The Dialogue Between Dasharatha and Shanaishchara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.96.1)

सूत उवाच॥ एवं तस्मिन्गते भूपे ह्यजापाले रसातलम्॥ तत्पुत्रश्चाभवद्राजा मंत्रिभिस्तु पुरस्कृतः

sūta uvāca evaṁ tasmingate bhūpe hyajāpāle rasātalam tatputraścābhavadrājā maṁtribhistu puraskṛtaḥ

Suta said: Thus, when King Ajapala had departed to the netherworld, his son was installed as king by the ministers.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.96.2)

यो नित्यमगमत्स्वर्गे वासवं रमते सदा॥ शनैश्चरो जितो येन रोहिणीं परिभेदयन्

yo nityamagamatsvarge vāsavaṁ ramate sadā śanaiścaro jito yena rohiṇīṁ paribhedayan

He would go to heaven each day and ever delight in Indra's company; and it was he who defeated Shanaishchara, as he was about to pierce the Rohini constellation.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.96.3)

गृहे यस्य स्वयं विष्णुर्भूत्वा चैव चतुर्विधः॥ रावणस्य विनाशार्थं जन्म चक्रे प्रहर्षितः

gṛhe yasya svayaṁ viṣṇurbhūtvā caiva caturvidhaḥ rāvaṇasya vināśārthaṁ janma cakre praharṣitaḥ

In his very house, Vishnu himself, taking a fourfold form, joyfully took birth for the destruction of Ravana.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.96.4)

तेनागत्यात्र सत्क्षेत्रे तोषितो मधुसूदनः॥ प्रासादं शोभनं कृत्वा ततश्चैव प्रतिष्ठितः

tenāgatyātra satkṣetre toṣito madhusūdanaḥ prāsādaṁ śobhanaṁ kṛtvā tataścaiva pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Coming to this sacred field, he pleased Madhusudana, and, having built a beautiful shrine, established him there.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.96.5)

तस्यापि विश्रुता वापी स्वयं तेन विनिर्मिता॥ राजवापीति लोकेऽस्मिन्विख्यातिं परमां गता

tasyāpi viśrutā vāpī svayaṁ tena vinirmitā rājavāpīti loke'sminvikhyātiṁ paramāṁ gatā

There is also a famous stepwell, built by him personally, which has attained great renown in this world under the name Rajavapi.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.96.6)

तस्यां यः कुरुते श्राद्धं संप्राप्ते पञ्चमीदिने॥ प्रेतपक्षे विशेषेण स नरः स्यात्सतां प्रियः

tasyāṁ yaḥ kurute śrāddhaṁ saṁprāpte pañcamīdine pretapakṣe viśeṣeṇa sa naraḥ syātsatāṁ priyaḥ

Whoever performs the shraddha rite there on the fifth day, especially during the ancestral fortnight, becomes dear to the virtuous.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.96.7)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ कथं तेन जितः सौरी रोहिणीशकटं च यत्॥ भिंदानस्तोषितस्तेन कथं नारायणो वद

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kathaṁ tena jitaḥ saurī rohiṇīśakaṭaṁ ca yat bhiṁdānastoṣitastena kathaṁ nārāyaṇo vada

The sages said: Tell us how he defeated the son of the Sun, who was about to pierce the "cart" of Rohini, and how he pleased Narayana.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.96.8)

सूत उवाच॥ तस्मिञ्छासति धर्मज्ञे स्वधर्मेण वसुन्धराम्॥ अतिसौख्यान्वितो लोकः सर्वदैव व्यजायत

sūta uvāca tasmiñchāsati dharmajñe svadharmeṇa vasundharām atisaukhyānvito lokaḥ sarvadaiva vyajāyata

Suta said: While that king, versed in dharma, ruled the earth according to his own righteous duty, his people ever remained exceedingly happy.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.96.9)

बहुक्षीरप्रदा गावः सस्यानि गुणवंति च॥ कामवर्षी च पर्जन्यो यथर्त्तुफलिता द्रुमाः

bahukṣīrapradā gāvaḥ sasyāni guṇavaṁti ca kāmavarṣī ca parjanyo yatharttuphalitā drumāḥ

