Dasharatha's Resolve to Perform Austerities

Verse 1 (skanda.6.97.1)

सूत उवाच॥ ततः प्रभृति नो मन्दो रोहिणीशकटं द्विजाः॥ भिनत्ति वचनात्तस्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य च

sūta uvāca tataḥ prabhṛti no mando rohiṇīśakaṭaṁ dvijāḥ bhinatti vacanāttasya rājño daśarathasya ca

Suta said: O brahmins, from that time onward, Manda has never pierced Rohini's "cart," on account of that word of King Dasharatha.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.97.2)

तद्वृत्तांतं समाकर्ण्य तस्य शक्रः प्रहर्षितः॥ भूपालं तं समभ्येत्य ततश्चोवाच सादरम्

tadvṛttāṁtaṁ samākarṇya tasya śakraḥ praharṣitaḥ bhūpālaṁ taṁ samabhyetya tataścovāca sādaram

Hearing that account, Indra was greatly delighted; going to that king, he spoke to him with respect.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.97.3)

अत्यद्भुततरं कर्म त्वयैतत्पृथिवीपते॥ संसाधितं यदन्येन मनसापि न चिन्त्यते

atyadbhutataraṁ karma tvayaitatpṛthivīpate saṁsādhitaṁ yadanyena manasāpi na cintyate

"O king, you have accomplished this most wondrous deed, one that no other could even conceive in his mind."

Verse 4 (skanda.6.97.4)

अत एव हि संतुष्टिः सञ्जाताद्य तवोपरि॥ वरं मत्तो गृहाणाद्य तदभीष्टं हृदि स्थितम्

ata eva hi saṁtuṣṭiḥ sañjātādya tavopari varaṁ matto gṛhāṇādya tadabhīṣṭaṁ hṛdi sthitam

"For this very reason I am today deeply pleased with you; ask of me today whatever boon resides in your heart."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.97.5)

राजोवाच॥ त्वया सह सुरश्रेष्ठ मैत्री संप्रार्थयाम्यहम्॥ शाश्वती सर्वकृत्येषु परमां लोकसंस्थिताम्

rājovāca tvayā saha suraśreṣṭha maitrī saṁprārthayāmyaham śāśvatī sarvakṛtyeṣu paramāṁ lokasaṁsthitām

The king said: "O foremost of gods, I ask of you an eternal friendship, one that stands supreme and enduring in this world, in all undertakings."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.97.6)

इन्द्र उवाच॥ एवं भवतु राजेंद्र त्वया सह सदा मम॥ संपत्स्यते सदा मैत्री वसोरिव च शाश्वती

indra uvāca evaṁ bhavatu rājeṁdra tvayā saha sadā mama saṁpatsyate sadā maitrī vasoriva ca śāśvatī

Indra said: "O king of kings, so be it. My friendship with you shall ever remain established, eternal, like that of the Vasus."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.97.7)

त्वया सदैव मे पार्श्वे सभायां देवसंनिधौ॥ आगन्तव्यं विशेषेण येन मैत्री प्रवर्धते

tvayā sadaiva me pārśve sabhāyāṁ devasaṁnidhau āgantavyaṁ viśeṣeṇa yena maitrī pravardhate

"You must always come to my side, in my assembly, in the presence of the gods, so that this friendship may especially flourish."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.97.8)

एवमुक्त्वा सहस्राक्षो जगाम त्रिदिवालयम्॥ राजापि चागतो हर्म्ये स्वकीये हर्षसंयुतः

evamuktvā sahasrākṣo jagāma tridivālayam rājāpi cāgato harmye svakīye harṣasaṁyutaḥ

Having said this, Indra of the thousand eyes departed to his heavenly abode, and the king too, filled with joy, returned to his own palace.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.97.9)

रक्षयित्वा जगत्सर्वं शनैश्चर कृताद्भयात्॥ अप्राप्यां प्राप्य संकीर्तिं स्तूयमानस्तु बन्दिभिः

rakṣayitvā jagatsarvaṁ śanaiścara kṛtādbhayāt aprāpyāṁ prāpya saṁkīrtiṁ stūyamānastu bandibhiḥ

Having protected the entire world from the fear caused by Shanaishchara, and having attained fame unattainable by any other, he was praised by his bards.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.97.10)

ततः प्रभृति नित्यं स सन्ध्याकाल उपस्थिते॥ सायाह्नं संविधायाथ याति शक्रस्य मंदिरे

tataḥ prabhṛti nityaṁ sa sandhyākāla upasthite sāyāhnaṁ saṁvidhāyātha yāti śakrasya maṁdire

