Akatha's Devotion and the Final Test at Kausalya's Shraddha: The Patala Khanda Concludes

Verse 1 (padma.5.117.1)

सूत उवाच- भारद्वाजगृहे भुक्त्वा रामचंद्रः प्रसन्नधीः । मुनींद्र विष्णुसहितो वानरर्क्षसमन्वितः

sūta uvāca- bhāradvājagṛhe bhuktvā rāmacaṁdraḥ prasannadhīḥ munīṁdra viṣṇusahito vānararkṣasamanvitaḥ

Suta said: Having eaten at Bharadwaja's hermitage, Ramachandra, his mind at peace, O foremost of sages, together with Vishnu, accompanied by monkeys and bears—

Verse 2 (padma.5.117.2)

मेघच्छन्ने तथाकाशे मंदं चरति मारुते । तद्वनाभ्यंतरे क्वापि सुदेवगृहमुत्तमम्

meghacchanne tathākāśe maṁdaṁ carati mārute tadvanābhyaṁtare kvāpi sudevagṛhamuttamam

—while the sky was overcast with clouds, and the breeze blew gently, came upon somewhere deep within that forest, an excellent and most divine dwelling—

Verse 3 (padma.5.117.3)

अष्टापदस्तंभयुतं हेमपट्टिककल्पितम् । मणिमौक्तिकसंयुक्तं राजतैः कलशैर्युतम्

aṣṭāpadastaṁbhayutaṁ hemapaṭṭikakalpitam maṇimauktikasaṁyuktaṁ rājataiḥ kalaśairyutam

—furnished with pillars of gold, fashioned with bands of gold, set with gems and pearls, furnished with vessels of silver—

Verse 4 (padma.5.117.4)

पाटीरचंद्रकस्तूरीकुंकुमैः सुरभीकृतम् । कर्द्दमैर्जालकयुतं शकलोपरि संवृति

pāṭīracaṁdrakastūrīkuṁkumaiḥ surabhīkṛtam karddamairjālakayutaṁ śakalopari saṁvṛti

—made fragrant with sandal, camphor, musk, and saffron, fitted with a lattice-work of stucco, its roof covered over with tiles—

Verse 5 (padma.5.117.5)

चंद्रजोत्स्नागमं सूर्य्या निरीक्ष्य मध्यभित्तिकम् । गृहांतर्भूतलं कृत्स्नं चंद्रपुष्परसोक्षितम्

caṁdrajotsnāgamaṁ sūryyā nirīkṣya madhyabhittikam gṛhāṁtarbhūtalaṁ kṛtsnaṁ caṁdrapuṣparasokṣitam

—its central wall as if beholding the coming of the moon's own light even by the sun's own rays, the whole floor within the house sprinkled with the essence of moon-flowers—

Verse 6 (padma.5.117.6)

दिगुदीची तथा कृत्स्नाभित्तिकल्पनवर्जिता । स्तंभेस्तंभे चित्रकारी स्वपादी परिकल्पितम्

digudīcī tathā kṛtsnābhittikalpanavarjitā staṁbhestaṁbhe citrakārī svapādī parikalpitam

—its northern quarter left entirely free of any wall-decoration, each and every pillar wrought by its own skilled painter—

Verse 7 (padma.5.117.7)

शतहस्तांगणं तस्य स्फटिकोपरिकल्पितम् । गृहांगणाधिकच्छायः पारिजातमहीरुहः

śatahastāṁgaṇaṁ tasya sphaṭikoparikalpitam gṛhāṁgaṇādhikacchāyaḥ pārijātamahīruhaḥ

—its courtyard, a hundred hands wide, laid out upon crystal, a great parijata tree casting its shade over the courtyard—

Verse 8 (padma.5.117.8)

कृत्स्नप्रावृतिकं तत्र निबिडं कदलीवनम् । कदलीवनसंयुक्तं केतकीवनसंवृतम्

kṛtsnaprāvṛtikaṁ tatra nibiḍaṁ kadalīvanam kadalīvanasaṁyuktaṁ ketakīvanasaṁvṛtam

—a dense plantain-grove entirely encircling it, that plantain-grove joined with, and enclosed by, a grove of ketaki—

Verse 9 (padma.5.117.9)

मयूरनादबहुलं मंजुकूजन्मधुव्रतम् । पारावतगणध्वानं नानोपवनशोभितम्

mayūranādabahulaṁ maṁjukūjanmadhuvratam pārāvatagaṇadhvānaṁ nānopavanaśobhitam

—loud with the cries of peacocks, sweetly humming with bees, resounding with the cooing of hosts of doves, beautified with many a grove—

Verse 10 (padma.5.117.10)

प्रासादशतसंबाधं मत्तकोकिलनादितम् । शाखालंबिमहारत्नशोभितानेकपादपम्

prāsādaśatasaṁbādhaṁ mattakokilanāditam śākhālaṁbimahāratnaśobhitānekapādapam

—crowded with a hundred mansions, ringing with the songs of intoxicated cuckoos, its many trees adorned with great jewels hanging from their branches—

Verse 11 (padma.5.117.11)

किन्नरीवनितागीतनादपूरितदिङ्मुखम् । अनेकारामसुभगं गौतमीतटमुत्तमम्

kinnarīvanitāgītanādapūritadiṅmukham anekārāmasubhagaṁ gautamītaṭamuttamam

—its every quarter filled with the songs of Kinnara women, lovely with its many gardens — this was on the most excellent bank of the Godavari.

Verse 12 (padma.5.117.12)

भारद्वाजगृहं पुण्यमनंतगुणसेवितम् । रतिकंदर्पसंकाश दासीदासशतान्वितम्

bhāradvājagṛhaṁ puṇyamanaṁtaguṇasevitam ratikaṁdarpasaṁkāśa dāsīdāsaśatānvitam

The holy house of Bharadwaja, served by countless virtues, joined with a hundred maidservants and menservants lovely as Rati and Kandarpa themselves—

Verse 13 (padma.5.117.13)

नानोपकरणोपेतं भारद्वाजगृहं शुभम् । तस्य चांतर्गतः सौधस्तत्रांतर्गृहवाटिकाः

nānopakaraṇopetaṁ bhāradvājagṛhaṁ śubham tasya cāṁtargataḥ saudhastatrāṁtargṛhavāṭikāḥ

—furnished with implements of every kind, that auspicious house of Bharadwaja; within it lay a great terrace-mansion, and within that, inner garden-courts.

Verse 14 (padma.5.117.14)

अष्टौ तन्मध्यतो ह्येकं गृहं परमशोभनम् । चतुर्दिक्षु महादेव गृहप्रासादशोभितम्

aṣṭau tanmadhyato hyekaṁ gṛhaṁ paramaśobhanam caturdikṣu mahādeva gṛhaprāsādaśobhitam

Eight of these there were; and in their very midst, one house, most lovely, beautified on all four sides with the mansions of great gods.

Verse 15 (padma.5.117.15)

प्रतिदेवगृहं श्यामा तौर्य्यत्रिकसुशोभितम् । स्वर्गस्थितवरस्त्रीणां विश्रामायैव कल्पितम्

pratidevagṛhaṁ śyāmā tauryyatrikasuśobhitam svargasthitavarastrīṇāṁ viśrāmāyaiva kalpitam

Before each god's house, dark-eyed women, beautified with the threefold music, were furnished there, fashioned solely for the repose of the excellent women dwelling in heaven.

Verse 16 (padma.5.117.16)

भारद्वाजगृहाद्रामो निर्गत्याशेषसंयुतः । तस्यैव च महागेहं वनमध्यगतं त्वगात्

bhāradvājagṛhādrāmo nirgatyāśeṣasaṁyutaḥ tasyaiva ca mahāgehaṁ vanamadhyagataṁ tvagāt

Then Rama, going out from Bharadwaja's own house, together with his whole company, went on to that very sage's great dwelling, situated in the midst of the forest.

Verse 17 (padma.5.117.17)

तदंतराच्छादितकंबलं तदा पृथक्स्थवस्त्रासनसंयुतं च । सिंहासनं मध्यगतं तथैकं मुन्यासनानेकगतं विवेश

tadaṁtarācchāditakaṁbalaṁ tadā pṛthaksthavastrāsanasaṁyutaṁ ca siṁhāsanaṁ madhyagataṁ tathaikaṁ munyāsanānekagataṁ viveśa

There, within, he entered a hall furnished with woolen covers, separate cloth-covered seats set apart, a single throne placed in its very middle, and many seats set out for the sages.

Verse 18 (padma.5.117.18)

पौराणिकस्यानुपमासनांतरं भूपालहर्यृक्षवरासनं च । पौराणिकं पूर्वमथोपवेश्य ततो वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवांश्च

paurāṇikasyānupamāsanāṁtaraṁ bhūpālaharyṛkṣavarāsanaṁ ca paurāṇikaṁ pūrvamathopaveśya tato vasiṣṭhaṁ munipuṁgavāṁśca

There was a matchless seat for the reciter of the Purana, and excellent seats too for kings, and for the lords of the monkeys and bears. Seating first the reciter of the Purana, and then Vasishtha and the foremost sages—

Verse 19 (padma.5.117.19)

नारायणं भूमिपतीन्कपींश्च नीचासनं च स्वयमाससाद । मेघावृतं व्योमदिशः प्रसन्नाः सुपुष्पमुर्वीतलमुप्तबीजम्

nārāyaṇaṁ bhūmipatīnkapīṁśca nīcāsanaṁ ca svayamāsasāda meghāvṛtaṁ vyomadiśaḥ prasannāḥ supuṣpamurvītalamuptabījam

—and Narayana, and the lords of the earth, and the monkeys, he himself took the lowest seat. The sky was cloud-covered, the quarters clear, the earth strewn with flowers, its every seed already sown—

Verse 20 (padma.5.117.20)

तदंगणं नोष्णमहो न शीतलं संतानपुष्पं दमपुष्पगंधि । शंभुं विलोक्याथ वचो बभाषे रामः कथां कीर्तय शंकरस्य

tadaṁgaṇaṁ noṣṇamaho na śītalaṁ saṁtānapuṣpaṁ damapuṣpagaṁdhi śaṁbhuṁ vilokyātha vaco babhāṣe rāmaḥ kathāṁ kīrtaya śaṁkarasya

—that courtyard neither hot nor cold, fragrant with the santanaka flower and the flower of restraint itself. Then, looking upon Shambhu, Rama spoke this word: "Recite for me some tale of Shankara."

Verse 21 (padma.5.117.21)

तृप्तिर्न जाता मुनिवर्य्य शृण्वतो माहेशमाख्यानमघौघनाशनम् । चकार किं वा ननु गौतमाश्रमे महेश्वरो देवगणाधिसंवृतः

tṛptirna jātā munivaryya śṛṇvato māheśamākhyānamaghaughanāśanam cakāra kiṁ vā nanu gautamāśrame maheśvaro devagaṇādhisaṁvṛtaḥ

"No satiety comes to me, O foremost of sages, in hearing the tale of great Isha, destroyer of the whole mass of sin. What, then, did great Isha do at Gautama's hermitage, surrounded by the very hosts of gods?"

Verse 22 (padma.5.117.22)

शिव उवाच- महाविपंचीमवलंब्य निष्ठितः स वायुसूनुः शिवमन्वपृच्छत् । न्यायार्जितैरेव हि पूजने विभोः कीदृग्भवेच्चानयजैः फलं वद

śiva uvāca- mahāvipaṁcīmavalaṁbya niṣṭhitaḥ sa vāyusūnuḥ śivamanvapṛcchat nyāyārjitaireva hi pūjane vibhoḥ kīdṛgbhaveccānayajaiḥ phalaṁ vada

Shiva said: Resting upon his great lute, that son of Vayu asked Shiva: "What fruit is there in worshipping the mighty Lord with substances rightly earned, and what with substances unrighteously earned? Tell me."

Verse 23 (padma.5.117.23)

चौर्य्यैरथो किं फलमर्पितार्पणे उपाहृतद्रव्यसमर्पणेषु । एकैकशो मे भगवन्वदेश प्रश्नोत्तरं किं कथयाशु शंभो

cauryyairatho kiṁ phalamarpitārpaṇe upāhṛtadravyasamarpaṇeṣu ekaikaśo me bhagavanvadeśa praśnottaraṁ kiṁ kathayāśu śaṁbho

"What fruit is there in offerings made with substances got by theft, or with substances properly presented? Tell me each of these in turn, O blessed Lord; speak the answer to my question quickly, O Shambhu."

Verse 24 (padma.5.117.24)

अथेश्वरो वानरमाबभाषे वदामि सर्वं तव ध्यानतः शृणु । न्यायार्जितैः पूज्य सदाशिवं त्वजं संप्राप चैश्वर्यमिदं हि गौतमः

atheśvaro vānaramābabhāṣe vadāmi sarvaṁ tava dhyānataḥ śṛṇu nyāyārjitaiḥ pūjya sadāśivaṁ tvajaṁ saṁprāpa caiśvaryamidaṁ hi gautamaḥ

Then the Lord said to the monkey: "I shall tell you everything; hear it with full attention. By worshipping the unborn Sadashiva with rightly-earned substances, Gautama himself attained this very sovereignty—"

Verse 25 (padma.5.117.25)

पुरा द्विजो मंकणसूनुराकथः सुशोभनामाप सतीं द्विजन्मा । द्ररिद्र एकः करुणासमन्वितः षष्ठाहभोजी पितृवर्जितश्च

purā dvijo maṁkaṇasūnurākathaḥ suśobhanāmāpa satīṁ dvijanmā draridra ekaḥ karuṇāsamanvitaḥ ṣaṣṭhāhabhojī pitṛvarjitaśca

"—of old, a Brahmin, son of Mankana, named Akatha, twice-born, obtained the lovely and virtuous Shobhana as his wife; he was a poor man, filled with compassion, eating only once every six days, and without a father—"

Verse 26 (padma.5.117.26)

उपोष्य पंचाहमथापि भोक्तुं प्रवृत्त एवाथ समापतद्यतिः । यतिर्बभाषे मधुरं तदा कथं मासोपवासी तव भोक्तुमागतः

upoṣya paṁcāhamathāpi bhoktuṁ pravṛtta evātha samāpatadyatiḥ yatirbabhāṣe madhuraṁ tadā kathaṁ māsopavāsī tava bhoktumāgataḥ

"—having fasted five days, and just as he was about to eat, a wandering ascetic arrived. The ascetic spoke sweetly then: 'How is it that I, who fast a whole month, have come to eat at your house?'"

Verse 27 (padma.5.117.27)

तिष्ठामि भुंजे यदि चास्ति ते मुने न मे बुभुक्षान्यगृहाद्विभोक्तुम् । आकथ उवाच- न मे भुजिः पंचदिनं द्विजेंद्र षष्ठे दिने मे भुजिरागतश्च

tiṣṭhāmi bhuṁje yadi cāsti te mune na me bubhukṣānyagṛhādvibhoktum ākatha uvāca- na me bhujiḥ paṁcadinaṁ dvijeṁdra ṣaṣṭhe dine me bhujirāgataśca

"'I shall stay, and eat, if you have anything, O sage; I have no wish to go eat at another house.' Akatha said: 'I have not eaten for five days, O foremost of the twice-born; today, the sixth day, is my day for eating too—'"

Verse 28 (padma.5.117.28)

तदा मया कार्यमचिंतनीयं प्रक्षालयाम्येहि तवाद्य पादौ । ओमित्यथ क्षालितपादयुग्मः स भोजनं कर्तुमियेष योगी

tadā mayā kāryamaciṁtanīyaṁ prakṣālayāmyehi tavādya pādau omityatha kṣālitapādayugmaḥ sa bhojanaṁ kartumiyeṣa yogī

"'—but even so, this is not a matter to be reflected upon by me; come, let me wash your feet today.' 'Om,' said the guest; and, his two feet washed, that yogi prepared to eat."