The cows gave abundant milk, the crops were rich in quality, the rain fell just as desired, and the trees bore fruit in season.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.96.10)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य दैवज्ञैस्तस्य भूपतेः॥ कथितं रोहिणीभेदं रविपुत्रः करिष्यति

kasyacittvatha kālasya daivajñaistasya bhūpateḥ kathitaṁ rohiṇībhedaṁ raviputraḥ kariṣyati

At one time the king's astrologers informed him that Shani, son of the Sun, was about to pierce the Rohini constellation.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.96.11)

तस्यानंतरमेवाशु दुर्भिक्षं संभविष्यति॥ अनावृष्टिश्च भविता रौद्रा द्वादश वार्षिकी॥ यया संपत्स्यते सर्वं भूतलं गतमानवम्

tasyānaṁtaramevāśu durbhikṣaṁ saṁbhaviṣyati anāvṛṣṭiśca bhavitā raudrā dvādaśa vārṣikī yayā saṁpatsyate sarvaṁ bhūtalaṁ gatamānavam

"Immediately following that, a famine shall arise, and there shall be a dreadful drought lasting twelve years, by which the whole earth shall become emptied of people."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.96.12)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स राजा कुपितोऽभ्यगात्॥ शनैश्चरं समुद्दिश्य विमानमधिरुह्य च

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sa rājā kupito'bhyagāt śanaiścaraṁ samuddiśya vimānamadhiruhya ca

Hearing their words, the king, enraged, mounted a celestial chariot and set out toward Shanaishchara.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.96.13)

तस्य तुष्टेन संदत्तं विमानं कामगं पुरा॥ शक्रेण तत्र संतिष्ठञ्छनैश्चरमुपाद्रवत्

tasya tuṣṭena saṁdattaṁ vimānaṁ kāmagaṁ purā śakreṇa tatra saṁtiṣṭhañchanaiścaramupādravat

Mounted upon that chariot which could travel at will — the very one Indra, once pleased, had bestowed upon him — he advanced upon Shanaishchara.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.96.14)

ततः सूर्यपथं मुक्त्वा ततश्चंद्रस्य पार्थिवः॥ नक्षत्रसरणिं प्राप्य सज्यं कृत्वा महद्धनुः

tataḥ sūryapathaṁ muktvā tataścaṁdrasya pārthivaḥ nakṣatrasaraṇiṁ prāpya sajyaṁ kṛtvā mahaddhanuḥ

Then, passing beyond the path of the sun, and then beyond that of the moon as well, the king reached the pathway of the stars and strung his mighty bow.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.96.15)

तत्र बाणं समारोप्य शनैश्चरमुपाद्रवत्॥ प्रोवाच पुरतः स्थित्वा सूर्यपुत्रमधोमुखम्

tatra bāṇaṁ samāropya śanaiścaramupādravat provāca purataḥ sthitvā sūryaputramadhomukham

There, having set an arrow to the bowstring, he charged upon Shanaishchara, and, standing before the son of the Sun, who hung with lowered face, spoke.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.96.16)

त्यजैनं रोहिणीमार्गं सांप्रतं त्वं शनैश्चर॥ मद्वाक्यादन्यथाऽहं त्वां नयिष्यामि यमक्षयम्

tyajainaṁ rohiṇīmārgaṁ sāṁprataṁ tvaṁ śanaiścara madvākyādanyathā'haṁ tvāṁ nayiṣyāmi yamakṣayam

"O Shanaishchara, abandon this path to Rohini at once; if you do otherwise than what I say, I shall send you to the abode of Yama."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.96.17)

एतेन निशिताग्रेग शरेणा नतपर्वणा॥ दिव्यास्त्रमंत्रयुक्तेन सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्

etena niśitāgrega śareṇā nataparvaṇā divyāstramaṁtrayuktena satyametadbravīmyaham

