Skip to main content

Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Unit 36 of 693Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 36Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 361 source entries

Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 36

Source

पुलस्त्य उवाच। ततो देवाः प्रयातास्ते विमानैर्बहुभिस्तदा। रामोप्यनुजगामाशु कुंभयोनेस्तपोवनम्१। उक्तं भगवता तेन भूयोप्यागमनं क्रियाः। पूर्वमेव सभायां च यो मां द्रष्टुं समागतः२। तदहं देवतादेशात्तत्कार्यार्थे महामुनिं। पश्यामि तं मुनिं गत्वा देवदानवपूजितम्३। उपदेशं च मे तुष्टः स्वयं दास्यति सत्तमः। दुःखी येन पुनर्मर्त्ये न भवामि कदाचन४। पिता दशरथो मह्यं कौसल्या जननी तथा। सूर्यवंशे समुत्पन्नस्तथाप्येवं सुदुःखितः५। राज्यकाले वने वासो भार्यया चानुजेन च। हरणं चापि भार्याया रावणेन कृतं मम६। असहायेन तु मया तीर्त्वा सागरमुत्तमम्। रुद्ध्वा तु तां पुरीं सर्वां कृत्वा तस्य कुलक्षयम्७। दृष्टा सीता मया त्यक्ता देवानां तु पुरस्तदा। शुद्धां तां मां तथोचुस्ते मया सीता तथा गृहम्८। समानीता प्रीतिमता लोकवाक्याद्विसर्जिता। वने वसति सा देवी पुरे चाहं वसामि वै९। जातोहमुत्तमे वंशे उत्तमोहं धनुष्मताम्। उत्तमं दुःखमापन्नो हृदयं नैव भिद्यते१०। वज्रसारस्य सारेण धात्राहं निर्मितो ध्रुवम्। इदानीं ब्राह्मणादेशाद्भ्रमामि धरणीतले११। तपः स्थितस्तु शूद्रोसौ मया पापो निपातितः। देववाक्यात्तु मे भूयः प्राणो मे हृदि संस्थितः१२। पश्यामि तं मुनिं वंद्यं जगतोस्य हिते रतम्। दृष्टेन मे तथा दुःखं नाशमेष्यति सत्वरम्१३। उदयेन सहस्रांशोर्हिमं यद्वद्विलीयते। तद्वन्मे दुःखसंप्राप्तिः सर्वथा नाशमेष्यति१४। दृष्ट्वा च देवान्संप्राप्तानगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः। अर्घ्यमादाय सुप्रीतः सर्वांस्तानभ्यपूजयत्१५। ते तु गृह्य ततः पूजां संभाष्य च महामुनिं। जग्मुस्तेन तदा हृष्टा नाकपृष्ठं सहानुगाः१६। गतेषु तेषु काकुत्स्थः पुष्पकादवरुह्य च। अभिवादयितुं प्राप्तः सोगस्त्यमृषिमुत्तमम्१७। राजोवाच। सुतो दशरथस्याहं भवंतमभिवादितुम्। आगतो वै मुनिश्रेष्ठ सौम्येनेक्षस्व चक्षुषा१८। निर्धूतपापस्त्वां दृष्ट्वा भवामीह न संशयः। एतावदुक्त्वा स मुनिमभिवाद्य पुनः पुनः१९। कुशलं भृत्यवर्गस्य मृगाणां तनयस्य च। भगवद्दर्शनाकांक्षी शूद्रं हत्वा त्विहागतः२०। अगस्त्य उवाच। स्वागतं ते रघुश्रेष्ठ जगद्वंद्य सनातन। दर्शनात्तव काकुत्स्थ पूतोहं मुनिभिः सह२१। त्वत्कृते रघुशार्दूल गृहाणार्घं महाद्युते। स्वागतं नरशार्दूल दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोसि शत्रुहन्२२। त्वं हि नित्यं बहुमतो गुणैर्बहुभिरुत्तमैः। अतस्त्वं पूजनीयो वै मम नित्यं हृदिस्थितः२३। सुरा हि कथयंति त्वां शूद्रघातिनमागतं। ब्राह्मणस्य च धर्मेण त्वया वै जीवितः सुतः२४। उष्यतां चेह भगवः सकाशे मम राघव। प्रभाते पुष्पकेणासि गंतायोध्यां महामते२५। इदं चाभरणं सौम्य सुकृतं विश्वकर्मणा। दिव्यं दिव्येनवपुषा दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा२६। प्रतिगृह्णीष्व राजेन्द्र मत्प्रियं कुरु राघव। लब्धस्य हि पुनर्द्दाने सुमहत्फलमुच्यते२७। त्वं हि शक्तः परित्रातुं सेंद्रानपि सुरोत्तमान्। तस्मात्प्रदास्ये विधिवत्प्रतीच्छस्व नरर्षभ२८। अथोवाच महाबाहुरिक्ष्वाकूणां महारथः। कृतांजलिर्मुनिश्रेष्ठं स्वं च धर्ममनुस्मरन्२९। प्रतिग्रहो वै भगवंस्तव मेऽत्र विगर्हितः। क्षत्रियेण कथं विप्र प्रतिग्राह्यं विजानता३०। ब्राह्मणेन तु यद्दत्तं तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि। सपुत्रो गृहवानस्मि समर्थोस्मि महामुने३१। आपदा चन चाक्रांतः कथं ग्राह्यः प्रतिग्रहः। भार्या मे सुचिरं नष्टा न चान्या मम विद्यते३२। केवलं दोषभागी च भवामीह न संशयः। कष्टां चैव दशां प्राप्य क्षत्रियोपि प्रतिग्रही३३। कुर्वन्न दोषमाप्नोति मनुरेवात्र कारणम्। वृद्धौ च मातापितरौ साध्वी भार्या शिशुः सुतः३४। अप्यकार्यशतं कृत्वा भर्तव्या मनुरब्रवीत्। नाहं प्रतीच्छे विप्रर्षे त्वया दत्तं प्रतिग्रहं३५। न च मे भवता कोपः कार्यो वै सुरपूजित३६। अगस्त्य उवाच। न च प्रतिग्रहे दोषो गृहीते पार्थिवैर्नृप। भवान्वै तारणे शक्तस्त्रैलोक्यस्यापि राघव३७। तारय ब्राह्मणं राम विशेषेण तपस्विनं। तस्मात्प्रदास्ये विधिवत्प्रतीच्छस्व नराघिप३८। राम उवाच। क्षत्रियेण कथं विप्र प्रतिग्राह्यं विजानता। ब्राह्मणेन तु यद्दत्तं तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि३९। अगस्त्य उवाच। आसीत्कृतयुगे राम ब्रह्मपूते