Verse 29 (padma.5.117.29)

रंभादलांसे बुभुजे तदन्नं विपाच्य संपादितमाज्ययुक्तम् । वन्यैः सुसंयुक्तमथादरेण न किंचिदुच्छेषितमन्नमस्य

raṁbhādalāṁse bubhuje tadannaṁ vipācya saṁpāditamājyayuktam vanyaiḥ susaṁyuktamathādareṇa na kiṁciduccheṣitamannamasya

Upon a plantain-leaf he ate that food — well cooked, made ready, joined with ghee, mixed well with forest-produce; and, eating it with reverence, he left not a single grain of that food unfinished.

Verse 30 (padma.5.117.30)

अथाकथो वीक्ष्य मुनिं सुतुष्टं तुतोष भार्य्यासहितस्तपस्वी । गतोऽथ भुक्त्वापि यतिः स चाकथः संतुष्टचित्तोऽथ जपं चकार

athākatho vīkṣya muniṁ sutuṣṭaṁ tutoṣa bhāryyāsahitastapasvī gato'tha bhuktvāpi yatiḥ sa cākathaḥ saṁtuṣṭacitto'tha japaṁ cakāra

"Then Akatha, seeing the sage well satisfied, was himself pleased, together with his wife, that ascetic couple. The ascetic then departed, having eaten; and that Akatha too, his mind content, recited his mantra."

Verse 31 (padma.5.117.31)

कपोतवृत्तिं स चकार पत्न्या तपोवितानायस सज्जनो मुनिः । पीठेऽथ कृत्वा तमुमापतिं शिवं लिंगे समाराध्य समन्वितं गणैः

kapotavṛttiṁ sa cakāra patnyā tapovitānāyasa sajjano muniḥ pīṭhe'tha kṛtvā tamumāpatiṁ śivaṁ liṁge samārādhya samanvitaṁ gaṇaiḥ

"He, that virtuous sage, together with his wife, lived on but a pigeon's own sustenance, for the sake of his austerities. Then, having placed the Lord of Uma, Shiva, together with his hosts, upon a pedestal, in a linga, and worshipped him fully—"

Verse 32 (padma.5.117.32)

लिंगं निधायाथ निरीक्षमाणो ददर्श चाज्ञातकृशाकृतिं द्विजम् । दिगंबरं पादविहीनमेतं काणं कुणिं कर्णविहीनकं प्रभुम्

liṁgaṁ nidhāyātha nirīkṣamāṇo dadarśa cājñātakṛśākṛtiṁ dvijam digaṁbaraṁ pādavihīnametaṁ kāṇaṁ kuṇiṁ karṇavihīnakaṁ prabhum

"—having set down the linga, and looking about, he saw a Brahmin of unrecognized, emaciated form — naked, footless, one-eyed, crippled, earless, this very lord in disguise—"

Verse 33 (padma.5.117.33)

सामोद्गिरं तं बहुशास्त्रपारगं गृहं समायांतमथो ददर्श

sāmodgiraṁ taṁ bahuśāstrapāragaṁ gṛhaṁ samāyāṁtamatho dadarśa

"—of gentle speech, master of many scriptures, coming toward his house — thus he saw him."

Verse 34 (padma.5.117.34)

अथाकथो भार्यां सुशोभनामिदमुवाच

athākatho bhāryāṁ suśobhanāmidamuvāca

Then Akatha said this to his wife, the lovely Shobhana.

Verse 35 (padma.5.117.35)

अयं हि विकृतवेषो ब्राह्मणः समायाति

ayaṁ hi vikṛtaveṣo brāhmaṇaḥ samāyāti

"This Brahmin of deformed appearance is now coming here."

Verse 36 (padma.5.117.36)

अर्द्धं देयमेतस्मै भोजनं रक्षार्द्धमन्नं चास्मिन्नपि दिने गते षष्ठेह्नि भोजनाभावात्तव जीवितं न तिष्ठतीति मम प्रतीयते किं तु त्वं मन्यसे वद

arddhaṁ deyametasmai bhojanaṁ rakṣārddhamannaṁ cāsminnapi dine gate ṣaṣṭhehni bhojanābhāvāttava jīvitaṁ na tiṣṭhatīti mama pratīyate kiṁ tu tvaṁ manyase vada

"Half our food should be given to him, and half kept back; for even on this day, the sixth having already passed without eating, it seems to me your own life might not endure without food. But tell me — what do you think?"

Verse 37 (padma.5.117.37)

सा शोभनोवाच- आयुर्ललाटे लिखितं नांतरा नश्यति

sā śobhanovāca- āyurlalāṭe likhitaṁ nāṁtarā naśyati

That Shobhana said: "Life-span, once written upon the forehead, is never lost by such a cause."

Verse 38 (padma.5.117.38)

आकथ आह। यथा बद्धायुषोऽपि यज्ञस्य वीरभद्रेणच्छिन्नं शिर अजस्रात्मनः किमुत नु याणां पापात्मनामिति तदेनं परिहृत्य त्वया भुज्यते यदि त्वेतस्मै मयान्नं दीयते । तवेच्छानुसारतो मम कर्तव्यम्

ākatha āha yathā baddhāyuṣo'pi yajñasya vīrabhadreṇacchinnaṁ śira ajasrātmanaḥ kimuta nu yāṇāṁ pāpātmanāmiti tadenaṁ parihṛtya tvayā bhujyate yadi tvetasmai mayānnaṁ dīyate tavecchānusārato mama kartavyam

Akatha said: "Just as even the fixed lifespan of Yajna's own head was severed by Virabhadra — of him, of unfailing self — how much more, then, of us sinful souls? So, if the food is given by me to this guest, would you rather go without and eat later? I shall do as you wish."

Verse 39 (padma.5.117.39)

भार्य्या प्राह कथमहं भोक्ष्ये त्वय्यभुक्ते मया किं पूर्वं भुक्तमिदमपरं शृणु

bhāryyā prāha kathamahaṁ bhokṣye tvayyabhukte mayā kiṁ pūrvaṁ bhuktamidamaparaṁ śṛṇu

His wife said: "How could I eat while you remain unfed? Have I ever eaten before you? Hear this, besides—"

Verse 40 (padma.5.117.40)

अन्नं हि प्राणिनां प्राणाः प्रत्यक्षं सर्वदेहिनाम् । तस्मादन्नप्रदो यस्तु प्राणदः स निगद्यते

annaṁ hi prāṇināṁ prāṇāḥ pratyakṣaṁ sarvadehinām tasmādannaprado yastu prāṇadaḥ sa nigadyate

"—food is, in plain truth, the very breath of every living, embodied creature; therefore, whoever gives food is declared to be the very giver of life."

Verse 41 (padma.5.117.41)

अन्नाद्भूतानि जायंते वर्द्धंते तानि वै यतः । तस्मादन्नाधिकं किंचिन्नास्य दानं महाफलम्

annādbhūtāni jāyaṁte varddhaṁte tāni vai yataḥ tasmādannādhikaṁ kiṁcinnāsya dānaṁ mahāphalam

"From food all creatures are born, and by it they grow; therefore, there is nothing greater than food — no gift bears greater fruit."

Verse 42 (padma.5.117.42)

अश्वत्थचलपत्राग्र लीनतोयद्रवास्तिके । जीवितेन हि यो दद्यात्तस्य जन्म निरर्थकम्

aśvatthacalapatrāgra līnatoyadravāstike jīvitena hi yo dadyāttasya janma nirarthakam

"Life itself is as fleeting as a drop of water clinging to the tip of a trembling ashvattha leaf; whoever, fearing to lose it, fails to give, his very birth is in vain."

Verse 43 (padma.5.117.43)

परलोकसहायो हि धर्मो भार्या न बांधवाः । भार्य्या वा पितरौ पुत्रा यावदायुर्न बांधवाः

paralokasahāyo hi dharmo bhāryā na bāṁdhavāḥ bhāryyā vā pitarau putrā yāvadāyurna bāṁdhavāḥ

"For the world beyond, dharma alone is one's companion, not even one's wife; a wife, parents, or children stay only for the span of this life — kinsmen are of no help hereafter."

Verse 44 (padma.5.117.44)

संपद्वयः सुहृदिह इहामुत्र हि तं स्थितम् । धर्मं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठं भुंक्ते चान्ये किमावयोः

saṁpadvayaḥ suhṛdiha ihāmutra hi taṁ sthitam dharmaṁ dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭhaṁ bhuṁkte cānye kimāvayoḥ

"Wealth and youth and friends belong only here; dharma alone abides both here and in the world beyond. Let dharma, best among all that men uphold, be honored — others may enjoy what they will; what is that to us two?"

Verse 45 (padma.5.117.45)

इति भार्य्यावचः श्रुत्वा आकथः करुणानिधिः । अविशंकितमेवास्मै दत्तवानन्नमूर्ज्जितम् । अयं स शंकरो देवो नानाकरणमागतः

iti bhāryyāvacaḥ śrutvā ākathaḥ karuṇānidhiḥ aviśaṁkitamevāsmai dattavānannamūrjjitam ayaṁ sa śaṁkaro devo nānākaraṇamāgataḥ

Hearing this word of his wife's, Akatha, that ocean of compassion, gave that mighty portion of food to him, without any hesitation at all. This was Shankara himself, the god, come there in disguise for some purpose.

Verse 46 (padma.5.117.46)

इति निश्चित्य मनसा तस्यांगं पापनाशनम्

iti niścitya manasā tasyāṁgaṁ pāpanāśanam

Resolving thus in his mind—

Verse 47 (padma.5.117.47)

आजानुपादं प्रक्षाल्य परा जंघमतः परम् । गुल्फं च तदधस्तस्य प्रक्षाल्याचामय द्द्विजम्

ājānupādaṁ prakṣālya parā jaṁghamataḥ param gulphaṁ ca tadadhastasya prakṣālyācāmaya ddvijam

—and, washing his feet up to the knee, then the shin above that, and the ankle below it, he washed him and gave him water to sip, that Brahmin in disguise.

Verse 48 (padma.5.117.48)

अथाकथोऽपि पत्संधिं गृहांगणमुपानयत् । उन्मुच्य पादसंधिं स निषसादार्पितासने

athākatho'pi patsaṁdhiṁ gṛhāṁgaṇamupānayat unmucya pādasaṁdhiṁ sa niṣasādārpitāsane

Then Akatha too brought him, foot by foot, into the courtyard of his house; and, releasing his footsteps there, he sat down upon the seat offered him.

Verse 49 (padma.5.117.49)

समभ्यर्च्याकथः सम्यग्भोजयामास तं मुनिम् । एतस्मिन्नंतरे कश्चिदुन्मत्तो गृहमागतः

samabhyarcyākathaḥ samyagbhojayāmāsa taṁ munim etasminnaṁtare kaścidunmatto gṛhamāgataḥ

Akatha, worshipping him fully, then fed that sage well. Meanwhile, some madman came to the house.

Verse 50 (padma.5.117.50)

पादसंधिमथादाय गृहबाह्यमुपानयत् । अथादहच्च तद्गेहं दंपती चाप्यताडयत्

pādasaṁdhimathādāya gṛhabāhyamupānayat athādahacca tadgehaṁ daṁpatī cāpyatāḍayat

He seized him by his very footsteps and dragged him outside the house; and then he set fire to that house, and struck the couple too.

Verse 51 (padma.5.117.51)

आकथस्ताडितो विप्रो दह्यमानं गृहं तदा । विवेश देवमीशानमादातुं तूर्णमेव वा

ākathastāḍito vipro dahyamānaṁ gṛhaṁ tadā viveśa devamīśānamādātuṁ tūrṇameva vā

Akatha, that struck Brahmin, then entered his own burning house, in order to rescue the god Ishana at once.

Verse 52 (padma.5.117.52)

अथादाय महेशानं दग्धपूजं द्विजोत्तमः । निर्गत्य च ततो दृष्ट्वा मुखसंतापमेव च

athādāya maheśānaṁ dagdhapūjaṁ dvijottamaḥ nirgatya ca tato dṛṣṭvā mukhasaṁtāpameva ca

Then, taking up great Isha, his worship now burnt away, that foremost of Brahmins came out, and, seeing this, felt anguish upon his very face—

Verse 53 (padma.5.117.53)

दग्धपूजां तिरस्कृत्य वीक्ष्य दग्धांगमप्युत । भार्यामुवाच धर्मात्मा यथापूजा महेशितुः

dagdhapūjāṁ tiraskṛtya vīkṣya dagdhāṁgamapyuta bhāryāmuvāca dharmātmā yathāpūjā maheśituḥ

—and, scorning that his own worship had been burnt, and seeing his own limbs burnt too, that righteous soul said to his wife: "Just as the worship of great Isha was burnt—"

Verse 54 (padma.5.117.54)

तथा मम समस्तांगं कर्त्तव्यमविशंकितम् । व्यंग उवाच- पश्चादपि कृता पूजा सफला ते भविष्यति

tathā mama samastāṁgaṁ karttavyamaviśaṁkitam vyaṁga uvāca- paścādapi kṛtā pūjā saphalā te bhaviṣyati

"—so too must my own whole body be offered without hesitation." The cripple said: "Even performed again afterward, your worship shall bear fruit."

Verse 55 (padma.5.117.55)

यथान्यद्रव्यदहने तादृशं दीयते जनैः । पूजाया दहने तद्वत्पूजास्य क्रियतामिति

yathānyadravyadahane tādṛśaṁ dīyate janaiḥ pūjāyā dahane tadvatpūjāsya kriyatāmiti

"—just as, when other substances are burnt, people give the like again; so too, when worship is burnt, worship should likewise be performed again."

Verse 56 (padma.5.117.56)

आकथ उवाच- चौर्येणाप्यर्जितैर्द्रव्यैः पूजया न हितं भवेत् । न चान्यायार्ज्जितैर्विप्र शंभोः पूजा शुभप्रदा

ākatha uvāca- cauryeṇāpyarjitairdravyaiḥ pūjayā na hitaṁ bhavet na cānyāyārjjitairvipra śaṁbhoḥ pūjā śubhapradā

Akatha said: "Worship performed with substances earned even by theft brings no true benefit; nor, O Brahmin, does worship of Shambhu performed with unrighteously-earned substances bring any auspicious fruit."

Verse 57 (padma.5.117.57)

इत्युक्त्वा चाकथस्तूर्णं स्वांगं दग्धुमुपाक्रमत् । दग्धं लिंगं तदोन्मत्तो गृहीत्वांतर्दधे क्षणात्

ityuktvā cākathastūrṇaṁ svāṁgaṁ dagdhumupākramat dagdhaṁ liṁgaṁ tadonmatto gṛhītvāṁtardadhe kṣaṇāt

Having said this, Akatha at once set about burning his own limb; then that madman, taking up the burnt linga, vanished in an instant.

