The Greatness of Rajasvamin and Rajavapi

Verse 1 (skanda.6.98.1)

सूत उवाच॥ ततो दशरथो राजा मंत्रिभिस्तैर्विसर्जितः॥ हाटकेश्वरजं क्षेत्रं संप्राप्तो हर्षसंयुतः

sūta uvāca tato daśaratho rājā maṁtribhistairvisarjitaḥ hāṭakeśvarajaṁ kṣetraṁ saṁprāpto harṣasaṁyutaḥ

Suta said: Then, taking leave of his ministers, King Dasharatha, filled with joy, arrived at the field of Hatakeshvara.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.98.2)

तत्रागत्य ततो देवीं पित्रा संस्थापिता पुरा॥ पूजयित्वाऽथ सद्भक्त्या स्नात्वा कुण्डे शुभोदके

tatrāgatya tato devīṁ pitrā saṁsthāpitā purā pūjayitvā'tha sadbhaktyā snātvā kuṇḍe śubhodake

Arriving there, he devoutly worshipped the goddess established there long ago by his father, and bathed in the tank of auspicious water.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.98.3)

ततोऽन्यानि च मुख्यानि दृष्ट्वा चायतनानि सः॥ स्नात्वा तीर्थेष्वनेकेषु दत्त्वा दानान्यनेकशः

tato'nyāni ca mukhyāni dṛṣṭvā cāyatanāni saḥ snātvā tīrtheṣvanekeṣu dattvā dānānyanekaśaḥ

Then he visited the other principal shrines, bathed in numerous tirthas, and gave many kinds of gifts.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.98.4)

प्रासादं कारयामास देवदेवस्य चक्रिणः॥ तत्र संस्थापयामास प्रतिमां वैष्णवीं शुभाम्

prāsādaṁ kārayāmāsa devadevasya cakriṇaḥ tatra saṁsthāpayāmāsa pratimāṁ vaiṣṇavīṁ śubhām

He had a shrine built for the discus-bearing god of gods, and there he established an auspicious image of Vishnu.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.98.5)

तस्याग्रे कारयामास वापीं स्वच्छोदकान्विताम्॥ सोपानपंक्तिभिर्युक्तां साधुभिः संप्रशंसिताम्

tasyāgre kārayāmāsa vāpīṁ svacchodakānvitām sopānapaṁktibhiryuktāṁ sādhubhiḥ saṁpraśaṁsitām

Before it he also had built a stepwell filled with clear water, lined with rows of steps, and praised by the virtuous.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.98.6)

उदकेन ततस्तस्या देवाराधनतत्परः॥ प्रकारैर्बहुभिस्तीव्रं चकार सुमहत्तपः

udakena tatastasyā devārādhanatatparaḥ prakārairbahubhistīvraṁ cakāra sumahattapaḥ

Then, devoted to worshipping the god with that water, he performed a most intense and great austerity, in many forms.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.98.7)

ततो वर्षशतेऽतीते तस्य तुष्टो जनार्दनः॥ विलोक्य च तपस्तीव्रं विहितं तेन भूभुजा

tato varṣaśate'tīte tasya tuṣṭo janārdanaḥ vilokya ca tapastīvraṁ vihitaṁ tena bhūbhujā

When a hundred years had passed, Janardana, seeing the intense austerity that king had performed, became pleased with him.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.98.8)

प्रोवाच दर्शनं गत्वा पक्षिराजं समाश्रितः॥ मेघगम्भीरयावाचा बहुदेवगणैर्वृतः

provāca darśanaṁ gatvā pakṣirājaṁ samāśritaḥ meghagambhīrayāvācā bahudevagaṇairvṛtaḥ

Mounted upon Garuda, king of birds, and surrounded by many hosts of gods, he granted him his vision and, in a voice deep as thunder, spoke.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.98.9)

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच॥ परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते वत्स वरं वरय सुव्रत॥ अपि ते दुर्लभं काममहं दास्यामि कृत्स्नशः