पुरातने। अपार्थिवाः प्रजाः सर्वाः सुराणां च शतक्रतुः४०। ताः प्रजा देवदेवेशं राजार्थं समुपागमन्। सुराणां विद्यते राजा देवदेवः शतक्रतुः४१। श्रेयसेस्मासु लोकेश पार्थिवं कुरु सांप्रतं। यस्मिन्पूजां प्रयुंजानाः पुरुषा भुंजते महीम्४२। ततो ब्रह्मा सुरश्रेष्ठो लोकपालान्सवासवान्। समाहूयाब्रवीत्सर्वांस्तेजोभागोऽत्र युज्यताम्४३। ततो ददुर्लोकपालाश्चतुर्भागं स्वतेजसा। अक्षयश्च ततो ब्रह्मा यतो जातोऽक्षयो नृपः४४। तं ब्रह्मा लोकपालानामंशं पुंसामयोजयत्। ततो नृपस्तदा तासां प्रजानां क्षेमपंडितः४५। तत्रैंद्रेण तु भागेन सर्वानाज्ञापयेन्नृपः। वारुणेन च भागेन सर्वान्पुष्णाति देहिनः४६। कौबेरेण तथांशेन त्वर्थान्दिशति पार्थिवः। यश्च याम्यो नृपे भागस्तेन शास्ति च वै प्रजाः४७। तत्र चैंद्रेण भागेन नरेन्द्रोसि रघूत्तम। प्रतिगृह्णीष्वाभरणं तारणार्थे मम प्रभो४८। ततो रामः प्रजग्राह मुनेर्हस्तान्महात्मनः। दिव्यमाभरणं चित्रं प्रदीप्तमिव भास्करं४९। प्रतिगृह्य ततोगस्त्याद्राघवः परवीरहा। निरीक्ष्य सुचिरं कालं विचार्य च पुनः पुनः1.36.५०। मौक्तिकानि विचित्राणि धात्रीफलसमानि च। जांबूनदनिबद्धानि वज्रविद्रुमनीलकैः५१। पद्मरागैः सगोमेधैर्वैडूर्यैः पुष्परागकैः। सुनिबद्धं सुविभक्तं सुकृतं विश्वकर्मणा५२। दृष्ट्वा प्रीतिसमायुक्तो भूयश्चेदं व्यचिंतयत्। नेदृशानि च रत्नानि मया दृष्टानि कानिचित्५३। उपशोभानि बद्धानि पृथ्वीमूल्यसमानि च। विभीषणस्य लंकायां न दृष्टानि मया पुरा५४। इति संचित्य मनसा राघवस्तमृषिं पुनः। आगमं तस्य दिव्यस्य प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे५५। अत्यद्भुतमिदं ब्रह्मन्न प्राप्यं च महीक्षिताम्। कथं भगवता प्राप्तं कुतो वा केन निर्मितम्५६। कुतूहलवशाच्चैव पृच्छामि त्वां महामते। करतलेस्थिते रत्ने करमध्यं प्रकाशते५७। अधमं तद्विजानीयात्सर्वशास्त्रेषु गर्हितम्। दिशः प्रकाशयेद्यत्तन्मध्यमं मुनिसत्तम५८। ऊर्ध्वगं त्रिशिखं यत्स्यादुत्तमं तदुदाहृतम्। एतान्युत्तमजातीनि ऋषिभिः कीर्तितानि तु५९। आश्चर्याणां बहूनां हि दिव्यानां भगवान्निधिः। एवं वदति काकुत्स्थे मुनिर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्६०। अगस्त्य उवाच। शृणु राम पुरावृत्तं पुरा त्रेतायुगे महत्। द्वापरे समनुप्राप्ते वने यद्दृष्टवानहम्६१। आश्चर्यं सुमहाबाहो निबोध रघुनंदन। पुरा त्रेतायुगे ह्यासीदरण्यं बहुविस्तरम्६२। समंताद्योजनशतं मृगव्याघ्रविवर्जितम्। तस्मिन्निष्पुरुषेऽरण्ये चिकीर्षुस्तप उत्तमम्६३। अहमाक्रमितुं सौम्य तदरण्यमुपागतः। तस्यारण्यस्य मध्यं तु युक्तं मूलफलैः सदा६४। शाकैर्बहुविधाकारैर्नानारूपैः सुकाननैः। तस्यारण्यस्य मध्ये तु पंचयोजनमायतम्६५। हंसकारंडवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्। तत्राश्चर्यं मया दृष्टं सरः परमशोभितम्६६। विसारिकच्छपाकीर्णं बकपंक्तिगणैर्युतम्। समीपे तस्य सरसस्तपस्तप्तुं गतः पुरा६७। देशं पुण्यमुपेत्यैवं सर्वहिंसाविवर्जितम्। तत्राहमवसं रात्रिं नैदाघीं पुरुषर्षभ६८। प्रभाते पुरुत्थाय सरस्तदुपचक्रमे। अथापश्यं शवमहमस्पृष्टजरसं क्वचित्६९। तिष्ठंतं परया लक्ष्म्या सरसो नातिदूरतः। तदर्थं चिंतयानोहं मुहूर्तमिव राघव७०। अस्य तीरे न वै प्राणी को वाप्येष सुरर्षभः। मुनिर्वा पार्थिवो वापि क्व मुनिः पार्थिवोपि वा७१। अथवा पार्थिवसुतस्तस्यैवं संभवः कृतः। अतीतेहनि रात्रौ वा प्रातर्वापि मृतो यदि७२। अवश्यं तु मया ज्ञेया सरसोस्य विनिष्क्रिया। यावदेवं स्थितश्चाहं चिंतयानो रघूत्तम७३। अथापश्यं मूहूर्तात्तु दिव्यमद्भुतदर्शनम्। विमानं परमोदारं हंसयुक्तं मनोजवम्७४। पुरस्तत्र सहस्रं तु विमानेप्सरसां नृप। गंधर्वाश्चैव तत्संख्या रमयंति वरं नरम्७५। गायंति दिव्यगेयानि वादयंति तथा परे। अथापश्यं नरं तस्माद्विमानादवरोहितम्७६। शवमांसं भक्षयन्तं च स्नात्वा रघुकुलोद्वह। ततो भुक्त्वा यथाकामं स मांसं बहुपीवरम्७७। अवतीर्य सरः शीघ्रमारुरोह दिवं पुनः। तमहं देवसंकाशं श्रिया परमयान्वितम्७८। भो भो स्वर्गिन्महाभाग पृच्छामि त्वां कथं त्विदम्। जुगुप्सितस्तवाहारो गतिश्चेयं तवोत्तमा७९। यदि गुह्यं न चैतत्ते कथय त्वद्य मे भवान्। कामतः श्रोतुमिच्छामि किमेतत्परमं वचः८०। को भवान्वद संदेहमाहारश्च विगर्हितः। त्वयेदं भुज्यते सौम्य किमर्थं क्व च वर्तसे८१। कस्यायमैश्वरोभावः शवत्वेन विनिर्मितः। आहारं च कथं निंद्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः८२। श्रुत्वा च भाषितं तत्र मम राम सतां वर। प्रांजलिः प्रत्युवाचेदं स स्वर्गी रघुनंदन८३। शृणुष्वाद्य यथावृत्तं ममेदं सुखदुःखजम्। कामो हि दुरितक्रम्यः