तस्य नष्टं मृतं कायं तच्च जीर्णं पुरोद्भवम्
His body was lost, dead, and decayed, having arisen long before.
ततः संस्थापितस्तेन तस्मिन्स्थाने सुभक्तितः ॥ दामोदरो रघुश्रेष्ठ कृत्वा प्रासादमुत्तमम्
Then, with great devotion, O best of Raghus, Damodara established there an excellent temple in that place.
तस्याग्रे श्रद्धया युक्तो दीपं दयाद्यथायथा
In front of it, filled with faith, he offered a lamp and gifts as appropriate.
ततो मासात्समासाद्य दिव्यचक्षुर्महीपतिः
After a month had passed, the king attained divine sight.
ततः प्रोवाच मां हृष्टः प्रणिपत्य कृतांजलिः
Then, delighted, he approached me, bowed with joined palms, and spoke.
त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रणष्टा मे बुभुक्षाऽतिसुदारुणा
By your grace, my terrible hunger has been destroyed.
अनुज्ञां देहि मे तस्माद्येन गच्छामि सांप्रतम्
Therefore, grant me permission so that I may now depart.
ततो मया विनिर्मुक्तः प्रणिपत्य मुहुर्मुहुः
Then, released by me, he bowed again and again.
एवं मे भूषणमिदं जातं हस्तगतं पुरा
Thus, this ornament that was once in my hand has come to be.
ततः प्रभृति राजेंद्र समागत्यात्र मानवाः कार्तिके मासि निर्यांति देहांते त्रिदिवालयम् ॥ 6.103.
From that time onward, O king, people coming here in the month of Kartika, at life's end, go to the heavenly abode.
ये पुनः प्राणसंत्यागं प्रकुर्वंति समाहिताः
And those who, with focused mind, give up their life-breath here—
ततो दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षः प्रभावं तज्जलोद्भवम्
Then, seeing that power, born from the water, the thousand-eyed one beheld it.
तदद्य दिवसः प्राप्तो दीपोत्सवसमुद्भवः
Today, that day has arrived, the origin of the festival of lamps.
तत्र स्नात्वा पितॄंस्तर्प्य रत्नदीपं प्रदाय च ॥ समस्तं कार्तिकं यावदयोध्यां प्रस्थितास्ततः
Having bathed there, offered libations to the ancestors, and given a jeweled lamp, she set out for Ayodhya for the entire month of Kartika.
ततो विभीषणं मुक्त्वा हनूमंतं च वानरम्
Then, leaving Vibhishana and Hanuman, the monkey, behind—
संप्राप्ते कार्तिके मासि स्नात्वा तत्र जले शुभे
When the month of Kartika arrived, having bathed in those auspicious waters—
एवं तत्र समुत्पन्नं तत्तडागं शुभावहम् 6.103.
Thus, there arose that pond, bestowing auspiciousness.
स्थापितानि च माहात्म्यं तेषां सूत प्रकीर्तय
And the greatness of those established places, O Suta, proclaim it.
लंकापुर्याः समायांति सदैव शतशः पुरा
Hundreds always come from the city of Lanka, as before.
आगच्छन्तो व्रजन्तस्ते मार्गे क्षेत्रे च तत्र च
They come and go along the roads, in the fields, and there as well.
ततस्ते मानवाः सर्वे प्रद्रवंतः समंततः
Then all the people flee in every direction.
तथान्ये बहवो गत्वा ह्ययोध्याख्यां महापुरीम्
Likewise, many others, having gone, reached the great city called Ayodhya.
तव पित्रा समं प्राप्ताः पूर्वं ये राक्षसा नृप
Those Rakshasas who formerly arrived there together with your father, O King,
संस्थापितानि लिंगानि चतुर्वक्त्राणि तत्र वै
There, the four-faced lingas were established.
तेनैव चानुषंगेण समागच्छंति नित्यशः
And because of that, they continually come there as a consequence.
यदि वा तानि लिंगानि कश्चित्संपूजयेन्नरः
If any man should worship those lingas,
तस्माद्यदि न रक्षा नः करिष्यसि महीपते ६.१०४.
Therefore, O King, if you do not protect us, what will become of us?
तच्च क्षेत्रं विशेषेण यत्रागच्छंति ते सदा
And that field, in particular, is where they always come.
तच्छ्रुत्वा स नृपस्तूर्णं स्वामात्यानां न्यवेदयत्
Hearing this, the king immediately informed his ministers.
अथ प्राप्तं कुशं दृष्ट्वा हतशेषा द्विजोत्तमाः
Then, seeing that Kuśa had arrived, the best of the twice-born who survived the slaughter—