srivalmikiramayanam (Book 2) Ayodhya Kanda - Sarga 3 to 7

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

( Translation and Commentary by Scholar,   Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 3

Introduction

Dasaratha, glad after hearing the words of assembled people, requests Vasishta and Vamadeva to start arrangements for the anointing ceremony of Rama. Vasishta and Vamadeva order the officers present there to make all arrangements, describing them in detail. Dasaratha then orders Sumantra to bring Rama to the assembly. After letting Rama know of his desire, Dasaratha then advises Rama on how to rule the kingdom for the benefit of the people

teshhaamaJNjalipadmaani pragR^ihiitaani sarvashaH |
pratigR^ihyaabraviidraajaa tebhyaH priyahitaM vachaH || 2-3-1

1. raajaa= King (Dasaratha), pragR^ihiitaani= obtained, teshhaam= their, aJNjalipadmaani= salutation (with folded hands) resembling lotus buds, sarvashaH= by all means, pratigR^ihyaa= accepted (that), abraviit= (and) spoke, tebhyaH= to them, priyahitam= pleasing and good, vachaH= sentence.

King Dasaratha, accepted their salutations with folded hands resembling lotus buds and spoke good and agreeable words to them as follows:-

aho.asmi paramapriitaH prabhaavashchaatulo mama |
yanme jyeshhThaM priyaM putraM yauvaraajyastha michchhatha || 2-3-2

2. aho= Oh!, yat ichchhatha= why you desire, me= my, jyeshhTham= elder, priyam= beloved, putram= son, yauvaraajyastham= as prince, paramapriitaH asmi= (for that)I am very pleased, mama= my, prabhaavashcha= fortune is also, atulaH= without comparision.

"Oh! I am very much pleased and incomparable is my fortune in that you desire my beloved elder son to be anointed as prince. "

iti pratyarchya taan raajaa braahmaNaanida mabraviit |
vasishhThaM vaamadevaM cha teshhaamevopashR^iNvataam || 2-3-3

3. raajaa= King Dasaratha, iti= thus, pratyarchya= respected, taan= them, abraviit= spoke, idam= this (sentence), teshhaam + upashR^iNvataam eva= while they were listening, vasishhTham= to Vasishta, VaamadevaM cha= Vaamadeva and, braahmaNaan= other brahmanas.

King Dasaratha, thus duly returning the honor done by them, spoke while they were listening, to Vasishta, Vamadeva and other Brahmans as follows:

chaitraH shriimaanayaM maasaH puNyaH pushhpitakaananaH |
yauvaraajyaaya raamasya sarvamevopakalpyataam || 2-3-4
raajJNastuuparate vaakye janaghoshho mahaanabhuut |

4. "ayam= this, chaitraH maasaH= month of Chaitra, pushhpitakaananaH= has flowering forests, shriimaan= glorious, puNyaH= auspicious, sarvam eva upakalpyataam= let all arrangements be made (for anointment of Rama as prince)", uparate= while completing, raajJNaH= the king's, vaakye= words, abhuut= there was, mahaan= great, janaghoshhaH= uproar ( due to applause) from people.

"This is the glorious and auspicious month of Chaitra, in which the forests bloom with flowers. Let all arrangements be made for the coronation of Rama as prince." While these words of the king were being completed, there was a great delightful uproar of the people.

shanaistasmin prashaante cha janaghoshhe janaadhipaH || 2-3-5
vasishhThaM munishaarduulaM raajaa vachanamabraviit |

5. tasmin= that, janaghoshhe= uproar of people, shanaiH= gradually, prashaante= subsided, janaadhipaH= lord of the people, raajaa= King Dasaratha, abraviit= spoke, vachanam= these words, vasishhTham= to Vasista, munishaarduulam= the best of sages.

When their applause gradually subsided, King Dasaratha spoke the following words to the best of sages, Vasishta.

abhishhekaaya raamasya yatkarma saparichchhadam || 2-3-6
tadadya bhagavan sarvamaajJNaapayitu marhasi |

6. bhagavan= Oh divine Vasishta!, arhasi= you are suitable, adya= now, aajJNaapayitum= to order for, sarvam=all, tat karma yat= the traditional ceremonial which (needs) to be done, saparichchhadam= including the accessories (that are needed ),abhishhekaaya raamasya=for the anointing ceremony of Rama.

"Oh Divine Vasishta! Be pleased to order now for the traditional ceremonial that is to be done and various accessories needed for the anointing ceremony of Rama."

tachchhrutvaa bhuumipaalasya vasishhTho dvijasattamaH || 2-3-7
aadideshaagrato raajJNaH sthitaan yuktaan kR^itaaJNjaliin |

7. vasishhThaH= Vasishta, dvijasattamaH= the best of brahmanas, shrutvaa= heard, tat= that (sentence), bhuumipaalasya= of king Dasaratha, aadidesha= ordered, yuktaan= the officers, sthitaan= who were there, kR^itaaJNjaliin= with folded hands, agrataH= before, raajJNaH= the king.

Vasishta, the best of Brahmans, hearing the words of king Dasaratha, ordered the officers who stood there with folded hands before the king, as follows: -

suvarNaadiini ratnaani baliin sarvaushhadhiirapi || 2-3-8
shuklamaalyaaMshcha laajaaMshcha pR^ithakcha madhusarpishhii |
ahataani cha vaasaaMsi rathaM sarvaayudhaanyapi || 2-3-9
chaturaN^gabalaM chaiva gajaM cha shubhalakshaNam |
chaamaravyajane shvete dhvajaM chhatraM cha paaNDuram || 2-3-10
shataM cha shaatakumbhaanaaM kumbhaanaamagnivarchasaam |
hiraNyashR^iN^gamR^ishhabhaM samagraM vyaaghracharma cha || 2-3-11
upasthaapayata praataragnyagaaraM mahiipateH |

8,9,10,11. upasthaapayata= gather, agnyagaaram= in the sacred fire house, mahiipate= of the king, praataH= at dawn, suvarNaadiini= gold and the like, ratnaani= diamonds, baliin= things needed to perform pooja (worship), sarvaushhadhiiH api= various herbs, shuklamaalyaan cha= white floral garlands, laajaan cha= corn, madhusarpishhii= honey and clarified butter, pR^ithak= separately, ahataani vaasaaMsi cha= new clothes, ratham= chariot, sarvaayudhaanyapi= all weapons, chaturaN^gabalaMcha + iva= the four divisions of army, gajam cha= elephant, shubhalakshaNam= with good signs, shvete= white, chaamaravyajane= fans made from the skin of an animal called chamari, dhvajam= pillar (or) staff , paaNDuram= white, chhatraM cha= umbrella, shataM cha= one hundred, shaatakumbhaanaam= golden hued, kumbhaanaam= pots, agnivarchasaam= brilliant like fire, R^ishhabham= bull, hiraNyashR^iN^gam= with golden horns, samagram= complete, vyaaghracharma cha= tiger skin.

"Gather the following in the sacred fire house of the king at dawn: gold and the like, diamonds, things needed to perform worship, various herbs, white floral garlands, corn, honey and clarified butter in separate vessels, new clothes, chariot, all weapons, the four divisions of army, an elephant with auspicious signs, white fan, flag staff, white umbrella, one hundred golden pots with brilliant shine, bull with gilded horns and a complete tiger skin".

yachchaanyatkiJNchideshhTavyaM tatsarvamupakalpyataam | 2-3-12
astaHpurasya dvaaraaNi sarvasya nagarasya cha |
chandanasragbhirarchyantaaM dhuupaishcha ghraaNahaaribhiH || 2-3-13

12,13. anyat= (if) other, yat cha kiJNchit= even small thing, eshhTavyam= is required, upakalpyataam tat sarvam= let all of it be arranged, dvaaraaNi= doorways, antaHpurasya= of royal palace, sarvasya nagarasya cha= of entire city also, archyantaam= be worshipped, chandanasragbhiH= with sandal paste and floral garlands, ghraaNahaaribhiH= attractive smelling, dhuupaiH= incense.

"If any other small things are required, arrange for all of them. Let the doorways of the royal palace and those of the entire city be worshipped with sandalwood paste, floral garlands and good smelling incense."

prashastamannaM guNavaddhadhikshiiropasechanam |
dvijaanaaM shatasaahasre yatprakaamamalaM bhavet || 2-3-14

14. prashastam= fine, annam= rice, guNavat= of good quality, dadhi kshiiropasechanam= with yoghurt and milk, prakaamam= completely, alaM bhavet= sufficient for, shatasaahasre= one hundred thousand, dvijaanaam= brahmanaas.

"Let fine rice of good quality with milk and yogurt, fully sufficient for one hundred thousand Brahmans be arranged."

satkR^itya dvijamukhyaanaaM shvaH prabhaate pradiiyataam |
ghR^itaM dadhi cha laajaashcha dakshiNaashchaapi pushhkalaaH || 2-3-15

15. pradiiyataam= let (that rice) be given, satkR^itya= with respect, shvaH= tomorrow, prabhaate= at dawn, dvijamukhyaanaam= to important Brahmans, ghR^itam= (along with) clarified butter, dadhi cha= yoghurt, laajaaH cha= corn and, pushhkalaaH= lot of, dakshiNaashchaapi= gifts also.

"Let that rice be given with due respect to important Brahmans tomorrow at dawn; along with clarified butter, yogurt, corn, and lot of gifts."

suurye.abhyuditamaatre shvo bhavitaa svastivaachanam |
braahmaNaashcha nimantryantaaM kalpyantaamaasanaani cha || 2-3-16

16. bhavitaa= there will be, svastivaachanam= chorus invocating well being of all, shvaH= tomorrow, abhyuditamaatre= soon after the rise of, suurye= sun, braahmaNaaH cha= brahmanas, nimantryantaam= be summoned, aasanaani cha= and seats, kalpyantaam= be arranged.

"There will be an invocation for the well being of all, tomorrow at sun rise. Let brahmanas be invited and suitable seats be arranged for them."

aabadhyantaaM pataakaashcha raajamaargashcha sichyataam |
sarve cha taaLaavacharaa gaNikaashcha svalaMkR^itaaH || 2-3-17
kakshyaaM dvitiiyaamaasaadya tishhThantu nR^ipaveshmanaH |

17. pataakaaH cha aabadhyantaam= let flags be hung, raajamaargaH cha sichyataaM cha= let royal roads be made wet, sarve= (let)all, svalaMkR^itaaH= well dressed, taaLaavacharaaH= musicians, gaNikaaH cha= dancers, aasaadya= get, dvitiiyaam= second, kakshyaam= enclosure, nR^ipaveshmanaH= of royal palace, tishhThantu= to stay.

"Let the flags be hung and the royal highways be sprinkled with water. Let well dressed dancers and musicians wait in second enclosure in the royal compound."

devaayatanachaityeshhu saannabhakshaaH sadakshiNaaH || 2-3-18
upasthaapayitavyaaH syurmaalyayogyaaH pR^ithak pR^ithak |

18. devaayatanachaityeshhu= in temples and at road junctions, yogyaaH= deserving people, upasthaapayitavyaaH syuH= be gathered, saanna= with rice, bhakshaaH= eatables, sadakshiNaaH= with presents, maalya= garlands, pR^ithak pR^ithak= separately.

"As worshipping is to be done in temples and at road junctions, let some deserving people gather there with rice, eatables, presents and garlands separately."

diirghaasibaddhaa yodhaashcha sannaddhaa mR^ishhTavaasasaH || 2-3-19
mahaaraajaaN^gaNaM sarve pravishantu mahodayam |

19. sarve= (let) all the, yodhaashcha= warriors also, pravishastu= enter, mahodayam= well developed, mahaaraajaaN^gaNam= front yard of royal palace, diirghaasibaddhaaH= wearing long swords, sannaddhaaH= wearing armors, mR^ishhTavaasasaH= wearing washed clothes.

"Let all the warriors enter the well developed front yard of the royal palace with long swords, armors and clean clothing."

evaM vyaadishya viprau tau kriyaastatra sunishhThitau || 2-3-20
chakratushchaiva yachchheshhaM paarthivaaya nivedya cha |

20. tau= those, viprau= wisemen - Vasishta and Vamadeva, sunishhThitau= with good attention, evam= thus, vyaadishya= ordered, kriyaaH= things to be done, tatra= there, nivedya cha= informed, paarthivaaya= the king Dasaratha, chakratuH cha eva= also performed, yat sheshham= (those things) that remained.

Those wise men Vasishta and Vamadeva attentively ordered for all those things to be done there, informed that to king Dasaratha and performed the remaining things also.

kR^itamityeva chaabruutaamabhigamya jagatpatim || 2-3-21
yathoktavachanaM priitau harshhayuktau dvijarshhabhau |

21. priitau= satisfied, harshhayuktau= with pleasure, dvijarshhabhau= the best of brahmanas, Vasishta and Vamadeva, abhigamya= approached, jagatpatim= king Dasaratha - the lord of world, abruutaam= and told him, kR^itamityeva= that all had been done, yathoktavachanam= as per his words.

Pleased and satisfied with the arrangements made Vasishta and Vamadeva approached king Dasaratha and told him that all had been done according to his words.

tataH sumantraM dyutimaan raajaa vachanamabraviit || 2-3-22
raamaH kR^itaatmaa bhavataa shiighramaaniiyataamiti |

22. tataH= afterwards, dyutimaan= radiant, raajaa= king Dasaratha, abraviit= spoke, iti= thus, sumantram= to Sumantra, vachanam= these words, raamaH= Rama, kR^itaatmaa= who has a disciplined intellect, aniiyataam= be brought, bhavataa= by you, shiighram= immediately.

Afterwards, Dasaratha spoke to Sumantra "Let Rama, who has a disciplined intellect, be brought by you immediately."

sa tatheti pratijJNaaya sumantro raajashaasanaat || 2-3-23
raamaM tatraanayaaMchakre rathena rathinaaM varam |

23. saH= that, sumantraH= Sumantra, pratijJNaaya= spoke, tathaa iti= that would be done accordingly, aanayaaMchakre= brought, raamam= Rama, varam= the best among, rathinaaM= charioteers, tatra= there, rathena= in a chariot, raaja shaasanaat= as commanded by the king.

As commanded by the king, Sumantra brought there, Rama, the best of charioteers, in a chariot.

atha tatra samaasiinaastadaa dasharathaM nR^ipam || 2-3-24
praachyodiichyaaH pratiichyaashcha daakshiNaatyaashcha bhuumipaaH |
mlechchhaashchaaryaashcha ye chaanye vane shailaantavaasinaH || 2-3-25
upaasaaJNchakrire sarve taM devaa iva vaasavam |

24,25. atha= afterwards (after Sumantra left), bhuumipaaH= kings, praachyodiichyaaH= belonging to east, north, pratiichyaaH cha= and belonging to west, daakshiNaatyaaH cha= and belonging to south, mlechchhaaH cha= those belonging to the country of Mlechha, aaryaaH cha= and belonging to the country of AryaaVarta, vane= in forest areas, anye= others, ye= who are, shailaantavaasinaH= staying in hilly areas, sarve= all, samaasiinaaH= sat, tatra= there, tadaa= then, upaasaaJNchakrire= attended on, tam= that, dasaratham nrR^ipam= king Dasaratha, vaasavamiva= as to Devendra, devaaH= by celestials.

Afterwards the kings belonging to east, west, north, south as well as those belonging to Mlechha kingdom, Aryaa Vartha kingdom and those ruling in hill and forest areas sat there and attended on King Dasaratha as celestials attended on Devendra.

teshhaaM madhye sa raajarshhirmarutaamiva vaasavaH || 2-3-26
praasaadastho rathagataM dadarshaayaanta maatmajam |

26. saH= that, raajarshhiH= the sage and the king Dasaratha, madhye= in the midst, teshhaaM= of them, vaasavaH= like Devendra, maruthaam= in the midst of celestials, dadarsha= saw, praasaadasthaH= staying in the palace, aatmajam= his son Rama, aayaantam= arriving, rathagatham= in a chariot.