शृणु यत्पृच्छसे द्विज८४। पुरा वैदर्भको राजा पिता मे हि महायशाः। वासुदेव इति ख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु धार्मिकः८५। तस्य पुत्रद्वयं ब्रह्मन्द्वाभ्यां स्त्रीभ्यामजायत। अहं श्वेत इति ख्यातो यवीयान्सुरथोऽभवत्८६। पितर्युपरते तस्मिन्पौरा मामभ्यषेचयन्। तत्राहंकारयन्राज्यं धर्मे चासं समाहितः८७। एवं वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि समुपाव्रजन्। मम राज्यं कारयतः परिपालयतः प्रजाः८८। सोहं निमित्ते कस्मिंश्चिद्वैराग्येण द्विजोत्तम। मरणं हृदये कृत्वा तपोवनमुपागमम्८९। सोहं वनमिदं रम्यं भृशं पक्षिविवर्जितम्। प्रविष्टस्तप आस्थातुमस्यैव सरसोंतिके९०। राज्येऽभिषिच्य सुरथं भ्रातरं तं नराधिपम्। इदं सरः समासाद्य तपस्तप्तं सुदारुणम्९१। दशवर्षसहस्राणि तपस्तप्त्वा महावने। शुभं तु भवनं प्राप्तो ब्रह्मलोकमनामयम्९२। स्वर्गस्थमपि मां ब्रह्मन्क्षुत्पिपासे द्विजोत्तम। अबाधेतां भृशं चाहमभवं व्यथितेंद्रियः९३। ततस्त्रिभुवनश्रेष्ठमवोचं वै पितामहम्। भगवन्स्वर्गलोकोऽयं क्षुत्पिपासा विवर्जितः९४। कस्येयं कर्मणः पक्तिः क्षुत्पिपासे यतो हि मे। आहारः कश्च मे देव ब्रूहि त्वं श्रीपितामह९५। ततः पितामहः सम्यक्चिरं ध्यात्वा महामुने। मामुवाच ततो वाक्यं नास्ति भोज्यं स्वदेहजम्९६। ॠते ते स्वानि मांसानि भक्षय त्वं तु हि नित्यशः। स्वशरीरं त्वया पुष्टं कुर्वता तप उत्तमम्९७। नादत्तं जायते तात श्वेत पश्य महीतले। आग्रहाद्भिक्षमाणाय भिक्षापि प्राणिने पुरा९८। न हि दत्ता गृहे भ्रांत्या मोहादतिथये तदा। तेन स्वर्गगतस्यापि क्षुत्पिपासे तवाधुना९९। स त्वं प्रपुष्टमाहारैः स्वशरीरमनुत्तमम्। भक्षयस्व च राजेंद्र सा ते तृप्तिर्भविष्यति1.36.१००। एवमुक्तस्ततो देवं ब्रह्माणमहमुक्तवान्। भक्षिते च स्वके देहे पुनरन्यन्न मे विभो१०१। क्षुधानिवारणं नैव देहस्यास्य विनौदनं। खादामि ह्यक्षयं देव प्रियं मे न हि जायते१०२। ततोब्रवीत्पुनर्ब्रह्मा तव देहोऽक्षयः कृतः। दिनेदिने ते पुष्टात्मा शवः श्वेत भविष्यति१०३। यावद्वर्षशतं पूर्णं स्वमांसं खाद भो नृप। यदागच्छति चागस्त्यः श्वेतारण्यं महातपाः१०४। भगवानतिदुर्धर्षस्तदा कृच्छ्राद्विमोक्ष्यसे। स हि तारयितुं शक्तः सेंद्रानपि सुरासुरान्१०५। आहारं कुत्सितं चेमं राजर्षे किं पुनस्तव। सुरकार्यं महत्तेन सुकृतं तु महात्मना१०६। उदधिं निर्जलं कृत्वा दानवाश्च निपातिताः। विंध्यश्चादित्यविद्वेषाद्वर्धमानो निवारितः१०७। लंबमाना मही चैषा गुरुत्वेनाधिवासिता। दक्षिणा दिग्दिवं याता त्रैलाक्यं विषमस्थितम्१०८। मया गत्वा सुरैः सार्द्धं प्रेषितो दक्षिणां दिशम्। समां कुरु महाभाग गुरुत्वेन जगत्समम्१०९। एवं च तेन मुनिना स्थित्वा सर्वा धरा समा। कृता राजेंद्र मुनिना एवमद्यापि दृश्यते११०। सोहं भगवत श्रुत्वा देवदेवस्य भाषितम्। भुंजे च कुत्सिताहारं स्वशरीरमनुत्तमम्१११। पूर्णं वर्षशतं चाद्य भोजनं कुत्सितं च मे। क्षयं नाभ्येति तद्विप्र तृप्तिश्चापि ममोत्तमा११२। तं मुनिं कृच्छ्रसन्तप्तश्चिंतयामि दिवानिशम्। कदा वै दर्शनं मह्यं स मुनिर्दास्यते वने११३। एवं मे चिंतयानस्य गतं वर्षशतन्त्विह। सोगस्त्यो हि गतिर्ब्रह्मन्मुनिर्मे भविता ध्रुवं११४। न गतिर्भविता मह्यं कुंभयोनिमृते द्विजम्। श्रुत्वेत्थं भाषितं राम दृष्ट्वाहारं च कुत्सितम्११५। कृपया परया युक्तस्तं नृपं स्वर्गगामिनम्। करोम्यहं सुधाभोज्यं नाशयामि च कुत्सितम्११६। चिन्तयन्नित्यवोचं तमगस्त्यः किं करिष्यति। अहमेतत्कुत्सितं ते नाशयामि महामते११७। ईप्सितं प्रार्थयस्वास्मान्मनः प्रीतिकरं परम्। स स्वर्गी मां ततः प्राह कथं ब्रह्मवचोन्यथा११८। कर्तुं मुने मया शक्यं न चान्यस्तारयिष्यति। ॠते वै कुंभयोनिं तं मैत्रावरुणसंभवम्११९। अपृष्टोपि मया ब्रह्मन्नेवमूचे पितामहः। एवं ब्रुवाणं तं श्वेतमुक्तवानहमस्मि सः१२०। आगतस्तव भाग्येन दृष्टोहं नात्र संशयः। ततः स्वर्गी स मां ज्ञात्वा दंडवत्पतितो भुवि१२१। तमुत्थाप्य ततो रामाब्रवं किं ते करोम्यहम्। राजोवाच। आहारात्कुत्सिताद्ब्रह्मंस्तारयस्वाद्य दुष्कृतात्१२२। येन लोकोऽक्षयः स्वर्गो भविता त्वत्कृतेन मे। ततः प्रतिग्रहो दत्तो जगद्वंद्य नृपेण हि१२३। भवान्मामनुगृह्णातु प्रतीच्छस्व प्रतिग्रहम्१२७। कृता मतिस्तारणाय न लोभाद्रघुनंदन। गृहीते भूषणे राम मम हस्तगते तदा१२८। मानुषः पौर्विको देहस्तदा नष्टोस्य भूपते। प्रणष्टे तु शरीरे च राजर्षिः परया मुदा१२९। मयोक्तोसौ विमानेन जगाम त्रिदिवं पुनः। तेन मे शक्रतुल्येन दत्तमाभरणं शुभं१३०। तस्मिन्निमित्ते काकुत्स्थ दत्तमद्भुतकर्मणा। श्वेतो वैदर्भको राजा तदाभूद्गतकल्मषः१३१।