Verse 58 (padma.5.117.58)

अथ व्यंगो हरो भूत्वा वारयामास चाकथम् । किमर्थं खिद्यते विप्र वरदोऽहं वरं वृणु

atha vyaṁgo haro bhūtvā vārayāmāsa cākatham kimarthaṁ khidyate vipra varado'haṁ varaṁ vṛṇu

Then that cripple, becoming Hara himself, restrained Akatha: "Why do you grieve so, O Brahmin? I am the giver of boons; choose your boon."

Verse 59 (padma.5.117.59)

आकथोऽपि विभोः पादे भक्तिं वव्रे सुनिश्चलाम् । सूत उवाच- एतां श्रुत्वा कथां रामः प्रहृष्टो मुनिभिर्वृतः

ākatho'pi vibhoḥ pāde bhaktiṁ vavre suniścalām sūta uvāca- etāṁ śrutvā kathāṁ rāmaḥ prahṛṣṭo munibhirvṛtaḥ

Akatha too asked for unshakeable devotion to the Lord's feet. Suta said: Hearing this tale, Rama, greatly delighted, surrounded by the sages—

Verse 60 (padma.5.117.60)

भारद्वाजं नमस्कृत्य प्रयाणाज्ञामयाचत

bhāradvājaṁ namaskṛtya prayāṇājñāmayācata

—bowed to Bharadwaja, and asked leave to depart.

Verse 61 (padma.5.117.61)

अथो भरद्वाजमुनिः प्रसन्नः शंभुं वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवं च । नारायणं चर्षिगणांश्च नत्वा व्यसर्जयत्तेऽपि ययुः प्रणम्य

atho bharadvājamuniḥ prasannaḥ śaṁbhuṁ vasiṣṭhaṁ munipuṁgavaṁ ca nārāyaṇaṁ carṣigaṇāṁśca natvā vyasarjayatte'pi yayuḥ praṇamya

Then the sage Bharadwaja, pleased, bowing to Shambhu, to Vasishtha, foremost of sages, to Narayana, and to the hosts of sages, sent them on their way; and they too, bowing, departed.

Verse 62 (padma.5.117.62)

नैमिषीया ऊचुः - गत्वायोध्यां महातेजाः समस्तमुनिसंयुतः । किं चकार ततो रामः स च शंभुर्महायशाः

naimiṣīyā ūcuḥ - gatvāyodhyāṁ mahātejāḥ samastamunisaṁyutaḥ kiṁ cakāra tato rāmaḥ sa ca śaṁbhurmahāyaśāḥ

The sages of Naimisha said: Having gone to Ayodhya, that greatly splendid one, together with all the sages, what did Rama then do, and that greatly renowned Shambhu?

Verse 63 (padma.5.117.63)

सूत उवाच- कौसल्या मासिकश्राद्धमपरेऽहनि राघवः । चिकीर्षुर्द्विजप्रवरानृषिकल्पान्न्यमंत्रयत्

sūta uvāca- kausalyā māsikaśrāddhamapare'hani rāghavaḥ cikīrṣurdvijapravarānṛṣikalpānnyamaṁtrayat

Suta said: Wishing to perform the monthly shraddha for Kausalya on a later day, Raghava invited the foremost Brahmins, equal to sages.

Verse 64 (padma.5.117.64)

शंभुं समस्तत्त्वज्ञं नारदं रोमशं भृगुम् । विश्वामित्रमथो राम एकभक्तव्रती ततः

śaṁbhuṁ samastattvajñaṁ nāradaṁ romaśaṁ bhṛgum viśvāmitramatho rāma ekabhaktavratī tataḥ

Shambhu, knower of all truth, Narada, Romasha, Bhrigu, and Vishvamitra too; then Rama, keeping a vow of a single meal—

Verse 65 (padma.5.117.65)

भूमौ सुखास्तृतायां च सुष्वापा व्याकुलेंद्रियः । परेद्युरथ संप्राप्ते प्रातःस्नात्वा विधानवित्

bhūmau sukhāstṛtāyāṁ ca suṣvāpā vyākuleṁdriyaḥ paredyuratha saṁprāpte prātaḥsnātvā vidhānavit

—slept upon a comfortably spread bed on the ground, his senses restrained; and, the next day having come, he bathed in the morning, knowing the proper rule.

Verse 66 (padma.5.117.66)

अन्नं शाकादिकं शुद्धं जनैरेवान्वकारयत् । नानान्नानि विचित्राणि चोष्याद्यानि तथैव च

annaṁ śākādikaṁ śuddhaṁ janairevānvakārayat nānānnāni vicitrāṇi coṣyādyāni tathaiva ca

He had pure rice and vegetables and the rest prepared by his own attendants; various wondrous foods, and things to be sucked, and the like as well—

Verse 67 (padma.5.117.67)

वटकादींस्तथा भक्ष्यानष्टत्रिंशदकल्पयत् । पायसं षड्विधं चैव पक्वशाकशतद्वयम्

vaṭakādīṁstathā bhakṣyānaṣṭatriṁśadakalpayat pāyasaṁ ṣaḍvidhaṁ caiva pakvaśākaśatadvayam

—fried cakes and other edibles, thirty-eight kinds, he had prepared; six kinds of rice-pudding, and two hundred kinds of cooked vegetables—

Verse 68 (padma.5.117.68)

अपक्वमिश्रकाणां च शतत्रयमकल्पयत् । कालशाकादिकं शाकं फलानि विविधानि च

apakvamiśrakāṇāṁ ca śatatrayamakalpayat kālaśākādikaṁ śākaṁ phalāni vividhāni ca

—and three hundred kinds of dishes mixed raw, and seasonal greens and vegetables, and various fruits—

Verse 69 (padma.5.117.69)

मूलानि चैककंदानि वल्कलानि च राघवः । कारयित्वा नदीं गत्वा सहभ्रातृपुरोहितः

mūlāni caikakaṁdāni valkalāni ca rāghavaḥ kārayitvā nadīṁ gatvā sahabhrātṛpurohitaḥ

—roots, and single-bulb tubers, and bark-fibres too, Raghava had prepared; and then, together with his brothers and his priest, went to the river.

Verse 70 (padma.5.117.70)

सरयूसलिले स्नात्वा हुत्वाग्निं स्वागतान्द्विजान् । उक्त्वा तु स्वागतं तांस्तु कृतदेवार्चनो नृपः

sarayūsalile snātvā hutvāgniṁ svāgatāndvijān uktvā tu svāgataṁ tāṁstu kṛtadevārcano nṛpaḥ

Having bathed in the waters of the Sarayu, offered oblation into the fire, and welcomed the Brahmins who had come, the king, having performed the worship of the gods—

Verse 71 (padma.5.117.71)

प्राणानायम्य संकल्प्य क्षणं चैव प्रदत्तवान् । रोमशं नारदं रामो वैश्वदेवे न्यमंत्रयत्

prāṇānāyamya saṁkalpya kṣaṇaṁ caiva pradattavān romaśaṁ nāradaṁ rāmo vaiśvadeve nyamaṁtrayat

—controlled his breath, made his ritual resolve, and, in that very moment, gave gifts. Rama invited Romasha and Narada to the Vaishvadeva rite—

Verse 72 (padma.5.117.72)

शंभुं भृगुं कौशिकं च मातृस्थाने न्यमंत्रयत् । गोमयेन ततः कृत्वा मंडलं पूज्य चार्हतः

śaṁbhuṁ bhṛguṁ kauśikaṁ ca mātṛsthāne nyamaṁtrayat gomayena tataḥ kṛtvā maṁḍalaṁ pūjya cārhataḥ

—and Shambhu, Bhrigu, and Kaushika he invited to the place of the ancestral mother-rite. Then, having made a diagram with cow-dung, and duly worshipped—

Verse 73 (padma.5.117.73)

पादप्रक्षालनं चक्रे सीतादत्तोदकेन च । आचामयित्वा तान्विप्रान्गृहं गंतुमथोद्यतः

pādaprakṣālanaṁ cakre sītādattodakena ca ācāmayitvā tānviprāngṛhaṁ gaṁtumathodyataḥ

—he washed their feet, with water given by Sita's own hand; and, having given those Brahmins water to sip, he was then about to go to his house.

Verse 74 (padma.5.117.74)

अभ्यागतः समायातः स्थविरो विकृताकृतिः । कृशः संप्रचलद्गात्रो वेपितांघ्रिशिरास्तथा

abhyāgataḥ samāyātaḥ sthaviro vikṛtākṛtiḥ kṛśaḥ saṁpracaladgātro vepitāṁghriśirāstathā

Then a guest arrived — an old man of deformed appearance, emaciated, his limbs trembling all over, his feet and head shaking—

Verse 75 (padma.5.117.75)

लंबमानत्वगुत्कर्षच्छ्वासकासादिपीडितः । दूषिकाक्लिन्नगंडश्च लालासंपृक्तकूर्चकः

laṁbamānatvagutkarṣacchvāsakāsādipīḍitaḥ dūṣikāklinnagaṁḍaśca lālāsaṁpṛktakūrcakaḥ

—his skin hanging loose, afflicted with breathlessness, coughing, and the like, his cheeks wet with eye-discharge, his beard soaked with drool—

Verse 76 (padma.5.117.76)

उवाच रामं राजानमहमेको द्विजः स्थितः । ममापि भोजनं देयं स्थविरस्य कृशस्य च

uvāca rāmaṁ rājānamahameko dvijaḥ sthitaḥ mamāpi bhojanaṁ deyaṁ sthavirasya kṛśasya ca

—said to king Rama: "I am a Brahmin, standing here alone; I too must be given food, old and emaciated as I am."

Verse 77 (padma.5.117.77)

रामोऽपि तद्वचः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । पादौ प्रक्षालयास्य त्वमहमभ्यर्चये द्विजम्

rāmo'pi tadvacaḥ śrutvā lakṣmaṇaṁ vākyamabravīt pādau prakṣālayāsya tvamahamabhyarcaye dvijam

Rama too, hearing this word, said this to Lakshmana: "You wash his feet; I myself shall honor the Brahmin."

Verse 78 (padma.5.117.78)

अभ्यागतोऽपि वचनमाह राममथाकुलम् । त्वया प्रक्षालिते पादे मम भोजनमिष्यते

abhyāgato'pi vacanamāha rāmamathākulam tvayā prakṣālite pāde mama bhojanamiṣyate

But the guest, greatly agitated, said this word to Rama: "Only when my feet are washed by you yourself will I accept my food."

Verse 79 (padma.5.117.79)

मत्तोऽधिका द्विजाः किं ते येन मामवमन्यसे । श्राद्धधर्मं न जानीषे महर्षिगणसेवितम्

matto'dhikā dvijāḥ kiṁ te yena māmavamanyase śrāddhadharmaṁ na jānīṣe maharṣigaṇasevitam

"Are these Brahmins of yours superior to me, that you should slight me so? You do not know the proper law of the shraddha, followed by the very hosts of great sages—"

Verse 80 (padma.5.117.80)

ममावमानतः सर्वविप्राणामवमाननम् । श्राद्धं विहन्यते चापि नरकं च गमिष्यसि

mamāvamānataḥ sarvaviprāṇāmavamānanam śrāddhaṁ vihanyate cāpi narakaṁ ca gamiṣyasi

"—my own dishonor is the dishonor of all Brahmins; the shraddha itself is thereby ruined, and you shall go to hell."

Verse 81 (padma.5.117.81)

अथ रामः स्वयं विप्रपादौ प्राक्षालयत्तदा । आचामयित्वा तं विप्रं गृहं प्रावेशयत्ततः

atha rāmaḥ svayaṁ viprapādau prākṣālayattadā ācāmayitvā taṁ vipraṁ gṛhaṁ prāveśayattataḥ

Then Rama himself washed that Brahmin's feet; and, having given him water to sip, brought him then into the house.

Verse 82 (padma.5.117.82)

आचान्तश्च स्वयं रामो विष्टरं दत्तवानथ । आसीनेषु च विप्रेषु प्राणवायुं निरुध्य च

ācāntaśca svayaṁ rāmo viṣṭaraṁ dattavānatha āsīneṣu ca vipreṣu prāṇavāyuṁ nirudhya ca

Rama himself, having also sipped water, then gave him a seat of kusha grass; and, with the Brahmins seated, restraining the very breath of life within himself—

Verse 83 (padma.5.117.83)

स्वकर्मकरणानुज्ञां लब्ध्वाऽथ सतिलं जलम् । अपहतेति मन्त्रेण द्वारदेशे विचिक्षिपेत्

svakarmakaraṇānujñāṁ labdhvā'tha satilaṁ jalam apahateti mantreṇa dvāradeśe vicikṣipet

—having obtained leave to perform his own rite, he then scattered water mixed with sesame at the doorway, with the mantra beginning 'Apahata' ('driven away are the evil spirits').

Verse 84 (padma.5.117.84)

उदीरतामिति तथा पितृपात्रस्थले क्षिपेत् । गायत्र्या चाक्षतजलं देवपात्रस्थले क्षिपेत् । पाकजातं तथाऽभ्युक्ष्यम न्त्रमेतदुदीरयेत्

udīratāmiti tathā pitṛpātrasthale kṣipet gāyatryā cākṣatajalaṁ devapātrasthale kṣipet pākajātaṁ tathā'bhyukṣyama ntrametadudīrayet

—with the mantra beginning 'Udiratam' ('let them arise'), he sprinkled at the place of the ancestral vessel; and, with the Gayatri, he sprinkled water mixed with unbroken rice at the place of the divine vessel. Having likewise sprinkled the cooked food, he recited this mantra—

Verse 85 (padma.5.117.85)

श्राद्धभूमिं गयां ध्यात्वा ध्यात्वा देवं जनार्दनम् । वस्वादींश्च पितॄन्ध्यात्वा ततः श्राद्धं प्रवर्तयेत्

śrāddhabhūmiṁ gayāṁ dhyātvā dhyātvā devaṁ janārdanam vasvādīṁśca pitṝndhyātvā tataḥ śrāddhaṁ pravartayet

—meditating upon Gaya, the very ground of the shraddha rite, and upon the god Janardana, and upon the ancestors headed by the Vasus, he then began the shraddha.

Verse 86 (padma.5.117.86)

विश्वेदेवार्चनं कुर्याद्यवैर्वा तण्डुलैरथ । मूलाग्रयोजितौ दर्भौ गृहीत्वा साक्षतावथ

viśvedevārcanaṁ kuryādyavairvā taṇḍulairatha mūlāgrayojitau darbhau gṛhītvā sākṣatāvatha

He should worship the Vishvedevas with barley, or with rice; taking two blades of kusha grass, root and tip joined together, together with unbroken rice—

Verse 87 (padma.5.117.87)

भूस्पृष्टदक्षजानुस्तु द्विजहस्ते जलार्पणम् । पुरूरवार्द्रवाणां वै देवानामिदमासनम्

bhūspṛṣṭadakṣajānustu dvijahaste jalārpaṇam purūravārdravāṇāṁ vai devānāmidamāsanam

—touching the ground with his right knee, he offers water into the Brahmin's hand, saying: 'This is the seat of the gods Pururavas and Ardrava.'

Verse 88 (padma.5.117.88)

इति दत्त्वाऽसनं तेषां श्राद्धदः प्रार्थयेत्क्षणम्

iti dattvā'sanaṁ teṣāṁ śrāddhadaḥ prārthayetkṣaṇam

Having thus given them their seat, the giver of the shraddha requests a moment's leave.

