यत्र सौमित्रिणा स्नानं शंकरस्यार्चनं कृतम् तत् तीर्थं लक्ष्मणं जातं तथा सीतासमुद्भवम्
Where the son of Sumitra bathed and worshipped Shankara, that became Lakshmana's Ford, and likewise the place of Sita's emergence.
नानाविधाशेषपापसंघनिर्मूलनक्षमम् यद् अङ्घ्रिसंगाद् अभवद् गङ्गा त्रैलोक्यपावनी
By contact with whose feet, the Ganga became capable of uprooting all kinds of countless sins, purifying the three worlds.
स यत्र स्नानम् अकरोत् तद् वैशिष्ट्यं किम् उच्यते तद् रामतीर्थसदृशं तीर्थं क्वापि न विद्यते
Where he bathed—what need is there to speak of its greatness? Nowhere is there a ford equal to Rama's Ford.
पुत्रतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं पुण्यतीर्थं तद् उच्यते सर्वान् कामान् अवाप्नोति यन्महिम्नः श्रुतेर् अपि
That sacred ford is known as Putra-tirtha; it is said to be holy. By its greatness, even as declared in the scriptures, one attains all desires.
तस्य स्वरूपं वक्ष्यामि शृणु यत्नेन नारद दितेः पुत्राश् च दनुजाः परिक्षीणा यदाभवन् अदितेस् तु सुता ज्येष्ठाः सर्वभावेन नारद
I shall describe its true nature to you, O Nārada; listen attentively. When the sons of Diti, the Dānavas, became diminished, and the sons of Aditi, the eldest, flourished in every way, O Nārada—
क्षीणाः सुता आवयोर् एव भद्रे किं कुर्महे कर्म लोके गरीयः पश्यादितेर् वंशम् अभिन्नम् उत्तमं सौराज्ययुक्तं यशसा जयश्रिया
Our children have dwindled, O gentle one, what can we do? In this world, action is most esteemed. Behold the unbroken, excellent lineage of Aditi, endowed with sovereignty, fame, and the glory of victory.
जितारिम् अभ्युन्नतकीर्तिधर्मं मच्चित्तसंहर्षविनाशदक्षम् समानभर्तृत्वसमानधर्मे समानगोत्रे ऽपि समानरूपे
Their enemies are conquered, their fame and virtue are exalted, they are skilled in dispelling the sorrow of my heart; though equal in husband, equal in conduct, equal in lineage, and even equal in form—
न जीवयेयं श्रियम् उन्नतिं च जीर्णास्मि दृष्ट्वा त्व् अदितिप्रसूतान् काम् अप्य् अवस्थाम् अनुयामि दुःस्था ऽदितेर् विलोक्याथ परां समृद्धिम्
I cannot endure their prosperity and rise; I am worn out, seeing the sons born of Aditi. I follow some wretched state, having witnessed Aditi’s supreme abundance.
एवं ब्रुवाणाम् अतिदीनवक्त्रां विनिश्वसन्तीं परमेष्ठिपुत्रः कृताभिपूजो विगतश्रमस् तां स सान्त्वयन्न् आह मनोभिरामाम्
As she spoke thus, her face exceedingly dejected, sighing deeply, the son of Brahmā, having honored her and free from fatigue, comforted her with pleasing words.
खेदो न कार्यः समभीप्सितं यत् तत् प्राप्यते पुण्यत एव भद्रे तत्साधनं वेत्ति महानुभावः प्रजापतिस् ते स तु वक्ष्यतीति
Do not be distressed, O gentle one; what is desired is attained only through merit. The means for that is known by the great-souled Prajāpati; he will tell you.
साध्व्य् एतत् सर्वभावेन प्रश्रयावनता सती
She, virtuous and humble, bowed with all her heart.
एवं ब्रुवाणां च दितिं दनुः प्रोवाच नारद
Then Danu spoke to Diti, who had spoken thus, O Nārada.
भर्तारं कश्यपं भद्रे तोषयस्व निजैर् गुणैः तुष्टो यदि भवेद् भर्ता ततः कामान् अवाप्स्यसि
O gentle one, please your husband Kaśyapa with your own virtues; if the husband is pleased, then you will obtain your desires.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा सर्वभावैस् तोषयाम् आस कश्यपम् दितिं प्रोवाच भगवान् कश्यपो ऽथ प्रजापतिः
Saying, 'So be it,' she pleased Kaśyapa with all her heart. Then the venerable Prajāpati Kaśyapa spoke to Diti.