pulastya uvāca| tato devāḥ prayātāste vimānairbahubhistadā| rāmopyanujagāmāśu kuṃbhayonestapovanam1| uktaṃ bhagavatā tena bhūyopyāgamanaṃ kriyāḥ| pūrvameva sabhāyāṃ ca yo māṃ draṣṭuṃ samāgataḥ2| tadahaṃ devatādeśāttatkāryārthe mahāmuniṃ| paśyāmi taṃ muniṃ gatvā devadānavapūjitam3| upadeśaṃ ca me tuṣṭaḥ svayaṃ dāsyati sattamaḥ| duḥkhī yena punarmartye na bhavāmi kadācana4| pitā daśaratho mahyaṃ kausalyā jananī tathā| sūryavaṃśe samutpannastathāpyevaṃ suduḥkhitaḥ5| rājyakāle vane vāso bhāryayā cānujena ca| haraṇaṃ cāpi bhāryāyā rāvaṇena kṛtaṃ mama6| asahāyena tu mayā tīrtvā sāgaramuttamam| ruddhvā tu tāṃ purīṃ sarvāṃ kṛtvā tasya kulakṣayam7| dṛṣṭā sītā mayā tyaktā devānāṃ tu purastadā| śuddhāṃ tāṃ māṃ tathocuste mayā sītā tathā gṛham8| samānītā prītimatā lokavākyādvisarjitā| vane vasati sā devī pure cāhaṃ vasāmi vai9| jātohamuttame vaṃśe uttamohaṃ dhanuṣmatām| uttamaṃ duḥkhamāpanno hṛdayaṃ naiva bhidyate10| vajrasārasya sāreṇa dhātrāhaṃ nirmito dhruvam| idānīṃ brāhmaṇādeśādbhramāmi dharaṇītale11| tapaḥ sthitastu śūdrosau mayā pāpo nipātitaḥ| devavākyāttu me bhūyaḥ prāṇo me hṛdi saṃsthitaḥ12| paśyāmi taṃ muniṃ vaṃdyaṃ jagatosya hite ratam| dṛṣṭena me tathā duḥkhaṃ nāśameṣyati satvaram13| udayena sahasrāṃśorhimaṃ yadvadvilīyate| tadvanme duḥkhasaṃprāptiḥ sarvathā nāśameṣyati14| dṛṣṭvā ca devānsaṃprāptānagastyo bhagavānṛṣiḥ| arghyamādāya suprītaḥ sarvāṃstānabhyapūjayat15| te tu gṛhya tataḥ pūjāṃ saṃbhāṣya ca mahāmuniṃ| jagmustena tadā hṛṣṭā nākapṛṣṭhaṃ sahānugāḥ16| gateṣu teṣu kākutsthaḥ puṣpakādavaruhya ca| abhivādayituṃ prāptaḥ sogastyamṛṣimuttamam17| rājovāca| suto daśarathasyāhaṃ bhavaṃtamabhivāditum| āgato vai muniśreṣṭha saumyenekṣasva cakṣuṣā18| nirdhūtapāpastvāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhavāmīha na saṃśayaḥ| etāvaduktvā sa munimabhivādya punaḥ punaḥ19| kuśalaṃ bhṛtyavargasya mṛgāṇāṃ tanayasya ca| bhagavaddarśanākāṃkṣī śūdraṃ hatvā tvihāgataḥ20| agastya uvāca| svāgataṃ te raghuśreṣṭha jagadvaṃdya sanātana| darśanāttava kākutstha pūtohaṃ munibhiḥ saha21| tvatkṛte raghuśārdūla gṛhāṇārghaṃ mahādyute| svāgataṃ naraśārdūla diṣṭyā prāptosi śatruhan22| tvaṃ hi nityaṃ bahumato guṇairbahubhiruttamaiḥ| atastvaṃ pūjanīyo vai mama nityaṃ hṛdisthitaḥ23| surā hi kathayaṃti tvāṃ śūdraghātinamāgataṃ| brāhmaṇasya ca dharmeṇa tvayā vai jīvitaḥ sutaḥ24| uṣyatāṃ ceha bhagavaḥ sakāśe mama rāghava| prabhāte puṣpakeṇāsi gaṃtāyodhyāṃ mahāmate25| idaṃ cābharaṇaṃ saumya sukṛtaṃ viśvakarmaṇā| divyaṃ divyenavapuṣā dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā26| pratigṛhṇīṣva rājendra matpriyaṃ kuru rāghava| labdhasya hi punarddāne sumahatphalamucyate27| tvaṃ hi śaktaḥ paritrātuṃ seṃdrānapi surottamān| tasmātpradāsye vidhivatpratīcchasva nararṣabha28| athovāca mahābāhurikṣvākūṇāṃ mahārathaḥ| kṛtāṃjalirmuniśreṣṭhaṃ svaṃ ca dharmamanusmaran29| pratigraho vai bhagavaṃstava me'tra vigarhitaḥ| kṣatriyeṇa kathaṃ vipra pratigrāhyaṃ vijānatā30| brāhmaṇena tu yaddattaṃ tanme tvaṃ vaktumarhasi| saputro gṛhavānasmi samarthosmi mahāmune31| āpadā cana cākrāṃtaḥ kathaṃ grāhyaḥ pratigrahaḥ| bhāryā me suciraṃ naṣṭā na cānyā mama vidyate32| kevalaṃ doṣabhāgī ca bhavāmīha na saṃśayaḥ| kaṣṭāṃ caiva daśāṃ prāpya kṣatriyopi pratigrahī33| kurvanna doṣamāpnoti manurevātra kāraṇam| vṛddhau ca mātāpitarau sādhvī bhāryā śiśuḥ sutaḥ34| apyakāryaśataṃ kṛtvā bhartavyā manurabravīt| nāhaṃ pratīcche viprarṣe tvayā dattaṃ pratigrahaṃ35| na ca me bhavatā kopaḥ kāryo vai surapūjita36| agastya uvāca| na ca pratigrahe doṣo gṛhīte pārthivairnṛpa| bhavānvai tāraṇe śaktastrailokyasyāpi rāghava37| tāraya brāhmaṇaṃ rāma viśeṣeṇa tapasvinaṃ| tasmātpradāsye vidhivatpratīcchasva narāghipa38| rāma uvāca| kṣatriyeṇa kathaṃ vipra pratigrāhyaṃ vijānatā| brāhmaṇena tu yaddattaṃ tanme tvaṃ vaktumarhasi39| agastya uvāca| āsītkṛtayuge rāma brahmapūte purātane| apārthivāḥ prajāḥ sarvāḥ surāṇāṃ ca śatakratuḥ40| tāḥ prajā devadeveśaṃ rājārthaṃ samupāgaman| surāṇāṃ vidyate rājā devadevaḥ śatakratuḥ41| śreyasesmāsu lokeśa pārthivaṃ kuru sāṃprataṃ| yasminpūjāṃ prayuṃjānāḥ puruṣā bhuṃjate mahīm42| tato brahmā suraśreṣṭho lokapālānsavāsavān| samāhūyābravītsarvāṃstejobhāgo'tra yujyatām43| tato dadurlokapālāścaturbhāgaṃ svatejasā| akṣayaśca tato brahmā yato jāto'kṣayo nṛpaḥ44| taṃ brahmā lokapālānāmaṃśaṃ puṃsāmayojayat| tato nṛpastadā tāsāṃ prajānāṃ kṣemapaṃḍitaḥ45| tatraiṃdreṇa tu bhāgena sarvānājñāpayennṛpaḥ| vāruṇena ca bhāgena sarvānpuṣṇāti dehinaḥ46| kaubereṇa tathāṃśena tvarthāndiśati pārthivaḥ| yaśca yāmyo nṛpe bhāgastena śāsti ca vai prajāḥ47| tatra caiṃdreṇa bhāgena narendrosi raghūttama| pratigṛhṇīṣvābharaṇaṃ tāraṇārthe mama prabho48| tato rāmaḥ prajagrāha munerhastānmahātmanaḥ| divyamābharaṇaṃ citraṃ pradīptamiva bhāskaraṃ49| pratigṛhya tatogastyādrāghavaḥ paravīrahā| nirīkṣya suciraṃ kālaṃ vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ1.36.50| mauktikāni vicitrāṇi dhātrīphalasamāni ca| jāṃbūnadanibaddhāni vajravidrumanīlakaiḥ51| padmarāgaiḥ sagomedhairvaiḍūryaiḥ puṣparāgakaiḥ| sunibaddhaṃ suvibhaktaṃ sukṛtaṃ viśvakarmaṇā52| dṛṣṭvā prītisamāyukto bhūyaścedaṃ vyaciṃtayat| nedṛśāni ca ratnāni mayā dṛṣṭāni kānicit53| upaśobhāni baddhāni pṛthvīmūlyasamāni ca| vibhīṣaṇasya laṃkāyāṃ na dṛṣṭāni mayā purā54| iti saṃcitya manasā rāghavastamṛṣiṃ punaḥ| āgamaṃ tasya divyasya praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame55| atyadbhutamidaṃ brahmanna prāpyaṃ ca mahīkṣitām| kathaṃ bhagavatā prāptaṃ kuto vā kena nirmitam56| kutūhalavaśāccaiva pṛcchāmi tvāṃ mahāmate| karatalesthite ratne karamadhyaṃ prakāśate57| adhamaṃ tadvijānīyātsarvaśāstreṣu garhitam| diśaḥ prakāśayedyattanmadhyamaṃ munisattama58| ūrdhvagaṃ triśikhaṃ yatsyāduttamaṃ tadudāhṛtam| etānyuttamajātīni ṛṣibhiḥ kīrtitāni tu59| āścaryāṇāṃ bahūnāṃ hi divyānāṃ bhagavānnidhiḥ| evaṃ vadati kākutsthe munirvākyamathābravīt60| agastya uvāca| śṛṇu rāma purāvṛttaṃ purā tretāyuge mahat| dvāpare samanuprāpte vane yaddṛṣṭavānaham61| āścaryaṃ sumahābāho nibodha raghunaṃdana| purā tretāyuge hyāsīdaraṇyaṃ bahuvistaram62| samaṃtādyojanaśataṃ mṛgavyāghravivarjitam| tasminniṣpuruṣe'raṇye cikīrṣustapa uttamam63| ahamākramituṃ saumya tadaraṇyamupāgataḥ| tasyāraṇyasya madhyaṃ tu yuktaṃ mūlaphalaiḥ sadā64| śākairbahuvidhākārairnānārūpaiḥ sukānanaiḥ| tasyāraṇyasya madhye tu paṃcayojanamāyatam65| haṃsakāraṃḍavākīrṇaṃ cakravākopaśobhitam| tatrāścaryaṃ mayā dṛṣṭaṃ saraḥ paramaśobhitam66| visārikacchapākīrṇaṃ bakapaṃktigaṇairyutam| samīpe tasya sarasastapastaptuṃ gataḥ purā67| deśaṃ puṇyamupetyaivaṃ sarvahiṃsāvivarjitam| tatrāhamavasaṃ rātriṃ naidāghīṃ puruṣarṣabha68| prabhāte purutthāya sarastadupacakrame| athāpaśyaṃ śavamahamaspṛṣṭajarasaṃ kvacit69| tiṣṭhaṃtaṃ parayā lakṣmyā saraso nātidūrataḥ| tadarthaṃ ciṃtayānohaṃ muhūrtamiva rāghava70| asya tīre na vai prāṇī ko vāpyeṣa surarṣabhaḥ| munirvā pārthivo vāpi kva muniḥ pārthivopi vā71| athavā pārthivasutastasyaivaṃ saṃbhavaḥ kṛtaḥ| atītehani rātrau vā prātarvāpi mṛto yadi72| avaśyaṃ tu mayā jñeyā sarasosya viniṣkriyā| yāvadevaṃ sthitaścāhaṃ ciṃtayāno raghūttama73| athāpaśyaṃ mūhūrtāttu divyamadbhutadarśanam| vimānaṃ paramodāraṃ haṃsayuktaṃ manojavam74| purastatra sahasraṃ tu vimānepsarasāṃ nṛpa| gaṃdharvāścaiva tatsaṃkhyā ramayaṃti varaṃ naram75| gāyaṃti divyageyāni vādayaṃti tathā pare| athāpaśyaṃ naraṃ tasmādvimānādavarohitam76| śavamāṃsaṃ bhakṣayantaṃ ca snātvā raghukulodvaha| tato bhuktvā yathākāmaṃ sa māṃsaṃ bahupīvaram77| avatīrya saraḥ śīghramāruroha divaṃ punaḥ| tamahaṃ devasaṃkāśaṃ śriyā paramayānvitam78| bho bho svarginmahābhāga pṛcchāmi tvāṃ kathaṃ tvidam| jugupsitastavāhāro gatiśceyaṃ tavottamā79| yadi guhyaṃ na caitatte kathaya tvadya me bhavān| kāmataḥ śrotumicchāmi kimetatparamaṃ vacaḥ80| ko bhavānvada saṃdehamāhāraśca vigarhitaḥ| tvayedaṃ bhujyate saumya kimarthaṃ kva ca vartase81| kasyāyamaiśvarobhāvaḥ śavatvena vinirmitaḥ| āhāraṃ ca kathaṃ niṃdyaṃ śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ82| śrutvā ca bhāṣitaṃ tatra mama rāma satāṃ vara| prāṃjaliḥ pratyuvācedaṃ sa svargī raghunaṃdana83| śṛṇuṣvādya yathāvṛttaṃ mamedaṃ sukhaduḥkhajam| kāmo hi duritakramyaḥ śṛṇu yatpṛcchase dvija84| purā vaidarbhako rājā pitā me hi mahāyaśāḥ| vāsudeva iti khyātastriṣu lokeṣu dhārmikaḥ85| tasya putradvayaṃ brahmandvābhyāṃ strībhyāmajāyata| ahaṃ śveta iti khyāto yavīyānsuratho'bhavat86| pitaryuparate tasminpaurā māmabhyaṣecayan| tatrāhaṃkārayanrājyaṃ dharme cāsaṃ samāhitaḥ87| evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇi bahūni samupāvrajan| mama rājyaṃ kārayataḥ paripālayataḥ prajāḥ88| sohaṃ nimitte kasmiṃścidvairāgyeṇa dvijottama| maraṇaṃ hṛdaye kṛtvā tapovanamupāgamam89| sohaṃ vanamidaṃ ramyaṃ bhṛśaṃ pakṣivivarjitam| praviṣṭastapa āsthātumasyaiva sarasoṃtike90| rājye'bhiṣicya surathaṃ bhrātaraṃ taṃ narādhipam| idaṃ saraḥ samāsādya tapastaptaṃ sudāruṇam91| daśavarṣasahasrāṇi tapastaptvā mahāvane| śubhaṃ tu bhavanaṃ prāpto brahmalokamanāmayam92| svargasthamapi māṃ brahmankṣutpipāse dvijottama| abādhetāṃ bhṛśaṃ cāhamabhavaṃ vyathiteṃdriyaḥ93| tatastribhuvanaśreṣṭhamavocaṃ vai pitāmaham| bhagavansvargaloko'yaṃ kṣutpipāsā vivarjitaḥ94| kasyeyaṃ karmaṇaḥ paktiḥ kṣutpipāse yato hi me| āhāraḥ kaśca me deva brūhi tvaṃ śrīpitāmaha95| tataḥ pitāmahaḥ samyakciraṃ dhyātvā mahāmune| māmuvāca tato vākyaṃ nāsti bhojyaṃ svadehajam96| ṝte te svāni māṃsāni bhakṣaya tvaṃ tu hi nityaśaḥ| svaśarīraṃ tvayā puṣṭaṃ kurvatā tapa uttamam97| nādattaṃ jāyate tāta śveta paśya mahītale| āgrahādbhikṣamāṇāya bhikṣāpi prāṇine purā98| na hi dattā gṛhe bhrāṃtyā mohādatithaye tadā| tena svargagatasyāpi kṣutpipāse tavādhunā99| sa tvaṃ prapuṣṭamāhāraiḥ svaśarīramanuttamam| bhakṣayasva ca rājeṃdra sā te tṛptirbhaviṣyati1.36.100| evamuktastato devaṃ brahmāṇamahamuktavān| bhakṣite ca svake dehe punaranyanna me vibho101| kṣudhānivāraṇaṃ naiva dehasyāsya vinaudanaṃ| khādāmi hyakṣayaṃ deva priyaṃ me na hi jāyate102| tatobravītpunarbrahmā tava deho'kṣayaḥ kṛtaḥ| dinedine te puṣṭātmā śavaḥ śveta bhaviṣyati103| yāvadvarṣaśataṃ pūrṇaṃ svamāṃsaṃ khāda bho nṛpa| yadāgacchati cāgastyaḥ śvetāraṇyaṃ mahātapāḥ104| bhagavānatidurdharṣastadā kṛcchrādvimokṣyase| sa hi tārayituṃ śaktaḥ seṃdrānapi surāsurān105| āhāraṃ kutsitaṃ cemaṃ rājarṣe kiṃ punastava| surakāryaṃ mahattena sukṛtaṃ tu mahātmanā106| udadhiṃ nirjalaṃ kṛtvā dānavāśca nipātitāḥ| viṃdhyaścādityavidveṣādvardhamāno nivāritaḥ107| laṃbamānā mahī caiṣā gurutvenādhivāsitā| dakṣiṇā digdivaṃ yātā trailākyaṃ viṣamasthitam108| mayā gatvā suraiḥ sārddhaṃ preṣito dakṣiṇāṃ diśam| samāṃ kuru mahābhāga gurutvena jagatsamam109| evaṃ ca tena muninā sthitvā sarvā dharā samā| kṛtā rājeṃdra muninā evamadyāpi dṛśyate110| sohaṃ bhagavata śrutvā devadevasya bhāṣitam| bhuṃje ca kutsitāhāraṃ svaśarīramanuttamam111| pūrṇaṃ varṣaśataṃ cādya bhojanaṃ kutsitaṃ ca me| kṣayaṃ nābhyeti tadvipra tṛptiścāpi mamottamā112| taṃ muniṃ kṛcchrasantaptaściṃtayāmi divāniśam| kadā vai darśanaṃ mahyaṃ sa munirdāsyate vane113| evaṃ me ciṃtayānasya gataṃ varṣaśatantviha| sogastyo hi gatirbrahmanmunirme bhavitā dhruvaṃ114| na gatirbhavitā mahyaṃ kuṃbhayonimṛte dvijam| śrutvetthaṃ bhāṣitaṃ rāma dṛṣṭvāhāraṃ ca kutsitam115| kṛpayā parayā yuktastaṃ nṛpaṃ svargagāminam| karomyahaṃ sudhābhojyaṃ nāśayāmi ca kutsitam116| cintayannityavocaṃ tamagastyaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati| ahametatkutsitaṃ te nāśayāmi mahāmate117| īpsitaṃ prārthayasvāsmānmanaḥ prītikaraṃ param| sa svargī māṃ tataḥ prāha kathaṃ brahmavaconyathā118| kartuṃ mune mayā śakyaṃ na cānyastārayiṣyati| ṝte vai kuṃbhayoniṃ taṃ maitrāvaruṇasaṃbhavam119| apṛṣṭopi mayā brahmannevamūce pitāmahaḥ| evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ taṃ śvetamuktavānahamasmi saḥ120| āgatastava bhāgyena dṛṣṭohaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ| tataḥ svargī sa māṃ jñātvā daṃḍavatpatito bhuvi121| tamutthāpya tato rāmābravaṃ kiṃ te karomyaham| rājovāca| āhārātkutsitādbrahmaṃstārayasvādya duṣkṛtāt122| yena loko'kṣayaḥ svargo bhavitā tvatkṛtena me| tataḥ pratigraho datto jagadvaṃdya nṛpeṇa hi123| bhavānmāmanugṛhṇātu pratīcchasva pratigraham127| kṛtā matistāraṇāya na lobhādraghunaṃdana| gṛhīte bhūṣaṇe rāma mama hastagate tadā128| mānuṣaḥ paurviko dehastadā naṣṭosya bhūpate| praṇaṣṭe tu śarīre ca rājarṣiḥ parayā mudā129| mayoktosau vimānena jagāma tridivaṃ punaḥ| tena me śakratulyena dattamābharaṇaṃ śubhaṃ130| tasminnimitte kākutstha dattamadbhutakarmaṇā| śveto vaidarbhako rājā tadābhūdgatakalmaṣaḥ131|

