तां कथां कौशिको रामे निवेद्य मधुराक्षरम् | पुन रेवापरं वाक्यं काकुत्स्थमिदमब्रवीत् || १-३८-१
taam kathaam kaushiko raame nivedya madhura akSharam | punaH eva aparam vaakyam kaakutstham idam abraviit || 1-38-1
Describing that legend of Kaartikeya to Rama, the descendent of Kaushi, namely sage Vishvamitra has further spoken this best sentence worded melodiously to Rama, the descendent of Kakutstha. [1-38-1]
अयोध्याधिपतिर्वीरः पूर्वमासीन्नराधिपः | सगरो नाम धर्मात्मा प्रजाकामः स चाप्रजः || १-३८-२
ayodhyaa adhipatiH viiraH puurvam aasiit naraadhipaH | sagaro naama dharmaatmaa prajaakaamaH sa ca aprajaH || 1-38-2
"Once there was a valiant and virtue-souled king of Ayodhya named Sagara, who is without offspring, as such he was longing for offspring. [1-38-2]
वैदर्भदुहिता राम केशिनी नाम नामतः | ज्येष्ठा सगरपत्नी सा धर्मिष्ठा सत्यवादिनी || १-३८-३
vaidarbha duhitaa raama keshinii naama naamataH | jyeShThaa sagara patnii saa dharmiShThaa satya vaadinii || 1-38-3
"The daughter of King of Vidarbha, renowned by name Keshini, is the eldest wife of Sagara, and she was virtue-minded, and an advocate of truth. [1-38-3]
अरिष्ठनेमिदुहिता सुपर्णभगिनी तु सा | द्वितीया सगरस्यासीत् पत्नी सुमतिसंज्ञिता || १-३८-४
ariShThanemi duhitaa suparNa bhaginii tu saa | dvitiiyaa sagarasya aasiit patnii sumati saMGYitaa || 1-38-4
"The daughter of Arishtanemi, namely sage Kashyapa, and who is also the sister of Garuda, the Divine-Eagle-vehicle of Vishnu, is the second wife of Sagara, who is known by the name Sumati. [1-38-4]
ताभ्यां सह महाराजा पत्नीभ्याम् तप्तवांस्तपः | हिमवंतं समासाद्य भृगुप्रस्रवणे गिरौ || १-३८-५
taabhyaam saha mahaaraajaa patniibhyaam taptavaan tapaH | himavaMtam samaasaadya bhR^igu prasravaNe girau || 1-38-5
"Reaching the Himalayan Mountains along with his two wives that great King Sagara practised asceticism on a mountain called Brugu-prsravana for progeny. [1-38-5]
अथ वर्षशते पूर्णे तपसाराधितो मुनिः | सगराय वरं प्रादाद् भृगुः सत्यवतां वरः || १-३८-६
atha varSha shate puurNe tapasaa aaraadhito muniH | sagaraaya varam praadaad bhR^iguH satyavataam varaH || 1-38-6
worshiping, sage; sagaraaya+varam+praadaad= to Sagara, boon, bestowed, bhR^iguH + satyavataam +varaH= Bhrugu, among patrons of truth, prominent one. "Then, after the lapse of a hundred years of practising asceticism and worshiping, the Sage Bhrugu who is a prominent one among the patrons of truth, bestowed a boon to Sagara...