"With this arrow, sharp-tipped, its joints firm, and empowered with a divine weapon-mantra — I speak this truthfully."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.96.18)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तादृग्रौद्रतमं महत्॥ मन्दो विस्मयमापन्नस्ततश्चेदमभाषत

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā tādṛgraudratamaṁ mahat mando vismayamāpannastataścedamabhāṣata

Hearing his words, so terrible and grand, Manda (Shani) was astonished, and then said this.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.96.19)

कस्त्वं ब्रूहि महाभाग मम मार्गं रुणत्सि यः॥ अगम्यं केनचिल्लोके सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः

kastvaṁ brūhi mahābhāga mama mārgaṁ ruṇatsi yaḥ agamyaṁ kenacilloke sarvairapi surāsuraiḥ

"O illustrious one, tell me — who are you, that obstructs my path, a path unreachable in this world even by any of the gods or demons?"

Verse 20 (skanda.6.96.20)

राजोवाच॥ अहं दशरथो नाम सूर्यवंशोद्भवो नृपः॥ अजस्य तनयः प्राप्तः कामं वारयितुं क्रुधा

rājovāca ahaṁ daśaratho nāma sūryavaṁśodbhavo nṛpaḥ ajasya tanayaḥ prāptaḥ kāmaṁ vārayituṁ krudhā

The king said: "I am a king named Dasharatha, born of the solar dynasty, the son of Aja, who has come, in anger, to stop this act of yours."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.96.21)

मंद उवाच॥ न त्वया सह संबंधः कश्चिदस्ति महीपते॥ मम यत्त्वं प्रकोपाढ्यो मन्मार्गं हंतुमिच्छसि

maṁda uvāca na tvayā saha saṁbaṁdhaḥ kaścidasti mahīpate mama yattvaṁ prakopāḍhyo manmārgaṁ haṁtumicchasi

Manda said: "O king, I have no connection with you whatsoever; why then, filled with such anger, do you wish to destroy my path?"

Verse 22 (skanda.6.96.22)

राजोवाच॥ रोहिणीसंभवं त्वं हि शकटं भेदयिष्यसि॥ सांप्रतं मम दैवज्ञैर्वाक्यमेतदुदाहृतम्

rājovāca rohiṇīsaṁbhavaṁ tvaṁ hi śakaṭaṁ bhedayiṣyasi sāṁprataṁ mama daivajñairvākyametadudāhṛtam

The king said: "You are about to pierce that 'cart' arising from Rohini; my astrologers have just now told me this."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.96.23)

तस्मिन्मन्द त्वया भिन्ने न वर्षति शतक्रतुः॥ एतद्वदति दैवज्ञा ज्योतिःशास्त्रविचक्षणाः

tasminmanda tvayā bhinne na varṣati śatakratuḥ etadvadati daivajñā jyotiḥśāstravicakṣaṇāḥ

"O Manda, once you pierce it, Indra will not send rain — so say the astrologers, learned in the science of the stars."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.96.24)

जाते वृष्टिनिरोधेऽथ जायंतेऽन्नानि न क्षितौ॥ अन्नाभावात्क्षयं यांति ततो भूभितले जनाः

jāte vṛṣṭinirodhe'tha jāyaṁte'nnāni na kṣitau annābhāvātkṣayaṁ yāṁti tato bhūbhitale janāḥ

"And once the rain is stopped, no grain will grow on earth; and for want of grain, people on this earth will begin to perish."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.96.25)

जनोच्छेदे ततो जाते अग्निष्टोमादिकाः क्रियाः॥ न भवंति धरा पृष्ठे ततः स्यादेव संक्षयः

janocchede tato jāte agniṣṭomādikāḥ kriyāḥ na bhavaṁti dharā pṛṣṭhe tataḥ syādeva saṁkṣayaḥ

"Once people are wiped out, rites like the Agnishtoma will no longer be performed anywhere on earth, and thus the utter destruction of everything shall follow."

