अलक्ष्यं वीक्षयामास स्वासनं दूरमास्थितः
Unnoticed, he observed his own seat from a distance.
ततः शक्रसमादेशादुत्थाय सुरकिंकरः ६.९७.
Then, at Indra's command, a servant of the gods arose.
तद्दृष्ट्वा कोपसंपन्नः स राजाऽभ्येत्य वासवम्
Seeing this, the king, filled with anger, approached Vāsava.
किं मया निहता विप्राः किं वा विप्रसमुद्भवम्
Have I slain Brahmins, or is it something arising from Brahmins?
किं वा नष्टोऽस्मि संग्रामे दृष्ट्वा शत्रून्समागतान्
Or have I perished in battle, seeing the assembled enemies?
मम राज्येऽथवा शक्र दुर्बलो बलवत्तरैः
Or, Indra, in my kingdom, am I weak among those who are stronger?
किं वा राज्ये मदीये च जायते योनिविप्लवः
Or is there some disruption of lineage occurring in my realm?
किं वा दुर्जनवाक्येन दूषितो दोषवर्जितः
Or have I been defamed by the words of wicked people, though I am free of fault?
किं वा चौरोऽथ पापो वा गृहीतो दोषवान्स्वयम्
Or am I a thief or sinner, caught with my own faults?
किंस्विन्मया परित्यक्तः कोऽप्यत्र शरणागतः
Or have I abandoned someone here who sought refuge?
कस्य वा पृष्ठमांसानि भक्षितानि मया क्वचित्
Or have I ever eaten the flesh from someone's back?
किं वा दानं मया दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने ६.९७.
Or have I given a gift to a great-souled Brahmin?
किं वा राज्ये मदीये च दीनानां प्रपतंति च
Or, in my kingdom, do the destitute fall into misery?
दैवं वा पैतृकं वापि किं वा कर्म गृहे मम
Or is it fate, ancestral, or some deed within my house?
यत्त्वया क्रियते नित्यं तोयैरभ्युक्षणं मम
That daily sprinkling with water which you perform for me,
न राष्ट्रे च कुले गेहे भृत्यवर्गे विशेषतः
Neither in the kingdom, nor in the family, nor in the house, nor especially among the servants,
परं शृणु प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्ते पापं भविष्यति
Now listen further; I shall tell you what sin will arise for you.
अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति न च स्वर्गं प्रपद्यते
A man without a son has no destination; he does not attain heaven.
द्वेष्यतां याति देवानां पितॄणां च विशेषतः
He becomes hated by the gods, and especially by the ancestors.
आनृण्यं समवाप्नोति पितॄणां स तदा ध्रुवम्
He certainly attains freedom from debt to the ancestors at that time.
पितॄणां तेन ते नित्यमासनेऽभ्युक्षणं कृतम्
By that, the daily sprinkling on the seat for the ancestors has been performed by you.
आत्मानं नरकात्त्रातुं पुंसंज्ञाच्च तथा नृप ६.९७.
In order to save himself from hell and likewise from the designation of 'man,' O king,
दुःखेन महता युक्तो लज्जयाऽधोमुखः स्थितः अमात्यानां निजं राज्यमर्पयामास सत्वरः
Afflicted with great sorrow, standing with face cast down in shame, he quickly entrusted his own kingdom to his ministers.
ततः प्रोवाच तान्सर्वांस्तपः कार्यं मयाऽधुना
Then he said to them all: 'Now I must undertake austerity.'
एतद्राज्यं प्रयत्नेन रक्षणीयं यथाविधि
'This kingdom must be protected with effort, according to the proper rule.'
क्रियते पुत्रहीनस्य किं राज्येन धनेन वा
What use is a kingdom or wealth to one who is without a son?
वयं रक्षां करिष्यामस्तव राज्ये समंततः
'We shall protect your kingdom on all sides.'
कार्तिकेयपुरं गत्वा यत्र पित्रा पुरा तव
Going to Kārtikeya's city, where formerly your father—
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्र माहात्म्ये दशरथकृततपःसमुद्योगवर्णनंनाम सप्तनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-one thousand verses, in the sixth book, the Nāgara section, in the account of the greatness of the sacred field of Hāṭakeśvara, this is the ninety-seventh chapter, named 'The Description of Daśaratha's Undertaking of Austerity.'
हाटकेश्वरजं क्षेत्रं संप्राप्तो हर्षसंयुतः
He reached the field born of Hāṭakeśvara, filled with joy.