अपत्यलाभः सुमहान् भविष्यति तवानघ | कीर्तिं चाप्रतिमां लोके प्राप्स्यसे पुरुषर्षभ || १-३८-७
apatya laabhaH sumahaan bhaviShyati tava anagha | kiirtim ca apratimaam loke praapsyase puruSharShabha || 1-38-7
" 'Oh, merited one, you will achieve very admirable progeny, and oh, best one among men, you will also acquire an unparalleled renown in the world. [1-38-7]
एका जनयिता तात पुत्रं वंशकरं तव | षष्टिं पुत्रसहस्राणि ह्यपरा जनयिष्यति || १-३८-८
ekaa janayitaa taata putram vaMshakaram tava | ShaShTim putra sahasraaNi aparaa janayiShyati || 1-38-8
" 'One of your wives will mother a son who enriches your dynasty, oh, dear sire, and the other mothers sixty thousand sons.' Said Sage Bhrigu to Sagara. [1-38-8]
भाषमाणं महात्मानं राजपुत्र्यौ प्रसाद्य तम् | ऊचतुः परमप्रीते कृतांजलिपुटे तदा || १-३८-९
bhaaShamaaNam mahaatmaanam raaja putryau prasaadya tam | uucatuH parama priite kR^itaaMjali puTe tadaa || 1-38-9
Highly gladdened are the daughters of kings of Vidarbha and Aristanemi, i.e., the queens of Sagara, and on making palm-fold in supplication at the sage who is speaking that way, and on gaining the grace of that sage they spoke to him. [1-38-9]
एकः कस्याः सुतो ब्रह्मन् का बहून् जनयिष्यति | श्रोतुमिच्छावहे ब्रह्मन् सत्यमस्तु वचस्तव || १-३८-१०
ekaH kasyaaH suto brahman kaa bahuun janayiShyati | shrotum icChaavahe brahman satyam astu vacaH tava || 1-38-10
" 'Which of us will carry one son, oh, Brahma-sage, and which of us begets numerous sons, we two wish to listen about that, oh, Brahman, let your word betide truth.' Thus, the queens of Sagara spoke to the sage. [1-38-10]
तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भृगुः परमधार्मिकः | उवाच परमां वाणीं स्वच्छन्दोऽत्र विधीयताम् || १-३८-११
tayoH tat vacanam shrutvaa bhR^iguH paramadhaarmikaH | uvaaca paramaam vaaNiim svacChando atra vidhiiyataam || 1-38-11
On listening their words the Sage Bhrigu spoke in a glorious tone, 'let your freewill be brought to bear this issue'. [1-38-11]
एको वंशकरो वास्तु बहवो वा महाबलाः | कीर्तिमन्तो महोत्साहाः का वा कं वरमिच्छति || १-३८-१२
eko vaMsha karo vaa astu bahavo vaa mahaabalaaH | kiirtimanto mahotsaahaaH kaa vaa kam varam icChati || 1-38-12
'Whether one wants one son who enriches dynasty, or whether numerous sons who will be highly energetic, highly renowned, and highly enthusiastic. Who wants which boon from either of them?' Thus, the Sage gave them the option. [1-38-12]
मुनेस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा केशिनी रघुनंदन | पुत्रं वंशकरं राम जग्राह नृपसंनिधौ || १-३८-१३
muneH tu vacanam shrutvaa keshinii raghunaMdana | putram vaMsha karam raama jagraaha nR^ipa saMnidhau || 1-38-13
"On listening the words of the sage, oh, Rama, oh, delighter of Raghu's dynasty, the first queen Keshini has chosen one son who enriches the dynasty in the presence of King Sagara. [1-38-13]]
षष्टिं पुत्रसहस्राणि सुपर्णभगिनी तदा | महोत्साहान् कीर्तिमतो जग्राह सुमतिः सुतान् || १-३८-१४
ShaShTim putra sahasraaNi suparNa bhaginii tadaa | mahotsaahaan kiirtimato jagraaha sumatiH sutaan || 1-38-14
"Sumati, the sister of mighty-winged Garuda and the second queen of Sagara has then chosen sixty thousand sons with great enthusiasm and high reputation. [1-38-14]
प्रदक्षिणमृषिं कृत्वा शिरसाभिप्रणम्य च | जगाम स्वपुरं राजा सभार्या रघुनन्दन || १-३८-१५
pradakShiNam R^iShim kR^itvaa shirasaa abhipraNaMya ca | jagaama sva puram raajaa sabhaaryaa raghu nandana || 1-38-15
"On performing circumambulations to the Sage Bhrigu along with wives, oh, Raghu's scion, also on reverencing him head-bent, the king Sagara proceeded to his own city. [1-38-15]
