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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सोऽन्त:पुरं प्रविश्यैव कौसल्यामिदमब्रवीत्। पायसं प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पुत्रीयं त्विदमात्मन:।।1.16.26।।
Meaning
Entering the inner apartments, he said to Kausalya: "Receive this payasam, meant to bring you a son."
कौसल्यायै नरपति: पायसार्धं ददौ तदा। अर्धादर्धं ददौ चापि सुमित्रायै नराधिप:।।1.16.27।। कैकेय्यै चावशिष्टार्धं ददौ पुत्रार्थकारणात्। प्रददौ चावशिष्टार्धं पायसस्यामृतोपमम्।।1.16.28।। अनुचिन्त्य सुमित्रायै पुनरेव महीपति:। एवं तासां ददौ राजा भार्याणां पायसं पृथक्।।1.16.29।।
Meaning
The king then gave Kausalya half of the payasam, and of the remaining half gave half again to Sumitra; to Kaikeyi he gave half of what remained for the sake of sons, and after reflecting, gave the last remaining portion to Sumitra once more. Thus the king distributed the payasam separately among his wives.
तास्त्वेतत्पायसं प्राप्य नरेन्द्रस्योत्तमास्स्त्रय:। सम्मानं मेनिरे सर्वां: प्रहर्षोदितचेतस:।।1.16.30।।
Meaning
Having received this payasam from the king, those three excellent queens felt it a great honor, their hearts filled with delight.
ततस्तु ता: प्राश्य तदुत्तमास्त्रियो महीपतेरुत्तमपायसं पृथक्। हुताशनादित्यसमानतेजसो ऽचिरेण गर्भान्प्रतिपेदिरे तदा।।1.16.31।।
Meaning
Then those excellent women, having each eaten their share of the divine payasam, soon conceived, their wombs glowing with a splendor equal to fire and the sun.
ततस्तु राजा प्रसमीक्ष्य ता: स्त्रिय: प्ररूढगर्भा: प्रतिलब्धमानस:। बभूव हृष्टस्त्रिदिवे यथा हरि: सुरेन्द्रसिद्धर्षिगणाभिपूजित:।।1.16.32।।
Meaning
Then the king, beholding those women with their wombs quickened and his heart's desire fulfilled, rejoiced as greatly as Indra honored in heaven by the gods, siddhas, and sage-hosts.