śrīviṣṇuruvāca parituṣṭo'smi te vatsa varaṁ varaya suvrata api te durlabhaṁ kāmamahaṁ dāsyāmi kṛtsnaśaḥ

Sri Vishnu said: "My child, O keeper of an excellent vow, I am well pleased with you; ask for a boon. Whatever your desire, however hard to attain, I shall grant it to you in full."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.98.10)

राजोवाच॥ पुत्रार्थोऽयं समारंभो मया देव कृतोऽखिलः॥ तपसो देहि मे पुत्रांस्तस्माद्वंशविवृद्धिदान्

rājovāca putrārtho'yaṁ samāraṁbho mayā deva kṛto'khilaḥ tapaso dehi me putrāṁstasmādvaṁśavivṛddhidān

The king said: "O lord, this entire endeavor of mine has been undertaken solely for the sake of a son; therefore, as the fruit of this austerity, grant me sons who will increase my lineage."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.98.11)

अन्यत्सर्वं सुराधीश ध्रुवमस्ति गृहे स्थितम्॥ प्रसादात्तव यत्किंचिद्वैभवं विद्यते मम

anyatsarvaṁ surādhīśa dhruvamasti gṛhe sthitam prasādāttava yatkiṁcidvaibhavaṁ vidyate mama

"O lord of the gods, everything else already stands secure in my household; whatever splendor I possess exists only through your grace."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.98.12)

विष्णुरुवाच॥ अहं तव गृहे राजन्स्वयमेव न संशयः॥ अवतारं करिष्यामि कृत्वा रूपचतुष्टयम्

viṣṇuruvāca ahaṁ tava gṛhe rājansvayameva na saṁśayaḥ avatāraṁ kariṣyāmi kṛtvā rūpacatuṣṭayam

Vishnu said: "O king, I myself, without doubt, shall take incarnation in your house, assuming a fourfold form."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.98.13)

देवकार्याय तस्मात्त्वं गृहं गत्वा महीपते॥ कुरु राज्यं यथान्यायं पितृपैतामहं महत्

devakāryāya tasmāttvaṁ gṛhaṁ gatvā mahīpate kuru rājyaṁ yathānyāyaṁ pitṛpaitāmahaṁ mahat

"This shall be for the purpose of the gods' work; therefore, O king, go home and rule with justice this great kingdom inherited from your father and grandfather."

Verse 14 (skanda.6.98.14)

तथेयं या त्वया वापी निर्मिता विमलोदका॥ राजवापीति विख्याता लोके सेयं भविष्यति

tatheyaṁ yā tvayā vāpī nirmitā vimalodakā rājavāpīti vikhyātā loke seyaṁ bhaviṣyati

"And this stepwell, filled with pure water, which you have built, shall become renowned in this world by the name Rajavapi."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.98.15)

अस्यां स्नात्वा नरो भक्त्या य एनां पूजयिष्यति॥ श्रद्धया परया युक्तः संप्राप्ते पंचमीदिने

asyāṁ snātvā naro bhaktyā ya enāṁ pūjayiṣyati śraddhayā parayā yuktaḥ saṁprāpte paṁcamīdine

"Whatever man, filled with utmost faith, bathes here with devotion and worships it on the fifth lunar day..."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.98.16)

ततः करिष्यति श्राद्धं यावत्संवत्सरं नृप॥ अपुत्रः प्राप्स्यते पुत्रान्वंशवृद्धिकरान्स हि

tataḥ kariṣyati śrāddhaṁ yāvatsaṁvatsaraṁ nṛpa aputraḥ prāpsyate putrānvaṁśavṛddhikarānsa hi

"...and thereafter performs the shraddha rite for a full year, O king, even a childless man shall obtain sons who will increase his lineage."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.98.17)

