ये निःस्पृहास्ते विषयैरपेता- स्तेषां त्वदीयं खलु दर्शनं स्यात् । आशापरोऽहं भगवन्ननन्त योग्यो न ते दर्शने देवदेव
Those who are free from desire and detached from sense objects may indeed behold you; but I, O infinite Lord, am full of longing and not worthy to see you, O God of gods.
इति स्तुतस्तेन नृपेण विष्णु- स्तमाह वाक्येन सुधामयेन । वृणीष्व राजन् मनसेप्सितं ते ददामि तुष्टस्तपसा तवेति
Thus praised by the king, Viṣṇu spoke to him in words sweet as nectar: 'Choose, O king, whatever you desire in your heart; pleased with your austerity, I shall grant it.'
ततो नृपस्तं प्रणिपत्य पादयोः प्रोवाच विष्णुं पुरतः स्थितं च । तपस्तु तप्तं हि मया सुतार्थे पुत्रं ददस्वात्मसमं मुरारे
Then the king, bowing at his feet, addressed Viṣṇu, who stood before him: 'I have performed austerities for the sake of a son; O slayer of Mura, grant me a son equal to yourself.'
श्रुत्वा नृपप्रार्थितमादिदेव- स्तमाह राजानममोघवाक्यम् । ययातिसूनो व्रज तत्र तीर्थे कलिन्दकन्यातमसाप्रसङ्गे
Hearing the king's request, the primeval Lord spoke unfailing words to him: 'O son of Yayāti, go to that sacred place where the Yamunā meets the Tamasā.'
मयाद्य पुत्रस्तु यथेप्सितस्ते तत्रैव मुक्तोऽस्त्यमितप्रभावः । लक्ष्म्याः प्रसूतो मम वीर्यजश्च कृतस्तवार्थेऽथ गृहाण राजन्
'Today, your desired son, endowed with immeasurable power, is there, liberated by me. Born of Lakṣmī and generated by my energy, he has been created for your sake; take him, O king.'
श्रुत्वा हरेर्वाक्यमतीव मृष्टं सन्तुष्टचित्तः प्रबभूव राजा । हरिस्तु दत्त्वेति वरं जगाम वैकुण्ठलोकं रमया युतश्च
Hearing Hari's exceedingly pleasing words, the king became deeply satisfied. Hari, having granted the boon, departed to Vaikuṇṭha with Ramā.
गते हरौ सोऽथ ययातिसूनु- र्ययावनुद्धातरथेन राजा । प्रेमान्वितस्तत्र सुतोऽस्ति यत्र वचो निशम्येति जनार्दनस्य
After Hari departed, the son of Yayāti, the king, joyfully rode in a swift chariot to the place where his son was, as instructed by Janārdana.
स तत्र गत्वातिमनोहरं तं ददर्श बालं भुवि खेलमानम् । मुखे निवेश्यैककरेण कृत्वा श्लक्ष्णं पदाङ्गुष्ठमनन्यसत्त्वः
Arriving there, he saw the exceedingly beautiful boy playing on the ground, holding his big toe gently in his mouth with one hand, absorbed in himself.
तं वीक्ष्य पुत्रं मदनस्वरूपं नारायणांशं कमलाप्रसूतम् । हरिप्रभावं हरिवर्मनामा हर्षप्रफुल्लाननपङ्कजोऽभूत्
Seeing his son, who was the very image of love, a portion of Nārāyaṇa, born of Lakṣmī, and radiant with Hari's glory, the king's lotus face blossomed with joy; he named him Harivarman.
गृह्णन् सुवेगात् करपङ्कजाभ्यां बभूव प्रेमार्णवमग्नदेहः । मूर्धन्युपाघ्राय मुदान्वितोऽसौ ननन्द राजा सुतमालिलिङ्ग
Taking him swiftly in his lotus hands, the king's body was immersed in an ocean of love. Smelling his son's head with delight, he embraced him and rejoiced.
मुखं समीक्ष्यातिमनोहरं त- मुवाच नेत्राम्बुनिरुद्धकण्ठः । दत्तोऽसि देवेन जनार्दनेन मात्रा हि पुत्रावमदुःखभीतेः
Gazing at his son's supremely beautiful face, his throat choked with tears, he said: 'You have been given by the god Janārdana, my son, so that your mother and I may be free from the fear of childlessness.'
तप्तं मया पुत्र तपस्तवार्थे सुदुष्करं वर्षशतं च पूर्णम् । तेनैव तुष्टेन रमाप्रियेण दत्तोऽसि संसारसुखोदयाय
'For your sake, my son, I performed severe austerity for a full hundred years. Pleased by that, the beloved of Ramā has given you, so that happiness may arise in this world.'
माता रमा त्वां तनुजं मदर्थे त्यक्त्वा गता सा हरिणा समेता । धन्या तु सा या प्रहसन्तमङ्के कृत्वा सुतं त्वां मुदितानना स्यात्
Mother Lakshmi abandoned you, her own child, for my sake and departed, joining Hari. Blessed indeed is she who, with a joyful face, would place you, her smiling son, on her lap.
त्वमेव संसारसमुद्रनौका- रूपः कृतः पुत्र लक्ष्मीधरेण । इत्येवमुक्त्वा नृपतिः सुतं तं मुदा समादाय ययौ गृहाय
You alone, son, have been made the boat for crossing the ocean of worldly existence by Lakshmi. Saying thus, the king took his son with delight and went home.
पुरीसमीपे नृपमागतं त- माकर्ण्य सर्वे सचिवास्तु राज्ञः । ययुः समीपं नृपतेश्च लोकाः सोपायनास्ते सपुरोहिताश्च
Hearing that the king had arrived near the city, all his ministers and the people, along with the chief priest, went to meet him, bringing gifts.
बन्दीजना गायनकाश्च सूताः समाययुः सम्मुखमाशु राज्ञः । नृपः पुरं प्राप्य पुरः समागतं जनं समाश्वास्य वाक्यैश्च दृष्ट्या
Bards, singers, and charioteers quickly gathered before the king. Upon reaching the city, the king comforted the assembled people with words and glances.
सम्पूजितः पौरजनेन राजा विवेश पुत्रेण युतो नगर्याम् । मार्गेषु लाजैः कुसुमैः समन्ता- द्विकीर्यमाणो नृपतिर्जगाम
Honored by the citizens, the king entered the city together with his son. On all the roads, grains and flowers were scattered as he proceeded.
गृहं समृद्धं सचिवैः समेतः सुतं समादाय मुदा कराभ्याम् । राज्ये ददौ चाथ सुतं मनोज्ञं सद्यःप्रसूतं च मनोभवाभम्
Joined by his ministers, the king entered his prosperous house, joyfully holding his son in his hands. He then gave the charming, newly born son, radiant like Cupid, the kingdom.
राज्ञी गृहीत्वाभिनवं तनूजं पप्रच्छ राजानमनिन्दिता सा । राजन् कुतश्चैव सुतः सुजन्मा प्राप्तस्त्वया मन्मथतुल्यरूपः
The queen, taking her newborn son, asked the king, blameless as she was: 'O king, how did you obtain this well-born son, whose form resembles Cupid?'
केनैष दत्तः कथयाशु कान्त चेतो मदीयं प्रहृतं सुतेन । नृपस्तदोवाच मुदान्वितोऽसौ प्रिये रमेशेन सुतो हि मह्यम्
'By whom was he given? Tell me quickly, beloved, for my heart is captivated by this son.' The king, filled with joy, replied: 'Dearest, this son was given to me by Ramesha.'
लोलाक्षि दत्तः कमलासमुत्थो जनार्दनांशोऽयमहीनसत्त्वः । सा तं गृहीत्वा मुदमाप राज्ञी राजा चकारोत्सवमद्भुतं च
'O restless-eyed one, this son, born from Lakshmi and a portion of Janardana, is endowed with noble qualities.' The queen, taking him, felt joy, and the king held a wondrous festival.
ददौ च दानं किल याचकेभ्यो गीतानि वाद्यानि बहूनि नेदुः । कृत्वोत्सवं भूपतिरात्मजस्य नामैकवीरेति चकार विश्रुतम्
He gave gifts to the beggars, and many songs and instruments resounded. The king held a festival for his son, and named him 'Ekavīra,' renowned everywhere.
सुखं च सम्प्राप्य मुदान्वितोऽसौ ननन्द देवाधिपतुल्यवीर्यः । पुत्रं हरे रूपगुणानुरूपं सम्प्राप्य वंशस्य ऋणाच्च मुक्तः
Having attained happiness, the king rejoiced, possessing strength equal to the lord of gods. Having obtained a son matching Hari in form and virtue, he was freed from the debt of his lineage.
इति सकलसुराणामीश्वरेणार्पितं तं सकलगुणगणाढ्यं पुत्रमासाद्य राजा । विविधसुखविनोदैर्भार्यया सेव्यमानो व्यहरत निजगेहे शक्रतुल्यप्रतापः
Thus, having received the son endowed with all virtues, offered by the lord of all gods, the king, served by his wife with various pleasures, lived in his own house with glory equal to Indra.
राजपुत्र्याः एकावल्याः वर्णनम् व्यास उवाच जातकर्मादिसंस्कारांश्चकार नृपतिस्तदा । दिने दिने जगामाशु वृद्धिं बालः सुलालितः
Vyasa said: The king performed the birth and other rites for the child. Day by day, the well-nurtured boy swiftly grew.
नृपः संसारजं प्राप्य सुखं पुत्रसभुद्भवम् । ऋणत्रयविमोक्षं च मेने तेन महात्मना
The king, having obtained happiness born of worldly life through his son, considered himself freed from the three debts by that great soul.
षष्ठेऽन्नप्राशनं तस्य कृत्वा मासि यथाविधि । तृतीयेऽथ तथा वर्षे चूडाकरणमुत्तमम्
In the sixth month, he performed the rice-feeding ceremony for the boy as prescribed; and in the third year, the excellent tonsure ceremony.
चकार ब्राह्मणान् द्रव्यैः सम्पूज्य विविधैर्धनैः । गोभिश्च विविधैर्दानैर्याचकानितरानपि
He honored the Brahmins with various gifts and wealth, and gave cows and other donations to the beggars and others.
वर्षे चैकादशे तस्य मौञ्जीबन्धनकर्म वै । कारयित्वा धनुर्वेदमध्यापयत पार्थिवः
In the eleventh year, he performed the ceremony of tying the sacred thread for the boy, and then taught him the science of archery.
अधीतवेदं पुत्रं तं राजधर्मविशारदम् । दृष्ट्वा तस्याभिषेकाय मतिं चक्रे जनाधिपः
Seeing his son, learned in the Vedas and skilled in royal duties, the king resolved to perform his coronation.