From that time on, he would each day, when evening arrived, complete his evening rites and then go to Indra's abode.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.97.11)

तत्र स्थित्वा चिरं श्रुत्वा गंधर्वाणां मनोहरम्॥ गीतं दृष्ट्वा च नृत्यं च तानादिविहितं शुभम्

tatra sthitvā ciraṁ śrutvā gaṁdharvāṇāṁ manoharam gītaṁ dṛṣṭvā ca nṛtyaṁ ca tānādivihitaṁ śubham

There he would remain for a long while, listening to the enchanting song of the Gandharvas and watching their auspicious dance, set to melody and rhythm.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.97.12)

विचित्रार्थाः कथाः श्रुत्वा देवर्षीणां मुखाच्च्युताः॥ स्वयं च कीर्तयित्वाथ प्रयाति निजमंदिरम्

vicitrārthāḥ kathāḥ śrutvā devarṣīṇāṁ mukhāccyutāḥ svayaṁ ca kīrtayitvātha prayāti nijamaṁdiram

Having listened to wondrous tales flowing from the mouths of the celestial sages, and having himself sung praises, he would then return to his own palace.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.97.13)

विमानवरमारुह्य हंसबर्हिणनादितम्॥ मनोहरपताकाभिः समंताच्च विभूषितम्

vimānavaramāruhya haṁsabarhiṇanāditam manoharapatākābhiḥ samaṁtācca vibhūṣitam

He would travel mounted upon a splendid celestial chariot, resounding with the cries of swans and peacocks and adorned all around with beautiful banners.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.97.14)

यदायदा स निर्याति शक्रस्थानान्निजालयम्॥ तदातदाऽऽसने तस्य क्रियतेऽभ्युक्षणं सदा

yadāyadā sa niryāti śakrasthānānnijālayam tadātadā''sane tasya kriyate'bhyukṣaṇaṁ sadā

Every time he departed from Indra's abode toward his own palace, his seat there would always be sprinkled with water.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.97.15)

शक्रादेशात्तदा वेत्ति न स भूपः कथंचन॥ अन्यस्मिन्दिवसे तस्य नारदो मुनिसत्तमः॥ कथयामास तत्सर्वमभ्युक्षणसमुद्भवम्

śakrādeśāttadā vetti na sa bhūpaḥ kathaṁcana anyasmindivase tasya nārado munisattamaḥ kathayāmāsa tatsarvamabhyukṣaṇasamudbhavam

This was done at Indra's own command, but the king had no idea of it whatsoever. One day the great sage Narada told him this whole matter concerning that sprinkling.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.97.16)

वृत्तांतं तस्य राजर्षेस्तस्यैव गृहमागतः॥ तीर्थयात्रा प्रसंगेन विद्वेषपरिवृद्धये

vṛttāṁtaṁ tasya rājarṣestasyaiva gṛhamāgataḥ tīrthayātrā prasaṁgena vidveṣaparivṛddhaye

Coming to that royal sage's own house in the course of a pilgrimage, Narada related this account with the intent of stirring up ill will.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.97.17)

तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदेनोक्तं श्रद्धेयमपि भूपतिः॥ न चक्रे हृदयेऽधर्ममात्मानं परिचिंतयन्

tacchrutvā nāradenoktaṁ śraddheyamapi bhūpatiḥ na cakre hṛdaye'dharmamātmānaṁ pariciṁtayan

Hearing this, even though what Narada had said was worthy of credence, the king, reflecting upon his own self, did not let unrighteous thoughts enter his heart.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.97.18)

तथापि कौतुकाविष्टो गत्वा शक्रनिवेशनम्॥ अन्यस्मिन्दिवसे स्थित्वा चिरं तत्र समुत्थितः

tathāpi kautukāviṣṭo gatvā śakraniveśanam anyasmindivase sthitvā ciraṁ tatra samutthitaḥ

Even so, moved by curiosity, on some other day he went to Indra's abode, and, after remaining there for a long while, he rose to leave.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.97.19)

अलक्ष्यं वीक्षयामास स्वासनं दूरमास्थितः॥ किंचित्सद्मांतरं प्राप्य कौतूहलसमन्वितः

alakṣyaṁ vīkṣayāmāsa svāsanaṁ dūramāsthitaḥ kiṁcitsadmāṁtaraṁ prāpya kautūhalasamanvitaḥ