The sage king Dasaratha, sitting in the midst of those kings like Devendra in the middle of the celestials, saw from the palace itself, his son Rama arriving in a chariot.

gandharvaraajapratimaM loke vikhyaatapaurushham || 2-3-27
diirgha baahuM mahasattvaM mattamaataN^gagaaminam |
chandrakaantaananaM raamamatiiva priyadarshanam || 2-3-28
ruupaudaaryaguNaiH puMsaaM dR^ishhTichittaapahaariNam |
gharmaabhitaptaaH parjanyaM hlaadayantamiva prajaaH || 2-3-29
na tatarpa samaayaantaM pashyamaano naraadhipaH |

27,28,29. gandharva raaja pratimam= equal to king of Gandharvas, vikhyaata paurushham= has famous valiance, loke= in the world, diirgha baahum= has long arms, mahaasattvam= has great strength, mattamaataN^ga gaaminam= has a gait like that of a vigorous elephant, chandrakaantaananam= has enchanting face like the moon, atiiva= very, priyadarshanam= pleasant to behold, ruupaudaaryaguNaiH= with looks (and his) magnanimity (and) virtues, dR^ishhTi chittaapahaarakam= (he had) stolen the eyes and minds, pumsaam= of men, naraadhipaH= king Dasaratha, na tatarpa= was not satiated, pashyamaanaH= in seeing, raamam= Rama, samayaantam= coming, parjanyam iva= like cloud, hlaadayantam= gladdening, prajaaH= to people, gharmaabhitaptaaH= scorched by summer heat.

Rama was as beautiful as the king of Gandharvas. His valiance was world famous. He had great strength and walked like a vigorous elephant. He had long arms, and with his enchanting face, he looked like the moon. He stole the eyes and minds of the people by his looks, generosity and virtues. King Dasaratha was thus not satiated enough in seeing Rama, coming like a cloud that gladdens people by relieving them from the scorching summer heat.

avataarya sumantrastaM raaghavaM syandanottamaat || 2-3-30
pituH samiipaM gachchhantaM praaJNjaliH pR^ishhThato.anvagaat |

30. sumantraH= Sumantra, avataarya tam raaghavam= helped that Rama to alight, syandanottamaat= from the excellent chariot, praaJNjaliH= (and) with folded hands, anvagaat= followed, pR^ishhThataH= behind, gachchhantam= (Rama) going, samiipam= close to, pituH= his father.

Sumantra helped Rama to get down from the excellent chariot and with folded hands followed behind Rama, who approached his father.

sa taM kailaasashR^iN^gaabhaM praasaadaM narapuN^gavaH || 2-3-31
aaruroha nR^ipaM drashhTuM saha suutena raaghavaH |

31. saH= that, raaghavaH= Rama, narapuN^gavaH= the best among men, aaruroha= ascended, tam= that, praasaadam= palace, kailaasa shR^iN^gaabham= which is equal to Mount Kailaasa, suutena saha= along with the driver of chariot, drashhTum= to see, nR^ipam= the king Dasaratha.

Rama, the best among men, ascended the steps of the palace, which resembled Mount Kailaasa, along with Sumantra, to see the king Dasaratha.

sa praaJN^jalirabhipretya praNataH piturantike || 2-3-32
naama svaM shraavayan raamo vavandhe charaNau pituH |

32. saH= that, raamaH= Rama, praaJN^jaliH= with folded hands, abhipretya= approached, antike= nearer to, pituH= his father, praNataH= bowed down, shraavayan= mentioning, svam= his own, naama= name, vavande= offered obeisance, pituH= (to) his father's, charaNau= feet.

Rama with folded hands approached his father, bowed down mentioning his own name and offered salutations to his father's feet.

taM dR^ishhTvaa praNataM paarshve kR^itaaJNjalipuTaM nR^ipaH || 2-3-33
gR^ihyaaJNjalau samaakR^ishhya sasvaje priyamaatmajam |

33. nR^ipaH= king Dasaratha, gR^ihya= caught, anjalau= by his joined hands, tam= that, priyam= beloved, aatmajam= son, praNatam= who was (standing) humbly, paarshve= by his side, kR^itaanjalipuTam= with folded hands, samaakR^ishhya= drew him nearer and, sasvaje= embraced.

King Dasaratha took into his embrace that beloved son who was standing humbly beside him with folded hands.

tasmai chaabhyuditaM divyaM maNikaaJNchanabhuushhitaM || 2-3-34
didesha raajaa ruchiraM raamaaya paramaasanam |

34. raajaa= king Dasaratha, didesha= gave, tasmai raamaaya= for that Rama, paramaasanam= great throne, abhyuditam= which is high, divyam= excellent, ruchiram= beautiful, maNikaanchana bhuushhitam= decorated with gold and diamonds.

King Dasaratha gave Rama a great throne, which was high, excellent and beautiful, decorated with gold and diamonds.

tadaasanavaraM praapya vyadiipayata raaghavaH || 2-3-35
svayeva prabhayaa merumudaye vimalo raviH |

35. raaghavaH= Rama, praapya= got, tat= that, aasanavaram= great throne, vyadiipayata= (and) caused it to shine, svayaa= with his own, prabhayaa= brightness, merumiva= as to Meru Mountain, udaye= in the morning, vimalaH= by spot less, raviH= sun.

Rama, occupying that great throne, caused it to shine with his own brightness, just as the spotless sun in the morning causes Meru mountain to shine with brilliance.

tena vibhraajataa tatra saa sabhaabhivyarochata || 2-3-36
vimalagrahanakshatraa shaaradii dyaurivendunaa |

36. tatra= there, tena= by that Rama, vibhraajataa= shining, saa= that, sabhaa= assembly, abhivyarochata= shone more, inudunaa iva= as by the moon, shaaradii= the autumn, dyauH= sky, vimalagrahanakshatraa= with the dimless planets and stars.

Rama by his brilliance made that assembly to shine, just as the moon shines the clear autumnal sky, with the dimless stars and planets.

taM pashyamaano nR^ipati stutooshha priyamaatmajam || 2-3-37
alaN^kR^itamivaatmaanamaadarshatalasaMsthitam |

37. nR^ipaH= king Dasaratha, tutoshha= was delighted, pasyamaanaH= seeing, tam= that, priyam= beloved, aatmajam= son, aatmanamiva= as seeing oneself, alankR^itam= adorned, aadarshatalasamsthitam= in a mirror.

King Dasaratha was as delighted in seeing his beloved son, as one delights in seeing oneself adorned, in a mirror.

sa taM sasmitamaabhaashhya putraM putravataaM varaH || 2-3-38
uvaachedaM vacho raajaa devendramiva kaashyapaH |

38. saH= that, raaja= king Dasaratha, varaH= best, putravataam= among those who have sons, sasmitam= smilingly, aabhaashhya= conversed with, tam= that, putram= son, uvaacha= spoke, idam= these, vachaH= words, devendramiva= as to Devendra, kaasyapaH= (by) kaasyapa.

King Dasaratha, the best among those who have sons, smilingly conversed with his son, and addressed Rama as follows, as Kasyapa does to (his eldest son) Devendra (the ruler of gods).

jyeshhThaayaamasi me patnyaaM sadR^ishyaaM sadR^ishaH sutaH || 2-3-39
utpannastvaM guNashreshhTho mama raamaatmajaH priyaH |

39. raama= oh, Rama! tvam= you, asi= are, sadR^ishaH= worthy, sutaH= son, utpannaH= born, me= to my, sadR^ishyaam= worthy, jyeshhThaayaam= elder, patnyaam= wife, guNashreshhThaH= being excellent in virtues, priyaH= (you are) beloved, aatmajaH= son, mama= to me.

"Oh Rama! You are an exemplary son born to my exemplary elder wife. Being excellent in virtues, you are beloved son to me."

yatastvayaa prajaashchemaaH svaguNairanuraJNjitaaH || 2-3-40
tasmaattvaM pushhyayogena yauvaraajyamavaapnuhi |

40. yataH= Why, tvayaa= by you, imaaH= these, prajaaH= people, anuraJNjitaaH= were cherished, svaguNaiH= by your good qualities, tasmaat= for that reason, tvam= you, avaapnuhi= get, yauvaraajyam= princely kingdom, pushhyayogena= on the day of Pushyami (when the moon appears in conjunction with the constellation Pushya).

"O, Rama! As you with your good qualities cherished these people, you get the princely kingdom on the day of Pushyami star (when the moon appears in conjunction with the constellation Pushya).."

kaamatastvaM prakR^ityaiva viniito guNavaanasi || 2-3-41
guNavatyapi tu snehaatputra vakshyaami te hitam |

41. putra= Oh, son!, prakR^ityaiva= by nature, tvam asi= you are, kaamataH= very much, viniitaH= humble, guNavaan= virtuous man, guNavatyapi= even if virtuous, because of my, snehaat= friendship, vakshyaami= I can tell, te= to you, hitam= good (words).

"Oh, son! By nature, you are very humble and virtuous. Even then, because of my friendship with you, I can tell you this for your benefit."

bhuuyo vinayamaasthaaya bhava nityaM jitendriyaH || 2-3-42
kaamakrodhasamutthaani tyajethaa vyasanaani cha |

42. aasthaaya= try to, bhava= become, bhuuyaH= (even) more, vinayam= humble, nityam= always, jitendriyaH= (remain as) one who has victory over senses, tyajethaaH= leave, vyasanaani cha= bad habits, kaamakrodha samutthaani= born of desire and wrath.

"Be even more humble and always keep the senses under control. Leave the bad habits born out of desire and wrath."

parokshayaa vartamaano vR^ittyaa pratyakshayaa tathaa || 2-3-43
amaatyaprabhR^itiiH sarvaaH prakR^itiishchaanuraJNjaya |

43. vR^ityaa= By conduct, parokshayaa= indirectly, tathaa= and, vartamaanaH= operating, pratyakshayaa= directly, anuraJNjaya= keep happy, amaatya prabhR^itiiH= (people) like ministers and others.

"Through direct and indirect means, keep ministers and others happy."

koshhThaagaaraayudhaagaaraiH kR^itvaa sanni chayaan bahuun || 2-3-44
tushhTaanuraktaprakR^itiryaH paalayati mediniim |
tasya nandanti mitraaNi labdhvaa.amR^itamivaa.amaraaH || 2-3-45
tasmaattvamapi chaatmaanaM niyamyaivaM samaachara |

44,45. amaraaH iva= like celestials, labdhvaa= (who were happy after) obtaining, amR^itam= the nectar, tasya= his, mitraaNi= friends, nandanti= are delighted with him, yaH= who, paalayati= rules, mediniim= the earth, kR^itvaa= by making, bahuun= many, sannichayaan= good storage, koshhThaagaraayudhaagaaraiH= with granaries and armories, tushhTaanuraktaprakR^itiH= with delightful and happy people, tasmaat= hence, tvamapi= you too, aatmaanam= (your)self, samaachara= act, evam= like this.

"Like the celestials becoming happy after obtaining the nectar, friends of a king (ruler of earth) are delighted when he fills the granaries and armories to the brim, making the common people delightful and happy. Hence, you too act like this."

tachchhrutvaa suhR^idastasya raamasya priyakaariNaH || 2-3-46
tvaritaaH shiighramabhyetya kausalyaayai nyavedayan |

46. tasya= that, raamasya= Rama's, suhR^idaH= friends, shrutvaa= after hearing, tat= that, tvaritaaH= hurriedly, priyakaariNaH= intending to do good, shiighram= immediately, abhyetya= came, kausalyaayai= to Kausalya, nyavedayan= (and) informed (her of the good news).

The well -wishers of Rama, after hearing those words, intending to do good to Kausalya, immediately came to her and informed the matter to her.

saa hiraNyaM cha gaashchaiva ratnaani vividhaani cha || 2-3-47
vyaadidesha priyaakhyebhyaH kausalyaa pramadottamaa |

47. pramadottamaa= the best among women, saa= that, kausalyaa= Kausalya, vyaadidesha= gave away, hiraNyaM cha= gold, gaaH chaiva= cows and, vividhaani= different types of, ratnaanicha= diamonds also, priyaakhyebhyaH= to those who informed the good news.

The best among women, Kausalya gave away gold, cows and different types of diamonds to those who informed her good news.

athaabhivaadya raajaanaM rathamaaruhya raaghavaH || 2-3-48
yayau svaM dyutimadveshma janaughaiH pratipuujitaH |

48. atha= afterwards, raaghavaH= Rama, abhivaadya= salutated, raajaanam= to king Dasaratha, aaruhya= (and) alighted, ratham= the chariot, yayau= (and) went, svam veshma= for his house, dyutimat= (which was) splendid, pratipuujitaH= after being worshipped, janaughaiH= by the crowds.

Rama, after offering salutations to king Dasaratha, ascended the chariot and went to his splendid house after being worshipped by the crowds on the way.

te chaapi pauraa nR^ipatervachasta |
chchhrutvaa tadaa laabhamiveshhTamaashu |
narendramaamantrya gR^ihaaNi gatvaa |
devaan samaanarchuratiprahR^ishhTaaH || 2-3-49

49. tadaa= then, te= those, pauraashchaapi= citizens also, shrutvaa= listened (to), tat= those, vachaH= words, nR^ipateH= of the king, ishhTam laabhamiva= seeing their dearest wish gratified,, ati prahR^ishhTaaH= became very happy, aamantrya= took leave, nareMdram= of king Dasaratha, aashu= immediately, samaanarchuH= worshipped, devaan= the gods, gatvaa= going, gR^ihaaNi= to their houses.

Having heard those words of the king, seeing their dearest wish gratified, the citizens took leave of the King Dasaratha and returned to their homes full of joy, in order to give thanks and render homage to the Gods.

|| ityaarshhe shriimadvaalmiikiraamaayaNe aadikaavye ayodhyakaaNDe tR^itiiya sargaH ||

Thus completes 3rd Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 4

Introduction

Dasaratha decides to coronate Rama as the prince the next day. He asks Sumantra to bring Rama to his presence once again. After Rama arrives, Dasaratha expresses to Rama his desire to anoint Rama as a prince the very next day. He cites various bad dreams and inauspicious signs as the reason for his haste. Rama thus informed by his father, goes to his mother's house and informs her of the good news. Kausalya becomes delighted at the news and gives Rama her blessings.

gateshhvatha nR^ipo bhuuyaH paureshhu saha mantribhiH |
mantrayutvaa tatashchakre nishchayajJNaH sa nishchayam || 2-4-1
shva eva pushhyo bhavitaa shvo.abhishhechyastu me sutaH |
raamo raajiivataamraaksho yauvaraajya iti prabhuH || 2-4-2

1,2. atha= after, paureshhu= citizens, gateshhu satsu= had been leaving, nR^ipaH= king Dasaratha, nishchayaGYaH= (who is an excellent) decision maker, prabhuH= (and who is) efficient, bhuuyaH= again, mantrayitvaa= conferred, mantribhiH saha= with ministers, chakre= made, nishchayam= decision, iti= thus, shvaH eva= tomorrow only, bhavitaa= will be, pushhyaH= Pushya constellation, me sutaH= my son, raamaH= Rama, raajiivataamraakshaH= who has eyes like red lotus, abhishhechyaH= can be anointed, yauvaraajye= for princely hood, shvaH= tomorrow.

After the citizens left, Dasaratha who was efficient in taking decisions pertaining to place and time of ceremonies, again conferred with the ministers and decided thus: "Tomorrow will be a day when the constellation of Pushya would be in the ascendant. My son Rama, who has eyes like red lotus, can be crowned as a prince tomorrow".

athaantargR^ihamaasaadya raajaa dasharathastadaa |
suutamaamantrayaamaasa raamaM punarihaanaya || 2-4-3

3. atha= Afterwards, raajaa dasarathaH= king Dasaratha, aasaadya= got (into), antargR^iham= inner palace, tadaa= (and) then, aamantrayaamaasa= ordered, suutam= the charioteer Sumantra, aanaya= bring, raamam= Rama, punaH= again, iha= here.

Thereafter, king Dasaratha entered the inner palace and then ordered Sumantra thus, "Bring Rama again here".

pratigR^ihya sa tadvaakyaM suutaH punarupaayayau |
raamasya bhavanaM shiighraM raamamaanayituM punaH || 2-4-4

4. pratigR^ihya= Receiving, tat= those, vaakyam= words, saH= that, suutaH= charioteer Sumantra, punaH= again, upaayayau= got (to), raamasya= Rama's, bhavanam= house, sheeghram= immediately, aanayitum= to bring, raamam= Rama, punaH= once more.

