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.
तत्रागत्य ततो देवीं पित्रा संस्थापिता पुरा
There, having arrived, he saw the goddess who had formerly been established by his father.
ततोऽन्यानि च मुख्यानि दृष्ट्वा चायतनानि सः
Then, seeing also the other principal shrines there—
प्रासादं कारयामास देवदेवस्य चक्रिणः
He caused a temple to be built for the god of gods, the wielder of the discus.
तस्याग्रे कारयामास वापीं स्वच्छोदकान्विताम्
In front of it, he had a reservoir constructed, filled with pure water.
उदकेन ततस्तस्या देवाराधनतत्परः
With that water, being devoted to the worship of the gods, he performed his rituals.
ततो वर्षशतेऽतीते तस्य तुष्टो जनार्दनः
Then, after a hundred years had passed, Janārdana was pleased with him.
प्रोवाच दर्शनं गत्वा पक्षिराजं समाश्रितः
He went to see him, mounted upon the king of birds, and spoke these words.
अपि ते दुर्लभं काममहं दास्यामि कृत्स्नशः
Even the most difficult desire of yours, I shall grant you in full.
तपसो देहि मे पुत्रांस्तस्माद्वंशविवृद्धिदान् ॥ ६.९८.
Grant me sons through your austerity, and thus the increase of my lineage.
अन्यत्सर्वं सुराधीश ध्रुवमस्ति गृहे स्थितम्
Everything else, O lord of the gods, surely exists already in my house.
अवतारं करिष्यामि कृत्वा रूपचतुष्टयम्
I shall take incarnation, assuming four forms.
देवकार्याय तस्मात्त्वं गृहं गत्वा महीपते
Therefore, for the sake of the gods' work, you, O king, return home.
तथेयं या त्वया वापी निर्मिता विमलोदका
Thus, this reservoir which you have constructed with pure water—
अस्यां स्नात्वा नरो भक्त्या य एनां पूजयिष्यति
Whoever bathes in it with devotion and worships it—
ततः करिष्यति श्राद्धं यावत्संवत्सरं नृप
Then, O king, he shall perform the ancestral rites for a whole year.
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवांस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः
Having spoken thus, the Blessed Lord then disappeared from sight.
ततः स्तोकेन कालेन तस्य पुत्रचतुष्टयम्
Then, after a short time, he obtained four sons.
कौशल्यानाम विख्याता तस्य भार्या सुशोभना
His illustrious wife was known by the name Kauśalyā.
तथान्या कैकयी नाम तस्य भार्या कनिष्ठिका ६.९८.
Likewise, another wife of his, the youngest, was named Kaikeyī.
सुमित्राख्या तथा चान्या पत्नी या मध्यमा स्थिता
And another, called Sumitrā, was his middle wife.