Filled with curiosity, having gone a little further within the hall and stationed himself at a distance unnoticed, he watched his own seat from afar.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.97.20)

ततः शक्रसमादेशादुत्थाय सुरकिंकरः॥ प्रोक्षयामास तोयेन पार्थिवस्य तदासनम्

tataḥ śakrasamādeśādutthāya surakiṁkaraḥ prokṣayāmāsa toyena pārthivasya tadāsanam

Then, at Indra's command, a divine attendant rose and sprinkled that king's seat with water.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.97.21)

तद्दृष्ट्वा कोपसंपन्नः स राजाऽभ्येत्य वासवम्॥ प्रोवाच किमिदं शक्र प्रोक्ष्यते यन्ममासनम्

taddṛṣṭvā kopasaṁpannaḥ sa rājā'bhyetya vāsavam provāca kimidaṁ śakra prokṣyate yanmamāsanam

Seeing this, the king, filled with anger, went up to Indra and said: "O Shakra, what is this, that my seat is being sprinkled in this way?"

Verse 22 (skanda.6.97.22)

किं मया निहता विप्राः किं वा विप्रसमुद्भवम्॥ शासनं लोपितं किंचित्किं वा विप्रा विनिंदिताः

kiṁ mayā nihatā viprāḥ kiṁ vā viprasamudbhavam śāsanaṁ lopitaṁ kiṁcitkiṁ vā viprā viniṁditāḥ

"Have I ever killed any brahmin? Or have I violated any ordinance concerning brahmins? Or have I ever spoken ill of brahmins?"

Verse 23 (skanda.6.97.23)

किं वा नष्टोऽस्मि संग्रामे दृष्ट्वा शत्रून्समागतान्॥ दैन्यं वा जल्पितं तेषां भयत्रस्तेन चेतसा

kiṁ vā naṣṭo'smi saṁgrāme dṛṣṭvā śatrūnsamāgatān dainyaṁ vā jalpitaṁ teṣāṁ bhayatrastena cetasā

"Or have I ever fled the battlefield upon seeing the enemy advance? Or, with a heart stricken by fear, have I ever uttered a craven word?"

Verse 24 (skanda.6.97.24)

मम राज्येऽथवा शक्र दुर्बलो बलवत्तरैः॥ पीड़्यते वाथ चौराद्यैर्मुष्यते वंचकैस्तथा

mama rājye'thavā śakra durbalo balavattaraiḥ pīr̤yate vātha caurādyairmuṣyate vaṁcakaistathā

"O Shakra, or is it that in my kingdom some weak person is oppressed by the strong, or robbed by thieves, or deceived by swindlers?"

Verse 25 (skanda.6.97.25)

किं वा राज्ये मदीये च जायते योनिविप्लवः॥ संकरो वाथ वर्णानां परित्यक्तविधिक्रमः

kiṁ vā rājye madīye ca jāyate yoniviplavaḥ saṁkaro vātha varṇānāṁ parityaktavidhikramaḥ

"Or does confusion of birth occur anywhere in my kingdom, or a mingling of the social orders in disregard of the prescribed order?"

Verse 26 (skanda.6.97.26)

किं वा दुर्जनवाक्येन दूषितो दोषवर्जितः॥ दंड्यते मम राज्ये च केनचित्त्रिदशेश्वर

kiṁ vā durjanavākyena dūṣito doṣavarjitaḥ daṁḍyate mama rājye ca kenacittridaśeśvara

"O lord of the gods, or is some innocent person, defamed by the words of some wicked man, being punished by anyone in my kingdom?"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.97.27)

किं वा चौरोऽथ पापो वा गृहीतो दोषवान्स्वयम्॥ मुच्यते द्रव्यलोभेन तथान्यो वा जुगुप्सितः

kiṁ vā cauro'tha pāpo vā gṛhīto doṣavānsvayam mucyate dravyalobhena tathānyo vā jugupsitaḥ

"Or is some guilty thief or sinner, once apprehended, being released out of greed for money, or any other such despicable person let off?"

Verse 28 (skanda.6.97.28)

किंस्विन्मया परित्यक्तः कोऽप्यत्र शरणागतः॥ भयत्रस्तः सुभीतेन प्राणानां त्रिदशाधिप

kiṁsvinmayā parityaktaḥ ko'pyatra śaraṇāgataḥ bhayatrastaḥ subhītena prāṇānāṁ tridaśādhipa

"O lord of the thirty gods, have I, out of fear for my own life, ever abandoned some frightened person who had come to me for refuge?"