Verse 89 (padma.5.117.89)

अर्घं कृत्वा ततः पश्चादुत्तराग्रकुशेष्वथ । न्युब्जं पात्रं ततः कृत्वा कुशग्रन्थिमथोपरि

arghaṁ kṛtvā tataḥ paścāduttarāgrakuśeṣvatha nyubjaṁ pātraṁ tataḥ kṛtvā kuśagranthimathopari

Having prepared the guest-water, then, upon kusha grass with their tips pointing north, he places the vessel face-down, and a knot of kusha above it—

Verse 90 (padma.5.117.90)

उत्तानं तु ततः कृत्वा जलैरभ्युक्ष्यरौक्मकैः । पवित्रान्तर्हिते पात्रे शं नो देव्या जलं क्षिपेत्

uttānaṁ tu tataḥ kṛtvā jalairabhyukṣyaraukmakaiḥ pavitrāntarhite pātre śaṁ no devyā jalaṁ kṣipet

—then, turning it face-up, sprinkles it with waters from golden vessels; and, the vessel screened by the purifying grass, casts water into it with the mantra 'Sham no devya'.

Verse 91 (padma.5.117.91)

वैश्वदेव्याऽखिलं कर्म यावत्तद्विधिचोदितम् । यवोऽसि धान्यराजो वा इति पात्रे क्षिपेद्यवान्

vaiśvadevyā'khilaṁ karma yāvattadvidhicoditam yavo'si dhānyarājo vā iti pātre kṣipedyavān

The entire Vaishvadeva rite is performed just as its rule prescribes; saying, 'You are barley, the very king of grains,' he casts barley into the vessel.

Verse 92 (padma.5.117.92)

मधुमिश्रांस्तु करकान्गन्धपुष्पैस्ततो ददेत् । द्विज तेऽस्त्वर्घ इत्युक्त्वा त्वस्त्वर्घोत्तरतस्ततः

madhumiśrāṁstu karakāngandhapuṣpaistato dadet dvija te'stvargha ityuktvā tvastvarghottaratastataḥ

He then gives honey-mixed vessels together with fragrance and flowers, saying, 'O Brahmin, may this be your guest-offering'; and the answer comes, 'Let it be the guest-offering,' from the north side.

Verse 93 (padma.5.117.93)

आवाहयिष्ये तान्देवानिति पृष्ट्वा तदुत्तरम् । विश्वेदेवास इत्युक्त्वा विप्रमूर्ध्नि कुशान्क्षिपेत्

āvāhayiṣye tāndevāniti pṛṣṭvā taduttaram viśvedevāsa ityuktvā vipramūrdhni kuśānkṣipet

Asking, 'Shall I now invoke those gods?' and receiving the answer, and saying, 'Ye Vishvedevas,' he casts kusha grass upon the Brahmin's head.

Verse 94 (padma.5.117.94)

विश्वेदेवाः शृणुतेममागच्छन्त्विति संजपेत् । समागतो निषण्णोऽथ सदर्भं पात्रमाहरेत्

viśvedevāḥ śṛṇutemamāgacchantviti saṁjapet samāgato niṣaṇṇo'tha sadarbhaṁ pātramāharet

He recites: 'O Vishvedevas, hear this call, and come'; and, the god now present and seated, he brings forward the vessel with the kusha grass.

Verse 95 (padma.5.117.95)

दक्षिणे चरणे क्षिप्त्वा मुख्यपात्रोदकं ततः । विप्रस्य दक्षिणे हस्ते प्रागग्रेऽथ पवित्रके

dakṣiṇe caraṇe kṣiptvā mukhyapātrodakaṁ tataḥ viprasya dakṣiṇe haste prāgagre'tha pavitrake

Having poured the main vessel's water upon the right foot, he then, upon the Brahmin's right hand, with the purifying grass pointing east—

Verse 96 (padma.5.117.96)

या दिव्या इति मंत्रेण निक्षिपेत्पात्रवारितत् । इदं भो अर्घमित्युक्त्वा ह्यस्त्वर्घोत्तरतस्ततः

yā divyā iti maṁtreṇa nikṣipetpātravāritat idaṁ bho arghamityuktvā hyastvarghottaratastataḥ

—casts that vessel's water with the mantra beginning 'Ya divya' ('which is divine'); saying, 'This, O sir, is the guest-offering,' the answer 'Let it be the guest-offering' comes from the north.

Verse 97 (padma.5.117.97)

पात्रे धृत्वाऽर्घतोयं च तत्पात्रं स्थापयेत्क्वचित् । अथ दत्त्वा करे तोयं यवैरेतानथार्चयेत्

pātre dhṛtvā'rghatoyaṁ ca tatpātraṁ sthāpayetkvacit atha dattvā kare toyaṁ yavairetānathārcayet

Holding the guest-water in the vessel, he sets that vessel down somewhere; and then, having given water into their hands, he worships them with barley.

Verse 98 (padma.5.117.98)

अर्चत प्रार्चत इति पृष्ट्वा चोत्तरतस्ततः । पादादिमूर्धपर्यन्तमभ्यर्च्य जलदस्ततः

arcata prārcata iti pṛṣṭvā cottaratastataḥ pādādimūrdhaparyantamabhyarcya jaladastataḥ

Asking, 'Shall I worship? Worship fully?' and receiving the answer from the north, he worships them from foot to head, and then gives water—

Verse 99 (padma.5.117.99)

गन्धद्वारेति मन्त्रेण तथेत्युक्त्वोत्तरस्ततः । पितॄणामर्चनं कुर्यादेवमेवापसव्यकम्

gandhadvāreti mantreṇa tathetyuktvottarastataḥ pitṝṇāmarcanaṁ kuryādevamevāpasavyakam

—with the mantra 'Gandhadvara' ('gateway of fragrance'); receiving the answer 'so be it' from the north. In this same way, but moving counter-clockwise, he performs the worship of the ancestors.

Verse 100 (padma.5.117.100)

उपवीतं द्विजं कृत्वा कुशान्भग्नांस्तिलान्वितान् । वामजानुं भूमिगतं कृत्वा दद्यात्तदासनम्

upavītaṁ dvijaṁ kṛtvā kuśānbhagnāṁstilānvitān vāmajānuṁ bhūmigataṁ kṛtvā dadyāttadāsanam

Making the sacred thread hang over the left shoulder, the reverse of the usual manner, with broken kusha grass mixed with sesame, and touching the ground with his left knee, he gives their seat.

Verse 101 (padma.5.117.101)

दक्षिणाभिमुखो भूत्वा क्षणप्रश्नमथो वदेत् । दक्षिणाग्रेषु दर्भेषु न्युब्जं पात्रत्रयं न्यसेत्

dakṣiṇābhimukho bhūtvā kṣaṇapraśnamatho vadet dakṣiṇāgreṣu darbheṣu nyubjaṁ pātratrayaṁ nyaset

Facing south, he asks for a moment's leave; and, upon kusha grass pointing south, sets down three vessels face-down.

Verse 102 (padma.5.117.102)

त्रिकुशग्रन्थिसंयुक्तमुत्तानमथ कल्पयेत् । ततः संप्रोक्ष्य पात्रेषु सपवित्रतिलेषु च

trikuśagranthisaṁyuktamuttānamatha kalpayet tataḥ saṁprokṣya pātreṣu sapavitratileṣu ca

Joined with a triple knot of kusha, he then turns them face-up; and, having sprinkled the vessels together with the purifying grass and sesame—

Verse 103 (padma.5.117.103)

शं नो देव्या जलं क्षिप्त्वा तिलोऽसीति तिलान्क्षिपेत् । गन्धपुष्पमथो दत्त्वा स्वधार्घ इति पृच्छति

śaṁ no devyā jalaṁ kṣiptvā tilo'sīti tilānkṣipet gandhapuṣpamatho dattvā svadhārgha iti pṛcchati

—casts water with 'Sham no devya,' and casts sesame with 'You are sesame'; then, having given fragrance and flowers, he asks: 'Shall the ancestral offering-water be given?'

Verse 104 (padma.5.117.104)

दत्तोत्तरोऽस्त्वर्घ इति पितॄनावाहयेत्ततः । तिलपुष्पकुशैस्तिष्ठन्कल्पितार्घं करे दधत्

dattottaro'stvargha iti pitṝnāvāhayettataḥ tilapuṣpakuśaistiṣṭhankalpitārghaṁ kare dadhat

Given the answer, 'Let it be given,' he then invokes the ancestors; standing with sesame, flowers, and kusha, holding the prepared offering-water in his hand—

Verse 105 (padma.5.117.105)

उशन्तस्त्वेति मन्त्रेण त्रिरर्घोदकमर्पयेत् । अर्चनं तु तदा तेषामपसव्यं तु पूवर्वत्

uśantastveti mantreṇa trirarghodakamarpayet arcanaṁ tu tadā teṣāmapasavyaṁ tu pūvarvat

—he offers the guest-water three times, with the mantra beginning 'Ushantas tva'; and their worship, as before, is performed moving counter-clockwise.

Verse 106 (padma.5.117.106)

प्रक्षाल्य भाजनं स्वर्णं देवानां परिकल्पयेत् । पितॄणां राजतं कुर्याद्यथासंभवमेव वा

prakṣālya bhājanaṁ svarṇaṁ devānāṁ parikalpayet pitṝṇāṁ rājataṁ kuryādyathāsaṁbhavameva vā

Washing the vessels, he prepares golden ones for the gods, and silver ones for the ancestors, or whatever else may be available.

Verse 107 (padma.5.117.107)

तदभावे तु कांस्यं स्यादनन्याशितमुत्तमम् । पात्राणि तदभावे स्युः पालाशानि न मध्यमम्

tadabhāve tu kāṁsyaṁ syādananyāśitamuttamam pātrāṇi tadabhāve syuḥ pālāśāni na madhyamam

In their absence, bell-metal untouched by any other use is excellent; in its absence, the vessels should be of palasha-wood — nothing of middling quality.

Verse 108 (padma.5.117.108)

रम्भाणि चूतपत्राणि जम्बूपुंनागकानि च । पराकान्यथ चाम्पानि मधूककुटजान्यपि

rambhāṇi cūtapatrāṇi jambūpuṁnāgakāni ca parākānyatha cāmpāni madhūkakuṭajānyapi

Plantain-leaves, mango-leaves, jambu and punnaga leaves, paraka leaves, champa leaves, and mahua and kutaja leaves as well—

Verse 109 (padma.5.117.109)

मातुलुङ्गस्य पत्राणि श्राद्धे देयानि वै नृभिः । दर्व्यामन्नमथाऽदाय कराभ्यामाज्यमेव च

mātuluṅgasya patrāṇi śrāddhe deyāni vai nṛbhiḥ darvyāmannamathā'dāya karābhyāmājyameva ca

—and the leaves of the citron tree, are all fit to be given as vessels by men in a shraddha. Then, taking up the food with a ladle, and ghee too with both hands—

Verse 110 (padma.5.117.110)

प्रवेषणं ततः पृच्छेत्प्राचीनावीतवान्द्विजम् । करिष्येऽग्नौकरणमिति कुरुष्वेति तदुत्तरम्

praveṣaṇaṁ tataḥ pṛcchetprācīnāvītavāndvijam kariṣye'gnaukaraṇamiti kuruṣveti taduttaram

—he asks the Brahmin, his sacred thread now reversed, about the serving; saying, 'I shall now make the fire-offering,' and receiving the answer, 'Do so.'

Verse 111 (padma.5.117.111)

परिविष्योपवीती स्यादभिघार्य समाहरेत् । हुनेत्सोमाय पितृमते स्वधा नम इतीरयन्

pariviṣyopavītī syādabhighārya samāharet hunetsomāya pitṛmate svadhā nama itīrayan

Having served the food, his thread restored to the normal manner, he anoints it with ghee, and gathers it up; then he offers in fire, saying, 'To Soma, lord of the ancestors, svadha, namah.'

Verse 112 (padma.5.117.112)

यमायाङ्गिरसे पितृमते स्वधा नम इति । द्वितीयामाहुतिं हुत्वा चाभिघार्याक्षतं ततः

yamāyāṅgirase pitṛmate svadhā nama iti dvitīyāmāhutiṁ hutvā cābhighāryākṣataṁ tataḥ

—'To Yama, of Angirasa's line, lord of the ancestors, svadha, namah.' Having offered this second oblation, and anointed it, and unbroken rice—

Verse 113 (padma.5.117.113)

अग्नये कव्यवाहनाय स्वधा नमस्ततः परम् । हुत्वाऽपसव्यं कृत्वा तु परिविष्य द्विजान्व्रजेत्

agnaye kavyavāhanāya svadhā namastataḥ param hutvā'pasavyaṁ kṛtvā tu pariviṣya dvijānvrajet

—'To Agni, the carrier of ancestral offerings, svadha, namah.' Having offered this, and turned counter-clockwise, and served the Brahmins their food, he then proceeds—

Verse 114 (padma.5.117.114)

मेक्षणेन ततोऽभीक्ष्णं पातयेत्पितृपात्रके । पिण्डपात्रमतः शेषं दर्वीप्रक्षालनं ततः

mekṣaṇena tato'bhīkṣṇaṁ pātayetpitṛpātrake piṇḍapātramataḥ śeṣaṁ darvīprakṣālanaṁ tataḥ

—to drop, again and again, with the stirring-spoon, into the ancestral vessel; the remainder into the pinda-vessel; and then washes the ladle—

Verse 115 (padma.5.117.115)

मेक्षणस्याग्निनिक्षेपं ततः पात्राण्युपस्तरेत् । पात्रदक्षिणभागे तु दद्यादन्नमनन्तरम्

mekṣaṇasyāgninikṣepaṁ tataḥ pātrāṇyupastaret pātradakṣiṇabhāge tu dadyādannamanantaram

—and places the stirring-spoon into the fire; then he arranges the plates, and, on the right side of the plate, immediately gives the food.

Verse 116 (padma.5.117.116)

भक्ष्याणि भोज्यशाकानि सर्वाण्येव स दत्तवान् । अथातिथिर्महावृद्धो वीक्षमाणस्ततस्ततः

bhakṣyāṇi bhojyaśākāni sarvāṇyeva sa dattavān athātithirmahāvṛddho vīkṣamāṇastatastataḥ

He gave every kind of edible, and vegetable dish, without exception. Then that most aged guest, glancing about here and there—

Verse 117 (padma.5.117.117)

उवाच राघवं शान्तं शीघ्रमेव नमस्कुरु । बुभुक्षा वर्ततेऽस्माकं भोक्ष्येऽहं वा तवाऽज्ञया

uvāca rāghavaṁ śāntaṁ śīghrameva namaskuru bubhukṣā vartate'smākaṁ bhokṣye'haṁ vā tavā'jñayā

—said to the calm Raghava: "Bow to me at once! I am hungry, and shall now eat, only with your leave."

Verse 118 (padma.5.117.118)

रामो बभाषे वचनं विलम्बय क्षणं मुने । देवताः पितरो मङ्क्षु नमस्यन्तेऽधुना मया

rāmo babhāṣe vacanaṁ vilambaya kṣaṇaṁ mune devatāḥ pitaro maṅkṣu namasyante'dhunā mayā

Rama said this word: "Wait but a moment, O sage; the gods and ancestors are just now being honored by me."

