Rishyasringa officiates Putrakameshti ritual for Dasharatha

मेधावी तु ततो ध्यात्वा स किञ्चिदिदमुत्तरम् | लब्धसंज्ञः ततस्तं तु वेदज्ञो नृपमब्रवीत् || १-१५-१

medhaavii tu tato dhyaatvaa sa ki~Ncit idam uttaram | labdha sa~Nj~naH tataH tam tu vedaj~no nR^ipam abraviit || 1-15-1

That intellectual sage and one proficient in Veda-s Rishyasringa contemplated for a while, and gaining indications as to which ritual is to be performed, then said the king. [1-15-1]

इष्टिं तेऽहं करिष्यामि पुत्रीयां पुत्रकारणात् | अथर्वशिरसि प्रोक्तैर्मन्त्रैः सिद्धां विधानतः || १-१५-२

iShTim te.aham kariShyaami putriiyaam putra kaaraNaat | atharva sirasi proktaiH mantraiH siddhaam vidhaanataH || 1-15-2

"I will procedurally conduct the ritual contained in the preamble of atharva-veda with procedural hymns, called <<em>>putra kaameSTi i.e., the ritual that bestows sons, for your benefit." [1-15-2]

ततः प्राक्रमदिष्टिं तां पुत्रीयां पुत्रकारणात् | जुहाव चाग्नौ तेजस्वी मन्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा || १-१५-३

tataH praakramat idam iShTim taam putriiyaam putra kaaraNaat | juhaava agnau ca tejasvii mantra dR^iShTena karmaNaa || 1-15-3

Then that resplendent Sage Rishyasringa commenced that putrakaameSTi ritual, offering oblations into sacred fire with ritual acts meticulously contained in hymns. [1-15-3]

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः | भागप्रतिग्रहार्थं वै समवेता यथाविधि || १-१५-४

tato devaaH sa gandharvaaH siddhaaH ca parama R^iShayaH | bhaaga pratigrahaartham vai samavetaa yathaavidhi || 1-15-4

Then the deities along with celestial beings, siddha-s, i.e., the souls that obtained salvation, and also other esteemed sages who by now are the residents of Heavens have duteously assembled in the firmament to receive their part of the oblations. [1-15-4]

ताः समेत्य यथान्यायं तस्मिन् सदसि देवताः | अब्रुवन् लोककर्तारं ब्रह्माणं वचनं ततः || १-१५-५

taaH sametya yathaa nyaayam tasmin sadasi devataaH | abruvan loka kartaaram brahmaaNam vacanam tataH || 1-15-5

Those deities who procedurally assembled there in that congregation then spoke to Brahma, the creator of worlds. [1-15-5]

भगवंस्त्वत्प्रसादेन रावणो नाम राक्षसः | सर्वान्नो बाधते वीर्याच्छासितुं तं न शक्नुमः || १-१५-६

bhagavan tvat prasaadena raavaNo naama raakShasaH | sarvaan no baadhate viiryaat shaasitum tam na shaknumaH || 1-15-6

"Oh! God, the demon named Ravana is torturing all of us with his intrepidity, as you have blessed him, and we are unable to control him. [1-15-6]

त्वया तस्मै वरो दत्तः प्रीतेन भगवान् तदा | मानयन्तश्च तं नित्यं सर्वं तस्य क्षमामहे || १-१५-७

tvayaa tasmai varo dattaH priitena bhagavan tadaa | maanayantaH ca tam nityam sarvam tasya kShamaamahe || 1-15-7

"You have given boon to him appreciating his ascesis and oh, god, with high regard to that boon of yours we are tolerating all the cruel acts of Ravana from then onwards [1-15-7]

उद्वेजयति लोकांस्त्रीनुच्छ्रितान् द्वेष्टि दुर्मतिः | शक्रं त्रिदशराजानं प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति || १-१५-८

udvejayati lokaan triin ucChritaan dveShTi durmatiH | shakram tridasha raajaanam pradharShayitum icChati || 1-15-8

"That malevolent Ravana is tormenting all the three worlds, hating the functionary deities of cosmos, and always desires to assail Indra, the king of all the functionary deities of universe. [1-15-8]

ऋषीन् यक्षान् सगन्धर्वानसुरान् ब्राह्मणांस्तथा | अतिक्रामति दुर्धर्षो वरदानेन मोहितः || १-१५-९