Obeying the king's words, Sumantra went to Rama's house immediately to bring Rama once again.

dvaaHsthairaaveditaM tasya raamaayaagamanaM punaH |
shrutvaiva chaapi raamastaM praaptaM shaN^kaanvito.abhavat || 2-4-5

5. tasya= His, aagamanam= arrival, punaH= again, aaveditam= was informed, raamaaya= to Rama, dvaaH sthaiH= by doorkeepers, shrutvaa cha api eva= and as soon as Rama heard, tam= his (Sumantra's), praaptam= arrival, raamaH= Rama, shaN^kaanvitaH abhavat= became doubtful (about the reason for his arrival again.)

The doorkeepers informed Rama that Sumantra had come again. Hearing that, Rama was uncertain as to the reason for Sumantra's arrival again.

praveshya chainaM tvaritaM raamo vachana mabraviit |
yadaagamanakR^ityaM te bhuuyastadbhruhyasheshhataH || 2-4-6

6. raamaH= Rama, tvaritam= soon, praveshya enam cha= allowed him to enter and, abraviit= spoke, vachanam= (these) words, bruuhi= tell, asheshhataH= completely, tat= that, yat= for what, te aagamana kR^ityam= purpose is your arrival.

Rama immediately allowed Sumantra inside and spoke these words to him: "Tell me completely the purpose of your arrival again."

tamuvaacha tataH suuto raajaa tvaaM drashhTu michchhati |
shrutvaa pramaaNamatra tvaM gamanaayetaraaya vaa || 2-4-7

7. tataH shrutvaa= After hearing that, suutaH= the charioteer Sumantra, uvaacha= spoke, tam= to him, raajaa= king Dasaratha, ichchhati= wants to, drashhTum= see, tvaam= you, tvam= you, pramaaNam= decide (in your mind), atra= in this, gamanaaya= to go, vaa itaraaya= or otherwise.

Hearing those words, Sumantra said: "King Dasaratha wants to see you. Decide yourself in this matter whether to proceed to your father or otherwise".

iti suutavachaH shrutvaa raamo.atha tvarayaanvitaH |
prayayau raajabhavanaM punardrashhTuM nareshvaram || 2-4-8

8. raamaH= Rama, shrutvaa= hearing, iti= thus, suutavachaH= the word of charioteer Sumantra, tvarayaa anvitaH= with swiftness, atha= thereafter, prayayau= went, raajabhavanam= to royal palace, drashhTum= to see, nareshvaram= Lord of people Dasaratha, punaH= again.

Rama, after hearing Sumantra's words, started immediately and went to the royal palace to see king Dasaratha, the Lord of people, again.

taM shrutvaa samanupraaptaM raamaM dasharatho nR^ipaH |
praveshyaamaasa gR^ihaM vivakshuH priyamuttamam || 2-4-9

9. shrutvaa= hearing, tam= that, raamam= Rama, samanupraaptam= has arrived, dasaratha nR^ipaH= king Dasaratha, praveshayaamaasa= allowed him to enter, gR^iham= the house, vivakshuH= to tell, uttamam= excellent, priyam= affectionate (word).

Hearing Rama to have arrived, king Dasaratha allowed him to come into the house, to tell him an excellent and affectionate word.

pravishnnepa cha shriimaan raaghavo bhavanaM pituH |
dadarsha pitaraM duuraat praNipatya kR^itaaJNjliH || 2-4-10

10. shriimaan= the glorious, raaghavaH= Rama (lit. scion of Raghu), pravishanneva= soon after entering, pituH= father's, bhavanam= house, dadarsha= saw, pitaram= (his) father, duuraat= from a distance, praNipatya= (and) fell prostrate before him, kR^itaanJNjaliH= with joined palms.

The glorious Rama, soon after entering his father's house, saw his father from a distance and fell prostrate before him in an act of submission, with his palms joined together.

praNamantaM samutthaapya taM parishhvajya bhuumipaH |
pradishya chaasmai ruchiramaasanaM punarabraviit || 2-4-11

11. bhuumipaH= king Dasaratha (lit. lord of earth), samutthaapya= lifted, tam= him, praNamantam= who was lying prostrate, parishhvajya= embraced, pradishya cha= and offered, ruchiram= (a) beautiful, aasanam= seat, asmai= to him, abraviit= (and) spoke, punaH= again.

Dasaratha lifted Rama up and took him into his embrace. Then, he offered a beautiful seat to Rama and spoke to him as follows:

raama vR^iddho.asmi diirghaayurbhuktaa bhogaa mayepsitaaH |
annvadbhiH kratushtaistatheshhTaM bhuuridakshiNaiH || 2-4-12

12. raama= Oh Rama, diirghaayuH= (having) lived long, vR^iddhaH asmi= I have become aged, bhogaaH= luxuries, iipsitaH= desired, mayaa= by me, bhuktaaH= have been enjoyed, ishhTaM= holy ceremonies (have been performed), kratushataiH= (through) hundreds of sacrifices, annavadbhiH= (comprising) of food, bhuuridakshiNaiH= (and) of lots of fees (given away to priests performing the sacrifices).

"Oh Rama, I have now become aged after living for a long period. I enjoyed all the luxuries in life, as I desired. I propitiated Gods by performing hundreds of sacrifices, in which food and lots of fees were given away to the officiating priests. "

jaatamishhTamapatyaM me tvamadyaanupamaM bhuvi |
dattamishhTamadhiitaM cha mayaa purushhasattama || 2-4-13

13. purushhasattama= The best of men, Rama!, adya= now, tvam= you, jaatam= are born, me= to me, anupamam= as an incomparable, ishhTam= (and) beloved, apatyam= child, bhuvi= in the world, dattam= (donations) have been given, ishhTam= holy sacrifices (have been performed), adhiitam cha= and (Vedas and other holy scriptures have been) studied, mayaa= by me.

"O Rama, the best of men! You are now born to me as without an equal on earth and as my beloved child. I had given away lots of donations, I had performed holy rites and I have also studied Vedas and other Holy Scriptures during my life time."

anubhuutaani cheshhTaani mayaa viira sukhaanyapi |
devarshhipitR^ivipraaNaamanR^iNo.asmi tathaatmanaH || 2-4-14

14. viira= Oh, gallant one!, sukhaanyapi= comforts also, anubhuutaam= have been enjoyed, mayaa= by me, ishhTaami= as desired by me, anR^iNaH asmi= (thus) I am without any debts, devarshhi pitR^i vipraaNaam= to celestials, sages, ancestors, brahmanas, tatha= and, aatmanaH= to myself.

"Oh gallant Rama! I also enjoyed all the comforts, as I desired. Thus I am relieved of all debts to the celestials (by performing holy sacrifices), to the sages (by studying Vedas etc.), to my ancestors (by begetting you), to the Brahmans (by giving away donations and food) and to myself (by enjoying all comforts as I desired)."

na kiJNchinma kartavyaM tavaanyatraabhishhechanaat |
ato yuttvaamahaM bruuyaaM tanme tvaM kartumarhasi ||2-4-15

15. mama= to me, na kiJNchit= no other, kartavyam= duty, tava abhishhechanaat avyatra= other than anointing you for the crown, ataH= Hence, tvam= you, arhasi= are fit, kartum= to do, tat= that, me= to me, yat= what, aham= I, bruuyaam= tell, tvaaM= you.

"I have no duty other than to anoint you for the crown. Hence, do what I tell you."

adya prakR^itayaH sarvaastvaamichchhanti naraadhipam |
atastvaaM yuvaraajaanamabhishhekshyaami putraka || 2-4-16

16. adya= Now, sarvaaH= all, prakR^itayaH= the people, ichchhanti= want, tvaam= you, naraadhipam= as king, putraka= oh, son!, ataH= hence, abhishhekshyaami= can install, tvaam= you, yuvaraajaanam= as prince.

"Now all the people want you to be the king. Hence, I can install you as prince."

api chaadyaashubhaan raama svapne pshyaami daaruNaan |
sanirghaataa divolkaa cha paratiiha mahaasvanaa || 2-4-17

17. raama= Oh! Rama, api cha= and, adya= now, pashyaami= I am seeing, daaruNaan= fearful, ashubhaan= (and) inauspicious, svapne= dreams, iha= here, sanirghaataa= thunderous, ulkaa= comet, patati= is falling, mahaasvanaa= with great sound, divaa= during day time.

"Oh, Rama! It is not only the people's desire, but also these days I am getting fearful and inauspicious dreams. Here, thunderous comets are falling with great sound, during day time."

avashhTabdhaM cha me raama nakshatraM daaruNairgrahaiH |
aavedayanti daivajJNaavH suuryaaN^gaarakaraahubhiH || 2-4-18

18. raama= oh! Rama, daivajnaaH= astrologers, aavedayanti= are informing (that), daaruNaiH= fearful, grahaiH= planets, suuryaaN^gaarakaraahubhiH= like sun, Mars and Rahu, avashhTabdham= are encroaching, me= my, nakshatram= natal star.

"Oh, Rama! Astrologers are informing me that fearful planets like Sun, Mars and Rahu are encroaching my birth star."

praayeNa hi nimittaanaamiidR^ishaanaaM samudbhave |
raajaa hi mR^ityumaapnoti ghoraM vaapadamR^ichchhati || 2-4-19

19. iidR^ishaanaam= such, nimittaanaam= signs, samudbhave= whenever produced (then), raajaa= king, praayeNa hi= generally, aapnoti= will get, mR^ityum= death, vaa= or, R^ichchhati= will get, ghoram= fearful, aapadam= accident.

"Whenever such inauspicious signs are produced, the king generally will get either death or a fearful accident."

tadyaavadeva me cheto na vimuJNchati raaghava |
taavadevaabhishhiJNchasva chalaa hi praaNinaaM matiH || 2-4-20

20. raaghava= O Rama!, tat= that is why, yaavadeva= while, me= my, chetaH= mind, na vimuJNchati= does not leave (or change), taavadeva= before then, abhishhiJNchasva= get anointed to crown, chalaahi= Is it not unstable, matiH= the mind, praaniNaam= of human beings?

"Oh, Rama! Hence, before my mind gets changed, get you anointed to the crown. Are not the minds of men unstable?"

adya chandrobhyupagataH pushhyaatpuurvaM punarvasuu |
shvaH pushhyayogaM niyataM vakshyante daivachintakaaH || 2-4-21

21. adya= today, chandraH= the moon, abhyupagataH= is getting, punarvasuu= the star of punarvasu, puurvam= earlier to, pushhyaat= the star of pushyami, daivachintakaaH= astrologers, vakshyante= inform that, svaH= tomorrow, pushhyayogam= when the moon joins pushyami star, niyatam= can be fixed (for coronation ceremony).

"Today, the moon is entering the constellation known as Punarvasu which comes before Pushyami star. The astrologers inform that the coronation ceremony can be fixed for tomorrow, when the moon joins Pushyami star."

tataH pushhye.abhishhiJNchasva manastvarayatiiva maam |
shvastvaahamabhishhekshyaami yauvaraajye paraMtapa || 2-4-22

22. tataH= hence, abhishhiJNchasva= get anointed for the crown, pushhye= on pushyami star, manaH= my mind, tvarayatiiva= is hastening, maam= me, paraMtapa= oh! Annihilator of enemies, aham= I, abhishhekshyaami= shall anoint, tvaa= you, yauva raajye= for princely kingdom, svaH= tomorrow.

"Hence, get anointed for the crown on the day of Pushyami star. My mind is urging me as it were to expedite things. O, annihilator of the enemies! I shall anoint you for the princely kingdom tomorrow."

tasmaattvayaadaprabhR^iti nisheyaM niyataatmanaa |
saha vadhvopavastavyaa darbhaprastarashaayinaa || 2-4-23

23. tasmaat= That is why, niyataatmanaa= with self control, tvayaa= by you, vadhvaa saha= along with Seetha, the daughter in law, iyam= this, nishaa= night, upavastavyaa= can be fasted, adyaprabhR^iti= from now onwards, darbhaprastara shaayinaa= slept on a mat of Kusha grass.

"That is why, with self control, you along with your wife should observe fast for this night from now onwards, and sleep on a couch made of Kusha grass."

suhR^idashchaapramattaastvaaM rakshantvadya samantataH |
bhavanti bahuvighnaani kaaryaaNyevaMvidhaani hi || 2-4-24

24. evam vidhaani= such type of, kaaryaaNi= functions, bhavanti hi= are having, bahu vighnaani= many obstacles, adya= today, suhR^idashcha= your friends also, rakshantu= let guard, tvaam= you, apramathaaH= vigilantly, samantataH= from all directions.

"Generally, there are many obstacles for such type of functions. Hence, your friends should guard you vigilantly from all directions."

viproshhitashcha bharato yaavadeva puraaditaH |
taavadevaabhishhekaste praaptakaalo mato mama || 2-4-25

25. taavadeva= within such time, te= your, abhishhekaH= coronation ceremony, praaptakaalaH= should occur, yaavadeva= before which time, bharataH= Bharata, viproshhitaH= is distant from , itaH= this, puraat= city, mataH mama= this is my opinion.

"It is my opinion that your coronation function should occur, while Bharata is away from the city."

kaamaM khalu sataaM vR^itte bhraataa te bharataH sthitaH |
jyeshhThanuvartii dharmaatmaa saanukrosho jitendriyaH || 2-4-26

26. te= your, bhraataa= brother, bharataH= Bharata, jyeshhThaanuvartii= goes according to the eldest, dharmaatmaa= (being a ) righteous man, saanukroshaH= compassionate person, jitendriyaH= one who controlled senses, sthitaH= stays, kaamam= verily, sataaM vR^ithe= in the path of good people.

" Bharata, your brother, goes according to his eldest brother. He is righteous, compassionate and has the senses under control. He verily follows the path of good people."

kintu chittaM manushhyaaNaamanityamiti me matiH |
sataaM cha dharmanityaanaaM kR^itashobhi cha raaghava || 2-4-27

27. raaghava= Oh! Rama, me= my, matiH= opinion (is that), chittam= mind, manushhyaaNaam= of men, anityam iti= is inconstant, kintu= but, dharmanityaanaam= the ever righteous, sataam cha= endowed with goodness, kR^ita shobhi=may act unexpectedly on impulse.

"Oh, Rama! It is my opinion that minds of men are inconstant. But the ever righteous, endowed with goodness, sometimes may act unexpectedly on impulse."

ityuktaH soo.abhyanujJNaataH shvobhaavinyabhishhechane |
vrajeti raamaH pitaramabhivaadyaabhyayaadgR^iham || 2-4-28

28. iti= thus, uktaH= told, abhishhechane= about the coronation ceremony, bhaavini= to happen, svaH= tomorrow, abhyaanujJNaataH= and having been permitted, vraja iti= to go, saH= that, raamaH= Rama, abhivaadya= offered salutations, pitaram= to father, abhyayaat= went, gR^iham= to house.

Dasaratha, after telling in this way about the ensuing coronation ceremony scheduled for the next day, permitted Rama to depart. Rama offered his salutations to his father and went to his house.

pravishya chaatmano veshma raajJNoddhishhTe.abhishhechane |
tatkshaNena cha nirgamya maaturntaHpuraM yayau || 2-4-29

29. uddishhTe= After having been decided, abhishhechane= about coronation cermony, raajJNaa= by the king Dasaratha, pravishya= (Rama) entered, aatmanaH= his, veshma= house, tatkshaNena= and immediately, nirgamya= started (and), yayau= went, maatuH antaH puram= (his) mother's queenly palace.

After hearing the decision of Dasaratha regarding coronation ceremony, Rama entered his house and by starting immediately, went to his mother's queenly house.

tatra taaM pravaNaameva maataraM kshaumavaasiniim |
vaagyataaM devataagaare dadarshaayaachatiiM shriyam || 2-4-30

30. tatra= there, devataagaare= in the worshipping place, dadarshaa= saw, taam= that, maataram= mother, pravaNaameva= who is in meditation, kshaumavaasinii= who is wearing silk clothes, vaagyataam= in a silent way, ayaachatiim= who is praying, shriyam= goddess Lakshmi.