Verse 119 (padma.5.117.119)

इत्युक्त्वा राघवः प्रादादन्नं पात्रगतं तदा । प्राक्सौम्याग्रान्कुशान्दैवे प्रतीचीदक्षिणाग्रकान्

ityuktvā rāghavaḥ prādādannaṁ pātragataṁ tadā prāksaumyāgrānkuśāndaive pratīcīdakṣiṇāgrakān

Saying this, Raghava then offered the food placed in the vessel; for the divine offering, kusha grass pointing east-northeast; for the ancestral offering, west, tips southward—

Verse 120 (padma.5.117.120)

पित्र्ये पवित्रे ये दर्भा यवानथ तिलानपि । अन्नप्रदानं कुर्वन्ति पृथिवी इति मन्त्रतः

pitrye pavitre ye darbhā yavānatha tilānapi annapradānaṁ kurvanti pṛthivī iti mantrataḥ

—the very kusha grass that purifies the ancestral rite; and, offering barley and sesame too, he made the offering of food with the mantra beginning 'Prithivi' ('O earth').

Verse 121 (padma.5.117.121)

इदं विष्णुरिति स्पृष्टमङ्गुष्ठेन द्विजस्य तु । देवेभ्यः प्रथमं दद्याद्ये देवा इति वै पठन्

idaṁ viṣṇuriti spṛṣṭamaṅguṣṭhena dvijasya tu devebhyaḥ prathamaṁ dadyādye devā iti vai paṭhan

Saying 'This is Vishnu,' touching it with his thumb, he gave first to the gods, reciting 'Ye devah' ('those who are gods')—

Verse 122 (padma.5.117.122)

पितॄणां च ततो दद्याद्दद्यादतिथये ततः । देवताभ्य इति मुखानुच्चार्याऽपोशनं ददेत्

pitṝṇāṁ ca tato dadyāddadyādatithaye tataḥ devatābhya iti mukhānuccāryā'pośanaṁ dadet

—and then gave to the ancestors, and then gave to the guest. Uttering aloud, 'To the gods,' he then gave the water for rinsing the mouth.

Verse 123 (padma.5.117.123)

त्रिर्जपित्वा तु गायत्रीमुपवीती पुरोमुखः । प्राचीनावीतवान्ब्रूयान्मधुत्रयमतः परम्

trirjapitvā tu gāyatrīmupavītī puromukhaḥ prācīnāvītavānbrūyānmadhutrayamataḥ param

Having recited the Gayatri three times, his thread over the left shoulder, facing east, then, with his thread reversed, he recited the threefold Madhu-mantra.

Verse 124 (padma.5.117.124)

भुञ्जध्वमिति तानुक्त्वा भुञ्जानेषु द्विजातिषु । रक्षोघ्नमन्त्रपठनं भक्ष्यभोज्यादि दापयन्

bhuñjadhvamiti tānuktvā bhuñjāneṣu dvijātiṣu rakṣoghnamantrapaṭhanaṁ bhakṣyabhojyādi dāpayan

Saying to them, "Eat," and, as the Brahmins ate, reciting the demon-repelling mantra, he gave them edibles, dishes, and the rest.

Verse 125 (padma.5.117.125)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विप्रो योऽतिथिस्तदिदं तथा । कृतवान्महदाश्चर्यं तद्वदामि समासतः

etasminnantare vipro yo'tithistadidaṁ tathā kṛtavānmahadāścaryaṁ tadvadāmi samāsataḥ

Meanwhile, that Brahmin who was the guest did this most wondrous thing; I shall tell it to you in brief.

Verse 126 (padma.5.117.126)

पात्रस्थितमशेषं च ग्रासेनैकेन चाग्रसत् । प्राणाहुतीनां पर्याप्तं दीयतामिति चाब्रवीत्

pātrasthitamaśeṣaṁ ca grāsenaikena cāgrasat prāṇāhutīnāṁ paryāptaṁ dīyatāmiti cābravīt

He swallowed, in a single mouthful, all that was in his plate, without exception; and said: "Let a sufficient offering for the remaining breath-oblations be given to me."

Verse 127 (padma.5.117.127)

एतावद्दातुमशक्तः कथं श्राद्धक्रियोद्यतः । ममैकस्य प्रदाने त्वमशक्तो राम किं वृथा

etāvaddātumaśaktaḥ kathaṁ śrāddhakriyodyataḥ mamaikasya pradāne tvamaśakto rāma kiṁ vṛthā

"If you are unable to give even this much, how have you undertaken this shraddha rite at all? Unable to satisfy even me alone, O Rama, why bother—"

Verse 128 (padma.5.117.128)

बहूनां भोजनं दातुमुद्युक्तो राम किं वृथा । सहसा कृतकर्माणि न समाप्तिं प्रयान्ति च

bahūnāṁ bhojanaṁ dātumudyukto rāma kiṁ vṛthā sahasā kṛtakarmāṇi na samāptiṁ prayānti ca

"—why do you trouble yourself, Rama, to feed so many, in vain? Deeds done rashly never reach true completion."

Verse 129 (padma.5.117.129)

त्वया कृतमशेषाणां नालं प्राणाहुतिर्मम । कथं मे दीयते भुक्तिः कथमेषां तथा वद

tvayā kṛtamaśeṣāṇāṁ nālaṁ prāṇāhutirmama kathaṁ me dīyate bhuktiḥ kathameṣāṁ tathā vada

"What you have prepared for everyone is not even enough for my own breath-oblation. Tell me — how shall food be given to me, and how to all these others too?"

Verse 130 (padma.5.117.130)

रामस्तमब्रवीद्वीरो भुंक्ष्व त्वं हि यथासुखम् । इत्युदीर्य निरीक्ष्यास्य कर्म तत्परमाद्भुतम्

rāmastamabravīdvīro bhuṁkṣva tvaṁ hi yathāsukham ityudīrya nirīkṣyāsya karma tatparamādbhutam

Rama, that hero, said to him: "Eat, then, as much as pleases you." Saying this, and beholding his most wondrous deed—

Verse 131 (padma.5.117.131)

अथ शंभुं समाहूय प्राह त्वं परिवेषय । त्वं पिता पार्वती माता शिवा देवीति मे मतिः

atha śaṁbhuṁ samāhūya prāha tvaṁ pariveṣaya tvaṁ pitā pārvatī mātā śivā devīti me matiḥ

—then, calling Shambhu, he said: "You must serve him. You are my very father, and Parvati my mother; the goddess Shiva — such is my own conviction."

Verse 132 (padma.5.117.132)

अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी देवी भवान्येवेति मे मतिः । सा शांभवी वचः प्राह तत्पर्याप्तं ददाम्यहम्

annapūrṇeśvarī devī bhavānyeveti me matiḥ sā śāṁbhavī vacaḥ prāha tatparyāptaṁ dadāmyaham

"The goddess Annapurna, mistress of food, is Bhavani herself — such is my own conviction." That consort of Shambhu then said: "I myself shall give enough for him."

Verse 133 (padma.5.117.133)

अथोमा कांस्यमादाय भिस्सापूर्णमलंकृतम् । स्वर्णदर्व्या समादाय पायसं गन्धकान्तिमत्

athomā kāṁsyamādāya bhissāpūrṇamalaṁkṛtam svarṇadarvyā samādāya pāyasaṁ gandhakāntimat

Then Uma, taking up a bell-metal vessel, full and adorned, and, with a golden ladle, taking up rice-pudding, fragrant and radiant—

Verse 134 (padma.5.117.134)

अस्याक्षयमिदं भूयादिति प्रादात्तु पायसम् । द्विजस्य दक्षिणे हस्ते साऽददात्सत्कृतं मुदा

asyākṣayamidaṁ bhūyāditi prādāttu pāyasam dvijasya dakṣiṇe haste sā'dadātsatkṛtaṁ mudā

—said, "Let this become inexhaustible for him," and gave that rice-pudding, into the Brahmin's right hand, honoring him joyfully.

Verse 135 (padma.5.117.135)

सशिरः कम्पमानस्तु ऊर्ध्वदृष्टिरथाभवत् । प्रसारितकरश्चाऽसीद्गृहीत्वा पायसं करे

saśiraḥ kampamānastu ūrdhvadṛṣṭirathābhavat prasāritakaraścā'sīdgṛhītvā pāyasaṁ kare

He, his very head trembling, his gaze turned upward, held out his hand, taking that rice-pudding in his palm.

Verse 136 (padma.5.117.136)

दीयतां पायसं स्वादु सुष्ठु पक्वमिदं तु किम् । शंभुपत्नी बभाषे तं करे भुंक्ष्व ततो ददे

dīyatāṁ pāyasaṁ svādu suṣṭhu pakvamidaṁ tu kim śaṁbhupatnī babhāṣe taṁ kare bhuṁkṣva tato dade

"Give me this sweet rice-pudding, so well cooked — what is this?" Shambhu's own wife said to him: "Eat it from your palm" — and then gave him more.

Verse 137 (padma.5.117.137)

अभक्षयत्ततो विप्रः पुनः करतले स्थितम् । तदक्षयमथ ज्ञात्वा प्रासारयदथेतरम्

abhakṣayattato vipraḥ punaḥ karatale sthitam tadakṣayamatha jñātvā prāsārayadathetaram

The Brahmin then ate what lay in his palm; and, then finding it inexhaustible, held out his other hand.

Verse 138 (padma.5.117.138)

तस्मिन्करतले देवी पायसं दत्तवत्युत । अन्येषामपि विप्राणां पक्वाक्षय्यमदात्सती

tasminkaratale devī pāyasaṁ dattavatyuta anyeṣāmapi viprāṇāṁ pakvākṣayyamadātsatī

The goddess gave rice-pudding into that palm too; and to the other Brahmins as well, that virtuous woman gave the same inexhaustible, well-cooked food.

Verse 139 (padma.5.117.139)

अथ पाणिद्वयगतं विज्ञायाक्षय्यपायसम् । दृष्ट्वा करान्तरमथो प्रासारयत स द्विजः

atha pāṇidvayagataṁ vijñāyākṣayyapāyasam dṛṣṭvā karāntaramatho prāsārayata sa dvijaḥ

Then, finding the rice-pudding placed in both his hands inexhaustible, and seeing this, that Brahmin held out yet another hand.

Verse 140 (padma.5.117.140)

उवाचान्नं प्रदातव्यं ससूपघृतमुत्तमम् । शिवादेवी तथा प्रादादक्षय्यं शंभुवल्लभा

uvācānnaṁ pradātavyaṁ sasūpaghṛtamuttamam śivādevī tathā prādādakṣayyaṁ śaṁbhuvallabhā

He said: "Rice too must be given, with excellent soup and ghee." And the goddess Shiva, Shambhu's own beloved, gave that too, inexhaustibly.

Verse 141 (padma.5.117.141)

यद्यत्प्रादात्तदा साध्वी सर्वमेव तदक्षयम् । करान्तरमथोसृष्टं परिपूर्णं पुनःपुनः

yadyatprādāttadā sādhvī sarvameva tadakṣayam karāntaramathosṛṣṭaṁ paripūrṇaṁ punaḥpunaḥ

Whatever that virtuous goddess gave, all of it became inexhaustible then and there; another hand held out, and it was filled full again and again.

Verse 142 (padma.5.117.142)

एवं करसहस्रं तु कृत्वा स विरराम ह । उवाच वचनं विप्रो देहि गण्डूषवारि मे । तर्पितोऽस्मि त्वया भद्रे न रामेण न सीतया

evaṁ karasahasraṁ tu kṛtvā sa virarāma ha uvāca vacanaṁ vipro dehi gaṇḍūṣavāri me tarpito'smi tvayā bhadre na rāmeṇa na sītayā

Having thus produced a thousand hands, he at last stopped; and that Brahmin spoke this word: "Give me now water for rinsing my mouth. I have been satisfied by you, O auspicious one — not by Rama, nor by Sita."

Verse 143 (padma.5.117.143)

शंभुरुवाच- रामेण सीतया दत्तं मया दत्तं हि यत्र च । इतः परं हि किं देयं पूर्णं वा त्वं वदस्व मे

śaṁbhuruvāca- rāmeṇa sītayā dattaṁ mayā dattaṁ hi yatra ca itaḥ paraṁ hi kiṁ deyaṁ pūrṇaṁ vā tvaṁ vadasva me

Shambhu said: "Whatever was given by Rama, by Sita, or by me — beyond this, what more is to be given? Or is it now complete? Tell me."

Verse 144 (padma.5.117.144)

द्विज उवाच- तृप्तोऽस्मि न च मे देयमधिकं च करस्थितम् । विद्वन्नतः करगतं न पपात कथंचन

dvija uvāca- tṛpto'smi na ca me deyamadhikaṁ ca karasthitam vidvannataḥ karagataṁ na papāta kathaṁcana

The Brahmin said: "I am satisfied; nothing more need be given to me — and yet what remains in my hand cannot be given at all. O wise one, it will not fall from my hand by any means."

Verse 145 (padma.5.117.145)

निषण्णो हि चिरं दध्यौ कथं मे केवलः करः । भुक्त्यै कृतमिदं सर्वं नान्यस्मै कर्मणे मम

niṣaṇṇo hi ciraṁ dadhyau kathaṁ me kevalaḥ karaḥ bhuktyai kṛtamidaṁ sarvaṁ nānyasmai karmaṇe mama

Seated there, he pondered long: "Why does my hand alone remain stuck? All this was done only for my eating, not for any other act of mine."

Verse 146 (padma.5.117.146)

तस्मादन्यकृतेरेतत्सर्वं रिक्तं भविष्यति । इति निश्चित्य मनसा लिप्ताङ्गोऽतिथिराभवत्

tasmādanyakṛteretatsarvaṁ riktaṁ bhaviṣyati iti niścitya manasā liptāṅgo'tithirābhavat

"Therefore, for any other action taken with it, all this shall become empty." Resolving thus in his mind, that guest, his hand still coated with the pudding, remained thus.

Verse 147 (padma.5.117.147)

पश्यत्सु सर्वदेवेषु तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् । तृप्तानथ द्विजाञ्ज्ञात्वा राघवः परमार्थवित्

paśyatsu sarvadeveṣu tadadbhutamivābhavat tṛptānatha dvijāñjñātvā rāghavaḥ paramārthavit

As all the gods looked on, it seemed a wondrous thing indeed. Then Raghava, knower of the highest truth, learning that the Brahmins were satisfied—

Verse 148 (padma.5.117.148)

दर्वीकरोऽथ तृप्ताः स्थ इति पृष्ट्वा यथाविधि । तृप्ताः स्म इति विप्रेन्द्रा विकीर्यान्नं समन्त्रकम्

darvīkaro'tha tṛptāḥ stha iti pṛṣṭvā yathāvidhi tṛptāḥ sma iti viprendrā vikīryānnaṁ samantrakam

—ladle in hand, asked them duly, "Are you satisfied?" "We are satisfied," said the foremost Brahmins; and, scattering the food with its proper mantra—

Verse 149 (padma.5.117.149)

पात्रस्य याम्याभिमुखः संनिधौ पिण्डमर्पयेत् । गण्डूषमपि विप्राणां तत्रैव परिकल्पयेत्

pātrasya yāmyābhimukhaḥ saṁnidhau piṇḍamarpayet gaṇḍūṣamapi viprāṇāṁ tatraiva parikalpayet

—facing south of the vessel, he offered the rice-ball nearby; and prepared the mouth-rinsing water for the Brahmins there as well.

Verse 150 (padma.5.117.150)

उच्छिष्टपर्णपात्रेषु ते गण्डूषमकुर्वत । गृहान्तरे च ते विप्रा विविशुस्त्वतिथिं विना

ucchiṣṭaparṇapātreṣu te gaṇḍūṣamakurvata gṛhāntare ca te viprā viviśustvatithiṁ vinā

They rinsed their mouths over their own used leaf-plates; and those Brahmins then went inside the house, all except the guest.

