03.097
लोमश उवाच॥
Lomaśa said.
इल्वलस्तान्विदित्वा तु महर्षिसहितान्नृपान्। उपस्थितान्सहामात्यो विषयान्तेऽभ्यपूजयत् ॥०३-९७-१॥
Ilvala, having recognized those kings along with the great sages who had assembled, together with his minister, honored them at the boundary of his territory. (03-97-1)
तेषां ततोऽसुरश्रेष्ठ आतिथ्यमकरोत्तदा। स संस्कृतेन कौरव्य भ्रात्रा वातापिना किल ॥०३-९७-२॥
Then, O Kauravya, the best of asuras performed hospitality for them at that time, together with his brother Vātāpi, with due refinement indeed. (03-97-2)
ततो राजर्षयः सर्वे विषण्णा गतचेतसः। वातापिं संस्कृतं दृष्ट्वा मेषभूतं महासुरम् ॥०३-९७-३॥
Then all the royal sages, disheartened and with spirits lost, saw Vātāpi—the great asura, prepared and transformed into a ram. (03-97-3)
अथाब्रवीदगस्त्यस्तान्राजर्षीनृषिसत्तमः। विषादो वो न कर्तव्यो अहं भोक्ष्ये महासुरम् ॥०३-९७-४॥
Then Agastya, the foremost among sages, said to those royal sages, "You should not be despondent; I will eat the great demon." (03-97-4)
धुर्यासनमथासाद्य निषसाद महामुनिः। तं पर्यवेषद्दैत्येन्द्र इल्वलः प्रहसन्निव ॥०३-९७-५॥
Then, having approached the special seat, the great sage sat down, and Ilvala, the king of the daityas, served him food with a seeming smile. (03-97-5)
अगस्त्य एव कृत्स्नं तु वातापिं बुभुजे ततः। भुक्तवत्यसुरोऽऽह्वानमकरोत्तस्य इल्वलः ॥०३-९७-६॥
Agastya himself ate all of Vātāpi; then, after he had eaten, the asura Ilvala attempted to call him forth. (03-97-6)
ततो वायुः प्रादुरभूदगस्त्यस्य महात्मनः। इल्वलश्च विषण्णोऽभूद्दृष्ट्वा जीर्णं महासुरम् ॥०३-९७-७॥
Then the air (breath) emerged from the great sage Agastya, and Ilvala became dejected when he saw that the great asura had been digested. (03-97-7)
प्राञ्जलिश्च सहामात्यैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। किमर्थमुपयाताः स्थ ब्रूत किं करवाणि वः ॥०३-९७-८॥
With folded hands, together with his ministers, he spoke these words: 'For what purpose have you come? Tell me—what can I do for you?' (03-97-8)
प्रत्युवाच ततोऽगस्त्यः प्रहसन्निल्वलं तदा। ईशं ह्यसुर विद्मस्त्वां वयं सर्वे धनेश्वरम् ॥०३-९७-९॥
Then Agastya, smiling at Nilvala, replied at that time: "Indeed, asura, we all know you as the lord of wealth." (03-97-9)
इमे च नातिधनिनो धनार्थश्च महान्मम। यथाशक्त्यविहिंस्यान्यान्संविभागं प्रयच्छ नः ॥०३-९७-१०॥
These here are not very wealthy and are seeking wealth; my wealth is great. As far as you can, without harming others, bestow a share to us. (03-97-10)
ततोऽभिवाद्य तमृषिमिल्वलो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। दित्सितं यदि वेत्सि त्वं ततो दास्यामि ते वसु ॥०३-९७-११॥
Then, after saluting the sage, Ilvala spoke to him: "If you know what is to be given, then I will give you wealth." (03-97-11)
अगस्त्य उवाच॥
Agastya said.