किं ददामि वदाभीष्टं दिते वरय सुव्रते
What shall I give you? Speak your wish, O Diti, choose, O virtuous one.
दितिर् अप्य् आह भर्तारं पुत्रं बहुगुणान्वितम् जेतारं सर्वलोकानां सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्
Diti also said to her husband: 'A son endowed with many virtues, a conqueror of all worlds, honored by all beings.'
येन जातेन लोके ऽस्मिन् भवेयं वीरपुत्रिणी तं वरेयं सुरपितर् इत्य् आह विनयान्विता
'By whose birth in this world I may become the mother of a heroic son—such a boon I choose, O lord of the gods,' she said, full of humility.
उपदेक्ष्ये व्रतं श्रेष्ठं द्वादशाब्दफलप्रदम् तत आगत्य ते गर्भम् आधास्ये यन् मनोगतम् निष्पापतायां जातायां सिध्यन्ति हि मनोरथाः
I shall instruct you in a supreme vow, yielding the fruit of twelve years. After that, I will come and place in you the child you desire. When one is born free from sin, all wishes are fulfilled.
भर्तृवाक्याद् दितिः प्रीता तं नमस्यायतेक्षणा उपदिष्टं व्रतं चक्रे भर्त्रादिष्टं यथाविधि
Delighted by her husband's words, Diti, with wide eyes, performed the vow as instructed by her husband, according to the proper method.
तीर्थसेवापात्रदानव्रतचर्यादिवर्जिताः कथम् आसादयिष्यन्ति प्राणिनो ऽत्र मनोरथान्
Those who neglect service at sacred places, giving to the worthy, and the practice of vows—how can living beings here attain their desires?
ततश् चीर्णे व्रते तस्यां दित्यां गर्भम् अधारयत् पुनः कान्ताम् अथोवाच कश्यपस् तां दितिं रहः
Then, when the vow was completed, Kaśyapa placed the embryo in Diti. Again, in private, Kaśyapa spoke to his beloved Diti.
न प्राप्नुवन्ति यत्कामान् मुनयो ऽपि तपस्स्थिताः यथाविहितकर्माङ्गअवज्ञया तच् छुचिस्मिते
Even sages devoted to austerity do not obtain their desires, O fair-smiling one, when prescribed duties are neglected with disregard.
निन्दितं च न कर्तव्यं संध्ययोर् उभयोर् अपि न स्वप्तव्यं न गन्तव्यं मुक्तकेशी च नो भव
One must not perform censured acts at either of the twilights; one must neither sleep nor go out, and one must not let the hair be unbound.
भोक्तव्यं सुभगे नैव क्षुतं वा जृम्भणं तथा संध्याकाले न कर्तव्यं भूतसंघसमाकुले
O fortunate one, one must not eat, yawn, or stretch at twilight, especially when spirits and beings are gathered.
सान्तर्धानं सदा कार्यं हसितं तु विशेषतः गृहान्तदेशे संध्यासु न स्थातव्यं कदाचन
Concealment should always be practiced, especially laughter; one must never remain inside the house during the twilights.
मुशलोलूखलादीनि शूर्पपीठपिधानकम् नैवातिक्रमणीयानि दिवा रात्रौ सदा प्रिये
Mortar, pestle, winnowing basket, seat, and coverings must never be crossed over, either by day or night, dear one.
उदक्शीर्षं तु शयनं न संध्यासु विशेषतः वक्तव्यं नानृतं किंचिन् नान्यगेहाटनं तथा
One must not sleep with the head to the north, especially at twilight; one must not speak falsehood, nor wander to another's house.
कान्ताद् अन्यो न वीक्ष्यस् तु प्रयत्नेन नरः क्वचित् इत्यादिनियमैर् युक्ता यदि त्वम् अनुवर्तसे ततस् ते भविता पुत्रस् त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्यभाजनम्
A man must never look at another woman besides his own, with great care; if you follow such rules, then you shall have a son who will be the vessel of sovereignty over the three worlds.
तथेति प्रतिजज्ञे सा भर्तारं लोकपूजितम् गतश् च कश्यपो ब्रह्मन्न् इतश् चेतः सुरान् प्रति
She agreed, saying 'So be it,' to her husband, honored by the world; and Kaśyapa, O Brahman, departed from there, his mind directed toward the gods.
दितेर् गर्भो ऽपि ववृधे बलवान् पुण्यसंभवः एतत् सर्वं मयो दैत्यो मायया वेत्ति तत्त्वतः
The embryo of Diti grew, powerful and born of merit; all this, the demon Maya knows truly by his magic.