Verse 26 (skanda.6.96.26)

एतस्मात्कारणाद्रुद्धो मार्गस्ते सूर्यसंभव॥ रोहिणीं गंतुकामस्य सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

etasmātkāraṇādruddho mārgaste sūryasaṁbhava rohiṇīṁ gaṁtukāmasya satyametanmayoditam

"For this very reason, O son of the Sun, I have blocked this path of yours as you set out toward Rohini; I have spoken nothing but the truth."

Verse 27 (skanda.6.96.27)

शनिरुवाच॥ गच्छ पुत्र निजं गेहं ममापि त्वं च रोचसे॥ तुष्टोऽहं तव वीर्येण न त्वन्येन महीपते

śaniruvāca gaccha putra nijaṁ gehaṁ mamāpi tvaṁ ca rocase tuṣṭo'haṁ tava vīryeṇa na tvanyena mahīpate

Shani said: "Go home, my son; you please me too. O king, I am pleased by your very valor, and by nothing else."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.96.28)

न केनचित्कृतं कर्म यदेतद्भवता कृतम्॥ न करिष्यति चैवान्यो देवो वा मानवोऽथ वा

na kenacitkṛtaṁ karma yadetadbhavatā kṛtam na kariṣyati caivānyo devo vā mānavo'tha vā

"This deed which you have accomplished has never been done by anyone before, nor shall any other, be it god or man, ever accomplish it hereafter."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.96.29)

नाहं पश्यामि भूपाल कथंचिदपि तूर्ध्वतः॥ यतो दृष्टिविनिर्दग्धं भस्मसाज्जायतेऽखिलम्

nāhaṁ paśyāmi bhūpāla kathaṁcidapi tūrdhvataḥ yato dṛṣṭivinirdagdhaṁ bhasmasājjāyate'khilam

"O king, I never in any way look directly upward, for whatever is scorched by my glance is instantly reduced to ash."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.96.30)

जातमात्रेण बालेन मया पादौ निरीक्षितौ॥ तातस्य सहसा दग्धौ ततोऽहं वारितोंऽबया

jātamātreṇa bālena mayā pādau nirīkṣitau tātasya sahasā dagdhau tato'haṁ vāritoṁ'bayā

"As a newborn child, I once looked at my own father's two feet, and they were instantly burned; from then on my mother forbade me ever to look up."

Verse 31 (skanda.6.96.31)

न त्वया पुत्र द्रष्टव्यं किंचिदेव कथंचन॥ प्रमाणं यदि ते धर्मो मातृवाक्यसमुद्भवः

na tvayā putra draṣṭavyaṁ kiṁcideva kathaṁcana pramāṇaṁ yadi te dharmo mātṛvākyasamudbhavaḥ

"'My son, you must never again look at anything above you' — such was my mother's word, and since dharma for me arises from a mother's command, I never look up."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.96.32)

तस्मात्त्वया महत्कर्म कृतमीदृक्सुदुष्करम्॥ प्रजानां पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ त्यक्त्वा दूराद्भयं मम

tasmāttvayā mahatkarma kṛtamīdṛksuduṣkaram prajānāṁ pārthivaśreṣṭha tyaktvā dūrādbhayaṁ mama

"Therefore, O best of kings, you have accomplished this great and most difficult deed for your people, casting aside all fear of me from afar."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.96.33)

तस्मा त्तव कृते नाहं भेदयिष्यामि रोहिणीम्॥ कथंचिदपि भूपाल युगांतररशतेष्वपि

tasmā ttava kṛte nāhaṁ bhedayiṣyāmi rohiṇīm kathaṁcidapi bhūpāla yugāṁtararaśateṣvapi

"Therefore, for your sake, I shall never pierce Rohini, O king, in no way whatsoever, even over the course of hundreds of ages to come."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.96.34)

वरं वरय चास्माकं तस्मादद्य भविष्यति॥ हृतत्स्थितं दुर्लभं भूप सर्वेषामिह देहिनाम्

varaṁ varaya cāsmākaṁ tasmādadya bhaviṣyati hṛtatsthitaṁ durlabhaṁ bhūpa sarveṣāmiha dehinām

"Therefore ask a boon of me today; O king, whatever resides in your heart, even if it be hard to attain for any being here, shall be granted."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.96.35)

राजोवाच॥ तव यो वासरे प्राप्ते तैलाभ्यंगं करोति वै॥ तस्याऽन्यदिवसं यावत्पीडा कार्या न च त्वया

rājovāca tava yo vāsare prāpte tailābhyaṁgaṁ karoti vai tasyā'nyadivasaṁ yāvatpīḍā kāryā na ca tvayā

The king said: "Whoever, on the arrival of your day, anoints himself with oil, him you must never afflict until the next such day comes round."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.96.36)

तिलदानं करोत्येवं लोहदानं च यस्तव॥ करोति दिवसे शक्त्या यावद्वर्षं त्वया हि सः

tiladānaṁ karotyevaṁ lohadānaṁ ca yastava karoti divase śaktyā yāvadvarṣaṁ tvayā hi saḥ

"Likewise, whoever, on your day, gives gifts of sesame and iron according to his means, him you must protect for a full year."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.96.37)

रक्षणीयः सुकृच्छ्रेषु संकटेषु सदैव हि॥ त्वयि गोचरपीडायां संस्थिते चार्कसंभव

rakṣaṇīyaḥ sukṛcchreṣu saṁkaṭeṣu sadaiva hi tvayi gocarapīḍāyāṁ saṁsthite cārkasaṁbhava

"O son of the Sun, he must always be protected in times of severe distress and difficulty, even while you stand afflicting his zodiacal sign."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.96.38)

यः कुर्याच्छांतिकं सम्यक्तिलहोमं च भक्तितः॥ वासरे तव संप्राप्ते समिद्भिश्च तथाऽक्षतैः

yaḥ kuryācchāṁtikaṁ samyaktilahomaṁ ca bhaktitaḥ vāsare tava saṁprāpte samidbhiśca tathā'kṣataiḥ

"Whoever, on the arrival of your day, devoutly performs the proper propitiatory rite and oblation of sesame with sacred fuel-sticks and unbroken rice..."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.96.39)

तस्य सार्धानि वर्षाणि सप्त कार्या प्रयत्नतः॥ त्वया रक्षा महाभाग वरं चेन्मम यच्छसि

tasya sārdhāni varṣāṇi sapta kāryā prayatnataḥ tvayā rakṣā mahābhāga varaṁ cenmama yacchasi

"...O illustrious one, if you would grant me this boon, you must diligently protect him for the full seven and a half years."

Verse 40 (skanda.6.96.40)

सूत उवाच॥ एवमित्येव संप्रोच्य विरराम ततः परम्॥ शनैश्चरो महीपालवचनाद्द्विजसत्तमाः

sūta uvāca evamityeva saṁprocya virarāma tataḥ param śanaiścaro mahīpālavacanāddvijasattamāḥ

Suta said: O best of brahmins, saying "So be it," Shanaishchara, in accordance with the king's words, thereafter fell silent.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.96.41)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽहं सुविस्तरात्॥ भवद्भिः सूर्यपुत्रस्य राज्ञा दशरथेन हि॥ संवादं रोहिणीभेदे सञ्जातं समुपस्थिते

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'haṁ suvistarāt bhavadbhiḥ sūryaputrasya rājñā daśarathena hi saṁvādaṁ rohiṇībhede sañjātaṁ samupasthite

I have now related to you in full detail all that you asked of me — the whole dialogue that took place between the son of the Sun and King Dasharatha, when the piercing of Rohini was imminent.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.96.42)

यश्चैतत्पठते नित्यं शृणुयाद्यो विशेषतः॥ शनैश्चरकृता पीडा तस्य नाशं प्रगच्छति

yaścaitatpaṭhate nityaṁ śṛṇuyādyo viśeṣataḥ śanaiścarakṛtā pīḍā tasya nāśaṁ pragacchati

Whoever reads this daily, or especially listens to it, finds any affliction caused by Shanaishchara utterly destroyed.