English translation

Pulastya said :

1. Then the gods went by many aeroplanes. Rāma too quickly went to the penance-grove of Agastya .

2. (He thought:) ‘The revered one, who had formerly come to see me in my assembly, had told me to go to him again.

3. So by the order of gods and for their work I shall go and see that great sage, honoured by gods and demons.

4. And the best one will advise me so that I shall never again be unhappy in this mortal world.

5. My father is Daśaratha and Kausalyā is my mother. I am born in the solar family. Still I am so much unhappy!

6. I had to stay in the forest with my wife and younger brother at the time (when I should have enjoyed) the kingdom. My wife also was abducted by Rāvaṇa .

7-8a. I met Sītā after having crossed the excellent ocean without anybody’s help and having besieged that city (of Lanka ) and having destroyed his (i.e. Rāvaṇa’s) family. I abandoned her in front of the gods.

8b-9. They (then) told me that she was pure, so I, full of love, brought her home; but (again) forsook her on account of (an adverse) public opinion. That respectable lady is living in a forest, (while) I am living in the city.

10. I am born in the best family; I am best among the archers; I am suffering from the worst misery; (yet) my heart is not rent.

11. Surely the creator has created me with an adamantine essence. Now following the instruction of a brāhmaṇa , I wander over the surface of the earth.

12. Obeying the words of gods, I have destroyed this sinful śūdra who was practising penance. Again my life has stood still in my heart (i.e. I am very uneasy).

13. I (shall now) see the adorable sage, engaged in the wellbeing of this world, so that by seeing him my grief will soon come to an end.

14. As at the rise of the sun snow melts, in the same way (by seeing him) all the grief that has come to me will completely come to an end.’

15. The revered sage Agastya too, seeing the gods who had come there, and being very well pleased offered them a respectful offering and worshipped them.

16. They too, having talked to the great sage, and being delighted went to heaven with their followers.

17. When they had left, the descendant of Kakutstha (i.e. Rāma) got down from Puṣpaka and went to salute the best sage Agastya.

The king (i.e. Rāma) said :

18. O best sage, I am Daśaratha’s son. I have come to salute you. (Please) look at me with a pleasing eye (i.e. favour me).

