तथादक्षिणदिग्भागे कूपिका तेन निर्मिता॥। आनर्त्तीयतडागस्य समीपे पापनाशनी
Likewise, in the southern direction, a small well was made by him, near the Ānartīya lake, a destroyer of sins.
यस्तस्यां कुरुते श्राद्धं संप्राप्ते दक्षिणायने
Whoever performs the śrāddha there, when the southern solstice arrives,
यस्तत्र दीपकं दद्यात्कार्तिके मासि च द्विजाः न चांधो जायते क्वापि यत्रयत्र प्रजायते ॥ 6.103.
Whoever offers a lamp there in the month of Kārtika, O twice-born, is never born blind, wherever he may be born.
किंप्रभावं च कार्त्स्न्येन सूतपुत्र प्रकीर्तय
Now, recount in full the greatness, O son of Sūta.
आनर्त्तीयतडागस्य महिमा द्विजसत्तमाः
O best of the twice-born, the glory of the Ānartīya lake—
आश्विनस्य सिते पक्षे चतुर्दश्यां समाहितः
On the fourteenth day of the bright half of Āśvina, with a concentrated mind,
ततो दीपोत्सवदिने श्राद्धं कृत्वा समाहितः
Then, on the day of the festival of lights, having performed śrāddha with concentration,
संपूज्यो धर्मराजस्तु गन्धपुष्पानुलेपनैः
One should worship Dharmarāja with fragrant substances, flowers, and ointments.
तिलमाषप्रदानेन द्विजानां तर्पणेन च
By offering sesame and black gram, and by performing the ritual of satisfying the twice-born.
य एवं कुरुते विप्रास्तीर्थ आनर्त संज्ञिते
Whoever does thus, O Brahmins, at the sacred place called Anarta.
यस्मिन्दिने समायातो रामस्तत्र प्रहर्षितः
On the day when Rama arrived there, he was filled with joy.
अत्रागस्त्यो मुनिश्रेष्ठस्तिष्ठते रघुनंदन
Here, the eminent sage Agastya stands with the descendant of Raghu.
अथ तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा रामो राजीवलोचनः 6.103.२० अष्टांगप्रणिपातेन तं प्रणम्य रघूत्तमः
Then, having heard their words, Rama, lotus-eyed, the best of the Raghu lineage, bowed to him with eightfold prostration.
नातिदूरे ततस्तस्य विनयेन समन्वितः
Not far from there, he stood, endowed with humility.
ततः पृष्टस्तु मुनिना कथयामास विस्तरात्
Then, questioned by the sage, he narrated in detail.
यथा सीता परित्यक्ता यथा सौमित्रिणा कृतः
How Sita was abandoned, and what was done by Saumitri.
तथा सुग्रीवमासाद्य तथैव च विभीषणम्
Likewise, how he approached Sugriva, and similarly Vibhishana.
ततोऽगस्त्यः कथाश्चित्राश्चक्रे तस्य पुरस्तदा
Then Agastya recounted wondrous tales before him.
ततः कथावसाने च चलचित्तं रघूत्तमम्
After the conclusion of the stories, the mind of the best of Raghu's line became unsettled.
यन्न देवेषु यक्षेषु सिद्धविद्याधरेषु च
That which is not found among the gods, the yakshas, or the siddhas and vidyadharas.
यस्येन्द्रायुधसंघाश्च निष्क्रामंति सहस्रशः
From whom hosts of Indra's weapons emerge by the thousands.
तद्रामस्तु गृहीत्वाऽथ विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः ॥ 6.103.
Rama took that, his eyes wide with astonishment.
अत्यद्भुतकरं रत्नैर्निर्मितं तिमिरापहम्
A marvel, crafted from jewels, dispelling darkness.
ममाश्रमसमीपस्थं तद्देवदेवनिर्मितम्
That, created by the god of gods, stands near my hermitage.
तस्य तीरे मया दृष्टं यदाश्चर्यमनुत्तमम्
On its shore, I saw an unsurpassed wonder.
कदाचिद्राघवश्रेष्ठ निशीथेऽहं समुत्थितः
Once, O foremost of the Raghus, I rose at midnight.
यावत्तावद्विमानं तदप्सरोगणराजितम् अन्धस्तत्र समारूढः स्तूयते किन्नरैर्नृपः
As long as that celestial chariot, adorned with hosts of apsaras, remains, the king seated there is praised by the kinnaras.
रत्नाभरणमेतच्च बिभ्रत्कण्ठे सुनिर्मलम्
He wears this radiant, flawless jewel ornament around his neck.
अथोत्तीर्य विमानाग्र्यात्स्कंधलग्नो रघूद्वह
Then, having descended from the splendid chariot, he clung to Skanda, O scion of Raghu.
ततश्च सलिलात्तस्मादाकृष्य च कलेवरम्
After that, he drew his body out from the water.