The Divine Payasam

Shloka 1 (bala.16.1)

ततो नारायणो विष्णुः नियुक्तः सुरसत्तमैः । जानन्नपि सुरानेवं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥

tato nārāyaṇo viṣṇuḥ niyuktaḥ surasattamaiḥ | jānannapi surānevaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ vacanamabravīt

Then Narayana Vishnu, thus entreated by the foremost of gods, though he already knew the answer, spoke gently to them in these words.

Shloka 2 (bala.16.2)

उपायः को वधे तस्य राक्षसाधिपतेः सुराः । यमहं तं समास्थाय निहन्यामृषिकण्टकम् ॥ २ ॥

upāyaḥ ko vadhe tasya rākṣasādhipateḥ surāḥ | yamahaṃ taṃ samāsthāya nihanyāmṛṣikaṇṭakam

"O gods, what is the means to kill that lord of the rakshasas, by adopting which I may destroy that thorn in the side of the sages?"

Shloka 3 (bala.16.3)

एवमुक्ताः सुराः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुर्विष्णुमव्ययम् । मानुषं रूपमास्थाय रावणं जहि संयुगे ॥ ३ ॥

evamuktāḥ surāḥ sarve pratyūcurviṣṇumavyayam | mānuṣaṃ rūpamāsthāya rāvaṇaṃ jahi saṃyuge

Thus addressed, all the gods replied to the imperishable Vishnu, "Assume a human form and slay Ravana in battle."

Shloka 4 (bala.16.4)

स हि तेपे तपस्तीव्रं दीर्घकालमरिंदम । येन तुष्टोऽभवद्ब्रह्मा लोककृल्लोकपूर्वजः ॥ ४ ॥

sa hi tepe tapastīvraṃ dīrghakālamariṃdama | yena tuṣṭo'bhavadbrahmā lokakṛllokapūrvajaḥ

"O subduer of enemies, that Ravana performed severe austerity for a long time, by which Brahma, the creator and first-born of all worlds, became pleased with him."

Shloka 5 (bala.16.5)

सन्तुष्टः प्रददौ तस्मै राक्षसाय वरं प्रभुः । नानाविधेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो भयं नान्यत्र मानुषात् ॥ ५ ॥

santuṣṭaḥ pradadau tasmai rākṣasāya varaṃ prabhuḥ | nānāvidhebhyo bhūtebhyo bhayaṃ nānyatra mānuṣāt

Pleased, Lord Brahma granted that rakshasa a boon: that he should have no fear from any kind of being whatsoever, except from man.

Shloka 6 (bala.16.6)

अवज्ञाताः पुरा तेन वरदाने हि मानवाः । एवं पितामहात्तस्माद्वरदानेन गर्वितः ॥ ६ ॥

avajñātāḥ purā tena varadāne hi mānavāḥ | evaṃ pitāmahāttasmādvaradānena garvitaḥ

For at the time of asking the boon, Ravana had scorned mere humans as beneath his concern; thus emboldened by that boon from the Grandsire,

Shloka 7 (bala.16.7)

उत्सादयति लोकांस्त्रीन् स्त्रियश्चाप्यपकर्षति । तस्मात्तस्य वधो दृष्टो मानुषेभ्यः परन्तप ॥ ७ ॥

utsādayati lokāṃstrīn striyaścāpyapakarṣati | tasmāttasya vadho dṛṣṭo mānuṣebhyaḥ parantapa

he now oppresses the three worlds and abducts women at will. Therefore, O destroyer of foes, his death has been ordained to come only at the hands of a man.

Shloka 8 (bala.16.8)

इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुराणां विष्णुरात्मवान् । पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम् ॥ ८ ॥

ityetadvacanaṃ śrutvā surāṇāṃ viṣṇurātmavān | pitaraṃ rocayāmāsa tadā daśarathaṃ nṛpam

On hearing these words of the gods, the self-possessed Vishnu then chose King Dasharatha to be his father.