R^iShiin yakShaan sa gandharvaan asuraan braahmaNaan tathaa | atikraamati durdharSho vara daanena mohitaH || 1-15-9

"That invincible one is further self-conceited by the boons you have accorded, and he is overbearingly torturing the sages, celestial beings like yaksha-s, gandharva-s, asura-s, and like that even the Brahmans. [1-15-9]

नैनं सूर्यः प्रतपति पार्श्वे वाति न मारुतः | चलोर्मिमाली तं दृष्ट्वा समुद्रोऽपि न कंपते || १-१५-१०

nainam suuryaH pratapati paarshve vaati na maarutaH | calor.hmimaalii tam dR^iShTvaa samudro.api na kaMpate || 1-15-10

"The Sun-god will not verily parch Ravana, the Air-god will not puff at his sides, and on seeing Ravana, the lord of the undulating waves, namely the ocean will not pulsate either. [1-15-10]

तन्महन्नो भयं तस्माद्राक्षसाद्घोरदर्शनात् | वधार्थं तस्य भगवन्नुपायं कर्तुमर्हसि || १-१५-११

tan mahanno bhayam tasmaat raakShasaat ghora darshanaat | vadhaartham tasya bhagavan upaayam kartum arhasi || 1-15-11

"Thereby, there is a great panic for all of us from that demon with an awesome look, hence oh, god, it will be apt of you to give a thought for his elimination. [1-15-11]

एवमुक्तः सुरैः सर्वैः चिन्तयित्वा ततोऽब्रवीत् | हन्तायं विदितस्तस्य वधोपायो दुरात्मनः || १-१५-१२

evam uktaH suraiH sarvaiH cintayitvaa tato.abraviit | hantaa ayam viditaH tasya vadhopaayo duraatmanaH || 1-15-12

When all the deities spoke to Brahma thus, he thought for a while and then said "Aha! The idea to kill that evil-minded Ravana is discerned. [1-15-12]

तेन गन्धर्वयक्षाणां देवतानां च रक्षसाम् | अवध्योऽस्मीति वागुक्ता तथेक्तं च तन्मया || १-१५-१३

tena gandharva yakShaaNaam devataanaam cha rakShasaam | avadhyo.asmi iti vaaguktaa tatheti uktam ca tan mayaa || 1-15-13

"Ravana said while seeking boon that, 'I shall not be killed by gandharva-s, yaksha-s, or by gods, or by other demons...' and I also said 'so be it..." [1-15-13]

नाकीर्तयदवज्ञानात्तद्रक्षो मानुषांस्तदा | तस्मात् स मानुषाद्वध्यो मृत्युर्नान्योऽस्य विद्यते || १-१५-१४

na akiirtayat avaj~naanaat tat rakSho maanuShaam tadaa | tasmaat sa maanuShaat vadhyo mR^ityuH na anyo.asya vidyate || 1-15-14

"That demon did not express about humans then with his disrespect to them, and evidently his death does not occur otherwise." So said Brahma to gods. [1-15-14]

एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रियं वाक्यं ब्रह्मणा समुदाहृतम् | देवा महर्षयः सर्वे प्रहृष्टास्तेऽभवंस्तदा ||१-१५-१५

etat shrutvaa priyam vaakyam brahmaNaa samudaahR^itam | devaa maharShayaH sarve prahR^iShTaaH te abhavan tadaa ||1-15-15

On hearing Brahma explaining himself, then all those gods and great sages became adequately happy. [1-15-15]

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विष्णुरुपयातो महाद्युतिः | श्ङ्खचक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासा जगत्पतिः || १-११५-१६ वैनतेयं समारुह्य भास्करस्तोयदं यथा | तप्तहाटककेयूरो वन्द्यमानः सुरोत्तमैः || १-१५-१७

etasmin anantare viShNuH upayaato mahaadyutiH | sh~Nkha cakra gadaa paaNiH piita vaasaa jagatpatiH || 1-115-16 vainateyam samaaruuhya bhaaskara toyadam yathaa | tapta haaTaka keyuuro vandyamaanaH surottamaiH || 1-15-17

In the meanwhile the great resplendent Vishnu, the Lord of the Universe, arrived there mounted on his Eagle-vehicle Garuda, handling conch-shell, disc, and mace in his three of four hands, clad in yellow-ochre robes, wearing golden bracelets, and while best gods eulogised him, and his arrival there is like the arrival of sun mounted on black cloud to accord the gratuitous gift called the rain. [1-15-16, 17]

