अनुरागं प्रजानां चेत्येवमष्टौ वरान्नृप। गच्छ त्वं कृतकृत्योऽसि निवर्तस्व जनाधिप
and the affection of the people—thus, these are the eight boons, O king. Go now, your purpose is fulfilled; return, lord of men.
अनुज्ञातः स ऋषिणा पत्नीभ्यां सहितो नृपः। पौरैरनुगतश्चापि विवेश स्वपुरं ततः
Permitted by the sage, the king entered his own city together with his wives, accompanied also by the citizens.
यथासमयमाज्ञाय तदा स नृपसत्तमः। द्वाभ्यामेकं फलं प्रादात्पत्नीभ्यां भरतर्षभ
Then, understanding the proper time, that best of kings gave one fruit to his two wives, O bull of the Bharatas.
मुनेश्च बहुमानेन कालस्य च विपर्ययात्। ते तदाम्रं द्विधा कृत्वा भक्षयामासतुः शुभे
Out of great respect for the sage and due to the change of time, the two noble women divided the mango and ate it.
तयोः समभवद्गर्भः फलप्राशनसम्भवः। ते च दृष्ट्वा स नृपतिः परां मुदमवाप ह
From their eating of the fruit, a pregnancy arose in both; seeing this, the king experienced great joy.
अथ काले महाप्राज्ञ यथासमयमागते। जायेतामुभे राजञ्शरीरशकले तदा
Then, O wise one, when the proper time came, both queens gave birth, O king, to two bodily halves.
एकाक्षिबाहुचरणे अर्धोदरमुखस्फिचे। दृष्ट्वा शरीरशकले प्रवेपतुरुभे भृशम्
Each half had one eye, one arm, one leg, half a belly, mouth, and buttock; seeing these body halves, both women trembled greatly.
उद्विग्रे सह संमन्त्र्य ते भगित्यौ तदाऽबले। सजीवे प्राणिशकले तत्यजाते सुदुःखिते
Distressed, the two helpless women consulted together, and in deep sorrow abandoned the living body halves.
तयोर्धात्र्यौ सुसंवीते कृत्वा ते गर्भसम्प्लवे। निर्गम्यान्तः पुरद्वारात्समुत्सृज्याभिजग्मतुः
The two nurses, after carefully wrapping the twins, took them out through the inner city gate and left them there.
दुकूलाभ्यां सुसञ्छन्ने पाण्डराभ्यामुभे तदा। अज्ञाते कस्यचित्ते तु जहतुस्ते चतुष्पथे
Then, both halves, well covered with white cloths, were left at the crossroads, unknown to anyone.
ततो विविशतुर्धात्र्यौ पुनरन्तः पुरं तदा। कथयामासतुरुभे देवीभ्यां तु पृथक्पृथक्
Afterwards, the two nurses re-entered the palace and separately told both queens what had happened.
ते चतुष्पथनिक्षिप्ते जरा नामाथ राक्षसी। जग्राह मनुजव्याघ्र मांसशोणितभोजना
Then, O tiger among men, a rakshasi named Jara, who fed on flesh and blood, seized the twins left at the crossroads.
कर्तुकामा सुखवहे शकले सा तु राक्षसी। संयोजयामास तदा विधानबलचोदिता
Desiring to do something auspicious, that rakshasi, impelled by fate, joined the two halves together.
ते समानीतमात्रे तु शकले पुरुषर्षभ। एकमूर्तिधरो वीरः कुमारः समपद्यत
As soon as the halves were joined, O best of men, a heroic boy appeared, possessing a single form.
ततः सा राक्षसी राजन्विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचना। न शशाक समुद्वोदुं वज्रसारमयं शिशुम्
Then, O king, that rakshasi, her eyes wide with astonishment, could not lift the child, whose body was as hard as diamond.
बालस्ताम्रतलं मुष्टिं कृत्वा चास्ये निधाय सः। प्राक्रोशदतिसंरब्धः सतोय इव तोयदः
The infant, making a copper-red fist and placing it in his mouth, cried out fiercely, like a raincloud heavy with water.