Shloka 9 (bala.16.9)

स चाप्यपुत्रो नृपतिस्तस्मिन् काले महाद्युतिः । अयजत् पुत्रियामिष्टिं पुत्रेप्सुररिसूदनः ॥ ९ ॥

sa cāpyaputro nṛpatistasmin kāle mahādyutiḥ | ayajat putriyāmiṣṭiṃ putrepsurarisūdanaḥ

At that very time, that resplendent king, sonless and destroyer of enemies, was performing the putrakameshti sacrifice, desiring to obtain a son.

Shloka 10 (bala.16.10)

स कृत्वा निश्चयं विष्णुरामन्त्र्य च पितामहम् । अन्तर्धानं गतो देवैः पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः ॥ १० ॥

sa kṛtvā niścayaṃ viṣṇurāmantrya ca pitāmaham | antardhānaṃ gato devaiḥ pūjyamāno maharṣibhiḥ

Having thus resolved, Vishnu took leave of the Grandsire Brahma and vanished from sight, even as gods and great sages continued to honour him.

Shloka 11 (bala.16.11)

ततो वै यजमानस्य पावकादतुलप्रभम् । प्रादुर्भूतं महद्भूतं महावीर्यं महाबलम् ॥ ११ ॥

tato vai yajamānasya pāvakādatulaprabham | prādurbhūtaṃ mahadbhūtaṃ mahāvīryaṃ mahābalam

Then, from the sacrificial fire of that royal patron, there arose a mighty being of matchless splendour, of great valour and great strength.

Shloka 12 (bala.16.12)

कृष्णं रक्ताम्बरधरं रक्तास्यं दुन्दुभिस्वनम् । स्निग्धहर्यक्षतनुजश्मश्रुप्रवरमूर्धजम् ॥ १२ ॥

kṛṣṇaṃ raktāmbaradharaṃ raktāsyaṃ dundubhisvanam | snigdhaharyakṣatanujaśmaśrupravaramūrdhajam

Dark of hue and clad in red garments, with a red face and a voice deep like a war-drum, his moustache and hair were as soft and glossy as a lion's mane.

Shloka 13 (bala.16.13)

शुभलक्षणसंपन्नं दिव्याभरणभूषितम् । शैलशृङ्गसमुत्सेधं दृप्तशार्दूलविक्रमम् ॥ १३ ॥

śubhalakṣaṇasaṃpannaṃ divyābharaṇabhūṣitam | śailaśṛṅgasamutsedhaṃ dṛptaśārdūlavikramam

Endowed with auspicious marks and adorned with divine ornaments, he was as tall as a mountain peak and possessed the valour of a proud tiger.

Shloka 14 (bala.16.14)

दिवाकरसमाकारं दीप्तानलशिखोपमम् । तप्तजाम्बूनदमयीं राजतान्तपरिच्छदाम् ॥ १४ ॥

divākarasamākāraṃ dīptānalaśikhopamam | taptajāmbūnadamayīṃ rājatāntaparicchadām

Radiant as the sun and glowing like a blazing flame, he carried a vessel wrought of molten gold, its rim covered with silver,

Shloka 15 (bala.16.15)

दिव्यपायससंपूर्णां पात्रीं पत्नीमिव प्रियाम् । प्रगृह्य विपुलां दोर्भ्यां स्वयं मायामयीमिव ॥ १५ ॥

divyapāyasasaṃpūrṇāṃ pātrīṃ patnīmiva priyām | pragṛhya vipulāṃ dorbhyāṃ svayaṃ māyāmayīmiva

full of divine payasam, holding it in his two broad arms as tenderly as if it were his own beloved wife, that vessel seeming almost wrought of magic.

Shloka 16 (bala.16.16)

समवेक्ष्याब्रवीद्वाक्यमिदं दशरथं नृपम् । प्राजापत्यं नरं विद्धि मामिहाभ्यागतं नृप ॥ १६ ॥

samavekṣyābravīdvākyamidaṃ daśarathaṃ nṛpam | prājāpatyaṃ naraṃ viddhi māmihābhyāgataṃ nṛpa

Beholding King Dasharatha, he spoke these words to him: "O king, know me to be a being sent here by Prajapati."