अथ काले गते तस्मिन् ज्येष्ठा पुत्रं व्यजायत | असमंज इति ख्यातं केशिनी सगरात्मजम् || १-३८-१६
atha kaale gate tasmin jyeShThaa putram vyajaayata | asamaMja iti khyaatam keshinii sagaraatmajam || 1-38-16
When the time rolled by then the elder wife Keshini gave birth to the son of Sagara who is reputed by the name Asamanja. [1-38-16]
सुमतिस्तु नरव्याघ्र गर्भतुंबं व्यजायत | षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि तुंबभेदाद्विनिःसृताः || १-३८-१७
sumatiH tu naravyaaghra garbha tuMbam vyajaayata | ShaShTiH putra sahasraaNi tuMba bhedaat viniHsR^itaaH || 1-38-17
But the second queen Sumati on part, oh, tigerly-man Rama, verily delivered a round and long egg which is like a single gourd, and on breaking it up sixty thousand sons are issued forth from that cucumber like egg. [1-38-17]
घृतपूर्णेषु कुंभेषु धात्र्यस्तान् समवर्धयन् | कालेन महता सर्वे यौवनं प्रतिपेदिरे || १-३८-१८
ghR^ita puurNeShu kuMbheShu dhaatryaH taan samavardhayan | kaalena mahataa sarve yauvanam pratipedire || 1-38-18
The childminders brought up those siblings in vessels filled with ghee, the clarified butter, and after a protracted time all of the children have attained youthfulness. [1-38-18]
अथ दीर्घेण कालेन रूपयौवनशालिनः | षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि सगरस्याभवंस्तदा || १-३८-१९
atha diirgheNa kaalena ruupa yauvanashaalinaH | ShaShTiH putra sahasraaNi sagarasya abhavan tadaa || 1-38-19
After a long time the sixty thousand sons of king Sagara have become youthful, and handsome in their aspects. [1-38-19]
स च ज्येष्ठो नरश्रेष्ठ सगरस्यात्मसंभवः | बालान् गृहीत्वा तु जले सरय्वा रघुनंदन || १-३८-२० प्रक्षिप्य प्रहसन् नित्यं मज्जतस्तान् निरीक्ष्य वै |
sa ca jyeShTho narashreShTha sagarasya aatma saMbhavaH | baalaan gR^ihiitvaa tu jale sarayvaa raghunaMdana || 1-38-20 prakShipya prahasan nityam majjatas taan niriikShya vai |
But, oh, best one among men, oh, Rama, the elder son of the king Sagara, namely Asamanja, always used to grab and hurl children into the waters of River Sarayu, and on seeing the drowning children he used to enjoy with laughter. [1-38-20, 21a]
एवं पापसमाचारः सज्जनप्रतिबाधकः || १-३८-२१ पौराणामहिते युक्तः पित्रा निर्वासितः पुरात् |
evam paapa samaacaaraH sajjana pratibaadhakaH || 1-38-21 pauraaNaam ahite yuktaH pitraa nirvaasitaH puraat |
This way, when that son Asamanja is with sinister activity, a torturer of goodmen, and delighter in the undesirable activities towards citizens, his father king Sagara expatriated him from the city. [1-38-21b, 22a]
तस्य पुत्रोंऽशुमान्नाम असमंजस्य वीर्यवान् || १-३८-२२ सम्मतः सर्वलोकस्य सर्वस्यापि प्रियंवदः |
tasya putro aMshumaan naama asamaMjasya viiryavaan || 1-38-22 sammataH sarva lokasya sarvasya api priyam vadaH |
But Asamanja's son is a valorous one, who by name is Anshuman, and who is an acceptable one for all people and who fondly converses with all. [1-38 -22b, 23a]
ततः कालेन महता मतिः समभिजायत || १-३८-२३ सगरस्य नरश्रेष्ठ यजेयमिति निश्चिता |
tataH kaalena mahataa matiH samabhijaayata || 1-38-23 sagarasya narashreShTha yajeyam iti nishcitaa |
"Oh, best one among men, Rama, then after along time a decided thought has occurred to king Sagara that, 'I shall perform a Vedic-ritual.'[1-38-23b, 24a]
स कृत्वा निश्चयं राजा सोपाध्यायगणस्तदा | यज्ञकर्मणि वेदज्ञो यष्टुं समुपचक्रमे || १-३८-२४
sa kR^itvaa nishcayam raajaa sa upaadhyaaya gaNaH tadaa | yaGYa karmaNi vedaGYo yaShTum samupacakrame || 1-38-24
That king Sagara who is an expert in Vedic-procedures has then taken a decision along with the assemblages of his religious-teachers insofar as the procedures of the ritual are concerned, and he commenced to perform the Vedic-ritual. [1-38-24b, c]