19. By seeing you my sins will be shaken off. There is no doubt (about it).

20. Saying this much and saluting the sage again and again, he (enquired after) the welfare of the servants, the beasts and his son (and said:) “After having killed the śūdra (viz. Śambūka ) I have come here to see (you) the revered one.”

Agastya said :

21-22. O you best among the Raghus , O you highly lust rous one, (please) accept the respectful offering meant for you. O best among the Raghus, O you who are adorable to the world, O you eternal one, welcome to you. O descendant of Kakutstha, your visit has purified me along with the sages. O you killer of enemies, due to my good luck, you have come here.

23. You are always very much respected due to your many excellent qualities. Therefore you deserve to be honoured. You have always remained in my heart.

24. The gods also proclaim that you, the killer of the śūdra, have come. You have righteously brought the brāhmaṇa’s son back to life.

25. O Rāghava , (please) live with me. O you highly intelligent one, you will go to Ayodhyā in the Puṣpaka (next) morning.

26. O Rāghava, O gentle one, O king of kings, (please) accept this divine ornament well fashioned by Viśvakarman of a divine body and shining with its own lustre.

27. Do what is agreeable to me. It is said that great fruit accrues (to a person) when what is obtained is again given (by him).

28. You are capable of protecting the best gods including Indra . Therefore I shall duly offer (this to you). O best of men, (please) accept it.

29. Then the great warrior of mighty arms (i.e. very powerful) among the Ikṣvākus , remembering his duty, with the palms of his hands joined in obeisance, said:

30. “O revered sir, accepting a gift from you is censurable on my part. O brāhmaṇa, how can a wise kṣatriya accept a gift given by a brāhmaṇa? Please tell (i.e. explain) it to me.

31. I have sons, I am a householder and I am capable (of securing such gifts), O great sage.

32. I am not overcome with a calamity. (Then) how can I accept this gift? My wife has deceased long back: and I have not (taken to) another wife.

33-34a. Here (i.e. if I accept the gift), I shall merely commit an offence. There is no doubt about it. If a kṣatriya accepts a gift when he is reduced to a miserable condition, he does not incur sin. Manu is the authority in this matter.

34b-35. Manu has said that old parents, a virtuous wife, a young son should be taken care of (by a man) even by doing a hundred evil deeds. (So) O brāhmaṇa sage, I shall not accept the gift offered by you.

36. O you honoured by gods, (please) do not be angry with me.”

Agastya said :

37. O king, there is nothing wrong if kings accept a gift offered to them. O Rāghava, you are able to protect even the three worlds.

38. O Rāma, then protect this brāhmaṇa especially when he is also an ascetic. Therefore I shall duly give (the gift). (Please) accept it, O king.

Rāma said :

39. O brāhmaṇa, please tell me how should a wise kṣat-riya accept what is offered by a brāhmaṇa.

Agastya said :

40. O Rāma, in the old Kṛtayuga , that had become one with Brahman , all the beings were without a king: (only) Indra was (the king) of gods.

41-42. Those beings went to the great lord of gods for (securing) a king. (They said to him:) “Gods have a king viz. Śatakratu (i.e. Indra), the gods of gods. O lord of the worlds, for our well-being make (someone) our king, offering worship to whom men enjoy the earth.”

43. Then Brahmā , the greatest among gods, called the regents of the quarters with Indra, and said to all of them: “Bestow here a part of your lustre.”

44. Then the regents of the quarters (each) gave a quarter of their lustre. Due to that Brahmā became inexhaustible (in lustre), and from (i.e. due to) him the king also became inexhaustible (in lustre).

45. Then Brahmā bestowed the portion(s) of the lustre of the regents of the quarters upon men. Due to that a king is skilled in (looking after) the welfare of these beings.

46. Due to the portion (received) from Indra, the king should order all; and on account of Varuṇa ’s portion (that he has in him) he nourishes all men.

47. The king directs (i.e. gives) wealth by means of the portion of Kubera (that he has in him); and the king governs his subjects with the portion of Yama that (he has) in him.

48. O best of Raghus, when such is the case, you are the lord of men due to Indra’s portion (that you have in you) O lord, (please) accept the ornament to protect me.

49. Then Rāma accepted from the hand of the great-souled sage, the divine, bright ornament blazing like the sun.

50-53 a. Rāghava, the killer of the heroes of enemies for a long time examined the ornament and thought again and again, and seeing that it had many bright pearls (big) like the āmalaka -fruits, and it was inlaid with gold, and was well-knit, well-divided and well-fashioned with diamonds, corals, sapphires, rubies, gomedhas [1] , Lapis Lazuli and topaz, by Viśvakarman, he was pleased and again thought thus:

53b-54. ‘I have never (before) seen such gems inlaid for beauty and worth the price of the earth. I have not seen them even in Bibhīṣaṇa ’s Laṅkā .’

55. Thinking like this mentally (i.e. in his mind), Rāghava again began to ask the sage about the acquisition of the divine (ornament):

56. “O brāhmaṇa, it is very wonderful, and not obtainable (even) to kings; how did the revered one obtain it? Wherefrom did you obtain it? Who has fashioned it?

57-58a. O you highly intelligent one, I ask you only through

curiosity. If the middle portion of the palm of the hand is illuminated when the gem is put on the palm, then one should know it to be of the lowest (quality), and it is condemned in all treatises.

58b-59. O best of sages, that which illumines the directions, is mediocre. That is said to be the best having three rays shooting up. These are said to be of the best kind by the sages.

60. The revered one is a treasure of many divine marvels.” When the descendant of Kakutstha was speaking like this, the sage said (these) words:

Agastya said :

61. O Rāma, listen to the great ancient account of what formerly took place in Tretayuga , when Dvapara was about to set in, and what I saw in a forest.

62-63a. O descendant of Raghu , O you of mighty arms,

know (i.e. listen to) the great wonder. Formerly in Tretāyuga there was a very extensive forest, measuring a hundred yojanas on all sides, and without beasts and tigers.

63b-64a. With a desire to practise excellent penance in that manless forest I went to the forest to enter it, O gentle one.

64b-65a. The centre of the forest was always full of roots and fruits, vegetables of various shapes, and good groves of many forms.

65b-67a. In the middle of the forest I saw a wonder, viz. a very beautiful lake five yojanas in length, abounding in swans, ducks and adorned with ruddy geese, crowded with large tortoises and full of the rows of cranes.

67b-68. Formerly I had gone near the lake to practise penance. O best of men, having gone near the auspicious region free from all kinds of violence, I stayed there for one summer night.

69-70a. Having again got up in the morning, I went to that lake; and not far from the lake I saw a dead body not at all touched by decrepitude and lying with great loveliness.

70b-73a. O Rāghava, (I stood) for a while thinking about it: ‘There is no being on the bank of this lake; or who is (i.e. can be) this excellent god? Or can this be (the body of) a sage or a king? But where can there be such a sage or a king (near about)? Or how can there be the possibility (of the dead body being that) of a prince here? If the person died the previous day or night or in the morning, I must certainly know the vital part played by the lake (in bringing about the death).’

73b-74. O best of the Raghus, while I thus stood thinking, in a short while I saw before me a very big divine aeroplane looking wonderful, to which swans were yoked and which had the speed of mind.

75. In the aeroplane a thousand celestial nymphs and an equal number of Gandharvas were amusing an excellent man.

76-77a. (Some) were singing divine songs, others were playing on the musical instruments. O you perpetuator of Raghu’s family, I saw a man getting down from the aeroplane and eating, after having bathed, the flesh of (that) dead body.

77b-78a. Then having eaten a very large (quantity) of the flesh to the satisfaction of his desire, he quickly got down into the lake and then again went up to heaven.

78b-79. (I said to) him who resembled a god, and who was endowed with great loveliness: “O you resident of heaven, O you magnanimous one, I (would like to) ask you: “How is it that your food is (so) condemnable while your position is (so) excellent?

80. If it is not a secret, you may (please) tell it to me today. I have a desire to hear what important words they are (i.e. what important things you have to say).

81. Who are you? (Please) speak (and remove) my doubt. O gentle one, why do you eat this censured food? Where do you stay?

82. Whose lordly condition is created as (i.e. transformed into) a dead body (i.e. who was the mighty person that is transformed into a dead body)? How is it that (you are enjoying) condemned food? I desire to hear the truth.”

83. Hearing (these) words of (i.e. uttered by) me, O Rāma, best among the good, the resident of heaven, replied with the palms of his hands joined in obeisance, O descendant of Raghu:

84. “Today hear, how this, caused by pleasure and pain, happened in my case. O brāhmaṇa, desire is difficult to be resisted; hear (the reply to) what you ask.

85. Formerly there was a king of the Vidarbha country. He, of great fame, was my father known in the three worlds as Vāsudeva and was religious.

86. O brāhmaṇa, he had sons born from two wives. I (the elder one) was known as Sveta , and the younger one was Suratha .

87. When the father expired, the citizens consecrated me (as the king). There I ruled and was well-settled in righteousness.

88. As I was ruling over the kingdom and protecting my subjects in this way, many thousand years passed.

89. O best of brāhmaṇas , that I (i.e. I who lived like that), due to indifference to the world, as a result of some cause, thought of dying and went to the penance-grove.

90. That I (i.e. who thought...etc.) entered this very charming forest, free from birds, (and came) near this lake only.

91-92. Having placed Suratha on the throne as the king, I having come to this lake, practised a very severe penance. Having practised penance for ten thousand years in the great forest, I reached an auspicious residence, viz. the healthy world of Brahmā.

93. O best of brāhmaṇas, hunger and thirst tormented me even when I was in heaven; and my organs of sense were very much afflicted.

94-95. Then I said to the grandsire, the greatest in the three worlds: ‘O revered sir, this heaven is free from hunger and thirst. Of what deed (of mine) is this the result that I am having (i.e. am oppressed by) hunger and thirst? O respectable grandsire, tell me what food I should eat.’

96. Then, O great sage, the grandsire having thought for a long time said (these) words to me: ‘You have no other food than that produced from your own body.

97. You always eat your own flesh. While you were practising excellent penance you have nourished your body.

98-99. O Śveta , note that nothing that is not given springs up (i.e. the fruit of what is given only is obtained by human beings) on the earth. Formerly you never even gave anything as alms to a (human) being pressing (you i.e. entreating you) for it; in your house also you never gave anything to a guest (even) through a mistake (or) ignorance. Therefore hunger and thirst are oppressing you now even though you are staying in heaven.

100. O best king, you eat your own body well-nourished with (different kinds of) food. That would give you satisfaction.’

101-102. Thus addressed (by Brahmā), I said to god Brahmā: ‘O lord, when I would have eaten my body, I would not have any food, except boiled rice, that would satiate my hunger. I shall eat my body till it is exhausted. Nothing agreeable comes to me.’

103. Then Brahma again said to me: ‘I have made your body inexhaustible. O Śveta, day by day your dead body (of the previous existence) will be (more and more) fat.

104-105. O king, till hundred years are over, eat your own flesh. When the revered Agastya, of great penance and very inaccessible comes to the Svetāraṇya, you will be free from the calamity; for he is able to protect (i.e. free) gods and demons including even Indra.

106. Then what about this censurable food of you (i.e. he will easily make you get rid of this censurable food)? That great-souled one (i.e. Agastya) has well accomplished a great mission of the gods.

107. Having rendered the ocean waterless (i.e. having emptied the ocean) he destroyed the demons. He also stopped Vindhya who was growing due to his hatred for the Sun.

108. And he also made this dangling earth settled (i.e. steady) with heaviness. The southern direction had gone to the heaven, and the three worlds were in distress.

109-110. Having gone to him with the gods I sent him to the southern direction. O magnanimous one, I said, make the earth well-poised with heaviness (i.e. by making it heavy). O lord of kings, the sage remaining (there) made the entire earth even. It is seen like that even now.’

111. That I (i.e. I who was told like that) having heard the words of the revered lord of gods, am eating this condensable food, this excellent body of mine.

112. Today a hundred years have completed (since) I (have been eating) this censurable food. O brāhmaṇa, it is not getting exhausted, and I ^ fully satisfied.

113. I, who am tormented by this calamity, am thinking about the sage day and night. ‘When will that sage appear before me in (this) forest?’

114-115a. Thinking thus I have passed a hundred years. O brāhmaṇa, that Agastya (alone) will certainly be my refuge. No other brāhmaṇa than the pitcher-born (Agastya) will be my refuge.”

115b-116. O Rāma, hearing these words (of Śveta), and seeing censurable food, I, who was full of great compassion, thought: ‘I shall make that king, going to heaven, an enjoyer of nectar and shall put an end to his abominable food’.

117. And I said to him: “What will Agastya do? I shall destroy this censurable food of yours, O you highly intelligent one.

118-119. Ask your mind for the desired object; (for) the mind is highly agreeable.” Then that resident of heaven said to me: “O sage, how can I falsify the the words of Brahmā. None else but the pitcher-born son of Maitrā -Varuṇa will save me.

120-121a. O brāhmaṇa, even without being asked by me Brahma has told me thus.” I said to that Śveta, who was speaking thus: “Through your good luck, you have seen me, who have come here. There is no doubt about it (i.e. about your good luck).”

121b-122a. Then that resident of heaven, having recognised me, fell (i.e. prostrated himself) on the earth like a staff. Raising him I then said to him: “What can I do for you?”

The king said :

122b-123a. O brāhmaṇa, today protect me from this wicked deed of eating this abominable food, so that by what you will do I shall have inexhaustible heaven (i.e. live in heaven eternally).

123b-124. Then the king, adorable to the world, gave me (this) gift. “You may (please) favour me. (Please) accept this gift. O best and gentle brāhmaṇa, this ornament (I am giving you) for my protection.

125-127a. O brāhmaṇa-sage, accept it. Please favour me. O brāhmaṇa, I offer you these cows, this gold, wealth with garments, articles of food and this ornament satisfying all desires and also (giving) all pleasures. O brāhmaṇa sage, please favour and protect me.”

Agastya said :

127b-128a. O descendant of Raghu, having heard the words of the resident of heaven full of pain and pleasure, I made up my mind to save him and not through greed.

128b-130a. When I accepted the ornament, and when it was in my hand, the former human body of the king was no more. When the body was destroyed, the royal sage, instructed by me, went in the aeroplane to heaven with great joy.

130b-131. He, comparable to Śakra , gave this auspicious ornament to me. For that reason, O Kākutstha , he, of wonderful deeds, gave me the ornament. Then Śveta, the king of Vidarbha became free from sins.

[1]: [1] : Gomedha—Same as gomeda, for which see note on 1.34.391.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 34205, revision 334504 (2022-04-04T20:38:39Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364159.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.