Shloka 17 (bala.16.17)

ततः परं तदा राजा प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः । भगवन् स्वागतं तेऽस्तु किमहं करवाणि ते ॥ १७ ॥

tataḥ paraṃ tadā rājā pratyuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ | bhagavan svāgataṃ te'stu kimahaṃ karavāṇi te

Then the king, with joined palms, replied to him: "O lord, welcome to you; what may I do for you?"

Shloka 18 (bala.16.18)

अथो पुनरिदं वाक्यं प्राजापत्यो नरोऽब्रवीत् । राजन्नर्चयता देवानद्य प्राप्तमिदं त्वया ॥ १८ ॥

atho punaridaṃ vākyaṃ prājāpatyo naro'bravīt | rājannarcayatā devānadya prāptamidaṃ tvayā

Then again that being sent by Prajapati spoke these words: "O king, having worshipped the gods, you have today obtained this."

Shloka 19 (bala.16.19)

इदं तु नृपशार्दूल पायसं देवनिर्मितम् । प्रजाकरं गृहाण त्वं धन्यमारोग्य वर्धनम् ॥ १९ ॥

idaṃ tu nṛpaśārdūla pāyasaṃ devanirmitam | prajākaraṃ gṛhāṇa tvaṃ dhanyamārogya vardhanam

"O tiger among kings, take this payasam, prepared by the gods themselves; it is blessed, it grants progeny and increases health."

Shloka 20 (bala.16.20)

भार्याणामनुरूपाणामश्नीतेति प्रयच्छ वै । तासु त्वं लप्स्यसे पुत्रान् यदर्थं यजसे नृप ॥ २० ॥

bhāryāṇāmanurūpāṇāmaśnīteti prayaccha vai | tāsu tvaṃ lapsyase putrān yadarthaṃ yajase nṛpa

"Give it to your worthy wives to eat; through them you shall obtain the sons for whose sake you have performed this sacrifice, O king."

Shloka 21 (bala.16.21)

तथेति नृपतिः प्रीतः शिरसा प्रतिगृह्य ताम् । पात्रीं देवान्नसंपूर्णां देवदत्तां हिरण्मयीम् ॥ २१ ॥

tatheti nṛpatiḥ prītaḥ śirasā pratigṛhya tām | pātrīṃ devānnasaṃpūrṇāṃ devadattāṃ hiraṇmayīm

Saying "So be it," the delighted king received with bowed head that golden vessel, gift of the gods, filled with divine food.

Shloka 22 (bala.16.22)

अभिवाद्य च तद् भूतमद्भुतं प्रियदर्शनम् । मुदा परमया युक्तश्चकाराभिप्रदक्षिणम् ॥ २२ ॥

abhivādya ca tad bhūtamadbhutaṃ priyadarśanam | mudā paramayā yuktaścakārābhipradakṣiṇam

Then, saluting that wondrous and pleasing being, he circumambulated it with the greatest joy.

Shloka 23 (bala.16.23)

ततो दशरथः प्राप्य पायसं देवनिर्मितम् । बभूव परमप्रीतः प्राप्य वित्तमिवाधनः ॥ २३ ॥

tato daśarathaḥ prāpya pāyasaṃ devanirmitam | babhūva paramaprītaḥ prāpya vittamivādhanaḥ

Then Dasharatha, having obtained the divinely prepared payasam, was overjoyed, like a pauper who has suddenly come upon great wealth.

Shloka 24 (bala.16.24)

ततस्तदद्भुतप्रख्यं भूतं परमभास्वरम् । संवर्तयित्वा तत्कर्म तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥ २४ ॥

tatastadadbhutaprakhyaṃ bhūtaṃ paramabhāsvaram | saṃvartayitvā tatkarma tatraivāntaradhīyata

Then that wondrous and brilliantly radiant being, having completed its task, vanished then and there.

Shloka 25 (bala.16.25)

हर्षरश्मिभिरुद्द्योतं तस्यान्तःपुरमाबभौ । शारदस्याभिरामस्य चंद्रस्येव नभोंशुभिः ॥ २५ ॥

harṣaraśmibhiruddyotaṃ tasyāntaḥpuramābabhau | śāradasyābhirāmasya caṃdrasyeva nabhoṃśubhiḥ

His palace shone forth, lit up by rays of joy, like the autumn sky brightened by the beams of the beautiful moon.