एवमुक्त्वा स भगवांस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः॥ प्रहृष्टवदनो भूत्वा सोऽपि राजा ययौ गृहम्

evamuktvā sa bhagavāṁstataścādarśanaṁ gataḥ prahṛṣṭavadano bhūtvā so'pi rājā yayau gṛham

Having said this, the Blessed Lord then vanished from sight, and the king too, his face full of joy, returned to his home.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.98.18)

ततः स्तोकेन कालेन तस्य पुत्रचतुष्टयम्॥ संजातं लोके विख्यातं कलत्रत्रितयस्य च

tataḥ stokena kālena tasya putracatuṣṭayam saṁjātaṁ loke vikhyātaṁ kalatratritayasya ca

Then, after a short time, four sons were born to him from his three wives, famed throughout the world.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.98.19)

कौशल्यानाम विख्याता तस्य भार्या सुशोभना॥ ज्येष्ठा तस्यां सुतो जज्ञे रामाख्यः प्रथमः सुतः

kauśalyānāma vikhyātā tasya bhāryā suśobhanā jyeṣṭhā tasyāṁ suto jajñe rāmākhyaḥ prathamaḥ sutaḥ

From his eldest wife, the beautiful lady renowned as Kausalya, his first son, named Rama, was born.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.98.20)

तथान्या कैकयी नाम तस्य भार्या कनिष्ठिका॥ भरतो नाम विख्यातस्तस्याः पुत्रोऽभवत्त्वसौ

tathānyā kaikayī nāma tasya bhāryā kaniṣṭhikā bharato nāma vikhyātastasyāḥ putro'bhavattvasau

And from another wife of his, the youngest, named Kaikeyi, was born the son known as Bharata.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.98.21)

सुमित्राख्या तथा चान्या पत्नी या मध्यमा स्थिता॥ शत्रुघ्नलक्ष्मणौ पुत्रौ तस्यां जातौ महाबलौ

sumitrākhyā tathā cānyā patnī yā madhyamā sthitā śatrughnalakṣmaṇau putrau tasyāṁ jātau mahābalau

And from his middle wife, named Sumitra, were born the two mighty sons Shatrughna and Lakshmana.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.98.22)

तथान्या कन्यका चैका बभूव वरवर्णिनी॥ ददौ यां पुत्रहीनस्य लोमपादस्य भूपतेः

tathānyā kanyakā caikā babhūva varavarṇinī dadau yāṁ putrahīnasya lomapādasya bhūpateḥ

A most beautiful daughter was also born to him, whom he gave to the childless King Lomapada.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.98.23)

आनृण्यं भूपतिः प्राप्य एवं दशरथस्तदा॥ पितॄणां प्रययौ स्वर्गं कृतकृत्यस्तथा द्विजाः

ānṛṇyaṁ bhūpatiḥ prāpya evaṁ daśarathastadā pitṝṇāṁ prayayau svargaṁ kṛtakṛtyastathā dvijāḥ

O brahmins, thus, having become free of his debt to his ancestors, King Dasharatha, his purpose fulfilled, departed for heaven.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.98.24)

अथ राजाऽभवद्रामः सार्वभौमस्ततः परम्॥ रावणो येन दुर्धर्षो निहतो देवकंटकः

atha rājā'bhavadrāmaḥ sārvabhaumastataḥ param rāvaṇo yena durdharṣo nihato devakaṁṭakaḥ

Thereafter Rama became sovereign emperor of the whole earth, and it was he who slew the unassailable Ravana, that thorn in the side of the gods.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.98.25)

येन रामेश्वरश्चात्र निर्मितो लक्ष्मणेश्वरः॥ सीतादेवी तथा मूर्ता येन चात्र प्रतिष्ठिता

yena rāmeśvaraścātra nirmito lakṣmaṇeśvaraḥ sītādevī tathā mūrtā yena cātra pratiṣṭhitā

By him were established here Rameshvara and Lakshmaneshvara, and by him too was the image of the goddess Sita installed here.