There, in the queen's worshipping place, Rama saw Kausalya silently in meditation, wearing silk clothes and praying to goddess Lakshmi.

praageva chaagataa tatra sumitraa lakshmaNa stadaa |
siitaa chaanaayitaa shrutvaa priyaM raamaabhishhechanam || 2-4-31

31. shrutvaa= hearing, priyam= the good news, raamaabhishhechanam= of Rama's coronation ceremony, sumitraa= Sumitra, lakshmanaH= (and) Lakshmana, aagathaa= came, praageva= even before, siitaa cha= Seetha also, aanaayita= was brought.

Hearing the good news of the coronation ceremony of Rama, Sumitra and Lakshmana came there even before Seetha was brought.

tasmin kaale hi kausalyaa tasthaavaamiilitekshaNaa |
sumitrayaanvaasyamaanaa siitayaa lakshmaNena cha ||2-4-32

32. tasmin kaale= at that time, kausalya= Kausalya, tasthau= was having, amiilitekshaNa= closed eyes, anvaasyamaanaa= being attended closely , sumitrayaa= by Sumitra, siitayaa= by Seetha, lakshmaNena cha= and by Lakshmana.

At that time, Kausalya closed her eyes and was in meditation. Along with her, Sumitra, Lakshmana and Seetha were sitting nearby.

shrutvaa pushhyeNa putrasya yauvaraajyaabhishhechanam |
praaNaayaamena purushhaM dhyaayamaanaa janaardanam || 2-4-33

33. shrutvaa= Hearing, yauvaraajyaabhishhechanam= anointment ceremony for the princely kingdom, putrasya= of (her) son, pushhyeNa= on the day of pushyami star, praaNaayaamena= with controlled breath, dhyaayamaana= was meditating, purushham= lord, janaardanam= Vishnu.

Hearing that her son will be anointed for the princely kingdom on the day of Pushyami star, Kausalya with controlled breath, was meditating on lord Vishnu.

tathaa saniyamaameva so.abhigamyaabhivaadya cha |
uvaacha vachanaM raamo harshhyaMstaamidaM tadaa || 2-4-34

34. saH= that, raamaH= Rama, abhigamya= approached, tathaa= such, saniyamaameva= pious observing mother, abhivaadyacha= and offered salutation, tadaa= then, uvaacha= spoke, idam= these, vachanam= words, taam harshhayan= making her delighted.

Rama approached his mother, even while she was engaged in pious observance, offered salutation and spoke the following words making her delighted.

amba pitraa niyukto.asmi prajaapaalanakarmaNi |
bhavitaa shvo.abhishheko me yathaa mi shaasanaM pituH || 2-4-35

35. amba= oh! Mother!, niyuktaH asmi= I am appointed, pitra= by father, prajaapaalana karmaNi= for the act of ruling the people, yathaa= as per, saasanam= order, me pituH= of my father, bhavitaa= there will be, me= my, abhishekaH= anointment ceremony, swaH= tomorrow.

"Oh, mother! My father ordered that I should rule the people. As per his orders, there will be anointing ceremony to me tomorrow."

siitayaa pyupavastavyaa rajaniiyaM mayaa saha |
evamR^itvigupaadhyaayaissaha maamuktavaan pitaa || 2-4-36

36. siitayaapi= by Seetha too, mayaa saha= along with me, iyam= this, rajanii= night, upavastavyaa= can be observed fast, pitaa= father, R^itvigupaadhyaayaiH saha= together with preceptors and teachers, uktavaan= spoke, evam= this, maam= to me.

"Seetha too, along with me should observe fast this whole night. The father together with preceptors and teachers said this to me."

yaani yaanyatra yogyaani shvo bhaavinyabhishhechane |
taani me maN^gaLaanyadya vaidehyaashchaiva kaaraya || 2-4-37

37. yaani yaani= whatever, maN^gaLaani= auspicious rites, yogaani= suitable, abhishhechane= in anointment ceremony, bhaavini= to occur, svaH= tomorrow, taanikaaraya= get those things done, me= to me, vaidehyaaH chaiva= and to Seetha, adya= today.

"Have all the auspicious rites that are required for the ensuing tomorrow's anointment ceremony, performed to me and to Seetha today."

etachchhrutvaa tu kausalyaa chirakaalaabhikaaN^kshitam |
harshhbaashhpakalaM vaakyamidaM raama mabhaashhata || 2-4-38

38. shrutvaa= Hearing, etat= this news of anointment ceremony, chirakaalaabhikaaN^kshitam= which was being desired for a long time, kausalyaa tu= Kausalya, abhaashhata= spoke, raamam= to Rama, idam= these, kalam= sweet sounding, vaakyam= words, harshhabaashhpa= with tears of joy.

Hearing the news of anointment ceremony, which was being desired by her for a long time, Kausalya spoke to Rama the following sweet words with tears of joy in her eyes.

vatsa raama chiraM jiiva hataaste paripanthinaH |
jJNaatiinme tvaM shriyaayuktaH sumitraayaashcha nandaya || 2-4-39

39. vatsa= oh, child!, raama= Rama, jiiva= live, chiraM= long, te= your, paripanthinaH= enemies, hataaH= are destroyed, tvam= you, shriyaa= by your glory, nandaya= make happy, jJNaatiin= cousins, me= of mine, sumitraayaaH cha= and of Sumitra.

"Oh, child Rama! You live a long life! Let your enemies be destroyed! Let the cousins of mine and of Sumitra be made happy by your glory."

kalyaaNe bata nkshatre mayi jaato.asi putraka |
yena tvayaa dasharatho guNairaaraadhitaH pitaa || 2-4-40

40. putraka= o, little son! bata= how much joy! jaataH asi= you were born, mayi= in me, kalyaaNe nakshatre= on a day of an auspicious star, yena= by which, pitaa= father, dasarathaH= Dasaratha, aaraadhitaH= was made delightful, tvayaa= by your, guNaiH= virtues.

"O, my little son! You were born to me on a day of an auspicious star. That is why, your father king Dasaratha was propitiated by your virtues."

amoghaM bata me kshaantaM purushhe pushhkarekshaNe |
yeyamikshvaakuraajyashriiH putra tvaaM saMshrayishhyati || 2-4-41

41. putra= O, son!, me= my, kshaantam= austerity with endurance, pushhkarekshaNe= to lotus eyed, purushhe= lord Vishnu, amogham= has not gone waste, bata= how much joy! yaa= which, iyam= this one, ikshvaaku raajyashriiH= the glorious kingdom of Ikshvaku dynasty, saMshrayishhyati= is seeking refuge, tvaam= in you.

"O, son! My worship to the lotus eyed Lord Vishnu with endurance has become fruitful. Hence, this glorious kingdom of Ikshvaku dynasty is going to embrace you."

ityevamukto maatredaM raamo bhraataramabraviit |
praaJNjaliM prahvamaasiinamabhiviikhsya smayanniva || 2-4-42

42. raamaH= Rama, uktaH= who was spoken to, ityevam= thus, maatraa= by mother, abhiviikshya= saw, bhraataram= brother Lakshmana, aasiinam= siitting, prahvam= humbly, praaJNjalim= with folded palms, abraviit= spoke, smayanniva= smilingly, idam= these words.

Rama, after hearing the words spoken by his mother, saw his brother Lakshmana who was sitting humbly nearby with joined palms and spoke to him smilingly as follows:

lakshmaNemaaM maayaa saardhaM prashaadhi tvaM vasundharaam |
dvitiiyaM me.antaraatmaanaM tvaamiyaM shriirupasthitaa || 2-4-43

43. lakshmaNa= O, Lakshmana! tvam= you, prashaadhi= rule, imaam= this, vasundharaam= earth,mayaa saardham= together with me, iyam= this, shriiH= glorious kingdom, upasthitaa= reached, tvaam= you, me= my, dvitiiyam= second, antaraatmaanam= conscience.

"O, Lakshmana! You rule this earth together with me. This glorious kingdom has reached you, who are my second conscience."

saumitre bhuN^kshva bhogaaM stvamishhTaan raajyaphalaani cha |
jiivitaM cha hi raajyaM cha tvadarthamabhikaamaye || 2-4-44

44. saumitre= O, Laksmana! tvam= you, bhuN^kshva= enjoy, bhogaan= the benefits, raajyaphalaanicha= and fruits of kingdom, ishhTaan= as desired, abhikaamaye hi= I desire, jiivitaM cha= life, raajyaM cha= and kingdom, tvadartham= for you only.

"O, Lakshmana! You enjoy the benefits as desired by you and the fruits of kingdom. I desire to live and even to rule the kingdom but for you."

ityuktvaa lakshmaNaM raamo maataraavabhivaadya cha |
abhyanujJNaapya siitaaM cha jagaama svaM niveshnam || 2-4-45

45. raamaH= Rama, uktvaa= spoke, iti= thus, lakshmaNam= to Lakshmana, abhivaadya cha= offered salutations, maatarau= to both the mothers, abhyanujJNaapya siitaaM cha= got Seetha to obtain permission and, jagaama= went, svam nivesanam= to his house.

Rama, after speaking thus to Lakshmana, offered salutations to both the mothers, got Seetha to obtain permission from them and went to his house along with Seetha.

|| ityaarshhe shriimad raamaayaNe aadikaavye ayodhya kaande chaturthaH sargaH ||

Thus completes 4th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 5

Introduction

On the wish of King Dasaratha, Vasishta goes to Rama's palace and asks him to perform fast that night along with Seetha. Vasishta returns to Dasaratha's palace and informs him about this. On the way to the king's palace Vasishta observes the festive atmosphere in Ayodhya anticipating Rama's coronation the next day.

sandishya raamaM nR^ipatiH shvobhaavinyabhishhechane |
purohitaM samaahuuya vasishhThamidamabraviit || 2-5-1

1. sandishya= after sending; raamam= Rama; nR^ipatiH= king Dasaratha; samaahuuya= called for; purohitam= the family priest; vasishhTham= Vasishta; abraviit= (and) spoke; idam= these words; bhaavini= about the ensuing; abhishhechane= anointment; svaH= tomorrow

After Rama left, king Dasaratha called for his family priest Vasishta and spoke to him as follows about the ensuing anointment ceremony of the next day.

gachchhopavaasaM kaakutthsaM kaarayaadya tapodhana |
shriiyashoraajyalaabhaaya vadhvaa saha yatavratam || 2-5-2

2. tapodhana= O; great sage Vasishta! gachchha= go; yatavratam kaakutthsam= to the avowed Rama; vadhvaa saha= who is with daughter in law Seetha; adya= today; kaaraya= to make them perform; upavaasam= fasting; sriiyashoraajya laabhaaya= for obtaining prosperity; glory and sovereignty.

"O, great sage Vasishta! Please go to the avowed Rama and Seetha today to make them perform fasting for obtaining prosperity, glory and sovereignty."

tatheti cha sa raajaanamuktvaa vedavidaaM varaH |
svayaM vasishhTho bhagavaan yayau raamaniveshanam || 2-5-3
upavaasayituM raamaM mantravanmantrakovidaH |
braahmaM rathavaraM yuktamaasthaaya sudR^idhavrataH || 2-5-4

3, 4. saH= that; vasishhThaH= Vasista; vedavidaam varaH= who is the best of knowers of Veda; mantrakovidaH= who is expert in mantras; sudR^idhavrataH= who is firm in austerities; bhagavaan= who is divine; uktvaa= spoke; raajaanam= to king Dasaratha; tathaa iti= " Let that be it."; svayam= personally; yayau= went; raamaniveshanam= to Rama's house; aasthaaya= alighting; rathavaram= the best chariot; uktam= which was ready; braahmam= which was well suited for Brahmans; upavaasayitum= to get the fasting performed; raamam= by Rama; mantravat= a knower of mantras.

Vasista, who is the best of knowers of Veda, who is expert in mantras, who is firm in austerities and who is divine, said to Dasaratha : "I agree to it" and personally went to Rama's house on a chariot which was ready and quite suitable for a Brahman; so as to advise Rama to undertake a fast (with mantras) performed by Rama, a knower of mantras.

sa raamabhavanaM prapya paaNDuraabhraghanaprabham |
tisraH kakshyaa rthenaiva vivesha munisattamaH || 2-5-5

5. saH= That; munisattamaH= best of the sages; praapya= got; raama bhavanam= to Rama's house; paaNDuraabhraghanaprabham= which was radiant like a dense white cloud; vivesha= entered; tisraH= the three; kakshyaaH= gateways; rathaanaiva= by chariot itself.

That great sage reached Rama's house, which was radiant like a dense white cloud and entered the three gateways of the house by the chariot itself.

tamaagatamR^ishhiM raamastvaranniva sasaMbhramaH |
maanayishhyan sa maanaarhaM nishchakraama niveshanaat || 2-5-6

6. maanayishhyan= to respect; manaarham= the honourable; R^ishhim= sage; aagatam= who arrived; saH= that; raamaH= Rama; nishchakraama= started; niveshanaat= out of the house; tvaranniva= quickly; sasaMbhramaH= and hurriedly.

To respect the honorable sage, who arrived, Rama came quickly and hurriedly out of the house.

abhyetya tvaramaaNashcha rathaabhyaashaM maniishhiNaH |
tato.avataarayaamaasa parigR^ihya rathaatsvayam || 2-5-7

7. tvaramaaNaH= quickly; abhyetya= got; rathaabhyaasham= nearer to chariot; maniishhiNaH= of the intelligent Vasishta; svayam parigR^ihya= and by personally holding his hand; avataarayaamaasa= helped him to alight; tataH rathaat= from that chariot.

Rama quickly got nearer to Vasishta's chariot and personally helped him to alight from the chariot.

sachainaM prashritaM dR^ishhTvaa saM bhaashhyaabhiprasaadya cha |
priyaarhaM harshhayan raamamityuvaacha purohitaH || 2-5-8

8. saH= that; purohitaH cha= family priest also; dR^ishhTvaa= seeing; enam= this; priyaarham= lovable; prashritaM= and humble; ramaM= Rama; uvaacha= spoke; iti= this; abhiprasaadya cha= bringing cheerfulness; harshayan= and happiness to him; sambhaashya= by uttering (the following)words

That family priest Vasishta seeing that lovable and humble Rama, spoke the following words, bringing cheerfulness and happiness to him:

prasannaste pitaa raama yauvaraajyamavaapsyasi |
upavaasaM bhavaanadya karotu saha siitayaa || 2-5-9

9. raama= O; Rama! pitaa= your father; prasannaH= is delighted; te= in your matter; avaapsyasi= you will be getting; yauvaraajyam= princely kingdom; bhavaan= you; saha siita= along with Seetha; upavaasaM karothu= do fasting; adya= today.

"O, Rama! Your father is delighted with you. You will be getting the princely kingdom. Hence, you and Seetha perform fasting today."

praatastvaamabhishhektaa hi yauvaraajye naraadhipaH |
pitaa dasharathaH priityaa yayaatiM nahushho yathaa || 2-5-10

10. pitaa= your father; naraadhipaH= lord of people (king) ; dasharathaH= Dasaratha; abhishhektaa hi= is anointing; tvaam= you; priityaa= affectionately; yauvaraajye= for the princely kingdom; praataH= tomorrow at dawn; yayaatiM yathaa= as to yayati; nahushhaH= the king Nahusha.

"Your father; King Dasaratha is anointing you affectionately for the princely kingdom tomorrow at dawn; even as king Nahusha has done to Yayati".

ityuktvaa sa tadaa raama mupavaasaM yatavratam |
mantravat kaarayaamaasa vaidehyaa sahitaM muniH || 2-5-11

11. saH= that; muniH= sage Vasishta; iti= thus; uktvaa= spoke; tadaa= then; mantravat= with mantras; kaarayaamaasa= made; yatavratam= the avowed; raamam= Rama; vaidehyaa sahitam= together with Seetha; upavaasam= to fast.

Vasistha thus spoke to Rama and enjoined him to undertake a vow of fasting together with Seetha, in the accompaniment of mantras.

tato yathaavadraameNa sa raajJNo gururarchitaH |
abhyanujJNaapya kaakutthsaM yayau raamaniveshanaat || 2-5-12

12. tataH= thereafter; raajJNnaH= Royal; guruH= priest; saH= that Vasista; architaH= being worshipped; yathaavat= suitably; raameNa= by Rama; abhyannjJNaapya= took permission; kaakutthsam= from Rama; yayau= and went; raamaniveshanaat= from Rama's house.