Shloka 26 (bala.16.26)

सोऽन्तःपुरं प्रविश्यैव कौसल्यामिदमब्रवीत् । पायसं प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पुत्रीयमिदमात्मनः ॥ २६ ॥

so'ntaḥpuraṃ praviśyaiva kausalyāmidamabravīt | pāyasaṃ pratigṛhṇīṣva putrīyamidamātmanaḥ

Entering the inner apartments, he said this to Kausalya: "Take this payasam, meant to bring you a son of your own."

Shloka 27 (bala.16.27)

कौसल्यायै नरपतिः पायसार्धं ददौ तदा । अर्धादर्धं ददौ चापि सुमित्रायै नराधिपः ॥ २७ ॥

kausalyāyai narapatiḥ pāyasārdhaṃ dadau tadā | ardhādardhaṃ dadau cāpi sumitrāyai narādhipaḥ

The king then gave half of the payasam to Kausalya, and of the remaining half, he gave half again to Sumitra.

Shloka 28 (bala.16.28)

कैकेय्यै चावशिष्टार्धं ददौ पुत्रार्थकारणात् । प्रददौ चावशिष्टार्धं पायसस्यामृतोपमम् ॥ २८ ॥

kaikeyyai cāvaśiṣṭārdhaṃ dadau putrārthakāraṇāt | pradadau cāvaśiṣṭārdhaṃ pāyasasyāmṛtopamam

The remaining half of that he gave to Kaikeyi, desiring sons for her too; and yet again, of what still remained of that ambrosia-like payasam,

Shloka 29 (bala.16.29)

अनुचिन्त्य सुमित्रायै पुनरेव महीपतिः । एवं तासां ददौ राजा भार्याणां पायसं पृथक् ॥ २९ ॥

anucintya sumitrāyai punareva mahīpatiḥ | evaṃ tāsāṃ dadau rājā bhāryāṇāṃ pāyasaṃ pṛthak

after reflecting a while, the king gave that too to Sumitra once more. Thus did the king distribute the payasam separately among his wives.

Shloka 30 (bala.16.30)

ताश्चैवं पायसं प्राप्य नरेन्द्रस्योत्तमाः स्त्रियः । सम्मानं मेनिरे सर्वाः प्रहर्षोदितचेतसः ॥ ३० ॥

tāścaivaṃ pāyasaṃ prāpya narendrasyottamāḥ striyaḥ | sammānaṃ menire sarvāḥ praharṣoditacetasaḥ

Having received the payasam in this way, all those best of the king's wives, their hearts overflowing with joy, felt it to be a great honour.

Shloka 31 (bala.16.31)

ततस्तु ताः प्राश्य तदुत्तमस्त्रियो महीपतेरुत्तमपायसं पृथक् । हुताशनादित्यसमानतेजसोऽचिरेण गर्भान् प्रतिपेदिरे तदा ॥ ३१ ॥

tatastu tāḥ prāśya taduttamastriyo mahīpateruttamapāyasaṃ pṛthak | hutāśanādityasamānatejaso'cireṇa garbhān pratipedire tadā

Then, having each partaken of the king's excellent payasam, those noble women, radiant as fire and sun, conceived within a short time.

Shloka 32 (bala.16.32)

ततस्तु राजा प्रतिवीक्ष्य ताः स्त्रियः प्ररूढगर्भाः प्रतिलब्धमानसः । बभूव हृष्टस्त्रिदिवे यथा हरिः सुरेन्द्रसिद्धर्षिगणाभिपूजितः ॥ ३२ ॥

tatastu rājā prativīkṣya tāḥ striyaḥ prarūḍhagarbhāḥ pratilabdhamānasaḥ | babhūva hṛṣṭastridive yathā hariḥ surendrasiddharṣigaṇābhipūjitaḥ

Then the king, beholding his wives with their pregnancies well established, felt his heart's desire fulfilled, and rejoiced as does Indra in heaven when honoured by the hosts of gods, siddhas, and sages.