Verse 151 (padma.5.117.151)

आहातिथिर्बहिः कार्यं मयाऽचमनं विट्पते । उत्थातुं नैव शक्नोमि करं मे देहि राघव

āhātithirbahiḥ kāryaṁ mayā'camanaṁ viṭpate utthātuṁ naiva śaknomi karaṁ me dehi rāghava

The guest said: "I have some business outside, and my own sipping still to do, O lord of the people; but I cannot rise at all. Give me your hand, O Raghava."

Verse 152 (padma.5.117.152)

अथ रामः करं प्रादान्नोत्थितस्तु द्विजोत्तमः । हनूमानथ चाप्यस्य दत्तवान्बलवत्करम्

atha rāmaḥ karaṁ prādānnotthitastu dvijottamaḥ hanūmānatha cāpyasya dattavānbalavatkaram

Then Rama gave him his hand; but that foremost Brahmin did not rise. Then Hanuman too gave him his own mighty hand.

Verse 153 (padma.5.117.153)

इतरेण गृहीत्वा तु करेण द्विजपुंगवम् । आचकर्ष कपीन्द्रस्तु द्विजः साक्रोशमुक्तवान्

itareṇa gṛhītvā tu kareṇa dvijapuṁgavam ācakarṣa kapīndrastu dvijaḥ sākrośamuktavān

Grasping that foremost Brahmin with his other hand, that lord of monkeys pulled him; and the Brahmin cried out—

Verse 154 (padma.5.117.154)

द्विज उवाच- छिद्यते मे करो व्यक्तमुत्थापय ततोऽन्यतः । लांगूलेन सपीठं तमावृत्याऽमस्तकं बलात्

dvija uvāca- chidyate me karo vyaktamutthāpaya tato'nyataḥ lāṁgūlena sapīṭhaṁ tamāvṛtyā'mastakaṁ balāt

—the Brahmin said: "My hand is plainly being torn off! Raise me some other way." Then, wrapping his tail around him, seat and all, up to his very head, by force—

Verse 155 (padma.5.117.155)

अथाधावत्ततः पृथ्वीं द्विजस्तु न चचाल ह । अथ वानरवीरस्तु पद्भ्यां च कृन्ततां महीम्

athādhāvattataḥ pṛthvīṁ dvijastu na cacāla ha atha vānaravīrastu padbhyāṁ ca kṛntatāṁ mahīm

—Hanuman then rushed off; but the Brahmin, and the very earth, did not move at all. Then that hero among monkeys, digging into the earth with his own feet—

Verse 156 (padma.5.117.156)

पादौ विन्यस्य सुदृढौ द्विजमूर्धानमाक्षिपत् । विशीर्णमभवद्वेश्म द्विजाः सर्वे बहिस्तथा

pādau vinyasya sudṛḍhau dvijamūrdhānamākṣipat viśīrṇamabhavadveśma dvijāḥ sarve bahistathā

—planting his two feet most firmly, wrenched at the Brahmin's very head; the house itself was shattered, and all the Brahmins fled outside.

Verse 157 (padma.5.117.157)

सह वृद्धद्विजः सोऽथ हनूमान्बहिरभ्यगात् । पीठे च स्थापयामास ब्राह्मणं स्थविरं कृशम्

saha vṛddhadvijaḥ so'tha hanūmānbahirabhyagāt pīṭhe ca sthāpayāmāsa brāhmaṇaṁ sthaviraṁ kṛśam

Then Hanuman, together with that aged Brahmin, went outside as well; and set that old, emaciated Brahmin down upon his own seat.

Verse 158 (padma.5.117.158)

द्विजाय जलमादाय जाम्बवान्मृण्मये घटे । आह स्वच्छं जलं विप्र त्वयाऽदेयं सभाजनम्

dvijāya jalamādāya jāmbavānmṛṇmaye ghaṭe āha svacchaṁ jalaṁ vipra tvayā'deyaṁ sabhājanam

Jambavan, bringing water for the Brahmin in an earthen pot, said: "This is clear water, O Brahmin; the vessel itself need not be given by you."

Verse 159 (padma.5.117.159)

सीता प्रक्षालयेदङ्गं लक्ष्मणो जलदो भवेत् । जाम्बवानाह तं रामं ब्राह्मणोक्तमशेषतः

sītā prakṣālayedaṅgaṁ lakṣmaṇo jalado bhavet jāmbavānāha taṁ rāmaṁ brāhmaṇoktamaśeṣataḥ

"Let Sita wash his body, let Lakshmana be the giver of water." Jambavan told Rama everything the Brahmin had said, in full.

Verse 160 (padma.5.117.160)

द्विजप्रक्षालने रामो व्यादिदेशानुजं प्रियाम् । सौमित्रिर्जलमादाय द्विजाङ्गक्षालने तथा

dvijaprakṣālane rāmo vyādideśānujaṁ priyām saumitrirjalamādāya dvijāṅgakṣālane tathā

Rama then instructed his younger brother and his own beloved wife for the washing of the Brahmin. Saumitri, taking up water, assisted likewise in the washing of the Brahmin's body.

Verse 161 (padma.5.117.161)

प्राक्षालयदशेषाङ्गं प्रतिमामिव भूभुजः । अथ रामोपदेशेन चक्रतुस्तौ तथैव च

prākṣālayadaśeṣāṅgaṁ pratimāmiva bhūbhujaḥ atha rāmopadeśena cakratustau tathaiva ca

She washed his entire body, as one would a sacred image, at the king's own bidding; and, at Rama's instruction, those two did just as told.

Verse 162 (padma.5.117.162)

अथातिथिः स्वगण्डूषं सीतावक्त्रे व्यमुञ्चत । सालंकाराऽम्बुभिर्व्याप्ता प्राक्षालयदथो सती

athātithiḥ svagaṇḍūṣaṁ sītāvaktre vyamuñcata sālaṁkārā'mbubhirvyāptā prākṣālayadatho satī

Then the guest spat his own mouth-rinse into Sita's very face; and that virtuous woman, adorned as she was, covered with that water, washed him nonetheless.

Verse 163 (padma.5.117.163)

श्लेष्मलालासुप्रचुरं मुखं विप्रस्य सा सती । प्रममार्ज पुनः क्षाल्य नासा श्लेष्माणमत्यजत्

śleṣmalālāsupracuraṁ mukhaṁ viprasya sā satī pramamārja punaḥ kṣālya nāsā śleṣmāṇamatyajat

That virtuous woman wiped clean the Brahmin's mouth, thick with phlegm and drool; and, washing again, cleared the mucus from his very nose.

Verse 164 (padma.5.117.164)

आचामयित्वा सौमित्रिरुत्तिष्ठेत्यब्रवीद्द्विजम् । द्विजो न शक्यमित्याह हनूमानप्यथाऽगतः

ācāmayitvā saumitriruttiṣṭhetyabravīddvijam dvijo na śakyamityāha hanūmānapyathā'gataḥ

Having given him water to sip, Saumitri said to the Brahmin, "Rise now." The Brahmin said, "I cannot." Then Hanuman too came forward.

Verse 165 (padma.5.117.165)

अतिथिः प्राह तं विप्रः पीडितोऽहं हनूमता । गृहीत्वोद्धरता पूर्वं पातितो वानरेण च

atithiḥ prāha taṁ vipraḥ pīḍito'haṁ hanūmatā gṛhītvoddharatā pūrvaṁ pātito vānareṇa ca

That Brahmin guest said to him: "I have already been hurt by Hanuman; seized and lifted before, I was dropped by that monkey."

Verse 166 (padma.5.117.166)

जांबवानथ तं प्राह लोमांगं मम वै मृदु । मयाथ ध्रियसे विप्र न च पीडा भविष्यति

jāṁbavānatha taṁ prāha lomāṁgaṁ mama vai mṛdu mayātha dhriyase vipra na ca pīḍā bhaviṣyati

Then Jambavan said to him: "My own body is soft with fur; held by me, O Brahmin, there shall be no pain at all."

Verse 167 (padma.5.117.167)

इत्युक्त्वा जांबवान्विप्रं दोर्भ्यामालंब्य चोद्धरत् । द्विजप्रांतमथादाय स्थापयामास तं मुनिम्

ityuktvā jāṁbavānvipraṁ dorbhyāmālaṁbya coddharat dvijaprāṁtamathādāya sthāpayāmāsa taṁ munim

Saying this, Jambavan, supporting the Brahmin with both his arms, lifted him up; and, taking hold of him carefully, that sage set him down.

Verse 168 (padma.5.117.168)

अथ रामो द्विजेंद्राणां प्रदक्षिणमवर्तत । दत्ताशीरपि विपेंद्रैर्दत्वा तांबूलमग्रतः

atha rāmo dvijeṁdrāṇāṁ pradakṣiṇamavartata dattāśīrapi vipeṁdrairdatvā tāṁbūlamagrataḥ

Then Rama performed circumambulation of the foremost Brahmins; and, blessed by them, gave betel first of all.

Verse 169 (padma.5.117.169)

पादावलंबकृद्रामो भ्रातृभिः सह चाब्रवीत् । अयि सीतेऽतिथेरस्य त्वया न क्षालितं वपुः

pādāvalaṁbakṛdrāmo bhrātṛbhiḥ saha cābravīt ayi sīte'titherasya tvayā na kṣālitaṁ vapuḥ

Rama, supporting his feet, together with his brothers, said: "O Sita, this guest's body has not yet been fully washed by you—"

Verse 170 (padma.5.117.170)

जंघायुगेऽतिथेरस्य मलं चास्यं मलान्वितम् । सम्यक्प्रक्षालय मुखं द्विजो न सहते मलम्

jaṁghāyuge'titherasya malaṁ cāsyaṁ malānvitam samyakprakṣālaya mukhaṁ dvijo na sahate malam

"—there is still filth on both his shins, and his face too is soiled; wash his mouth properly. A Brahmin cannot bear filth."

Verse 171 (padma.5.117.171)

सीतोवाच- अथ प्रक्षालितं सम्यगिदानीं निर्गतं पुनः । राम उवाच- पुनः प्रक्षालय मलं दोषः स्यादन्यथा मम

sītovāca- atha prakṣālitaṁ samyagidānīṁ nirgataṁ punaḥ rāma uvāca- punaḥ prakṣālaya malaṁ doṣaḥ syādanyathā mama

Sita said: "It has already been washed properly, but it has come out again just now." Rama said: "Wash the filth again; otherwise the fault shall be mine."

Verse 172 (padma.5.117.172)

अथ सीता तथा कृत्वा तूष्णीमेव बभूव ह । आह रामं च सीतां च द्विजः परमकोपवान्

atha sītā tathā kṛtvā tūṣṇīmeva babhūva ha āha rāmaṁ ca sītāṁ ca dvijaḥ paramakopavān

Then Sita, having done so, fell silent. The Brahmin, greatly angered, said to Rama and to Sita—

Verse 173 (padma.5.117.173)

पादौ यौ मम राजेंद्र तौ सीता लंबयेदिति । भवान्करौ च भरतो मम वीजं प्रयच्छतु

pādau yau mama rājeṁdra tau sītā laṁbayediti bhavānkarau ca bharato mama vījaṁ prayacchatu

—"O foremost of kings, let Sita hold up my two feet; let you yourself, and Bharata, hold my hands—"

Verse 174 (padma.5.117.174)

लक्ष्मणः केशनिचय प्रसाधनकरो भवेत् । शत्रुघ्नः श्लेष्मनिर्मुक्तिं स्ववस्त्रेण करोतु मे

lakṣmaṇaḥ keśanicaya prasādhanakaro bhavet śatrughnaḥ śleṣmanirmuktiṁ svavastreṇa karotu me

"—let Lakshmana become the dresser of my hair; let Shatrughna, with his own garment, wipe the phlegm from me."

Verse 175 (padma.5.117.175)

सूत उवाच- अथ ते चक्रुरतिथेरशेषमुदितं तथा । तथापुर्विस्मयं विप्रा नरवानरराक्षसाः

sūta uvāca- atha te cakruratitheraśeṣamuditaṁ tathā tathāpurvismayaṁ viprā naravānararākṣasāḥ

Suta said: Then they did everything that guest had said, without exception; and the Brahmins, men, monkeys, and Rakshasas alike, were filled with wonder at it.

Verse 176 (padma.5.117.176)

शिवा देवी च शंभुश्च सभ्रूभंगमुदैक्षताम् । मनसा चाप्यभाषेतामतिथिःशंभुरेव च

śivā devī ca śaṁbhuśca sabhrūbhaṁgamudaikṣatām manasā cāpyabhāṣetāmatithiḥśaṁbhureva ca

The goddess Shiva and Shambhu watched, their brows arched in wonder; and the guest, and Shambhu himself, conversed together in their very minds.

Verse 177 (padma.5.117.177)

अतिथिश्च प्रसन्नोऽभू च्छंखचक्रगदाधरः । पीतांबरः समस्तांगभूषितोऽतीव दीप्तिमान्

atithiśca prasanno'bhū cchaṁkhacakragadādharaḥ pītāṁbaraḥ samastāṁgabhūṣito'tīva dīptimān

Then the guest, becoming pleased, revealed his true form: bearer of conch, discus, and mace, clad in yellow, adorned in every limb, radiant beyond measure—

Verse 178 (padma.5.117.178)

यः पुराराधितः शंभुः प्रसन्नोऽभूत्त्रिलोचनः । शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशः सर्वाभरणभूषितः

yaḥ purārādhitaḥ śaṁbhuḥ prasanno'bhūttrilocanaḥ śuddhasphaṭikasaṁkāśaḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ

—and the three-eyed Shambhu too, worshipped there, became pleased and revealed himself — radiant as pure crystal, adorned with every ornament—

Verse 179 (padma.5.117.179)

कोटिसूर्य्यप्रतीकाशः किरीटीकरुणानिधिः । आलंब्य चक्रिणः पाणिमातिष्ठत सदाशिवः

koṭisūryyapratīkāśaḥ kirīṭīkaruṇānidhiḥ ālaṁbya cakriṇaḥ pāṇimātiṣṭhata sadāśivaḥ

—splendid as a million suns, crowned, an ocean of compassion; Sadashiva stood there, resting his hand upon that bearer of the discus.

Verse 180 (padma.5.117.180)

रामः परमधर्म्मात्मा पुलकांचितविग्रहः । दंडवन्निपपातोर्व्यामानंदप्लाविते क्षणः

rāmaḥ paramadharmmātmā pulakāṁcitavigrahaḥ daṁḍavannipapātorvyāmānaṁdaplāvite kṣaṇaḥ

Rama, that supremely righteous soul, his body thrilling with rapture, fell prostrate like a rod upon the earth, that moment flooded with bliss.

Verse 181 (padma.5.117.181)

अनमन्भ्रातरस्तस्य दंडवद्भूतले स्थिताः । शिव उत्थाप्य काकुत्स्थमालिंग्याघ्राय मस्तकम्

anamanbhrātarastasya daṁḍavadbhūtale sthitāḥ śiva utthāpya kākutsthamāliṁgyāghrāya mastakam

His brothers too bowed, lying prostrate like rods upon the ground. Shiva, raising up the scion of Kakutstha, embraced him, and smelled his head in blessing.