Thereafter, Rama worshipped the royal priest Vasistha suitably. Vasistha then got Rama's permission and left his house.

suhR^idbhistatra raamo.api sahaasiinaH priyaMvadaiH |
sabhaajito viveshaatha taananujJNaapya sarvashaH || 2-5-13

13. raamo api= Rama also; aasiinaH= sat; tatra= there; saha priyaMvadaiH= by affectionately talkingwith; suhR^idbhiH= friends; atha= then; sabhaajitaH= being congratulated; taan= by them; sarvashaH= in all ways; vivesha= entered(his palace); anujJNaapya= after making them to permit.

Rama spent some time by delightedly talking with friends and having been congratulated by them in various ways went into his palace after taking leave of them.

hR^ishhTanaariinarayutaM raamaveshma tadaa babau |
yathaa mattadvijagaNaM prapullanalinaM saraH || 2-5-14

14. tadaa= then; raamaveshma= Rama's house; babhau= was shining; hR^ishhTanaariinarayutam= with delighted men and women; sarah yathaa= as lake; mattadvijagaNam= with intoxicated group of birds; prapullanalinam= and with opened lotuses.

Then, Rama's house was shining, as brilliantly with delighted men and women, as a lake filled with opened lotuses and visited by innumerable happy birds.

sa raajabhavanaprakhyaattasmaadraamaniveshanaat |
nirgatya dadR^ishe maargaM vasishhTho janasaMvR^itam || 2-5-15

15. saH= that; vasishhTaH= Vasistha; nirgatya= leaving; raamaniveshanaat= Rama's house; raajabhavana prakhyaat= equal to royal palace; dadR^ishe= saw; maargam= the way; janasaMvR^itam= filled with people.

Vasishta, leaving Rama's house, which seemed like the royal palace, saw the way filled with people.

bR^indabR^indairayodhyaayaaM raajamaargaaH samantataH |
babhuuvurabhisaMbaadhaaH kutuuhalajanairvR^itaaH || 2-5-16

16. samantataH= in the entire; raajamaargaaH= royal roads; ayodhyaayaam= in Ayodhya; bR^indabR^indaiH= groups and groups of ; kutuuhala janaiH= delighted people; vritaaH= gathered around; abhisambaadhaaH babhuuvuH= and made the roads congested.

All the royal highways in the city of Ayodhya were filled with groups and groups of delighted people and became congested.

janabR^indormisaMgharshhaharshhasvanavatastadaa |
babhuuva raajamaargasya saagarasyeva nisvanaH || 2-5-17

17. tadaa= then; raajamaargasya= in the king's road; janabR^indormi saMgharshha harshha svanavataH= the sound created by the commotion of the people with their rejoicing; combined with their moving in waves ; babhuuva nisvanaH= was resounding; saagarasyeva= like an ocean.

Then, on the royal road, the resonance created by the rush of the people, moving hither and thither like waves, combined with their rejoicing, resounded like the roar of an ocean.

siktasaMmR^ishhTarathyaa hi tadaharvanamaalinii |
aasiidayodhyaa nagarii samuchchhritagR^ihadhvajaa || 2-5-18

18. tadahaH= On that day; ayodhyaa nagarii= the city of Ayodhya; aasiit= became; sikta samR^ishhTa rathyaa hi= one with the roads cleaned and sprinkled with water; vanamaalini= with rows of trees; samuchchhrita gR^ihadhvajaa= (and) one that has houses hoisted with flags.

On that day, in the city of Ayodhya, all the roads were cleaned and sprinkled with water. There were rows of trees on both sides of the roads and flags hoisted on houses.

tadaa hyayodhyaanilayaH sastriibaalaabalo janaH |
raamaabhishhekamaakaaJNkshannaakaaNkshadudayaM raveH | 2-5-19

19. tadaa= then; janaH= the people; ayodhyaa nilayaH= residing in Ayodhya; sa strii baala abalaH= including women; children and the old aged; aakaaNkshat= were longing; udayam raveH= for sun rise; aakaaNkshan= wishing; raamaabhishhekam= for anoinment ceremory of Rama.

Then, the people of Ayodhya including children, women and the old-aged were waiting for sunrise, wishing the anointment ceremony of Rama to happen.

prajaalaN^kaarabhuutaM cha janasyaanandavardhanam |
utsuko.abhuujjano drashhTuM tamayodhyaamahotsavam || 2-5-20

20. janaH= people; abhuut= are; utsukaH= enthusiastic; drashhTum= to see; tam= that; ayodhyaa mahotsavam= Ayodhya's great function; prajaalaN^kaarabhuutam= which was decorative to the community; aanandavardhanam= and which would bring forward increased joy.

In Ayodhya, people were enthusiastic to see the great public function, which was decorative to the community and which would bring forward an increased joy.

evaM taM janasaMbaadhaM raajamaargaM purohitaH |
vyuuhanniva janaughaM taM shanairaajakulaM yayau || 2-5-21

21. purohitaH= The family priest Vasista; evam= thus; tam raajamaargam=(seeing) that king's way; janasaMbaadham= being overcrowded with people; yayau= got to; raajakulam= the royal palace; shanaiH= slowly; vyuuhanniva= as if separating; tam janaugham= that crowd.

Vasishta, thus seeing the king's way being overcrowded with people, reached the royal palace slowly by forcing a passage through that crowd.

sitaabhrashikharaprakhyaM praasaadamadhiruhya saH |
samiiyaaya narendreNa shakreNeva bR^ihaspatiH || 2-5-22

22. saH= He; adhiruhya= ascended; praasaadam= the royal palace; sitaabhra shikhara prakhyam= which resembled the top of a mountain enclosed by white cloud; samiiyaaya= met; narendreNa= king Dasaratha; shakreNeva bR^ihaspatiH= like bhR^ihaspati meeting Devendra.

He walked up the royal palace, which was akin to the top of a mountain enclosed by a white cloud and met king Dasaratha in the manner Brihaspati met Devendra.

tamaagatamabhiprekshya hitvaa raajaasanaM nR^ipaH |
paprachchha sa cha tasmai tatkR^itamityabhyavedayat || 2-5-23

23. nR^ipaH= king Dasaratha; abhiprekshya= seeing; tam= him; aagatam= who came; hitvaa= left; raajaasanam= the throne; paprachchha= and asked; saH cha= he (Vasistha) also; abhyavedayat= informed; tasmai= to him (to Dasaratha); iti= that; tat= it; kR^itam= was done.

Seeing Vasistha had returned, King Dasaratha alighted from his throne and asked him with regard to his mission. Vasistha informed him that it was accomplished.

tena chaiva tadaa tulyaM sahaasiinaaH sabhaasadaH |
aasanebhyaH samuttasthuH puujayantaH purohitam || 2-5-24

24. tadaa= then; sabhaasadaH= members of assembly; saha aasiinaaH= who were sitting along with (Dasaratha); samuttasthuH= raised; aasanebhyaH= from seats; puujayantaH= by respecting; purohitam= the family priest (Vasistha); tena tulyameva= as king Dasaratha did.

The members of assembly who were sitting along with the king till then, raised in obeisance to Vasishta from their seats, following the example of the king.

guruNaa tvabhyanujJNaato manijaughaM visR^ijya tam |
viveshaantaHpuraM raajaa siMho giriguhaamiva || 2-5-25

25. raajaa= King Dasaratha; abhyanujJNyaataH= after being permitted by; guruNaa= the priest Vasishta; visR^ijya= left; tam= that; manujaugham= assembly of men; vivesha= and entered; antaH puram= the palace; giriguhaamiva= as into a mountain cave; siMhaH= a lion.

King Dasaratha, after obtaining permission from Vasishta, left that assembly of men and entered his palace as a lion enters a mountain cave.

tamagryaveshhpramadaajanaakulaM |
mahendraveshmapratimaM niveshanam |
vidiipayaMshchaaru vivesha paarthivaH |
shashiiva taaraagaNasaMkulaM nabhaH || 2-5-26

26. paarthivaH= King Dasaratha; vivesha= entered; tam niveshanam= that palace; agraveshha pramadaa janaakulam= filled with women in top dress and form; mahendra vesma pratimam= like the house of Devendra; vidiipayan= causing it to shine; shashiiva= as the moon; chaaru nabhaH= to beautiful sky; taaraagaNa saMkulam= filled with groups of stars.

That palace with women in top dress and form was like the palace of Devendra. By the entering of King Dasaratha, the palace became more radiant, just as the moon radiates a beautiful sky with its stars.

|| ityaarshe sriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyakaande panchama sargaH ||

Thus completes 5th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 6

Introduction

In this chapter Valmiki narrates various rituals undertaken by Rama the crown prince, along with his wife Seetha, on the eve of his anointment ceremony. The festivities in Ayodhya, the happiness of the people with King Dasaratha's decision to anoint Rama are also described here. Also, people from different directions arrive in Ayodhya to be there on the grand occasion

gate purohite raamaH snaato niyatamaanasaH |
saha patnyaa vishaalaakshyaa naaraayaNamupaagamat || 2-6-1

1. purohite=(After) the family priest; gate= left; raamaH= Rama; snaataH= took bath; upaagamat= (and) meditated; naaraayaNam= on Narayana; niyatamaanasaH= with undistracted mind; saha= along with; vishaalaakshyaa= the wide eyed; patnyaa= wife (Seetha).

After Vasistha left, Rama took bath and meditated on Lord Narayana with undistracted mind along with his wide-eyed wife, Seetha.

pragR^ihya shirasaa paatraM havishho vidhivattadaa |
mahate daivataayaajyaM juhaava jvalitaanale || 2-6-2

2. tadaa= then; pragR^ihya= taking; paatram= vessel; havisho= of clarified butter; sirasaa= on head; vidhivat= as per ordinance of the scriptures; juhova=(Rama) offered; mahate daivataaya= to the great lord Vishnu; aajyam= the clarified butter; jvalitaanale= (by dropping it ) into blazing fire.

Taking the vessel with clarified butter on his head as per scriptures, he offered to Lord Vishnu the clarified butter, by dropping it into the blazing fire.

sheshhaM cha havishhastasya praashyaashaasyaatmanaH priyam |
dhyaayannaaraayaNaM devaM svaastiirNe kushasaMstare || 2-6-3
vaagyataH saha vaidehyaa bhuutvaa niyatamaanasaH |
shriimatyaayatane vishhNoH shishye naravaraatmajaH || 2-6-4

3, 4. naravaraatmajaH= The prince Rama; aashaasya= desiring; aatmanaH= his own; priyam= good; praashya cha= ate; sesham= remainder; tasya havishaH= of that clarified butter; dhyaayan= meditating; devam= on Lord; naaraayaNam= Narayana; bhuutvaa= becoming; vaagyataH= one of restrained speech; niyatamaanasaH= with regulated mind; sishye= slept; vaidehyaa saH= along with Seetha; svaastiirNe= on properly laid; kusha saMstare= bed of Kusa grass; shriimati aayatane= in a splendid temple; vishhNoH= of Lord Vishnu.

Rama ate the remainder of clarified butter after finishing the sacrifice, which he performed for his own good, silently meditated on Lord Narayana with controlled mind and slept along with Seetha on a properly laid bed of Kusa grass in a splendid temple of Lord Vishnu. *

* The learned commentators point out that the deity referred to here is no other than Lord Ranganatha, who had been worshipped by a long line of rulers of Ayodhya as their chosen deity in a separate shrine built within the precincts of the royal palace. We are told at length in the Patala Khanda of Padma Purana how Rama so kindly handed over the image to Vibhishana; through whom it reached Srirangam (near Tiruchirapally) in South India; where it exists even to this day and is held in the highest reverence by the Vaishnavas and other devotees all over India.

ekayaamaavashishhTaayaaM raatryaaM prativibudhya saH |
alaJNkaaravidhiM kR^itsnaM kaarayaamaasa veshmanaH || 2-6-5

5. saH= He; prativibudhya= woke up; ekayaama avashishhTaayaam= with three hours of night yet remaining; kaarayaamaasa= (and) made done; kR^itsnam= entire; alankaaravidhim= required decoration; veshmanaH= of the house .

Rama woke up three hours before dawn and caused to complete the entire decoration of the house.

tatra shR^iNvan sukhaa vaachaH suutamaagadhavandinaam |
puurvaaM sandhyaamupaasiino jajaapa yatamaanasaH || 2-6-6

6. tatra= there; sR^iNvan= listening to; sukhaaH= gladdening; vaachaH= verses; suutamaagadha vandinaam= of professional reciters like Suta; Maagadha and Vandi; upaasiinaH= worshipping; puurvaam sandhyaam= the early sunrise(on Gayatri); jajaapa= meditated ; yata maanasaH= with undistracted mind.

Listening to the pleasing verses of professional reciters, he worshipped the early sunrise and meditated on Gayatri* with an undistracted mind.

* Gayatri is an ancient meter of twenty-four syllables as a triplet of eight syllables each (Rigveda iii-62-10: - tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat) addressed to Savitri or the Sun as generator. Gayatri personified is considered as the mother of the first three classes viz. priestly class, warrior - class and the trader-class in their capacity of twice born.

tushhTaava praNatashchaiva shirasaa madhusuudanam |
vimalakshaumasaMviito vaachayaamaasa cha dvijaan || 2-6-7

7. tushhTaava= (He) praised; madhusuudhanam= Lord Vishnu; praNataH= by bowing; shirasaa= the head; vimalakshouma samviitaH= by wearing pure silk clothes; vaachayaamaasa= got valedictory text recited by; dvijaan= Brahmans.

He praised Lord Vishnu by bowing his head before Him. By wearing pure silk clothes, he got valedictory text recited by Brahmans.

teshhaaM puNyaahaghoshho.adha gambhiiramadhurastadaa |
ayodhyaaM puurayaamaasa tuuryaghoshhaanunaaditaH || 2-6-8

8. atha= thereafter; teshaam= their; gambhiira madhura= deep and sweet; puNyaaha ghoshhaH= valedictory sound; tuuryaghoshaanunaaditaH= united with sound of musical instruments; puurayaamaasa= filled; ayodhyaam= Ayodhya; tadaa= then.

Their deep and sweet chorus of the valedictory, united with the accompanying musical instruments, then filled the city of Ayodhya.

kR^itopavaasaM tu tadaa vaidehyaa saha raaghavam |
ayodhyaanilayaH shrutvaa sarvaH pramudito janaH || 2-6-9

9. tadaa= then; sarvaH= all; ayodhyaanilayaH janaH= the people residing in Ayodhya; pramuditaH= were delighted; shrutvaa= after hearing about; kR^itopavaasam= the fast done by; raaghavam= Rama; vaidehyaa saha= along with Seetha.

All the people residing in Ayodhya were delighted when they heard that Rama and Seetha had observed fast for the ensuing anointment ceremony.

tataH paurajanaH sarvaH shrutvaa raamaabhishhechanam |
prabhaataaM rajaniiM dR^ishhTvaa chakre shobhayituM puriim || 2-6-10

10. tataH= thereafter; sarvaH= all; paurajanaH= the citizens; chakre= made; shobhayitum= decoration; puriim= to the town; shrutvaa= after hearing; raama abhishhechanam= about anointment ceremony of Rama; dR^ishhTvaa= after seeing; rajaniim= the night; prabhaataam= becoming dawn.

All the citizens decorated the town for coronation function of Rama, soon before sunrise.

sitaabhrashikharaabheshhu devataayataneshhu cha |
 chatushhpadheshhu radhyaasu chaityeshhvaTTaala keshhu cha || 2-6-11
naanaapaNyasamR^iddheshhu vaNijaamaapaNeshhu cha |
kuTumbinaaM samR^iddheshhu shriimatsu bhavaneshhu cha || 2-6-12
sabhaasu chaiva sarvaasu vR^iksheshhvaalakshiteeshu cha |
dhvajaaH samuchchhritaashchitraaH pataakaashchaabhavaMstadaa || 2-6-13

11, 12, 13. dhvajaaH= banners and; chitraaH= colorful; pataakaaH cha= flags; samuchchhritaaH= were hoisted; tadaa= then; devataayataneshhu= in temples; sitaabhra shikharaabheshhu= which looked shiningly like the lining of a cloud; chatushhpatheshhu= at road junctions; rathyaasu= in streets; chaityeshhu= on big trees situated in temple-compounds; aTTaalakeshhu cha= from watching towers in city gates; aapaNeshhu cha= on shops; vaNijaam= of merchants; naanaapaNya samR^iddheshhu= with a lot of saleable goods; bhavaneshhu cha= on buldings of; samR^iddheshhu shriimatsu= very rich; kuTumbinaam= family-persons; sarvaasu= on all; sabhaasu= assembly halls; aalakshiteshhu= on all-visible; vR^iksheshhu= trees.

