Sarga 16: The Divine Payasam
Payasa Prapti
Vishnu resolves to be born as Dasaratha's son; a radiant being rises from the sacrificial fire bearing a golden vessel of divine payasam, which the king distributes among his three queens, who conceive.
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ततो नारायणो देवो नियुक्तस्सुरसत्तमै:। जानन्नपि सुरानेवं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.16.1।।
Meaning
Although the omniscient Lord Narayana already knew the means of Ravana's death, having been petitioned by the foremost gods he spoke to them gently.
उपाय: को वधे तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मन:। यमहं तं समास्थाय निहन्यामृषिकण्टकम्।।1.16.2।।
Meaning
"What means shall I adopt to slay that evil-minded Ravana, the thorn in the side of the sages?"
एवमुक्तास्सुरास्सर्वे प्रत्यूचुर्विष्णुमव्ययम्। मानुषीं तनुमास्थाय रावणं जहि संयुगे।।1.16.3।।
Meaning
Thus addressed, all the gods replied to the imperishable Vishnu: "Take on a human body and slay Ravana in battle."
स हि तेपे तपस्तीव्रं दीर्घकालमरिन्दम। येन तुष्टोऽभवद्ब्रह्मा लोककृल्लोकपूर्वज:।।1.16.4।।
Meaning
"O tormentor of foes, that Ravana practiced severe austerities for a long time, by which he pleased Brahma, the first-born creator of the worlds."
सन्तुष्ट: प्रददौ तस्मै राक्षसाय वरं प्रभु:। नानाविधेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो भयं नान्यत्र मानुषात्।।1.16.5।। अवज्ञाता: पुरा तेन वरदाने हि मानवा:।
Meaning
Pleased, the mighty Brahma granted him a boon that he would have no fear from any being except man — for at the time of asking the boon, he had scorned men.
एवं पितामहात्तस्माद्वरं प्राप्य स दर्पित:।।1.16.6।। उत्सादयति लोकान्त्रीन् स्त्रियश्चाप्यपकर्षति। तस्मात्तस्य वधो दृष्टो मानुषेभ्य: परन्तप।।1.16.7।।
Meaning
Having obtained that boon from the grandsire, he grew arrogant, oppressing the three worlds and abducting women by force. Therefore, O scorcher of foes, his death is destined to come only through a man.
इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुराणां विष्णुरात्मवान्। पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम्।।1.16.8।।
Meaning
Hearing these words of the gods, the self-possessed Vishnu resolved then to choose King Dasaratha as his father.
स चाप्यपुत्रो नृपतिस्तस्मिन्काले महाद्युति:। अयजत्पुत्रियामिष्टिं पुत्रेप्सुररिसूदन:।।1.16.9।।
Meaning
At that very time, the resplendent, sonless King Dasaratha, slayer of foes, was performing the Putrakameshti sacrifice, desiring a son.
स कृत्वा निश्चयं विष्णुरामन्त्र्य च पितामहम्। अन्तर्धानं गतो देवै: पूज्यमानो महर्षिभि:।।1.16.10।।
Meaning
Having made his decision, Vishnu, taking leave of Brahma, vanished, honored by the gods and great sages as he departed.
ततो वै यजमानस्य पावकादतुलप्रभम्। प्रादुर्भूतं महद्भूतं महावीर्यं महाबलम्।।1.16.11।। कृष्णं रक्ताम्बरधरं रक्तास्यं दुन्दुभिस्वनम्। स्निग्धहर्यक्षतनुजश्मश्रुप्रवरमूर्धजम्।।1.16.12।। शुभलक्षणसम्पन्नं दिव्याभरणभूषितम्। शैलशृङ्गसमुत्सेथं दृप्तशार्दूलविक्रमम्।।1.16.13।। दिवाकरसमाकारं दीप्तानलशिखोपमम्। तप्तजाम्बूनदमयीं राजतान्तपरिच्छदाम्।।1.16.14।। दिव्यपायससम्पूर्णां पात्रीं पत्नीमिव प्रियाम्। प्रगृह्य विपुलां दोर्भ्यां स्वयं मायामयीमिव।।1.16.15।।
Meaning
Then, as the king performed the sacrifice, there emerged from the fire a mighty being of unmatched splendor, great valor and strength — dark-hued, clad in red garments, red-faced, his voice like a drumbeat, with soft tawny hair and beard resembling a lion's mane, endowed with auspicious marks and adorned with divine ornaments, tall as a mountain peak, striding like a proud tiger, radiant as the sun and bright as a blazing flame, holding with both hands, as tenderly as a beloved wife, a great golden vessel with a silver lid, filled with divine payasam, wondrous as if wrought by magic.