Verse 182 (padma.5.117.182)

उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं रामं राजीवलोचनम् । शिव उवाच- वरं वृणु प्रसन्नोऽस्मि ब्रह्मादेरपि दुर्लभम्

uvāca madhuraṁ vākyaṁ rāmaṁ rājīvalocanam śiva uvāca- varaṁ vṛṇu prasanno'smi brahmāderapi durlabham

He spoke a sweet word to lotus-eyed Rama. Shiva said: "Choose your boon; I am pleased — even that which is hard to attain even for Brahma and the rest—"

Verse 183 (padma.5.117.183)

तवादेयं न मे किंचिद्वृणु त्वं न चिराय वै । श्रीराम उवाच- न याच्यं मे जगन्नाथ भूराज्यं मम सांप्रतम्

tavādeyaṁ na me kiṁcidvṛṇu tvaṁ na cirāya vai śrīrāma uvāca- na yācyaṁ me jagannātha bhūrājyaṁ mama sāṁpratam

"—there is nothing that cannot be given by me to you; choose, and do not delay." Shri Rama said: "There is nothing for me to ask, O Lord of the world; I already have my kingdom on earth—"

Verse 184 (padma.5.117.184)

स्वर्गश्च कर्म्मभिः प्राप्तो भक्तिस्त्वत्पाददर्शनात् । आरोग्यं पश्य भुंजेऽहं सा सीता योषितां वरा

svargaśca karmmabhiḥ prāpto bhaktistvatpādadarśanāt ārogyaṁ paśya bhuṁje'haṁ sā sītā yoṣitāṁ varā

"—heaven I have already attained through my own deeds; devotion I have gained through the very sight of your feet; I have health, and I now enjoy the company of Sita, best among women—"

Verse 185 (padma.5.117.185)

वशीकृताः सर्वनृपाः प्रजाधर्मसमन्विताः । हर्ष एव ममापन्नस्त्वदागमनतोऽच्युत

vaśīkṛtāḥ sarvanṛpāḥ prajādharmasamanvitāḥ harṣa eva mamāpannastvadāgamanato'cyuta

"—all kings are subject to me, my subjects live according to dharma; and now only joy has come to me, from your own coming, O unfailing one."

Verse 186 (padma.5.117.186)

तथापि वरये किंचिद्भक्तिरस्तु स्थिरा त्वयि । तथा मम गृहे देव त्रिवर्षं तिष्ठ हे प्रभो

tathāpi varaye kiṁcidbhaktirastu sthirā tvayi tathā mama gṛhe deva trivarṣaṁ tiṣṭha he prabho

"Even so, I ask one thing: let my devotion to you remain forever steadfast; and, O god, O Lord, dwell for three years in my very house—"

Verse 187 (padma.5.117.187)

ब्रुवन्समस्तधर्मांश्च रूपेणानेन शंकर । शिव उवाच- एवमस्तु तथा राम सर्वं ते संभविष्यति

bruvansamastadharmāṁśca rūpeṇānena śaṁkara śiva uvāca- evamastu tathā rāma sarvaṁ te saṁbhaviṣyati

"—declaring, in this very form, all the dharmas to my people." Shiva said: "So be it, Rama; everything you wish shall come to pass."

Verse 188 (padma.5.117.188)

अथाह चक्री राजानं रामं राजीवलोचनम् । वरं वृणु महाभाग प्रसन्नोऽहं यमिच्छसि

athāha cakrī rājānaṁ rāmaṁ rājīvalocanam varaṁ vṛṇu mahābhāga prasanno'haṁ yamicchasi

Then the bearer of the discus said to king Rama, lotus-eyed: "Choose your boon, O greatly fortunate one; I am pleased — whatever you desire."

Verse 189 (padma.5.117.189)

श्रीराम आह वचनं मम प्रार्थ्यं न चास्ति हि । यत्प्राप्यं शंभुतः प्राप्तमन्यत्सर्वमुदीरितम्

śrīrāma āha vacanaṁ mama prārthyaṁ na cāsti hi yatprāpyaṁ śaṁbhutaḥ prāptamanyatsarvamudīritam

Shri Rama said this word: "There is truly nothing for me to ask; whatever was to be attained, I have attained from Shambhu; everything else too has already been declared—"

Verse 190 (padma.5.117.190)

किं चैकं वरये विष्णो प्रसन्नः सर्वदा भव । अथसी तां हरिः प्राह प्रसन्नोऽहं तवाधुना

kiṁ caikaṁ varaye viṣṇo prasannaḥ sarvadā bhava athasī tāṁ hariḥ prāha prasanno'haṁ tavādhunā

"—I ask but one thing, O Vishnu: remain ever pleased with me." Then Hari said to Sita: "I am pleased with you now—"

Verse 191 (padma.5.117.191)

वरं वृणु प्रयच्छामि ततः सीताब्रवीदिदम् । वरो वृतः पुरा भर्त्रा न चान्यो मे वरोवरः

varaṁ vṛṇu prayacchāmi tataḥ sītābravīdidam varo vṛtaḥ purā bhartrā na cānyo me varovaraḥ

"—choose your boon; I shall grant it." Then Sita said this: "That boon has already been chosen by my husband before; there is no other, better boon for me—"

Verse 192 (padma.5.117.192)

यदि कामं प्रयच्छेथा मनश्च परपूरुषात् । संनिवृत्तं च भवतान्नमस्तेऽस्तु द्विज प्रभो

yadi kāmaṁ prayacchethā manaśca parapūruṣāt saṁnivṛttaṁ ca bhavatānnamaste'stu dvija prabho

"—but, if you would grant a wish, then let my mind ever remain turned away from any other man; homage to you, O Lord, in this Brahmin's form."

Verse 193 (padma.5.117.193)

अथ ते मुनयः सर्वे प्रणेमुर्देवतोत्तमौ । अथासौ राघवं प्राह भुंक्ष्व त्वं बंधुभिः सह

atha te munayaḥ sarve praṇemurdevatottamau athāsau rāghavaṁ prāha bhuṁkṣva tvaṁ baṁdhubhiḥ saha

Then all the sages there bowed to those two excellent gods. Then he said to Raghava: "Eat now, together with your kinsmen—"

Verse 194 (padma.5.117.194)

एकांतमंदिरे रम्ये देव्यासहवसामिते । विष्णुः समस्तकरणः समुद्र तनयान्वितः

ekāṁtamaṁdire ramye devyāsahavasāmite viṣṇuḥ samastakaraṇaḥ samudra tanayānvitaḥ

"—and I shall dwell in a lovely secluded chamber, together with the goddess." Vishnu, whose every act is all-encompassing, together with the daughter of the ocean—

Verse 195 (padma.5.117.195)

एकस्मिन्मंदिरे राम तिष्ठतां लोलुपो हि सः । अथ शुद्धमहागारे पीठाढ्ये बहुभाजने

ekasminmaṁdire rāma tiṣṭhatāṁ lolupo hi saḥ atha śuddhamahāgāre pīṭhāḍhye bahubhājane

—that eager one, dwelt together in a single chamber, O Rama. Then, in a pure great hall, rich with seats, furnished with many vessels—

Verse 196 (padma.5.117.196)

अग्रे वसिष्ठो भगवानुपविष्टस्तयोर्मुनिः । अपरे ऋषयः सर्वे यथावृद्धं नृपास्तथा

agre vasiṣṭho bhagavānupaviṣṭastayormuniḥ apare ṛṣayaḥ sarve yathāvṛddhaṁ nṛpāstathā

—in front sat the blessed sage Vasishtha, before the two of them; and, in due order of age, all the other sages, and the kings likewise.

Verse 197 (padma.5.117.197)

तेषामभिमुखो रामो भ्रातृभिः सहितो नृपः । तरुणे समभागे च आसने तानवेशयत्

teṣāmabhimukho rāmo bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito nṛpaḥ taruṇe samabhāge ca āsane tānaveśayat

Facing them, king Rama, together with his brothers, seated them in a fresh, evenly-shared portion, upon their seats.

Verse 198 (padma.5.117.198)

हनूमत्प्रमुखान्भृत्यानाहरामोऽनुसांत्वयन् । भवंतः परितिष्ठंतु पश्चाद्भुंजे न चान्यथा

hanūmatpramukhānbhṛtyānāharāmo'nusāṁtvayan bhavaṁtaḥ paritiṣṭhaṁtu paścādbhuṁje na cānyathā

Rama, gently reassuring his servants headed by Hanuman, said: "Stay all around; I shall eat only afterward, and not otherwise."

Verse 199 (padma.5.117.199)

ततस्ते प्रददुः सर्वे पादार्घाननुपूर्वशः । बुभुजुश्चापि ते सर्वे ये रामस्योपसेविनः

tataste pradaduḥ sarve pādārghānanupūrvaśaḥ bubhujuścāpi te sarve ye rāmasyopasevinaḥ

Then all of them offered the guest-water for the feet, in due order; and all those who served Rama ate as well.

Verse 200 (padma.5.117.200)

तेषां दत्वाथ तांबूलं कपींद्रादीनभोजयत् । भुक्तवत्सु समस्तेषु रामो राजीवलोचनः

teṣāṁ datvātha tāṁbūlaṁ kapīṁdrādīnabhojayat bhuktavatsu samasteṣu rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ

Having given betel to them, he then fed the lords of the monkeys and the rest. When all had eaten, Rama, lotus-eyed—

Verse 201 (padma.5.117.201)

दीनांधकृपणादीनां पशुपक्षिमृगस्य च । दत्वाहि भोजनं संध्यां वंदितुं हि समारभत्

dīnāṁdhakṛpaṇādīnāṁ paśupakṣimṛgasya ca datvāhi bhojanaṁ saṁdhyāṁ vaṁdituṁ hi samārabhat

—having given food to the poor, the blind, the wretched, and the rest, and to beasts, birds, and animals too, then began the evening worship.

Verse 202 (padma.5.117.202)

संध्याजपादिकं कृत्वा नत्वा तेषां नृपस्ततः । सिंहासनगतो रामः पौरजानपदादिभिः

saṁdhyājapādikaṁ kṛtvā natvā teṣāṁ nṛpastataḥ siṁhāsanagato rāmaḥ paurajānapadādibhiḥ

Having performed the evening rites, recitation, and the rest, and bowed to them, the king then, seated upon his throne, honored by the citizens, the country-folk, and the rest—

Verse 203 (padma.5.117.203)

सेव्यमानः सभास्थानगतो रेजे स राघवः । सर्वदेवपरीवारो यथा देवः शचीपतिः

sevyamānaḥ sabhāsthānagato reje sa rāghavaḥ sarvadevaparīvāro yathā devaḥ śacīpatiḥ

—that Raghava shone forth, seated in the assembly-hall, honored by all, just as the god, the lord of Shachi, shines surrounded by all the gods.

Verse 204 (padma.5.117.204)

राजकार्यमशेषं च कृतवान्भ्रातृभिः सह । नाम्ना चैकैकशः सर्वान्विससर्ज स राघवः

rājakāryamaśeṣaṁ ca kṛtavānbhrātṛbhiḥ saha nāmnā caikaikaśaḥ sarvānvisasarja sa rāghavaḥ

He performed every act of royal duty, together with his brothers; and, calling each by name, that Raghava then sent everyone on their way.

Verse 205 (padma.5.117.205)

भ्रातॄन्विसर्जयामास वानरादींस्तथापरान् । अथ रामं महातेजा वसिष्ठो वाक्यमुक्तवान्

bhrātṝnvisarjayāmāsa vānarādīṁstathāparān atha rāmaṁ mahātejā vasiṣṭho vākyamuktavān

He took leave of his brothers, and of the monkeys and the rest as well. Then the greatly splendid Vasishtha spoke this word to Rama.

Verse 206 (padma.5.117.206)

तव प्रातर्हि यत्कार्यं न च विस्मर राघव । आस्ते शंभुर्जगन्नाथो भगवानंबिकापतिः

tava prātarhi yatkāryaṁ na ca vismara rāghava āste śaṁbhurjagannātho bhagavānaṁbikāpatiḥ

"Do not forget, O Raghava, what you must do tomorrow morning; the blessed Shambhu, Lord of the world, husband of Ambika, is here, staying with you—"

Verse 207 (padma.5.117.207)

स्मर्तव्यो वन्दनीयश्च भगवानथ यत्नतः । तथेत्युक्त्वा गुरुं राजा नत्वा तं च व्यसर्जयत्

smartavyo vandanīyaśca bhagavānatha yatnataḥ tathetyuktvā guruṁ rājā natvā taṁ ca vyasarjayat

"—the blessed one must be remembered, and duly worshipped, with all effort." "So be it," said the king; and, bowing to his guru, he sent him on his way too.

Verse 208 (padma.5.117.208)

स्वयं च भार्यामभजद्देवदेवं विचिंतयन् । ऋषय ऊचुः - प्रातः समुत्थाय गुरो रामो मतिमतां वरः । किं चकार तदाख्याहि श्रोतुं कौतूहलं हि नः

svayaṁ ca bhāryāmabhajaddevadevaṁ viciṁtayan ṛṣaya ūcuḥ - prātaḥ samutthāya guro rāmo matimatāṁ varaḥ kiṁ cakāra tadākhyāhi śrotuṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

He himself then went to his own wife, meditating upon the God of gods. The sages said: Rising in the morning, O guru, that Rama, best of the wise, what did he do? Tell us — we are eager to hear it.

Verse 209 (padma.5.117.209)

सूत उवाच- शंभुं विलोक्याथ ततो बभाषे रामः कथां कीर्त्तय शंकरस्य । तृप्तिर्न जाता मुनिवर्य शृण्वतो महेशमाहात्म्यमघौघनाशनम्

sūta uvāca- śaṁbhuṁ vilokyātha tato babhāṣe rāmaḥ kathāṁ kīrttaya śaṁkarasya tṛptirna jātā munivarya śṛṇvato maheśamāhātmyamaghaughanāśanam

Suta said: Then, looking upon Shambhu, Rama spoke: "Recite for me some tale of Shankara; no satiety comes to me, O foremost of sages, in hearing the greatness of great Isha, destroyer of the whole mass of sin."

Verse 210 (padma.5.117.210)

शंभुरुवाच- अथप्रश्नशेषस्योत्तरमीशभाषितं ते कीर्तयिष्यामि । अन्यायोपार्जितद्रव्यैरीश्वरं य उपासते ते व्यंगा जायंते

śaṁbhuruvāca- athapraśnaśeṣasyottaramīśabhāṣitaṁ te kīrtayiṣyāmi anyāyopārjitadravyairīśvaraṁ ya upāsate te vyaṁgā jāyaṁte

Shambhu said: Now I shall tell you the answer, spoken by the Lord, to the remainder of your question: those who worship the Lord with substances unrighteously acquired become deformed.

Verse 211 (padma.5.117.211)

तद्यथाकश्चिद्रूपको नाम राक्षसोऽन्यायार्जितेनद्रव्येण शंकरमाराध्य तेनैव द्रव्येण घंटामीश्वरप्रीतये कृतवान्

tadyathākaścidrūpako nāma rākṣaso'nyāyārjitenadravyeṇa śaṁkaramārādhya tenaiva dravyeṇa ghaṁṭāmīśvaraprītaye kṛtavān

For instance: a certain Rakshasa named Rupaka, worshipping Shankara with unrighteously acquired substance, made, with that very substance, a bell for the Lord's own pleasure.