Verse 29 (skanda.6.97.29)

कस्य वा पृष्ठमांसानि भक्षितानि मया क्वचित्॥ कच्चिच्च त्रिदशाधीष ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः

kasya vā pṛṣṭhamāṁsāni bhakṣitāni mayā kvacit kaccicca tridaśādhīṣa brāhmaṇasya viśeṣataḥ

"O lord of the thirty gods, or have I ever spoken ill of anyone behind his back — devouring his flesh, as it were — especially of a brahmin?"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.97.30)

किं वा दानं मया दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने॥ पश्चात्तापः कृतः पश्चाद्दत्तं चोपेक्षितं च वा

kiṁ vā dānaṁ mayā dattvā brāhmaṇāya mahātmane paścāttāpaḥ kṛtaḥ paścāddattaṁ copekṣitaṁ ca vā

"Or, having given some gift to a great-souled brahmin, have I afterward felt regret for it, or, having given it, then neglected him?"

Verse 31 (skanda.6.97.31)

किं वा राज्ये मदीये च दीनानां प्रपतंति च॥ अश्रुपाता दिवारात्रं दुःखितानां समंततः

kiṁ vā rājye madīye ca dīnānāṁ prapataṁti ca aśrupātā divārātraṁ duḥkhitānāṁ samaṁtataḥ

"Or, in my kingdom, do the tears of the poor and the afflicted fall everywhere, day and night?"

Verse 32 (skanda.6.97.32)

दैवं वा पैतृकं वापि किं वा कर्म गृहे मम॥ लोपं गच्छति देवेन्द्र क्रियते वा विधिच्युतम्

daivaṁ vā paitṛkaṁ vāpi kiṁ vā karma gṛhe mama lopaṁ gacchati devendra kriyate vā vidhicyutam

"O lord of the gods, or, in my house, is any rite for the gods or the ancestors ever neglected, or performed contrary to the prescribed rule?"

Verse 33 (skanda.6.97.33)

यत्त्वया क्रियते नित्यं तोयैरभ्युक्षणं मम॥ आसनस्य द्रुतं ब्रूया यत्पापं विहितं मया

yattvayā kriyate nityaṁ toyairabhyukṣaṇaṁ mama āsanasya drutaṁ brūyā yatpāpaṁ vihitaṁ mayā

"Tell me quickly what sin I have committed, on account of which you constantly sprinkle my seat with water."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.97.34)

इन्द्र उवाच॥ न विद्यते महाराज शरीरे तव पातकम्॥ न राष्ट्रे च कुले गेहे भृत्यवर्गे विशेषतः

indra uvāca na vidyate mahārāja śarīre tava pātakam na rāṣṭre ca kule gehe bhṛtyavarge viśeṣataḥ

Indra said: "O great king, there is no sin in your person, nor is there any fault, especially, in your kingdom, your lineage, your household, or your retinue."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.97.35)

परं शृणु प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्ते पापं भविष्यति॥ तेन संप्रोक्ष्यते चैव आसनं सर्वदैव तु

paraṁ śṛṇu pravakṣyāmi yatte pāpaṁ bhaviṣyati tena saṁprokṣyate caiva āsanaṁ sarvadaiva tu

"But listen, I shall tell you what sin is yet to come upon you, for which your seat is always thus sprinkled."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.97.36)

अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति न च स्वर्गं प्रपद्यते॥ पैतृकेण नरो ग्रस्तो य ऋणेन सदा नृप

aputrasya gatirnāsti na ca svargaṁ prapadyate paitṛkeṇa naro grasto ya ṛṇena sadā nṛpa

"O king, a man without a son has no proper destiny and does not attain heaven; he remains forever burdened by his debt to his ancestors."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.97.37)

द्वेष्यतां याति देवानां पितॄणां च विशेषतः॥ यदा पश्यति पुत्रस्य वदनं पुरुषो नृप

dveṣyatāṁ yāti devānāṁ pitṝṇāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ yadā paśyati putrasya vadanaṁ puruṣo nṛpa

"O king, such a man becomes an object of aversion to the gods, and especially to the ancestors. When a man beholds the face of his own son..."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.97.38)

आनृण्यं समवाप्नोति पितॄणां स तदा ध्रुवम्॥ स त्वं नैव गतो राजन्नानृण्यं यन्मयोदितम्

