Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17

स रामो रथमास्थाय सम्प्रहृष्टसुहृज्जनः। पताकाध्वजसम्पन्नं महार्हागरुधूपितम्।।2.17.1।। अपश्यन्नगरं श्रीमान्नानाजनसमाकुलम्।

sa rāmo rathamāsthāya samprahṛṣṭasuhṛjjanaḥ| patākādhvajasampannaṃ mahārhāgarudhūpitam apaśyannagaraṃ śrīmānnānājanasamākulam|

Surrounded by friends overwhelmed with great joy, that glorious Rama aboard the chariot beheld the city decorated with banners and pennants and made fragrant with expensive incense and agaru and crowded with multitudes of people.

स गृहैरभ्रसङ्काशैः पाण्डुरैरुपशोभितम्।।2.17.2।। राजमार्गं ययौ रामो मध्येनागरुधूपितम्।

sa gṛhairabhrasaṅkāśaiḥ pāṇḍurairupaśobhitam rājamārgaṃ yayau rāmo madhyenāgarudhūpitam|

That Rama, proceeded down the middle of the highway made fragrant with agaru and incense, lined with houses gleaming pale white like clouds.

चन्दनानां च मुख्यानामगरूणां च सञ्चयैः।।2.17.3।। उत्तमानां च गन्धानां क्षौमकोशाम्बरस्य च। अविद्धाभिश्च मुक्ताभिरुत्तमैस्स्फाटिकैरपि।।2.17.4।। शोभमानमसंबाधैस्तं राजपथमुत्तमम्। संवृतं विविधैःपुष्पैर्भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैरपि।।2.17.5।।

candanānāṃ ca mukhyānāmagarūṇāṃ ca sañcayaiḥ uttamānāṃ ca gandhānāṃ kṣaumakośāmbarasya ca| aviddhābhiśca muktābhiruttamaissphāṭikairapi śobhamānamasaṃbādhaistaṃ rājapathamuttamam| saṃvṛtaṃ vividhaiḥpuṣpairbhakṣyairuccāvacairapi

The highway (Rama entered) was splendid and spacious with heaps of sandal and agaru of the highest quality, excellent fragrant substances and bundles of white silken cloth. It gleamed with unholed (pristine) pearls, articles made of crystals, flowers of every kind and articles of food of every variety.

चन्दनानां च मुख्यानामगरूणां च सञ्चयैः।।2.17.3।। उत्तमानां च गन्धानां क्षौमकोशाम्बरस्य च। अविद्धाभिश्च मुक्ताभिरुत्तमैस्स्फाटिकैरपि।।2.17.4।। शोभमानमसंबाधैस्तं राजपथमुत्तमम्। संवृतं विविधैःपुष्पैर्भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैरपि।।2.17.5।।

candanānāṃ ca mukhyānāmagarūṇāṃ ca sañcayaiḥ uttamānāṃ ca gandhānāṃ kṣaumakośāmbarasya ca| aviddhābhiśca muktābhiruttamaissphāṭikairapi śobhamānamasaṃbādhaistaṃ rājapathamuttamam| saṃvṛtaṃ vividhaiḥpuṣpairbhakṣyairuccāvacairapi

The highway (Rama entered) was splendid and spacious with heaps of sandal and agaru of the highest quality, excellent fragrant substances and bundles of white silken cloth. It gleamed with unholed (pristine) pearls, articles made of crystals, flowers of every kind and articles of food of every variety.

चन्दनानां च मुख्यानामगरूणां च सञ्चयैः।।2.17.3।। उत्तमानां च गन्धानां क्षौमकोशाम्बरस्य च। अविद्धाभिश्च मुक्ताभिरुत्तमैस्स्फाटिकैरपि।।2.17.4।। शोभमानमसंबाधैस्तं राजपथमुत्तमम्। संवृतं विविधैःपुष्पैर्भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैरपि।।2.17.5।।

candanānāṃ ca mukhyānāmagarūṇāṃ ca sañcayaiḥ uttamānāṃ ca gandhānāṃ kṣaumakośāmbarasya ca| aviddhābhiśca muktābhiruttamaissphāṭikairapi śobhamānamasaṃbādhaistaṃ rājapathamuttamam| saṃvṛtaṃ vividhaiḥpuṣpairbhakṣyairuccāvacairapi

The highway (Rama entered) was splendid and spacious with heaps of sandal and agaru of the highest quality, excellent fragrant substances and bundles of white silken cloth. It gleamed with unholed (pristine) pearls, articles made of crystals, flowers of every kind and articles of food of every variety.

ददर्श तं राजपथं दिवि देवपथं यथा। दध्यक्षतहविर्लाजैर्धूपैरगरुचन्दनैः।।2.17.6।। नानामाल्योपगंधैश्च सदाऽभ्यर्चितचत्वरम्।

dadarśa taṃ rājapathaṃ divi devapathaṃ yathā| dadhyakṣatahavirlājairdhūpairagarucandanaiḥ nānāmālyopagaṃdhaiśca sadā'bhyarcitacatvaram|

Rama beheld the highway resembling the pathway of gods in heaven. Here the crossroads were always worshipped with curd, grains of rice, sacrificial libations, laja or puffed rice, fragrant substances like sandal wood, agaru and garlands of every kind.