गवां दश सहस्राणि राज्ञामेकैकशोऽसुर। तावदेव सुवर्णस्य दित्सितं ते महासुर ॥०३-९७-१२॥
O Asura, from each one of the kings ten thousand cows and just as much gold have been given to you, O great Asura. (03-97-12)
मह्यं ततो वै द्विगुणं रथश्चैव हिरण्मयः। मनोजवौ वाजिनौ च दित्सितं ते महासुर ॥ जिज्ञास्यतां रथः सद्यो व्यक्तमेष हिरण्मयः ॥०३-९७-१३॥
Therefore, a chariot made of gold—double in value—with two mind-speeding horses, has indeed been given to me by you, O great Asura. Let the chariot be tested at once; lo, this golden chariot is clearly here. (03-97-13)
लोमश उवाच॥
Lomaśa said;
जिज्ञास्यमानः स रथः कौन्तेयासीद्धिरण्मयः। ततः प्रव्यथितो दैत्यो ददावभ्यधिकं वसु ॥०३-९७-१४॥
O Kaunteya, when the golden chariot was being examined, then the distressed Daitya gave even more wealth. (03-97-14)
विवाजश्च सुवाजश्च तस्मिन्युक्तौ रथे हयौ। ऊहतुस्तौ वसून्याशु तान्यगस्त्याश्रमं प्रति ॥०३-९७-१५॥
Vivāja and Suvāja, the two horses yoked to that chariot, swiftly carried the wealths to Agastya's hermitage. (03-97-15)
सर्वान्राज्ञः सहागस्त्यान्निमेषादिव भारत ॥०३-९७-१५॥
O Bhārata, all the kings, along with Agastya, disappeared as though in the blink of an eye. (03-97-15)
अगस्त्येनाभ्यनुज्ञाता जग्मू राजर्षयस्तदा। कृतवांश्च मुनिः सर्वं लोपामुद्राचिकीर्षितम् ॥०३-९७-१६॥
When permitted by Agastya, the royal sages departed; and the sage did everything desired by Lopamudra. (03-97-16)
लोपामुद्रोवाच॥
Lopamudra said;
कृतवानसि तत्सर्वं भगवन्मम काङ्क्षितम्। उत्पादय सकृन्मह्यमपत्यं वीर्यवत्तरम् ॥०३-९७-१७॥
O venerable one, you have fulfilled all that I desired; now, produce for me once an offspring more mighty. (03-97-17)
अगस्त्य उवाच॥
Agastya said.
तुष्टोऽहमस्मि कल्याणि तव वृत्तेन शोभने। विचारणामपत्ये तु तव वक्ष्यामि तां शृणु ॥०३-९७-१८॥
O auspicious and beautiful lady, I am pleased with your conduct. But as for your enquiry about offspring, I will tell you about that—listen. (03-97-18)
सहस्रं तेऽस्तु पुत्राणां शतं वा दशसंमितम्। दश वा शततुल्याः स्युरेको वापि सहस्रवत् ॥०३-९७-१९॥
May you have a thousand sons, or a hundred, or those equal to ten. Or ten who are equal to a hundred, or even one who is like a thousand. (03-97-19)
लोपामुद्रोवाच॥
Lopamudrā said.
सहस्रसंमितः पुत्र एको मेऽस्तु तपोधन। एको हि बहुभिः श्रेयान्विद्वान्साधुरसाधुभिः ॥०३-९७-२०॥
O possessor of austerity, let there be one son for me equal to a thousand. Indeed, one wise and virtuous son is better than many unvirtuous ones. (03-97-20)
लोमश उवाच॥
Lomaśa said.
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय तया समभवन्मुनिः। समये समशीलिन्या श्रद्धावाञ्श्रद्दधानया ॥०३-९७-२१॥
He, having promised "so be it" to her, the sage associated with her—at the appointed time, with one who had similar character, faithful and endowed with faith. (03-97-21)
तत आधाय गर्भं तमगमद्वनमेव सः। तस्मिन्वनगते गर्भो ववृधे सप्त शारदान् ॥०३-९७-२२॥
Having conceived, she went to the forest. There, while she stayed in the forest, the embryo grew for seven years. (03-97-22)
सप्तमेऽब्दे गते चापि प्राच्यवत्स महाकविः। ज्वलन्निव प्रभावेन दृढस्युर्नाम भारत ॥ साङ्गोपनिषदान्वेदाञ्जपन्नेव महायशाः ॥०३-९७-२३॥
After seven years had passed, O Bhārata, there was the great poet Prācyavat, named Dṛḍhasyu, who, shining forth with brilliance, was renowned as if reciting the Vedas along with all their limbs and Upaniṣads. (03-97-23)
तस्य पुत्रोऽभवदृषेः स तेजस्वी महानृषिः। स बाल एव तेजस्वी पितुस्तस्य निवेशने ॥ इध्मानां भारमाजह्रे इध्मवाहस्ततोऽभवत् ॥०३-९७-२४॥
His son was born of the sage; he was a radiant and great sage. Even as a child, he was radiant in his father's dwelling; he brought loads of firewood and thus became known as the carrier of firewood. (03-97-24)
तथायुक्तं च तं दृष्ट्वा मुमुदे स मुनिस्तदा। लेभिरे पितरश्चास्य लोकान्राजन्यथेप्सितान् ॥०३-९७-२५॥
Seeing him thus endowed, the sage then rejoiced. His ancestors, O king, attained the worlds as they wished. (03-97-25)
अगस्त्यस्याश्रमः ख्यातः सर्वर्तुकुसुमान्वितः। प्राह्रादिरेवं वातापिरगस्त्येन विनाशितः ॥०३-९७-२६॥
The hermitage of Agastya, renowned and adorned with flowers in all seasons. In this way, Vātāpi of the Prāhrādi clan was destroyed by Agastya. (03-97-26)
तस्यायमाश्रमो राजन्रमणीयो गुणैर्युतः। एषा भागीरथी पुण्या यथेष्टमवगाह्यताम् ॥०३-९७-२७॥
O king, this hermitage of him is pleasant and endowed with virtues. This holy Bhagirathi (Ganga) may be entered as you desire for bathing. (03-97-27)