तेन शब्देन सम्भ्रान्तः सहसाऽन्तः पुरे जनः। निर्जगाम नरव्याघ्र राज्ञा सह परन्तप
Alarmed by that sound, the people inside the city suddenly rushed out, O tiger among men, together with the king, O scorcher of foes.
ते चाबले परिम्लाने पयः पूर्णपयोधरे। निराशे पुत्रलाभाय सहसैवाब्यगच्छताम्
Those two women, weary and dispirited, their breasts full of milk, having lost hope for a son, also hastily approached.
ते च दृष्ट्वा तथाभूते राजानं चेष्टसंततिम्। तं च बालं सुबलिनं चिन्तयामास राक्षसी
When they saw the king in such a state, and his line of descendants in distress, and that strong child, the rakshasi began to ponder.
नार्हामि विषये राज्ञो वसन्ती पुत्रगृद्धिनः। बालं पुत्रमिमं हन्तुं धार्मिकस्य महात्मनः
Dwelling in the realm of a righteous and great-souled king who longs for a son, I ought not to kill this child, his son.
सा तं बालमुपादाय मेघलेखेन भास्करम्। कृत्वा च मानुषं रूपमुवाच वसुधाधिपम्
Taking up the child, she assumed a human form like a streak of cloud before the sun, and spoke to the lord of the earth.
बृहद्रथ सुतस्तेऽयं मया दत्तः प्रगृह्यताम्। तव पत्नीद्वये जातो द्विजातिवरशासनात्। धात्रीजनपरित्यक्तो मयाऽयं परिरक्षितः
This is your son, born to Brihadratha, whom I now give to you; he was born from your two wives by the command of the foremost of twice-born; abandoned by the nurses, he has been protected by me.
ततस्ते भरतश्रेष्ठ काशिराजसुते शुभे। तं बालमभिपद्याशु प्रस्रवैरभ्यषिञ्जताम्
Then, O best of the Bharatas, the two noble daughters of the king of Kashi quickly took up the child and anointed him with flowing streams.
ततः स राजा संहृष्टः सर्वं तदुपलभ्य च। अपृच्छद्धेमगर्भाभां राक्षसीं तामराक्षसीम्
Then the king, delighted and having understood everything, questioned the rakshasi, whose eyes were coppery and who shone like a golden womb.
कात्वं कमलगर्भाभे मम पुत्रप्रदायिनी। कामं मा ब्रूहि कल्याणि देवता प्रतिभासि मे
Who are you, O one whose eyes resemble lotus petals, giver of my son? Tell me truly, O auspicious one; you appear to me as a goddess.
जरा नामास्मि भद्रं ते राक्षसी कामरूपिणी। तव वेश्मनि राजेन्द्र पूजिता न्यवसं सुखम्
I am called Jarā, O blessed one, a rakshasi who can assume any form; I dwelt happily, honored in your palace, O king of kings.
गृहे गृहे मनुष्याणां नित्यं तिष्ठामि राक्षसी। गृहदेवीति नाम्ना वै पुरा सृष्टा स्वयंम्भुवा
In every house of men I always reside as a rakshasi; formerly, I was created by the Self-born as the household goddess by name.
दानवानां विनाशाय स्थापिता दिव्यरूपिणी। यो मां भक्त्या लिखेत्कुड्ये सपुत्रां यौवनान्विताम्
Established in a divine form for the destruction of the Dānavas, whoever paints me with devotion on the wall, together with a son and in the prime of youth—
गृहे तस्य भवेद्वृद्धिरन्यथा क्षयमाप्नुयात्। त्वद्गृहे तिष्ठमानाऽहं पूजिताऽहं सदा विभो
In that person's house there will be prosperity; otherwise, he will meet with decline. I have always been honored, O lord, dwelling in your house.
लिखिता चैव कुड्येषु पुत्रैर्बहुभिरावृता। गन्धपुष्पैस्तथा धूपैर्भक्ष्यभोज्यैः सुपूजिता
I have been depicted on the walls, surrounded by many sons, and duly worshipped with fragrant flowers, incense, and offerings of food and drink.