Ramayana Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /32

14
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Holding in his arms, as if it were his

wife, a vessel full of divine payasa (a sweet

preparation of milk, rice and sugar) and

looking round, he spoke thus :
 

 
इदं तु नृपशार्दूल पायसं देवनिर्मितम् ।

प्रजाकरं गृहाण त्वं धन्यमारोग्यवर्धनम् ॥
 

" Take this payasa, O best of kings

made by the gods, giver of progeny, bringer

of luck and of health.
 

 
भार्याणामनुरूपाणाम् अश्नीतेति प्रयच्छ वै

तासु त्वं लप्स्यसे पुत्रान् यदर्थं यजसे नृप ॥
 

Give it to your worthy wives, asking

them to partake of it. You shall indeed,

O king, beget by them the sons for whose

sake you have performed this sacrifice."
 

 
तथेति नृपतिः प्रीतः शिरसा प्रतिगृह्य ताम् ।

सोऽन्तःपुरं प्रविश्यैव कौसल्यामिदमब्रवीत् ।

पायसं प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पुत्रीयमिदमात्मनः ॥
 

The king, being pleased, assented, took

the vessel with bowed head, entered the

inner apartment and said this to Kausalya :

Accept this payasa which is the giver

of sons."
 
66