Banners and colorful flags were hoisted on temples, which looked brilliantly like the silver lining of cloud, at road junctions, in streets, on big trees situated in temple compounds, from watching towers at city gates, on shops of wealthy merchants, on buildings of rich family persons, on all assembly halls and all visible trees.

naTanartakasaMghaanaaM gaayakaanaaM cha gaayataam |
manaHkarNasukhaa vaachaH shushruvushcha tatastataH || 2-6-14

14. tatastataH= from there and there; vaachaH= voices; manaH karNasukhaaH= pleasing to the minds and ears; shushruvuH= were heard; naTa nartaka saMghaanaam= from groups of actors and dancers; gaayakaanaam cha= and of singers; gaayataam= singing.

From different sides, actors were showing their talents, dancers were performing dance. Singers were singing and sweet voices were heard, pleasing the minds and ears.

raamaabhishhekayuktaashcha kathaashchakrurmitho janaaH |
raamaabhishheke saMprapte chatvareshhu gR^iheshhu cha || 2-6-15

15. raamaabhishheke= (with) Rama's anointment ceremony; sampraapte= approaching; janaaH= people; chakruH= made; mithaH= mutual; kathaaH= conversations; raamaabhishhekayuktaaH= about Rama's anointment ceremony; chatvareshhu= in road junctions; gR^iheshhu cha= and in houses.

With Rama's anointment ceremony approaching, people were engaged in mutual conversations in their houses and at road junctions, about the ceremony.

baalaa api kriiDamaanaa gR^i hadvaareshhu saMghashaH |
raamaabhishhavasaMyuktaashchakrurevaM mithaH kathaaH || 2-6-16

16. evam= thus; baalaaH api= even children; kreeDamaanaaH= playing; saMghashaH= in groups; gR^ihadvaareshhu= before gateways of houses; chakruH= made; kathaaH= narrations; raamaabhishhava saMyuktaaH= concerning Rama's anointment ceremony; mithaH= mutually.

Even children playing together before gateways of houses were telling each other, narratives of Rama's anointment ceremony.

kR^itapushhpopahaarashcha dhuupagandhaadhivaasitaH |
raajamaargaH kR^itaH shriimaan paurai raamaabhishhechane || 2-6-17

17. pauraiH= citizens; kR^itaH= made; raajamaargaH= king's road; shriimaan= splendid; kR^ita pushhpopahaarashcha= by making a sprinkle of flowers; dhuupagandhaadhivaasitaH= and by making it good smelling from incense and perfumes; raamaabhishhechane= on the occasion of Rama's anointment ceremony.

The citizens made king's road splendid, by sprinkling flowers on it and by making it good smelling with burning of incense and perfumes, on the occasion of Rama's anointment ceremony.

prakaashakaraNaardhaM cha nishaagamanashaJNkayaa |
diipavR^ikshaaM stathaachakru ranurthyasu sarvashaH || 2-6-18

18. tathaa= and; anu= after (such decoration); nishaagamana shankayaa= on doubt of arrival of night; chakruH= (they) arranged; deepavR^ikshaan= lamps in the shape of trees; sarvaH rathyaasu= in all the streets; prakaashakaraNaartham= for the purpose of illumination.

On a doubt of approach of night on completion of the ceremony, they arranged lamps in the shape of trees to illuminate all the streets.

alaN^kaaraM purastyavaM kR^itvaa tatpuravaasinaH |
aakaaN^kshamaaNaa raamasya yauvaraajyaabhishhechanam || 2-6-19
sametya saMghashaH sarve chatvareshhu sabhaasu cha |
kathayanto mithastatra prashashaMsurjanaadhipam || 2-6-20

19, 20. sarve= all; tat puravaasinaH= the residents of that city; evam= thus; kR^itvaa= having made; alaN^kaaraM= decoration; purasya= of the city; aakaaN^kshamaaNaaH= desiring; raamasya= Rama's; yauvaraajyaabhishhechanam= anointment as prince; sanghashaH= gathered; sametya= together; chatvareshhu= in road junctions; sabhaasucha= and in assembly halls; mithaH= mutually; kathayantaH= talking about it; tatra= there; prashashamsuH= praised; janaadhipam= king Dasaratha.

All the citizens residing in Ayodhya, having thus decorated the city desiring Rama's coronation, gathered together in groups at road junctions and in assembly halls, mutually talking about this matter there and praising king Dasaratha.

ahoo mahaatmaa raajaayamikshvaakukulanandanaH |
jJNaatvaa yo vR^iddha maatmaanaM raamaM raajye.abhishhekshyati || 2-6-21

21. aho= O!; yaH= which king; jJNaatvaa= having known; aatmaanaam= himself; vR^iddham= as aged; abhishhekshyati= is going to anoint; raamam= Rama; raajye= for kingdom; ayam= (such) this; raajaa= king Dasaratha; ikshvaaku kulanandanaH= who delights Ikshvaaku dynasty; mahaatmaa= has a great mind.

"O! This king Dasaratha, who delights Ikshvaaku dynasty, having known himself that he became aged, is going to anoint Rama for the kingdom. What a great man he is!"

sarve.apyanugR^ihiitaaH sma yanno raamo mahiipatiH |
chiraaya bhavitaa goptaa dR^ishhTalokaparaavaraH || 2-6-22

22. yat= because; raamaH= Rama; dR^ishhTa loka paraavaraH= has seen the totality of the world ; mahiipatiH= he as king; bhavitaa= is going to become; goptaa= protector; naH= to us; chiraaya= for a long period; sarve api= all of us; anugR^ihiitaaH sma= have become gifted people.

"Rama; who has seen the totality of the world is going to become our protector for long. We have all been blessed by king Dasaratha."

aanuddhatamanaa vidvaan dharmaatmaa bhraatR^ivatsalaH |
yadhaa cha bhraatR^ishhu snigdhastathaasmaasvapi raaghavaH || 2-6-23

23. raamaH= Rama; aanuddhata manaaH= who has no arrogance in his mind; vidvaan= learned man; dharmaatmaa= righteous man; bhraatR^ivatsalaH= who has love towards brothers; yathaa= so; snigdhaH= compassionate person; tathaa= as; asmaasvapi= also to us.

"Rama is modest, knowledgeable and righteous. He is as compassionate to us as to his brothers."

chiraM jiivatu dharmaatmaa raajaa dasharatho.anaghaH |
yatprasaadenaabhishhiktaM raamaM drakshyaamahe vayam || 2-6-24

24. yatprasaadena= by whose blessing; drakshyaamahe= we are seeing; raamam= Rama; abhishhiktam= being anointed; dasharathaH raajaa= such king Dasaratha; dharmaatmaa= who is righteous; anaghaH= who is faultless; jeevatu= let him live; chiram= for long period.

"Let the faultless and righteous king Dasaratha live long! Due to his blessings, we are going to see Rama as being anointed for the kingdom."

evaMvidhaM kathayataaM pauraaNaaM shushruvustadaa |
digbhyo.api shrutavR^ittaantaaH praaptaajaanapadaa naraaH || 2-6-25

25. jaanapadaaH= villagers; praaptaa= who came; digbhyaH api= from different directions also; shR^ita vR^ittaantaaH= after hearing the news; tadaa= then; shushruvuH= listened to; pauraaNaam= citizens; evam vidham= thus; kathayataam= narrating.

The villagers, who came from different directions after hearing the news of coronation ceremony of Rama, listened to the narration of the citizens of Ayodhya.

te tu digbhyaH puriiM praaptaa drashhTuM raamaabhishhechanam |
raamasya puurayaamaasuH puriiM jaanapadaa janaaH || 2-6-26

26. raamasya= Rama's; puriim= city of Ayodhya; puurayaamasuH= was filled with; te= those; janaaH= people; jaanapadaaH= residing in villages; praaptaaH= who came; digbhyaH= from various directions; puram= to the city; drashhTum= to see; raamaabhishhechanam= Rama's anointment ceremony.

The city of Ayodhya was filled with villagers who came from different directions to see the anointment ceremony of Rama.

janaughai stairvisarpadbhiH shushruve tatra nisvanaH |
parvasuudiirNavegasya saagarasyeva nisvanaH || 2-6-27

27. nisvanaH= The noise; shushruve= was heard; taiH janaughaiH= by groups of those people; visarpadbhiH= while moving; tatra= there; nisvanaH iva= as the roaring ; udiirNa vegasya saagarasya= of an impetuous ocean; parvasu= on full moon days.

The noise in the city was heard by the groups of those people, while moving here and there, as the roaring of an impetuous ocean on full moon days.

tatastadindrakshayasannibhaM puraM |
didR^ikshubhirjaanapadai rupaagataiH |
samantataH sasvanamaakulaM babhau |
samudrayaadobhi rivaarNavodakam || 2-6-28

28. tat= that; puram= city of Ayodhya; indrakshaya sannibham= equal to the residence of Indra (Amaravati);tataH=then; aakulam= disturbed; sasvanam= with sound; samantataH= all over; jaanapadaiH= by villagers; upaagataiH= who came; didR^ikshubhiH= with desire to see; babhau= shone; aarNavodakam= like ocean water; samudrayaadobhiH= filled with sea-animals.

That city of Ayodhya equal to the residence of the celestial god Indra, disturbed with the sound being made all over by the villagers who came with the desire to see the ceremony, shone like a roaring ocean filled with sea animals.

|| ityaarshhe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye ayodhyakaanDe shhashhThaH sargaH ||

Thus completes 6th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 6

Introduction

In this chapter Valmiki narrates various rituals undertaken by Rama the crown prince, along with his wife Seetha, on the eve of his anointment ceremony. The festivities in Ayodhya, the happiness of the people with King Dasaratha's decision to anoint Rama are also described here. Also, people from different directions arrive in Ayodhya to be there on the grand occasion.

gate purohite raamaH snaato niyatamaanasaH |
saha patnyaa vishaalaakshyaa naaraayaNamupaagamat || 2-6-1

1. purohite=(After) the family priest; gate= left; raamaH= Rama; snaataH= took bath; upaagamat= (and) meditated; naaraayaNam= on Narayana; niyatamaanasaH= with undistracted mind; saha= along with; vishaalaakshyaa= the wide eyed; patnyaa= wife (Seetha).

After Vasistha left, Rama took bath and meditated on Lord Narayana with undistracted mind along with his wide-eyed wife, Seetha.

pragR^ihya shirasaa paatraM havishho vidhivattadaa |
mahate daivataayaajyaM juhaava jvalitaanale || 2-6-2

2. tadaa= then; pragR^ihya= taking; paatram= vessel; havisho= of clarified butter; sirasaa= on head; vidhivat= as per ordinance of the scriptures; juhova=(Rama) offered; mahate daivataaya= to the great lord Vishnu; aajyam= the clarified butter; jvalitaanale= (by dropping it ) into blazing fire.

Taking the vessel with clarified butter on his head as per scriptures, he offered to Lord Vishnu the clarified butter, by dropping it into the blazing fire.

sheshhaM cha havishhastasya praashyaashaasyaatmanaH priyam |
dhyaayannaaraayaNaM devaM svaastiirNe kushasaMstare || 2-6-3
vaagyataH saha vaidehyaa bhuutvaa niyatamaanasaH |
shriimatyaayatane vishhNoH shishye naravaraatmajaH || 2-6-4

3, 4. naravaraatmajaH= The prince Rama; aashaasya= desiring; aatmanaH= his own; priyam= good; praashya cha= ate; sesham= remainder; tasya havishaH= of that clarified butter; dhyaayan= meditating; devam= on Lord; naaraayaNam= Narayana; bhuutvaa= becoming; vaagyataH= one of restrained speech; niyatamaanasaH= with regulated mind; sishye= slept; vaidehyaa saH= along with Seetha; svaastiirNe= on properly laid; kusha saMstare= bed of Kusa grass; shriimati aayatane= in a splendid temple; vishhNoH= of Lord Vishnu.

Rama ate the remainder of clarified butter after finishing the sacrifice, which he performed for his own good, silently meditated on Lord Narayana with controlled mind and slept along with Seetha on a properly laid bed of Kusa grass in a splendid temple of Lord Vishnu. *

* The learned commentators point out that the deity referred to here is no other than Lord Ranganatha, who had been worshipped by a long line of rulers of Ayodhya as their chosen deity in a separate shrine built within the precincts of the royal palace. We are told at length in the Patala Khanda of Padma Purana how Rama so kindly handed over the image to Vibhishana; through whom it reached Srirangam (near Tiruchirapally) in South India; where it exists even to this day and is held in the highest reverence by the Vaishnavas and other devotees all over India.

ekayaamaavashishhTaayaaM raatryaaM prativibudhya saH |
alaJNkaaravidhiM kR^itsnaM kaarayaamaasa veshmanaH || 2-6-5

5. saH= He; prativibudhya= woke up; ekayaama avashishhTaayaam= with three hours of night yet remaining; kaarayaamaasa= (and) made done; kR^itsnam= entire; alankaaravidhim= required decoration; veshmanaH= of the house .

Rama woke up three hours before dawn and caused to complete the entire decoration of the house.

tatra shR^iNvan sukhaa vaachaH suutamaagadhavandinaam |
puurvaaM sandhyaamupaasiino jajaapa yatamaanasaH || 2-6-6

6. tatra= there; sR^iNvan= listening to; sukhaaH= gladdening; vaachaH= verses; suutamaagadha vandinaam= of professional reciters like Suta; Maagadha and Vandi; upaasiinaH= worshipping; puurvaam sandhyaam= the early sunrise(on Gayatri); jajaapa= meditated ; yata maanasaH= with undistracted mind.

Listening to the pleasing verses of professional reciters, he worshipped the early sunrise and meditated on Gayatri* with an undistracted mind.

* Gayatri is an ancient meter of twenty-four syllables as a triplet of eight syllables each (Rigveda iii-62-10: - tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat) addressed to Savitri or the Sun as generator. Gayatri personified is considered as the mother of the first three classes viz. priestly class, warrior - class and the trader-class in their capacity of twice born.

tushhTaava praNatashchaiva shirasaa madhusuudanam |
vimalakshaumasaMviito vaachayaamaasa cha dvijaan || 2-6-7

7. tushhTaava= (He) praised; madhusuudhanam= Lord Vishnu; praNataH= by bowing; shirasaa= the head; vimalakshouma samviitaH= by wearing pure silk clothes; vaachayaamaasa= got valedictory text recited by; dvijaan= Brahmans.

He praised Lord Vishnu by bowing his head before Him. By wearing pure silk clothes, he got valedictory text recited by Brahmans.

teshhaaM puNyaahaghoshho.adha gambhiiramadhurastadaa |
ayodhyaaM puurayaamaasa tuuryaghoshhaanunaaditaH || 2-6-8

8. atha= thereafter; teshaam= their; gambhiira madhura= deep and sweet; puNyaaha ghoshhaH= valedictory sound; tuuryaghoshaanunaaditaH= united with sound of musical instruments; puurayaamaasa= filled; ayodhyaam= Ayodhya; tadaa= then.

Their deep and sweet chorus of the valedictory, united with the accompanying musical instruments, then filled the city of Ayodhya.

kR^itopavaasaM tu tadaa vaidehyaa saha raaghavam |
ayodhyaanilayaH shrutvaa sarvaH pramudito janaH || 2-6-9

9. tadaa= then; sarvaH= all; ayodhyaanilayaH janaH= the people residing in Ayodhya; pramuditaH= were delighted; shrutvaa= after hearing about; kR^itopavaasam= the fast done by; raaghavam= Rama; vaidehyaa saha= along with Seetha.

All the people residing in Ayodhya were delighted when they heard that Rama and Seetha had observed fast for the ensuing anointment ceremony.

tataH paurajanaH sarvaH shrutvaa raamaabhishhechanam |
prabhaataaM rajaniiM dR^ishhTvaa chakre shobhayituM puriim || 2-6-10

10. tataH= thereafter; sarvaH= all; paurajanaH= the citizens; chakre= made; shobhayitum= decoration; puriim= to the town; shrutvaa= after hearing; raama abhishhechanam= about anointment ceremony of Rama; dR^ishhTvaa= after seeing; rajaniim= the night; prabhaataam= becoming dawn.