ब्रह्मणा च समागम्य तत्र तस्थौ समाहितः | तमब्रुवन् सुराः सर्वे समभिष्टूय संनताः || १-१५-१८

tvaam niyokShyaamahe viShNo lokaanaam hita kaaMyayaa | raaj~no dasharathasya tvam ayodhya adhipateH vibhoH || 1-15-19 dharmaj~nasya vadaanyasya maharShi sama tejasaH | asya bhaaryaasu tisR^iShu hrii shrii kiirti upamaasu ca || 1-15-20 viShNo putratvam aagacCha kR^itvaa aatmaanam caturvidham |

Vishnu having met Brahma stood there contemplating, and then all of the gods on bowing down and offering prayers addressed Vishnu. [1-15-18]

त्वां नियोक्ष्यामहे विष्णो लोकानां हितकाम्यया | राज्ञो दशरथस्य त्वमयोध्याधिपतेः विभोः || १-१५-१९ धर्मज्ञस्य वदान्यस्य महर्षिसमतेजसः | अस्य भार्यासु तिसृषु ह्रीश्रीकीर्त्युपमासु च || १-१५-२० विष्णो पुत्रत्वमागच्छ कृत्वात्मानं चतुर्विधम् |

tatra tvam maanuSho bhuutvaa pravR^iddham loka kaNTakam || 1-15-21 avadhyam daivataiH viShNo samare jahi raavaNam |

"Oh! Vishnu, desiring prosperity in all the worlds we nominate you to become the son of the ruler and lord of Ayodhya, namely Dasharatha, who is a virtuous one, renowned one and one whose resplendence equals that of the sages, and oh, Vishnu, through the wives of such a king Dasharatha, who are in similitude with the hrii, the virtue, shrii, the affluence, and kiirti, the glory, you have a fourfold transformation and take birth as their son. [1-15-19, 20, 21a]

तत्र त्वं मानुषो भूत्वा प्रवृद्धं लोककण्टकम् || १-१५-२१ अवध्यं दैवतैर्विष्णो समरे जहि रावणम् |

R^iShayaH ca tataH tena gandharvaa apsarasaH tathaa || 1-15-23 kriiDayanto nandana vane raiudreNa vinipaatitaaH |

"Oh! Vishnu, on your taking birth as human through the wives of Dasharatha you eliminate Ravana in war, who has become exacerbating and thorny to all worlds, and who is otherwise not eliminable for gods. [1-15-21b, 22a]

स हि देवान् सगन्धर्वान् सिद्धांश्च ऋषिसत्तमान् || १-१५-२२ राक्षसो रावणो मूर्खो वीर्योद्रेकेण बाधते |

vadhaartham vayam aayaataaH tasya vai munibhiH saha || 1-15-24 siddha gandharva yaxaaH ca tataH tvaam shraraNam gataaH |

"He that preposterous demon Ravana with his invigorated doggedness is torturing gods along with eminent saints, gandharva-s, and siddha-s. [1-15-22b, 23a]

ऋषयश्च ततस्तेन गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा || १-१५-२३ क्रीडन्तो नन्दनवने रौद्रेण विनिपातिताः |

tvam gatiH paramaa deva sarveShaam naH paraMtapaH || 1-15-25 vadhaaya deva shatR^INaam nR^iNaam loke manaH kuru |

"He that furious one with his insolence is knocking down sages from their celestial abodes, and like that he is knocking down the gandharva-s and apsara celestials too from the heavenly gardens Nandana, where they will be taking delight. [1-15-23b, 24a]

वधार्थं वयमायातास्तस्य वै मुनिभिः सह || १-१५-२४ सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाश्च ततस्त्वां शरणं गताः |

evam stutastu devesho viShNuH tridashaH puMgavaH || 1-15-26 pitaamaha purogaan taan sarva loka namaskR^itaH abraviit tridashaan sarvaan sametaan dharma saMhitaan || 1-15-27

"We the celestial beings like siddha-s, gandharva-s, yaksha-s along with sages have actually come for his elimination, and thereby we seek shelter in you. [1-15-24b, 25a]