ānṛṇyaṁ samavāpnoti pitṝṇāṁ sa tadā dhruvam sa tvaṁ naiva gato rājannānṛṇyaṁ yanmayoditam

"...it is then, and only then, that he becomes free of his debt to his ancestors. O king, you have not yet attained that release from debt of which I speak."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.97.39)

पितॄणां तेन ते नित्यमासनेऽभ्युक्षणं कृतम्॥ तस्माद्यतस्व पुत्रार्थं यदीच्छसि परां गतिम्

pitṝṇāṁ tena te nityamāsane'bhyukṣaṇaṁ kṛtam tasmādyatasva putrārthaṁ yadīcchasi parāṁ gatim

"It is on account of this debt to your ancestors that your seat is sprinkled every day. Therefore, if you desire the supreme destiny, strive for the sake of a son."

Verse 40 (skanda.6.97.40)

आत्मानं नरकात्त्रातुं पुंसंज्ञाच्च तथा नृप॥ एवमुक्तः स शक्रेण राजा दशरथस्तदा

ātmānaṁ narakāttrātuṁ puṁsaṁjñācca tathā nṛpa evamuktaḥ sa śakreṇa rājā daśarathastadā

"...in order to save yourself from hell, and to earn the very meaning of the word 'putra' (son, one who saves from the hell called Put)." Being thus addressed by Indra, King Dasharatha then...

Verse 41 (skanda.6.97.41)

दुःखेन महता युक्तो लज्जयाऽधोमुखः स्थितः॥ आमंत्र्याथ सहस्राक्षं गत्वाऽयोध्यां निजां पुरीम्॥ अमात्यानां निजं राज्यमर्पयामास सत्वरः

duḥkhena mahatā yukto lajjayā'dhomukhaḥ sthitaḥ āmaṁtryātha sahasrākṣaṁ gatvā'yodhyāṁ nijāṁ purīm amātyānāṁ nijaṁ rājyamarpayāmāsa satvaraḥ

...stood there overcome with great sorrow, his head bowed low in shame. Then, taking leave of Indra of the thousand eyes, he went to his own city of Ayodhya and swiftly entrusted his kingdom to his ministers.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.97.42)

ततः प्रोवाच तान्सर्वांस्तपः कार्यं मयाऽधुना॥ यावत्पुत्रस्य संप्राप्तिस्तावदेव न संशयः

tataḥ provāca tānsarvāṁstapaḥ kāryaṁ mayā'dhunā yāvatputrasya saṁprāptistāvadeva na saṁśayaḥ

Then he said to all of them: "I must now perform austerities, without doubt, until the time I obtain a son."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.97.43)

एतद्राज्यं प्रयत्नेन रक्षणीयं यथाविधि॥ युष्माभिर्मम वाक्येन यावदागमनं मम

etadrājyaṁ prayatnena rakṣaṇīyaṁ yathāvidhi yuṣmābhirmama vākyena yāvadāgamanaṁ mama

"This kingdom must be diligently and properly guarded by you, at my word, until my own return."

Verse 44 (skanda.6.97.44)

मंत्रिण ऊचुः॥ युक्तमेतन्महाराज पुत्रार्थं यत्समुद्यमः॥ क्रियते पुत्रहीनस्य किं राज्येन धनेन वा

maṁtriṇa ūcuḥ yuktametanmahārāja putrārthaṁ yatsamudyamaḥ kriyate putrahīnasya kiṁ rājyena dhanena vā

The ministers said: "O great king, it is fitting indeed that this effort be made for the sake of a son; what use is a kingdom or wealth to one without a son?"

Verse 45 (skanda.6.97.45)

वयं रक्षां करिष्यामस्तव राज्ये समंततः॥ निर्वृतिं त्वं समास्थाय कुरु पुत्रकृते तपः

vayaṁ rakṣāṁ kariṣyāmastava rājye samaṁtataḥ nirvṛtiṁ tvaṁ samāsthāya kuru putrakṛte tapaḥ

"We shall guard your kingdom on every side; go, then, at ease, and perform your austerities for the sake of a son."

Verse 46 (skanda.6.97.46)

कार्तिकेयपुरं गत्वा यत्र पित्रा पुरा तव॥ तपस्तप्तं यथा लब्धा सिद्धिश्च मनसेप्सिता

kārtikeyapuraṁ gatvā yatra pitrā purā tava tapastaptaṁ yathā labdhā siddhiśca manasepsitā

"Go to Kartikeyapura, where your father in ancient times performed austerities and thereby obtained the accomplishment his heart desired."