All the citizens decorated the town for coronation function of Rama, soon before sunrise.

sitaabhrashikharaabheshhu devataayataneshhu cha |
 chatushhpadheshhu radhyaasu chaityeshhvaTTaala keshhu cha || 2-6-11
naanaapaNyasamR^iddheshhu vaNijaamaapaNeshhu cha |
kuTumbinaaM samR^iddheshhu shriimatsu bhavaneshhu cha || 2-6-12
sabhaasu chaiva sarvaasu vR^iksheshhvaalakshiteeshu cha |
dhvajaaH samuchchhritaashchitraaH pataakaashchaabhavaMstadaa || 2-6-13

11, 12, 13. dhvajaaH= banners and; chitraaH= colorful; pataakaaH cha= flags; samuchchhritaaH= were hoisted; tadaa= then; devataayataneshhu= in temples; sitaabhra shikharaabheshhu= which looked shiningly like the lining of a cloud; chatushhpatheshhu= at road junctions; rathyaasu= in streets; chaityeshhu= on big trees situated in temple-compounds; aTTaalakeshhu cha= from watching towers in city gates; aapaNeshhu cha= on shops; vaNijaam= of merchants; naanaapaNya samR^iddheshhu= with a lot of saleable goods; bhavaneshhu cha= on buldings of; samR^iddheshhu shriimatsu= very rich; kuTumbinaam= family-persons; sarvaasu= on all; sabhaasu= assembly halls; aalakshiteshhu= on all-visible; vR^iksheshhu= trees.

Banners and colorful flags were hoisted on temples, which looked brilliantly like the silver lining of cloud, at road junctions, in streets, on big trees situated in temple compounds, from watching towers at city gates, on shops of wealthy merchants, on buildings of rich family persons, on all assembly halls and all visible trees.

naTanartakasaMghaanaaM gaayakaanaaM cha gaayataam |
manaHkarNasukhaa vaachaH shushruvushcha tatastataH || 2-6-14

14. tatastataH= from there and there; vaachaH= voices; manaH karNasukhaaH= pleasing to the minds and ears; shushruvuH= were heard; naTa nartaka saMghaanaam= from groups of actors and dancers; gaayakaanaam cha= and of singers; gaayataam= singing.

From different sides, actors were showing their talents, dancers were performing dance. Singers were singing and sweet voices were heard, pleasing the minds and ears.

raamaabhishhekayuktaashcha kathaashchakrurmitho janaaH |
raamaabhishheke saMprapte chatvareshhu gR^iheshhu cha || 2-6-15

15. raamaabhishheke= (with) Rama's anointment ceremony; sampraapte= approaching; janaaH= people; chakruH= made; mithaH= mutual; kathaaH= conversations; raamaabhishhekayuktaaH= about Rama's anointment ceremony; chatvareshhu= in road junctions; gR^iheshhu cha= and in houses.

With Rama's anointment ceremony approaching, people were engaged in mutual conversations in their houses and at road junctions, about the ceremony.

baalaa api kriiDamaanaa gR^i hadvaareshhu saMghashaH |
raamaabhishhavasaMyuktaashchakrurevaM mithaH kathaaH || 2-6-16

16. evam= thus; baalaaH api= even children; kreeDamaanaaH= playing; saMghashaH= in groups; gR^ihadvaareshhu= before gateways of houses; chakruH= made; kathaaH= narrations; raamaabhishhava saMyuktaaH= concerning Rama's anointment ceremony; mithaH= mutually.

Even children playing together before gateways of houses were telling each other, narratives of Rama's anointment ceremony.

kR^itapushhpopahaarashcha dhuupagandhaadhivaasitaH |
raajamaargaH kR^itaH shriimaan paurai raamaabhishhechane || 2-6-17

17. pauraiH= citizens; kR^itaH= made; raajamaargaH= king's road; shriimaan= splendid; kR^ita pushhpopahaarashcha= by making a sprinkle of flowers; dhuupagandhaadhivaasitaH= and by making it good smelling from incense and perfumes; raamaabhishhechane= on the occasion of Rama's anointment ceremony.

The citizens made king's road splendid, by sprinkling flowers on it and by making it good smelling with burning of incense and perfumes, on the occasion of Rama's anointment ceremony.

prakaashakaraNaardhaM cha nishaagamanashaJNkayaa |
diipavR^ikshaaM stathaachakru ranurthyasu sarvashaH || 2-6-18

18. tathaa= and; anu= after (such decoration); nishaagamana shankayaa= on doubt of arrival of night; chakruH= (they) arranged; deepavR^ikshaan= lamps in the shape of trees; sarvaH rathyaasu= in all the streets; prakaashakaraNaartham= for the purpose of illumination.

On a doubt of approach of night on completion of the ceremony, they arranged lamps in the shape of trees to illuminate all the streets.

alaN^kaaraM purastyavaM kR^itvaa tatpuravaasinaH |
aakaaN^kshamaaNaa raamasya yauvaraajyaabhishhechanam || 2-6-19
sametya saMghashaH sarve chatvareshhu sabhaasu cha |
kathayanto mithastatra prashashaMsurjanaadhipam || 2-6-20

19, 20. sarve= all; tat puravaasinaH= the residents of that city; evam= thus; kR^itvaa= having made; alaN^kaaraM= decoration; purasya= of the city; aakaaN^kshamaaNaaH= desiring; raamasya= Rama's; yauvaraajyaabhishhechanam= anointment as prince; sanghashaH= gathered; sametya= together; chatvareshhu= in road junctions; sabhaasucha= and in assembly halls; mithaH= mutually; kathayantaH= talking about it; tatra= there; prashashamsuH= praised; janaadhipam= king Dasaratha.

All the citizens residing in Ayodhya, having thus decorated the city desiring Rama's coronation, gathered together in groups at road junctions and in assembly halls, mutually talking about this matter there and praising king Dasaratha.

ahoo mahaatmaa raajaayamikshvaakukulanandanaH |
jJNaatvaa yo vR^iddha maatmaanaM raamaM raajye.abhishhekshyati || 2-6-21

21. aho= O!; yaH= which king; jJNaatvaa= having known; aatmaanaam= himself; vR^iddham= as aged; abhishhekshyati= is going to anoint; raamam= Rama; raajye= for kingdom; ayam= (such) this; raajaa= king Dasaratha; ikshvaaku kulanandanaH= who delights Ikshvaaku dynasty; mahaatmaa= has a great mind.

"O! This king Dasaratha, who delights Ikshvaaku dynasty, having known himself that he became aged, is going to anoint Rama for the kingdom. What a great man he is!"

arve.apyanugR^ihiitaaH sma yanno raamo mahiipatiH |
chiraaya bhavitaa goptaa dR^ishhTalokaparaavaraH || 2-6-22

22. yat= because; raamaH= Rama; dR^ishhTa loka paraavaraH= has seen the totality of the world ; mahiipatiH= he as king; bhavitaa= is going to become; goptaa= protector; naH= to us; chiraaya= for a long period; sarve api= all of us; anugR^ihiitaaH sma= have become gifted people.

"Rama; who has seen the totality of the world is going to become our protector for long. We have all been blessed by king Dasaratha."

aanuddhatamanaa vidvaan dharmaatmaa bhraatR^ivatsalaH |
yadhaa cha bhraatR^ishhu snigdhastathaasmaasvapi raaghavaH || 2-6-23

23. raamaH= Rama; aanuddhata manaaH= who has no arrogance in his mind; vidvaan= learned man; dharmaatmaa= righteous man; bhraatR^ivatsalaH= who has love towards brothers; yathaa= so; snigdhaH= compassionate person; tathaa= as; asmaasvapi= also to us.

"Rama is modest, knowledgeable and righteous. He is as compassionate to us as to his brothers."

chiraM jiivatu dharmaatmaa raajaa dasharatho.anaghaH |
yatprasaadenaabhishhiktaM raamaM drakshyaamahe vayam || 2-6-24

24. yatprasaadena= by whose blessing; drakshyaamahe= we are seeing; raamam= Rama; abhishhiktam= being anointed; dasharathaH raajaa= such king Dasaratha; dharmaatmaa= who is righteous; anaghaH= who is faultless; jeevatu= let him live; chiram= for long period.

"Let the faultless and righteous king Dasaratha live long! Due to his blessings, we are going to see Rama as being anointed for the kingdom."

evaMvidhaM kathayataaM pauraaNaaM shushruvustadaa |
digbhyo.api shrutavR^ittaantaaH praaptaajaanapadaa naraaH || 2-6-25

25. jaanapadaaH= villagers; praaptaa= who came; digbhyaH api= from different directions also; shR^ita vR^ittaantaaH= after hearing the news; tadaa= then; shushruvuH= listened to; pauraaNaam= citizens; evam vidham= thus; kathayataam= narrating.

The villagers, who came from different directions after hearing the news of coronation ceremony of Rama, listened to the narration of the citizens of Ayodhya.

te tu digbhyaH puriiM praaptaa drashhTuM raamaabhishhechanam |
raamasya puurayaamaasuH puriiM jaanapadaa janaaH || 2-6-26

26. raamasya= Rama's; puriim= city of Ayodhya; puurayaamasuH= was filled with; te= those; janaaH= people; jaanapadaaH= residing in villages; praaptaaH= who came; digbhyaH= from various directions; puram= to the city; drashhTum= to see; raamaabhishhechanam= Rama's anointment ceremony.

The city of Ayodhya was filled with villagers who came from different directions to see the anointment ceremony of Rama.

janaughai stairvisarpadbhiH shushruve tatra nisvanaH |
parvasuudiirNavegasya saagarasyeva nisvanaH || 2-6-27

27. nisvanaH= The noise; shushruve= was heard; taiH janaughaiH= by groups of those people; visarpadbhiH= while moving; tatra= there; nisvanaH iva= as the roaring ; udiirNa vegasya saagarasya= of an impetuous ocean; parvasu= on full moon days.

The noise in the city was heard by the groups of those people, while moving here and there, as the roaring of an impetuous ocean on full moon days.

tatastadindrakshayasannibhaM puraM |
didR^ikshubhirjaanapadai rupaagataiH |
samantataH sasvanamaakulaM babhau |
samudrayaadobhi rivaarNavodakam || 2-6-28

28. tat= that; puram= city of Ayodhya; indrakshaya sannibham= equal to the residence of Indra (Amaravati);tataH=then; aakulam= disturbed; sasvanam= with sound; samantataH= all over; jaanapadaiH= by villagers; upaagataiH= who came; didR^ikshubhiH= with desire to see; babhau= shone; aarNavodakam= like ocean water; samudrayaadobhiH= filled with sea-animals.

That city of Ayodhya equal to the residence of the celestial god Indra, disturbed with the sound being made all over by the villagers who came with the desire to see the ceremony, shone like a roaring ocean filled with sea animals.

|| ityaarshhe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye ayodhyakaanDe shhashhThaH sargaH ||

Thus completes 6th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 7

Introduction

Manthara feels very sad after hearing about anointment of Rama for the princely kingdom. She tells Kaikeyi about the coronation of Rama. Kaikeyi becomes delighted and gives Manthara one of her jewels

GYAtidAsI yato jAtA kaikeyyA tu sahoShitA |
prAsAda.n chandrasa~NkAshamAruroha yadR^ichchhayA || 2-7-1

1. GYaatidaasi= housemaid of relatives (Manthara); yataH jaataa= since her birth; ushhitaa= residing; kaikeyyaa saha= with Kaikeyi; yadR^ichchhayaa= by chance; aaruroha= ascended; praasaadam= the balcony of palace; chandrasa~Nkaasham= which resembled the full moon.

Manthara, a housemaid who was residing with Kaikeyi since her birth, accidentally ascended the balcony of Kaikeyi's white palace, which resembled the full moon.

siktarAjapathA.n kR^itsnAM prakIrNakusumotkarAm |
ayodhyAM mantharA tasmAtprAsAdAdanvavaikShata || 2-7-2

2. mantharaa= Manthara; praasaadaat= from that balcony; anvavaikshata= saw; tasmaat= that; kR^itsnaam= entire; ayodhyaam= Ayodhya; siktaraajapathaam= the principal roads being sprinkled with water; prakiirNakusumotkaraam= and stewn with heaps of flowers.

Manthara, from that balcony, saw the entire city of Ayodhya, with all its principal roads being sprinkled with water and strewn with heaps of flowers.

patAkAbhirvarArhAbhirdhvajaishcha samala~NkR^itAm |
vR^itAM chaMdapathaishchaapi shiraHsnAtajanairvR^itAm || 2-7-3
maalyamodakahastaishcha dvijendrairabhinaaditaam |
shukladevagR^ihadvaaraaM sarvavaaditranisvanaam|| 2-7-4
saMprahR^ishhTajanaakiirNaaM brahmaghoshhaabhinaaditaam |
prahR^ishhTavarahastyashvaaM saMpraNardhitagovR^ishaam ||2-7-5
prahR^iushhTamuditaiH paurairuchchri tadvajamaaliniim |
ayodhyaaM vantharaa tasmaatpraasaadaadanvavaikshata|| 2-7-6

3,4,5,6.mantharaa= Manthara; anvavaikshataa= saw; tasmaat praasaadaat= from that balcony; ayodhyaam= the city of Ayodhya; varaarHaabhiH= which was an excellent one; samalaN^kR^itaam= decorated by; pataakaabhiH= flags; dhvajaishcha= and by buntings; vR^itaam= consisting of; chaMda pathaiH cha api= well laid out pathways; vR^itaam= consisting of; shiraH snaata janaiH= people who had head bath; abhinaaditaam= and resounding with; dvijendraiH= brahmins; maalya modaka hastaiH= with flowers and sweets in their hands; shukla deva gR^iha dvaaraam= (consisting of) temples with white doorways; sarva vaaditra nisvanaam= resonating with sounds from various musical instruments; saMprahR^ishhTa janaakiirNaam= filled with happy people; brahmaghoshha abhinaaditaam= resonating with Vedic chants; prahR^ishhTa vara hastyashvaam= with overjoyed elephants and horses; saMpraNardita govR^ishhaam= with roaring bulls and cows; prahR^ishhTamuditaiH= with greatly overjoyed; pauraiH= citizens; uchchhrita dhvaja maaliniim= and decked with rows of tall flags .

Manthara further saw from that balcony the city decorated with the best of flags and banners. The roads were cleared for uninterrupted traffic. All the people took head-bath. Brahmans with flowers and sweets in their hands were chanting Mantras. The gateways of temples were white washed. There were sounds of all musical instruments. The city was filled with rejoicing people and resounding chant of Vedas. The elephants and horses were also merry. The bulls were making roaring noise. The highly delighted citizens hoisted rows of flags on their housetops.

praharshhotphullanayanaaM paaNDurakshaumavaasiniim |
aviduure sthitaaM dR^ishhTvaa dhaatriiM paprachchha mantharaa || 2-7-7

7. mantharaa= Manthara; dR^ishhTvaa= seeing; dhaatriim= a house maid; praharshhotphullanayanaam= with bright delighted eyes; paaNDurakshaumavaasiniim= wearing white silk clothes; sthitaam= staying; aviduure= nearby; paprachchha= and asked(as follows):

Manthara asked a house maid with bright pleasing eyes and wearing white silk clothes standing nearby, as follows: -

uttamenaabhisaMyuktaa harshheNaarthaparaa satii |
raamamaataa dhanaM kiM nu janebhyaH saMprayachchhati | 2-7-8

8. kim nu saMprayachchhati= why Kausalya is giving away; dhanam= money; janebhyaH= to people; uttamena= most; harsheNa abhisamyukta= delightfully; arthaparaasatii= (though) she is badly lured of money.

"Why is Kausalya giving away money to people so delightfully today in charity, eventhough she is badly lured of money?"

atimaatrapraharshho.ayaM kiM janasya cha shaMsa me |
kaarayishhyati kiM vaapi saMprahR^ishhTo mahiipatiH || 2-7-9

9. kim= why; ayam= this; atimaatra praharshaH= great rejoicing; janasya= of people ?; mahiipatiH= (Is) king Dasaratha; samprahR^ishhTa= duly pleased; kimvaapi kaarayishyati vaa= getting done any act? shamsa= tell; me= me.