Verse 212 (padma.5.117.212)

तस्य पुत्रः संपातिरिति ख्यातः चौर्य्यार्जितैः शंकरं पूजयामास

tasya putraḥ saṁpātiriti khyātaḥ cauryyārjitaiḥ śaṁkaraṁ pūjayāmāsa

His son, known as Sampati, worshipped Shankara likewise with substances acquired by theft.

Verse 213 (padma.5.117.213)

तावुभावेकस्मिन्दिवसे मम्रतुः गतौ शिवलोकं वीरभद्रेण भाषितौ च

tāvubhāvekasmindivase mamratuḥ gatau śivalokaṁ vīrabhadreṇa bhāṣitau ca

Both of them died on the same day, and went to Shiva's own world; and Virabhadra spoke to them.

Verse 214 (padma.5.117.214)

भो रूपक अन्यायार्जितेन द्रव्येण भवता पूजाकृता घंटादिकं च तेन भावेन व्यंगो भूत्वा चौरगणो भविष्यसि

bho rūpaka anyāyārjitena dravyeṇa bhavatā pūjākṛtā ghaṁṭādikaṁ ca tena bhāvena vyaṁgo bhūtvā cauragaṇo bhaviṣyasi

"O Rupaka, since worship was performed by you, and the bell and the rest made, with unrighteously acquired substance, and in that very spirit, you shall become deformed, and become a member of the thief-hosts."

Verse 215 (padma.5.117.215)

शिवपदवचनाद्व्यक्तं नामाश्रवणात् । श्रोत्रं तस्य स्वनेन ध्वस्तं भवति नो दर्शनमेतावतादेव त्वयेश्वरपूजा सम्यक्कृता

śivapadavacanādvyaktaṁ nāmāśravaṇāt śrotraṁ tasya svanena dhvastaṁ bhavati no darśanametāvatādeva tvayeśvarapūjā samyakkṛtā

"—for, by the mere utterance of Shiva's own name — that alone, whether the name is clearly heard or not — the hearer's own ear is never harmed by that sound; by that measure alone, worship of the Lord was, even so, properly performed by you—"

Verse 216 (padma.5.117.216)

अतो भक्तिश्च भविष्यति वीरभद्रस्त्वनशनं नामगणं क्वचिद्विचरंतमित्यादिदेश

ato bhaktiśca bhaviṣyati vīrabhadrastvanaśanaṁ nāmagaṇaṁ kvacidvicaraṁtamityādideśa

"—therefore devotion shall still be yours." And Virabhadra ordained that he should wander somewhere as a fasting gana, in name only, and the like.

Verse 217 (padma.5.117.217)

तौ च तथाभूतौ शिवलोकेऽतिष्ठताम्

tau ca tathābhūtau śivaloke'tiṣṭhatām

And those two, thus transformed, remained in Shiva's own world.

Verse 218 (padma.5.117.218)

शंभुरुवाच- अथोपहतद्रव्यपूजाकथां हनूमते महेशभाषितां कथयिष्यामि

śaṁbhuruvāca- athopahatadravyapūjākathāṁ hanūmate maheśabhāṣitāṁ kathayiṣyāmi

Shambhu said: Now I shall tell you the tale, spoken by great Isha to Hanuman, concerning worship performed with spoiled substances.

Verse 219 (padma.5.117.219)

शृणु राघव प्रमथानां चरित्रमेकैकस्य कर्मविपाकं कथयिष्यामि

śṛṇu rāghava pramathānāṁ caritramekaikasya karmavipākaṁ kathayiṣyāmi

Listen, O Raghava; I shall tell the history of the Pramathas, one by one, and the fruit of each one's deed.

Verse 220 (padma.5.117.220)

उपहतांगगणव्याख्याक्रियतामिति हनूमत्पृष्टः

upahatāṁgagaṇavyākhyākriyatāmiti hanūmatpṛṣṭaḥ

Asked thus by Hanuman: "Let the explanation of the deformed-limbed ganas be given—"

Verse 221 (padma.5.117.221)

शिव उवाच- तदुपहतद्रव्यं ज्ञानतो य ईश्वरेऽपयिष्यति एतदुक्तं ज्ञानिनोऽत शृणुः

śiva uvāca- tadupahatadravyaṁ jñānato ya īśvare'payiṣyati etaduktaṁ jñānino'ta śṛṇuḥ

—Shiva said: "Whoever knowingly offers to the Lord a substance that has itself been defiled — hear now what is declared concerning the wise on this very point."

Verse 222 (padma.5.117.222)

एष सर्वांगस्वेदिलः सर्वकालं सर्वांगस्वेदिलः स्वेदार्द्र वसनः स्वेदसंपादिताल्पप्रवाहशरीरो नासाग्रनिपतितस्वेदबिंदुः स्पर्शायोग्यो दृश्यते

eṣa sarvāṁgasvedilaḥ sarvakālaṁ sarvāṁgasvedilaḥ svedārdra vasanaḥ svedasaṁpāditālpapravāhaśarīro nāsāgranipatitasvedabiṁduḥ sparśāyogyo dṛśyate

"This one, sweating in every limb, at all times sweating in every limb, his garments damp with sweat, his body marked by little trickling streams of his own sweat, a drop of sweat forever falling from the tip of his nose, is seen to be unfit even to be touched."

Verse 223 (padma.5.117.223)

स पुरा स्वेदकरणेश्वरार्चनं कृतवान् । अत्रेतिहासं कीर्तयिष्यामि

sa purā svedakaraṇeśvarārcanaṁ kṛtavān atretihāsaṁ kīrtayiṣyāmi

He formerly performed worship of the Lord while sweating; I shall now relate the story of this.

Verse 224 (padma.5.117.224)

चेकितानिरिति ख्यातो ब्राह्मणः कर्षकोभवत् । स नित्यं कृषिमुत्पाद्य प्रातः स्नात्वा च नित्यशः

cekitāniriti khyāto brāhmaṇaḥ karṣakobhavat sa nityaṁ kṛṣimutpādya prātaḥ snātvā ca nityaśaḥ

A Brahmin known as Chekitani became a farmer. He, daily tilling his field, and bathing every morning without fail—

Verse 225 (padma.5.117.225)

मध्याह्नकाले संप्राप्ते संजपन्ब्राह्मणस्त्वसौ । अन्नमानय मे क्षिप्रमिति भार्यामभाषत

madhyāhnakāle saṁprāpte saṁjapanbrāhmaṇastvasau annamānaya me kṣipramiti bhāryāmabhāṣata

—when midday came, that Brahmin, reciting his mantra, said to his wife: "Bring me my food at once."

Verse 226 (padma.5.117.226)

तयानीतेन चान्नेन वेगेन शिवपूजनम् । कृतवानर्कसंतप्तः स्वेदिलः सर्वदैव तु

tayānītena cānnena vegena śivapūjanam kṛtavānarkasaṁtaptaḥ svedilaḥ sarvadaiva tu

With the food she brought, he hastily performed worship of Shiva, scorched by the sun, sweating ever and always—

Verse 227 (padma.5.117.227)

गंधपुष्पाक्षताद्यैश्च स्वेदबिंदुसमन्वितैः । अथ सायंदिने प्राप्ते क्षालितांगः सुशोभनः

gaṁdhapuṣpākṣatādyaiśca svedabiṁdusamanvitaiḥ atha sāyaṁdine prāpte kṣālitāṁgaḥ suśobhanaḥ

—with fragrance, flowers, unbroken rice, and the rest, all mixed with drops of his own sweat. Then, when evening came, his body washed, well adorned—

Verse 228 (padma.5.117.228)

पूजयामास देवेशं कालसंभवसाधनैः । ममाराथ महाबुद्धिः शिवलोकं गतश्च सः

pūjayāmāsa deveśaṁ kālasaṁbhavasādhanaiḥ mamārātha mahābuddhiḥ śivalokaṁ gataśca saḥ

—he worshipped the Lord of gods with substances proper to that hour. Then that man of great wisdom died, and went to Shiva's own world.

Verse 229 (padma.5.117.229)

वीरभद्रेण चाप्युक्तो भव त्वं स्वेदिलो गणः । स्वेदस्पृष्टपदार्थैश्च पुरा शंभुः प्रपूजितः

vīrabhadreṇa cāpyukto bhava tvaṁ svedilo gaṇaḥ svedaspṛṣṭapadārthaiśca purā śaṁbhuḥ prapūjitaḥ

And he too was told by Virabhadra: "Become the gana called Svedila, the 'Sweating One'; for you formerly worshipped Shambhu with substances touched by your own sweat—"

Verse 230 (padma.5.117.230)

नित्यं स्वेदसमायुक्तस्तेन स्वेदगणो भव । शंभुरुवाच- वीरेणाथ समादिष्टः प्राप्तो रामगणस्त्वयम्

nityaṁ svedasamāyuktastena svedagaṇo bhava śaṁbhuruvāca- vīreṇātha samādiṣṭaḥ prāpto rāmagaṇastvayam

"—ever joined with sweat, and so, by that very cause, become the 'sweat-gana.'" Shambhu said: Thus ordained by Virabhadra, this one has now come to be a gana in Rama's own company.

Verse 231 (padma.5.117.231)

अमुं घंटामुखं पश्यायं पुरा वैश्यो विभावसोनाम धार्मिको महादानकर्त्ता नित्यं ब्राह्मणभोजनं कारयित्वा कृतानुष्ठानः प्रातःकाले शिवं नमस्कृत्य कुसुमैः संपूज्य किंचित्प्रदेशं गोमयेनोपलिप्य पद्मादिकमर्जयित्वा देवाय समर्प्य उपहत घंटानादं कृतवान्

amuṁ ghaṁṭāmukhaṁ paśyāyaṁ purā vaiśyo vibhāvasonāma dhārmiko mahādānakarttā nityaṁ brāhmaṇabhojanaṁ kārayitvā kṛtānuṣṭhānaḥ prātaḥkāle śivaṁ namaskṛtya kusumaiḥ saṁpūjya kiṁcitpradeśaṁ gomayenopalipya padmādikamarjayitvā devāya samarpya upahata ghaṁṭānādaṁ kṛtavān

"Behold this one too, Ghantamukha, the 'Bell-Faced'; formerly he was a righteous Vaishya named Vibhavasu, a great giver of gifts, who, having daily fed Brahmins, and duly performed his own observances, would bow to Shiva every morning, worship him with flowers, plaster a small space with cow-dung, gather lotuses and the rest, offer them to the god, and sound a defiled bell."

Verse 232 (padma.5.117.232)

राम उवाच- कथमुपहतघंटा

rāma uvāca- kathamupahataghaṁṭā

Rama said: "How was the bell defiled?"

Verse 233 (padma.5.117.233)

शंभुरुवाच- आसीत्पुरा बलः कश्चित्सोम इत्यभिविश्रुतः । तस्य पुत्रश्च मंदाख्यो दशवर्षवया अभूत्

śaṁbhuruvāca- āsītpurā balaḥ kaścitsoma ityabhiviśrutaḥ tasya putraśca maṁdākhyo daśavarṣavayā abhūt

Shambhu said: There once lived a strong man named Soma, of wide renown; his son, named Manda, was ten years of age.

Verse 234 (padma.5.117.234)

स चाग्निपक्वकुल्माषान्घंटायां प्राक्षिपन्नृप । तानभक्षयदप्येष तेन चोपहताभवत्

sa cāgnipakvakulmāṣānghaṁṭāyāṁ prākṣipannṛpa tānabhakṣayadapyeṣa tena copahatābhavat

He threw fire-roasted grams into the bell, O king, and ate them too; and by that the bell became defiled.

Verse 235 (padma.5.117.235)

गृहीतुमथ तं वैश्यं यतमानोऽब्रवीदिदम् । अथ वैश्यः स्वयं तत्र निश्चित्य द्रव्यशोधनम्

gṛhītumatha taṁ vaiśyaṁ yatamāno'bravīdidam atha vaiśyaḥ svayaṁ tatra niścitya dravyaśodhanam

Attempting then to seize that Vaishya, this was said. Then the Vaishya himself, right there, resolved upon the 'purification of goods'—

Verse 236 (padma.5.117.236)

लौकिके कृतवाँल्लोके व्यवहारपदश्च ताम् । एतेन पापयोगेन गणो घंटामुखोऽभवत्

laukike kṛtavā~lloke vyavahārapadaśca tām etena pāpayogena gaṇo ghaṁṭāmukho'bhavat

—a worldly trade-practice common in ordinary dealings among people. By this very sinful connection, he became the gana Ghantamukha.

Verse 237 (padma.5.117.237)

राम उवाच- द्रव्यशुद्धेर्विशुद्धा सा कथं पापस्य कारणम् । सम्यगुक्तं द्रव्यशुद्ध्यै कथं न द्रव्यशोधिनी

rāma uvāca- dravyaśuddherviśuddhā sā kathaṁ pāpasya kāraṇam samyaguktaṁ dravyaśuddhyai kathaṁ na dravyaśodhinī

Rama said: "How can that which is itself a means of purifying goods, being itself pure, become the cause of sin? It is rightly called 'for the purification of goods' — how, then, is it not itself a genuine purifier of goods?"

Verse 238 (padma.5.117.238)

शंभुरुवाच- न लौकिकव्यवहृतौ तवाभक्तो भविष्यति । स याति च शिवस्थानं वक्ता चापि तथा भवेत्

śaṁbhuruvāca- na laukikavyavahṛtau tavābhakto bhaviṣyati sa yāti ca śivasthānaṁ vaktā cāpi tathā bhavet

Shambhu said: "One who engages in ordinary worldly dealings does not thereby become any less your devotee; he too attains Shiva's own abode, and so too shall the one who recites this tale."

Verse 239 (padma.5.117.239)

सूत उवाच- यश्च वक्ति कथामेतां स तेन सदृशो भुवि । गुह्याद्गुह्यतमं विप्राः शिवज्ञानप्रदं भवेत्

sūta uvāca- yaśca vakti kathāmetāṁ sa tena sadṛśo bhuvi guhyādguhyatamaṁ viprāḥ śivajñānapradaṁ bhavet

Suta said: And whoever recites this tale becomes, on this earth, equal to him. This, O Brahmins, is more secret than the most secret things, the very bestower of the knowledge of Shiva.

Verse 240 (padma.5.117.240)

एतद्वः कथितं विप्राः पुण्यायुष्यतमं महत् । य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या शिवलोके महीयते

etadvaḥ kathitaṁ viprāḥ puṇyāyuṣyatamaṁ mahat ya idaṁ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā śivaloke mahīyate

This has been told to you, O Brahmins, a great thing, most conducive to merit and long life. Whoever hears this with devotion is honored in Shiva's own world.

Verse 241 (padma.5.117.241)

पुराणवक्त्रे दातव्यं वस्त्रं गोहेमभूषणम् । भूमिः सस्यफलोपेता देया शक्त्यनुसारतः

purāṇavaktre dātavyaṁ vastraṁ gohemabhūṣaṇam bhūmiḥ sasyaphalopetā deyā śaktyanusārataḥ

To the reciter of this Purana should be given garments, a cow, gold, and ornaments; and land, bearing crops and fruit, should be given according to one's own means.

Verse 242 (padma.5.117.242)

शिवराघवसंवादं सर्वाघौघनिकृंतनम् । यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स याति परमं पदम्

śivarāghavasaṁvādaṁ sarvāghaughanikṛṁtanam yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi sa yāti paramaṁ padam

Whoever reads, or even hears, this dialogue of Shiva and Raghava, which cuts away the whole mass of every sin, attains the supreme state.