त्वं गतिः परमा देव सर्वेषां नः परंतप || १-१५-२५ वधाय देवशतॄणां नृणां लोके मनः कुरु |

bhayam tyajata bhadram vo hitaartham yudhi raavaNam | sa putra pautram sa amaatyam sa mitra j~naati baandhavam || 1-15-28 hatvaa kruuram duraadharSham deva R^iShINaam bhayaavaham | dasha varSha sahasraaNi dasha varSha shataani ca || 1-15-29 vatsyaami maanuShe loke paalayan pR^idhvIm imaam |

"Oh, enemy tormentor, oh, Vishnu, you are the ultimate recourse for all us in eliminating enemies of divinity, hence you make up your mind to take birth in human world." The gods appealed to Vishnu that way. [1-15-25b, 26a]

एवं स्तुतस्तु देवेशो विष्णुस्त्रिदशपुंगवः || १-१५-२६ पितामहपुरोगांस्तान् सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः अब्रवीत् त्रिदशान् सर्वान् समेतान् धर्मसंहितान् || १-१५-२७

evam datvaa varam devo devaanaam viShNuH aatmavaan || 1-15-30 maanuShe chintayaamaasa janmabhUmim atha aatmanaH |

When the god of gods Vishnu, the supreme one among deities, one who is revered by all worlds is eulogised this way, then he spoke to all of those celestials that abide in the righteousness and that are in the assemblage, keeping the Forefather Brahma at their helm. [1-15-26a, 27]

भयं त्यजत भद्रं वो हितार्थं युधि रावणम् | सपुत्रपौत्रं सामात्यं समित्रज्ञातिबान्धवम् || १-१५-२८ हत्वा क्रूरं दुराधर्षं देवर्षीणां भयावहम् | दश वर्ष सहस्राणि दश वर्ष शतानि च || १-१५-२९ वत्स्यामि मानुषे लोके पालयन् पृथिवीमिमाम् |

tadaa deva R^iShi gandharvaaH sa rudraaH sa apsaro gaNaaH | stutibhiH divya rUpaabhiH tuShTuvuH madhusUdanam || 1-15-32

"Get rid off the fear, let safety be upon you, on eliminating that cruel and evil-minded Ravana who became dreadful to deities and sages, along with his sons, grandsons, friends, cousins and relatives, ministers and forces too in war for your welfare, I will then reside in human world ruling this earth for eleven thousand years." Thus Vishnu assured the gods. [1-15-28, 29, 30a]

एवं दत्वा वरं देवो देवानां विष्णुरात्मवान् || १-१५-३० मानुषे चिन्तयामास जन्मभूमिमथात्मनः |

Or

On giving boon to all gods in that way the kind-hearted god Vishnu started to think about the instituting base for his birth in human world. [1-15-30b, 31a]

ततः पद्मपलाशाक्षः कृत्वात्मानं चतुर्विधम् || १-१५-३१ पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम् |

And then that lotus-petal-eyed one agreeing to manifest himself in fourfold way is predisposed towards Dasharatha to be his father. [1-15-31b, 32a]

तदा देवर्षिगन्धर्वाः सरुद्राः साप्सरो गणाः | स्तुतिभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिस्तुष्टुवुर्मधुसूदनम् || १-१५-३२

Then all the groups of gods, sages, gandharva-s, with rudraa-s, and apsarasa-s, extolled Vishnu with prayers of divine exposition. [1-15-32b, c]

तमुद्धतं रावणमुग्रतेजसम् प्रवृद्धदर्पं त्रिदशेश्वरद्विषम् | विरावणं साधुतपस्विकण्टकम् तपस्विनामुद्धर तं भयावहम् || १-१५-३३

"Oh! Vishnu, he that fiery one who is renowned for evil acts and who is the hater of Indra, that Ravana is uprising furiously with his heightened arrogance, and he has become a thorn in the side of hermits hence he is a fright to sages, afor he tortures insubordinates to the the extent of loud wailing; hence we pray you to eliminate that Ravana." [1-15-33]

तमेव हत्वा सबलं सबान्धवम् विरावणं रावणमुग्रपौरुषम् | स्वर्लोकमागच्छ गतज्वरश्चिरम् सुरेन्द्रगुप्तं गतदोषकल्मषम् || १-१५-३४

"On eliminating that furiously vainglorious Ravana with all his forces and with all his kinsmen neutralise the pandemonium created by him in all the worlds, and for a long time to come you get rid of your febrility, and you please return to your heavenly abode, namely your blameless and faultless Vaikuntha. [1-15-34]