"Why are people so happy today? Is the king duly pleased with something, doing any great act? Tell me."

vidiiryamaaNaa harshheNa dhaatrii tu parayaa mudaa |
aachachakshe.atha kubjaayai bhuuyasiiM raaghavashriyam || 2-7-10

10. dhaatrii tu= that house maid; vidiiryamaaNaa= bursting; harsheNa= with joy; atha= thereafter; aachachakshe= told; kubjaayai= the hunch backed Manthara; paramayaa mudaa= with great gladness; bhuuyasiim raghavashriyam= about the great honor to be conferred on Rama.

That housemaid, bursting with joy, told Manthara in a great gladdening tone about the great honor to be conferred upon Rama.

shvaH pushhyeNa jitakrodhaM yauvaraajyena raaghavam |
raajaa dasharatho raamamabhishhechayitaanagham || 2-7-11

11. svaH= tommorow; pushyeNa= on the day of Pushyami star; raajaa dasarathaH= king Dasaratha; abhishechayitaa= is going to anoint; anagham= faultless; raamam= Rama; raaghavam= who was born in Raghu clan; yauvaraajyena= for the princely kingdom.

"Tomorrow on the day of Pushyami star, king Dasaratha is going to anoint the fault-less Rama for the princely kingdom."

dhaatryaastu vachanaM shrutvaa kubjaa kshipramamarshhitaa |
kailaasashikharaakaaraatpraasaadaadavarohata || 2-7-12

12. shrutvaa= after hearing; vachanam= words; dhaatryaa= of the maid; kubjaa= the hunch backed Manthara; kshipram= quickly; amarshhitaa= with anger; avarohata= stepped down; praasaadaat= from roof of the palace.

After hearing the words of that maid, Manthara quickly with wrath walked down from the roof of the palace, which was in the shape of mount Kailasa.

saa dahyamaanaa kopena manatharaa paapadarshinii |
shayanaametya kaikeyiimidaM vachana mabraviit || 2-7-13

13. saa= that; mantharaa= Manthara; paapa darshinii= who has sinful thought; dahyamaanaa= burning; kopena= with anger; etya= approached; kaikeyiim= Kaikeyi; shayaanaam= who was lying on bed; abraviit= and spoke; idam= these; vachanam= words.

Manthara of sinful thought; burning with anger, approached Kaikeyi who was lying on a bed and spoke these words:

uttishhTha muuDhe kiM sheshhe bhayaM tvaamabhivartate |
upaplutamaghaughena kimaatmaanaM na budhyase || 2-7-14

14. muuDhe= O; fool! uttishTha= get up; kim= why; sheshhe= sleeping? bhayam= dreadful situation; abhivartate= is befalling; tvaa= you; upaplutam= are submerged by; aghaughena= flood of troubles; kim= why (are you); na budhyase= not knowing; aatmaanam= yourself?

"O, fool! Get up. Why are you sleeping? A dreadful situation is befalling you. A flood of troubles submerges you. Why are you not knowing this yourself?"

anishhTe subhagaakaare saubhagyena vikatthase |
chalaM hi tava saubhaagyaM nadyaaH srota ivoshhNage ||2-7-15

15. subhakaagaare= you; who appear to be beloved to your husband! anishhTe= (but) who is not liked by your husband! vikatthase= (you) boast; saubhaagyena= of fortune; tava= your; saubhaagyam= fortune; chalam hi= is unsteady; srotaH iva= like a stream; nadeyaaH= of river; ushhNage= in summer.

"Oh, Kaikeyi ! You appear to be a beloved wife for your husband, but in reality he does not like you. You boast of your fortune. Like the flow of a stream in summer; your fortune is unsteady".

evamuktaa tu kaikeyii rushhTayaa parushhaM vachaH |
kubjayaa paapadarshinyaa vishhaadamagamatparam || 2-7-16

16. kaikeyii= Kaikeyi; agamat= got; param= too much; vishhaadam= sadness; uktaa= after being spoken; parushham= of hard; vachaH= words; evam= thus; rushhTayaa= with anger; kubjayaa= by Manthara; paapadarshinayaa= of sinful thoughts

Kaikeyi was very much worried after hearing hard words spoken with anger by Manthara of sinful thoughts.

kaikeyi tvabraviitkubhaaM kachchitkshemaM na manathare |
vishhaNNavadanaaM hi tvaaM lakshaye bhR^i shaduHkhitaam || 2-7-17

17. kaikeyii tu= Kaikeyi; abraviit= spoke; kubjaam= to the hunch backed; manthare= O; Manthara ! kshhemam na kachchit= (you are feeling) not safe or what ? lakshaye hi= I am seeing; tvaam= you; bhR^ishaduHkhitaam= being very sorrowful; vishhaNNavadanaam= with a worried face.

Kaikeyi asked the hunch-backed Manthara as follows; "O, Manthara! Are you not safe? You appear to be very sorrowful with your worried face".

mantharaa tu vachaH shrutvaa kaikeyyaa madhuraaksharam |
uvaacha krodhasaMyuktaa vaakyaM vaakyavishaaradaa || 2-7-18

18. srutvaa= after hearing; kaikeyyaaH vachaH= Kaikeyi's words; madhuraaksharam= with sweet words; mantharaa tu= Manthara; vaakyavishaaradaa= who was an expert in talking; uvaacha= spoke; vaakyam= these words; krodhasamyuktaaH= with anger.

After hearing Kaikeyi's sweet words, Manthara who was an expert in talking, spoke with anger.

saa vishhaNNataraa bhuutvaa kubjaa tasyaa hitaishhiNii |
vishhadayantii provaacha bhedayantii cha raaghavam || 2-7-19

19. saa= that; kubjaa= Manthara; tasyaaH hitaishhiNii= wishing Kaikeyi's welfare; vishhaadayantii= making her sorrowful; bheda yantii cha= and to create hostility; raaghavam= with Rama; provaacha= said (as follows).

That Manthara, who was full of cunning, feigning to be seeking Kaikeyi's welfare, appeared more worried, and making Kaikeyi sorrowful, spoke the following, to create hostility between Rama and Kaikeyi.

akshayyaM sumahaddevi pravR^ittaM dvadvinaashanam |
raamaM dasharatho raajaa yauvaraajye.abhishhekshyati || 2-7-20

20. devi= Oh, Queen! akshhayyam= an unending; sumahat= great; tvadvinaashanam= ruin to you; pravR^ittam= has encircled; raajaa= king; dasharathaH= Dasaratha; abhishhekshyati= is anointing; raamam= Rama; yauvaraajye= for princely kingdom.

"Oh, queen! An unending great ruin has encircled you. King Dasaratha is going to anoint Rama for the princely kingdom".

saasmyagaadhe bhaye magnaa duHkhashokasamanvitaa |
dahyamaanaa.a naleneva tvaddhitaarthamihaagataa || 2-7-21

21. saa asmi= that myself; magnaa= is immersed; agaadhe= in bottomless pit; bhaye=of fear; duHkha shoka samanvitaa= with pain and sorrow; dahyamaanena= (I am) burning; analena= as if by fire; aagataa= came; iha= here; tvaddhitaartham= for your sake.

"I am immersed in a bottomless pit of fear. I am in distress and my mind is burning as if by fire. I hastened here to seek you out."

tava duHkhena kaikeyi mama duHkhaM mahadbhavet |
tvadvR^iddhau mama vR^iddhishcha bhavedatra na saMshayaH || 2-7-22

22. kaikeyi= O; Kaikeyi; tava duHkena= by your grief; mahat= great; duHkham= grief; bhavena= happens; mama= to me; tvadvR^iddhau= your prosperity; bhavet= becomes; vR^iddhishcha= prosperity; mama= to me; na= no ; saMshayaH= doubt; atra= about this.

"Kaikeyi! If Rama becomes king, his son will become king after him. Thus, Bharata's name itself will be removed from the royal clan."

narAdhipakule jAtA mahiShI tvaM mahIpateH |
ugratva.n rAjadharmANA.n kathaM devi na budhyase || 2-7-23

23. devi= Oh; queen! jaataa= having born; naraadhipakule= in royal family; mahishhii= being wife; mahiipate= of a king; katham= why; na buddhyase= not knowing; ugratvam= cruelty; raajadharmaaNaam= in kingly duties.

"Oh, Kaikeyi! Having born in a royal family and being an emperor's wife, how is it that you are not knowing about the cruelty in kingly duties?"

dharmavAdI shaTho bhartA shlakShNavAdI cha dAruNaH |
shuddhabhAve na jAnIShe tenaivamatisandhitA || 2-7-24

24. bhartaa= your husband; dharma vaadii= talks of righteousness; shaThaH= but does harm secretly; shlakshhNa vaadii= talks sweetly; daaruNaH cha= but is a cruel man; shuddhabhaave= O; the clean minded! najaaniishhe= you are not able to know; atisandhitaa= that you are cheated; tena= by him; evam= thus.

"Your husband talks about righteousness, but does harm secretly. He says sweet words but behaves cruelly. Because of your clean thinking; you are not able to know that he is cheating you thus."

upasthitaM payu~njAnastvayi sAntvamanarthakam |
arthenaivAdya te bhartA kausalyA.n yojayiShyati || 2-7-25

25. te bhartaa= your husband; upasthitaH= approaches you; prayuJNjaanaH= employs; anarthakam= useless; saantvam= good words; tvayi= in your instance; adya= today; yojayishhyati= he bestows; arthena= benefit to; kausalyameva= only Kausalya.

"Your husband approaches you and talks good words, which are useless. But he passes on benefit today to Kausalya only."

apavAhya sa duShTAtmA bharata.n tava bandhuShu |
kAlya.n sthApayitA rAmaM rAjye nihatakaNTake || 2-7-26

26. dushhTaatmaa= the evil minded; saH= he; apavaahya= sent; bharatam= Bharata; tava bandhushhu= to his relatives; kalye= at dawn; sthaapayitaa= is going to install; ramam= Rama; raajye= in kingdom; nihatakaNTake= without hindrance.

"The evil minded Dasaratha sent Bharata to the house of his relatives and at dawn, is going to install Rama on the throne without hindrance."

shatruH patipravAdena mAtreva hitakAmyayA |
AshIviSha ivA~Nkena bAle paridhR^itastvayA || 2-7-27

27. baale= O, childish one! maatreva= like mother; hitakaamyayaa= being wished well being; tvayaa= by you; aashiivishhaH ankeneva= like a poisonous serpent in your bosom; shatruH= enemy; paridhR^itaH= being worn; patipravaadena= with husband's name.

"O, childish one! Like a mother, you wish for his well being. But he is an enemy, and is called husband for a namesake. He is like a poisonous serpent in your bosom."

yathA hi kuryAtsarpo vA shatrurvA pratyupekShitaH |
rAGYA dasharathenAdya saputrA tva.n tathA kR^itA || 2-7-28

28. tvam= you; saputraa= along with your son; kR^itaa= have been done; raaJNaa dasarathena= by king Dasaratha; adya=today;yathaa tathaa kurvaat= as does; pratyupekshitaH= neglected; sarpo vaa= serpent or; shatruruvaa= an enemy

"King Dasaratha has acted towards you and your son today in the same way as an enemy or a serpent would behave if ignored."

pApenAnR^itasaantvena bAle nitya.n sukhochite |
rAma.n sthApayatA rAjye sAnubandhA hatA hyasi || 2-7-29

29. baale= O, childish one! nityasukhochite= you; who are ever deserving of ease; anR^ita saantvena= with his untruthful sweet words; sthaapayitaa= by installing; raamam= Rama; raajye= in kingdom; saanubandhaa= you along with your child; asihi hataa= are being hit; paapena= by the sinful king.

"O, stupid one! With his untruthful sweet words to you, who are ever deserving of ease, the evil minded king is installing Rama on the throne and is thus ruining you along with your son."

sA prAptakAla.n kaikeyi kShipraM kuru hitaM tava |
trAyasva putramAtmAnaM mA.n cha vismayadarshane || 2-7-30

30. kaikeyi= O; Kaikeyi! vismaya darshane= you; with amazing beauty! saa= that you; kuru= do; hitam= required action; praaptakaalam= appropriate to the time; kshipram= immediately; traayasva= save; aatmaanam= yourself; putram= your son; maam cha= and me.

"O, Kaikeyi, of amazing beauty! You have to take timely action immediately, so as to save yourself, your son and me too."

mantharAyA vachaH shrutvA shayanAtsa shubhAnanA |
uttasthau harshhasaMpuurNaa chandralekheva shaaradii || 2-7-31

31. shayanaa= lying in bed; saa= that; shubhaananaa= beautiful faced Kaikeyi; shrutvaa= hearing; mantharaayaaH= Manthara's; vachaH= words; harshhasampuurNaa= full of delight; uttasthau= rose(from the coach); chandralekheva= as crescent moon; shaaradii= in autumn.

Hearing Manthara's words, that Kaikeyi of charming countenance who was lying in bed, rose from her coach full of delight like unto the crescent moon in autumn.

atiiva saa tu saMhR^ishhTaaa kaikeyii vismayaanvitaa |
ekamaabharaNaM tasyai kubjaayai pradadau shubham || 2-7-32

32. saa kaikeyii= that Kaikeyi; atiiva= much; santushhTaa= delighted; vismayaanvitaa= with surprise; dadau= gave; ekam= one; shubham= graceful; aabharaNam= jewel; tasyai= to that; kubjaayai= hunch backed Manthara.

That Kaikeyi in the midst of her astonishment and joy gave a graceful jewel to the hunch-backed Manthara.

dattvA tvAbharaNa.n tasyai kubjAyai pramadottamA |
kaikeyI mantharA.n hR^iShTA punarevAbravIdidam || 2-7-33

33. kaikeyi= Kaikeyi; pramadottamaa= the best among women; datvaa= gave; aabharaNam=a jewel; tasyai kubjaayai= to that hunch backed one; dR^istvaa= saw; mantharaam= Manthara; abraviit= spoke; idam= these words; punaH eva= again.

Kaikeyi, the best among women, gave a jewel to Manthara and spoke to her as follows:

ida.n tu manthare mahyamAkhyAsi paramaM priyam |
etanme priyamAkhyAtuH ki.n vA bhUyaH karomi te || 2-7-34

34. manthare= O; Manthara! aakhyaasi= you informed; idam= this; paramam= much; priyam= delightful news; mahyam= to me; kim vaa= what; bhuuyaH= additional (favour); karomi= can I do; te= for you; aakhyaatuH= who informed; etat= such; priyam= good (news); me= to me.

"Oh, Manthara! You informed much gladdening news to me. What else can I do for you, who informed such a good news?"

rAme vA bharate vAha.n visheShaM nopalakShaye |
tasmAttuShTAsmi yadrAjA rAma.n rAjye.abhiShekShyati || 2-7-35

35. aham= I; na upalakshaye= do not see; visheshham= difference; raamevaa= in either Rama; bharatevaa= or Bharata; tasmaat= that is why; tushhTaasmi= I am happy; yat= for; raajaa= king; abhishekshyati= anointing; ramam= Rama; raajye= in kingdom.

"I do not see any difference between Rama and Bharata. That is why, I am happy that Rama is being anointed for crown by the king."

na me param kiJNchi ditastvayApi na |
priyaM priyArhe suvacham vacho param |
tathA hyavochastvamataH priyottaraM |
varaM varaM te pradadAmi ta.n vR^iNu || 2-7-36

36. priyaarhe= O; Manthara; who are eligible to be delighted! na kinchit= No other; param= greater; itaH= than this; me= to me; na suvacham= cannot be told easily; param= greater; priyam= lovely; vachaH= words; tvayaapi= by you also; tvam= you; avochaH hi= informed; tathaa= thus; priyottaram= the best of loving news; ataH= for this reason; pradadaami= I shall give; param= good; varam= boon; te= to you; vR^iNu= ask for; tam= it.

"O, Manthara! You do merit every favor. I have no other pleasant news than this. Hence, you cannot ever again inform a better loving news than this. I shall give you a good boon. Ask for it!"

|| ityaarshhe sriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyakaande shastaH sargaH ||

Thus completes 7th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Sree Valmiki Ramayana

courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection