आस्ते पांसुभिराच्छन्नं कलेर्भीतं गयाशिरः
The head of Gayā, fearful of the age of Kali, lies covered with dust.
अधस्तात्प्लक्षवृक्षस्य दर्भस्थानैः समंततः
Beneath the plakṣa tree, surrounded on all sides by seats of darbha grass—
तत्र गत्वा तिलैस्तैस्त्वं तैः शाकैस्तैः कुशैस्तथा
There, having gone, with those sesame seeds, with those vegetables, and likewise with those kuśa grasses—
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स दीनस्य दयान्वितः
Hearing those words, he, filled with compassion for the afflicted one—
दृष्ट्वा शाकांस्तिलांस्तांस्तु दर्भांस्तेन यथोदितान्
Seeing those vegetables, those sesame seeds, and those darbha grasses as instructed by him—
ततः कृतघ्नमुद्दिश्य श्राद्धं चक्रे यथोदितम् ६.१९.३. विमानवरमारूढो विदूरथमथाऽब्रवीत्
Then, offering the śrāddha for the ungrateful one as prescribed, he ascended a splendid celestial car and spoke to Vidūratha.
मुक्तोऽहं त्वत्प्रसादाच्च प्रेतत्वाद्दारुणाद्विभो
By your grace, O Lord, I am freed from the dreadful state of a ghost.
पितॄणां पुष्टिदा नित्यं गयाशीर्षसमुद्भवा
The head of Gayā, which arose there, always bestows nourishment to the ancestors.
प्रेतपक्षस्य दर्शायां यस्तस्यां श्राद्धमाचरेत्
Whoever performs śrāddha there during the new moon of the dark fortnight for the departed—
कृंतितैश्च तथा दर्भैः सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः । स प्राप्नोति फलं कृत्स्नं कृतघ्नप्रेततीर्थतः
With sesame seeds and darbha grass, endowed with proper faith, he obtains the full fruit from the holy place for the ungrateful and the departed.
अग्निष्वात्ताः पितृगणास्तथा बर्हिषदश्च ये
The groups of ancestors known as Agniṣvāttas and also those called Barhiṣads—
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन श्राद्धं तत्र समाचरेत्
Therefore, with all effort, one should perform the śrāddha there.
भ्रममाणो धरापृष्ठे सीतालक्ष्मणसंयुतः
Wandering upon the earth, accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa,
समाऽऽयातो द्विजश्रेष्ठा यत्र सा पितृकूपिका
He, O best of twice-born, arrived at the place where that ancestral pit was.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो भगवान्दिननायकः
At that moment, the blessed Lord, the leader of the day, appeared.
ततः प्लक्षनगाधस्तात्पर्णान्यास्तीर्य भूतले
Then, beneath a fig tree, he spread leaves upon the ground.
अथाऽवलोकयामास स्वप्ने दशरथं नृपम्
Then, in a dream, he beheld King Daśaratha.
ततः प्रभाते विमले प्रोद्गते रविमण्डले
Thereafter, at dawn, when the sun's orb had risen clear,
अद्य स्वप्ने मया विप्राः प्रियालापपरः पिता
"Today, O Brāhmaṇas, in a dream my father, engaged in affectionate conversation—"
तत्कीदृक्परिणामोऽस्य स्वप्नस्य द्विजसत्तमाः
"What, O best of Brāhmaṇas, is the outcome of this dream?"
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः पितरः श्राद्धकामा ये वृद्धिं पश्यंति वा नृप
The Brāhmaṇas said: "O King, those ancestors who desire śrāddha or who witness increase—"
तदस्यां कूपिकायां च स्वयमेव गया स्थिता ६.२०.
"In this very pit, Gaya itself is present."
तस्मात्कुरु रघुश्रेष्ठ श्राद्धमत्र यथोदितम्
Therefore, O best of the Raghus, perform śrāddha here as prescribed.
अथैवामन्त्रयामास तान्विप्रान्रघुसत्तमः
Then, O best of the Raghus, he invited those Brāhmaṇas.
बाढमित्येव ते चोक्त्वा स्नानार्थं द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ गताः सर्वे सुसंहृष्टा स्वकीयानाश्रमान्प्रति व
They replied, "So be it," and, for the sake of bathing, all the delighted Brāhmaṇas departed for their own hermitages.
अथ तेषु प्रयातेषु ब्राह्मणेषु रघूत्तमः
Then, when the Brāhmaṇas had departed, the foremost of the Raghus—
शाकमूलफलान्याशु श्राद्धार्थं समुपानय
Quickly bring roots, vegetables, and fruits for the śrāddha.
तच्छ्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्तूर्णं जगामाऽरण्यमेव हि
Hearing this, Lakṣmaṇa swiftly went into the forest.
धात्रीफलानि चाऽऽम्राणि चिर्भटानीं गुदानि च
Fruits of the myrobalan, mangoes, cirbhaṭa gourds, and lumps of jaggery,
ततश्च पाचयामास तदर्थे जनकोद्भवा
Then, for that purpose, the daughter of Janaka began to cook them.