत् कर्म तत्रैवान्तरधीयत॥
Then Daśaratha, having received that divinely prepared Pāyasa, waxed exceeding glad; like that of a pauper attaining plenty. Then that highly effulgent being of a wonderful form, having performed that mission of his, vanished even there.
हर्षरश्मिभिरुद्योतं तस्यान्तः पुरमाबभौ। शारदस्याभिरामस्य चन्द्रस्येव नभोंऽशुभिः॥
And Dasaratha's inner apartment, being graced with the rays of joy, looked like the welkin flooded with the lovely beams of the autumnal moon.
सोऽन्तःपुरं प्रविश्यैव कौसल्यामिदमब्रीत्। पायसं प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पुत्रीयं त्विदमात्मनः॥
Then entering the inner apartment, he spoke to Kausalyā, saying, Take you this, Pāyasa; for this will make you bear a son.
कौसल्यायै नरपतिः पायसार्धं ददौ तदा। अर्धादर्धं ददौ चापि सुमित्रायै नराधिप२७ ।।
Having said this, the king offered to her a half portion of this Pāyasa.'Then he conferred upon Sumitrā a fourth of it.
कैकेय्यै चावशिष्टार्धं ददौ पुत्रार्थकारणात्। प्रददौ चावशिष्टार्धं पायसस्यामृतोपमम्॥ अनुचिन्त्य सुमित्रायै पुनरेव महामतिः। एवं तासां ददौ राजा भार्याणां पायसं पृथक् ॥
Then in order that she might have a son, king Dasaratha made over to Kaikeyi an equal portion of what remained. And then having reflected, the mighty-minded one gave to Sumitrā the remaining portion of the Pāyasa resembling ambrosia.
ताश्चैवं पायसं प्राप्य नरेन्द्रस्योत्तमस्त्रियः। सम्मानं मेनिरे सर्वाः प्रहर्षोदितचेतसः॥
Thus the king dispensed the Pāyasa to each and all of his wives. And those foremost wives of the king, having received that Pāyasa, became exceedingly delighted, and considered themselves as highly honoured.
ततस्तु ताः प्राश्य तमुत्तमस्त्रियो महीपतेरुत्तमपायसं पृथक्। ऽचिरेण गर्भान् प्रतिपेदिरे तदा॥
Then those excellent consorts of the lord of earth, having separately partaken of that choice Pāyasa, shortly bore offspring, resembling fire or the Sun.
ततस्तु राजा प्रतिवीक्ष्य ताः स्त्रियः प्ररूढगर्भाः प्रतिलब्धमानसः। बभूव हृष्टिस्त्रिदिवे यथा हरिः सुरेन्द्रसिद्धर्षिगणाभिपूजितः॥
The king, beholding those wives of his bearing children, obtained his desire and became delighted; Vişnu, while being worshipped by the Siddhas and the ascetics. even as