अशीर्वादान्बहून् शृण्वन्सुहृद्भिस्समुदीरितान्।।2.17.7।। यथार्हं चापि सम्पूज्य सर्वानेव नरान्ययौ।

aśīrvādānbahūn śṛṇvansuhṛdbhissamudīritān yathārhaṃ cāpi sampūjya sarvāneva narānyayau|

Hearing many words of blessings uttered by his friends and honouring each person according to his rank, he passed on.

पितामहैराचरितं तथैव प्रपितामहैः।।2.17.8।। अद्योपादाय तं मार्गमभिषिक्तोऽनुपालय।

pitāmahairācaritaṃ tathaiva prapitāmahaiḥ adyopādāya taṃ mārgamabhiṣikto'nupālaya|

(They said) Consecrated today, rule the kingdom by adopting the same path followed by your grandfathers and greatgrandfathers.

यथास्म पोषिताः पित्रा यथा सर्वैः पितामहैः।।2.17.9।। ततस्सुखतरं रामे वत्स्यामस्सति राजनि।

yathāsma poṣitāḥ pitrā yathā sarvaiḥ pitāmahaiḥ tatassukhataraṃ rāme vatsyāmassati rājani|

Once Rama assumes kingship, we shall all live in happiness greater than when we were ruled by his father and grandfather.

अलमद्य हि भुक्तेन परमार्थैरलं च नः।।2.17.10।। यदि पश्याम निर्यान्तं रामं राज्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्।

alamadya hi bhuktena paramārthairalaṃ ca naḥ yadi paśyāma niryāntaṃ rāmaṃ rājye pratiṣṭhitam|

If only we can see Rama enthroned today and going in a procession, there will be no need for food and no greater object of life to be accomplished.

अतो हि नः प्रियतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिद्भविष्यति।।2.17.11।। यथाऽभिषेको रामस्य राज्येनामिततेजसः।

ato hi naḥ priyataraṃ nānyatkiñcidbhaviṣyati yathā'bhiṣeko rāmasya rājyenāmitatejasaḥ|

For us, there is nothing dearer in the kingdom than the consecration of Rama of undimmed brilliance.

एताश्चान्याश्च सुहृदामुदासीनः कथाश्शुभाः।।2.17.12।। आत्मसम्पूजनीश्शृण्वन्ययौ रामो महापथम्।

etāścānyāśca suhṛdāmudāsīnaḥ kathāśśubhāḥ ātmasampūjanīśśṛṇvanyayau rāmo mahāpatham|

Indifferent to such warm words by his friends in his favour Rama passed along the highway.

न हि तस्मान्मनः कश्चिच्चक्षुषी वा नरोत्तमात्।।2.17.13।। नर श्शक्नोत्यपाक्रष्टुमतिक्रान्तेऽपि राघवे।

na hi tasmānmanaḥ kaściccakṣuṣī vā narottamāt nara śśaknotyapākraṣṭumatikrānte'pi rāghave|

Even though Rama, the best among men had driven past them none was able to withdraw his mind or eyes from him. (They continued).

यश्च रामं न पश्येत्तु यं च रामो न पश्यति।।2.17.14।। निन्दित स्सर्वल्लोकेषु स्वात्माऽप्येनं विगर्हते।

yaśca rāmaṃ na paśyettu yaṃ ca rāmo na paśyati nindita ssarvallokeṣu svātmā'pyenaṃ vigarhate|

'Whoever does not see Rama or Rama does not see him, will be blamed by all men in the (three) worlds. Even his self will blame him.

सर्वेषु हि स धर्मात्मा वर्णानां कुरुते दयाम्।।2.17.15।। चतुर्णां हि वयः स्थानां तेन ते तमनुव्रताः।

sarveṣu hi sa dharmātmā varṇānāṃ kurute dayām caturṇāṃ hi vayaḥ sthānāṃ tena te tamanuvratāḥ|

That righteous Rama shows compassion to all, to the four castes, to the young and the old. So they were devoted to him.

चतुष्पथान्देवपथांश्चैत्यान्यायतनानि च।।2.17.16।। प्रदक्षिणं परिहरन् जगाम नृपते स्सुतः।

catuṣpathāndevapathāṃścaityānyāyatanāni ca pradakṣiṇaṃ pariharan jagāma nṛpate ssutaḥ|

The son of the king proceeded, leaving on his right, squares (intersections of four roads), and roads leading to temples, monuments and shrines too.

स राजकुलमासाद्य मेघसङ्घोपमै श्शुभैः।।2.17.17।। प्रासादशृङ्गैर्विविधैःकैलास शिखरोपमैः। आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः।।2.17.18।। वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः। तत्पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्।।2.17.19।। राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्।

sa rājakulamāsādya meghasaṅghopamai śśubhaiḥ prāsādaśṛṅgairvividhaiḥkailāsa śikharopamaiḥ| āvārayadbhirgaganaṃ vimānairiva pāṇḍuraiḥ vardhamānagṛhaiścāpi ratnajālapariṣkṛtaiḥ| tatpṛthivyāṃ gṛhavaraṃ mahendrasadanopamam rājaputraḥ piturveśma praviveśa śriyā jvalan|

That prince (Rama) arrived at the excellent palace of the king, which looked like the abode of Indra on earth, blazing with splendour. The various towers of the palace touching the sky resembled clusters of white clouds, like auspicious peaks of Kailasa, and like white aerial chariots decorated with gems.

स राजकुलमासाद्य मेघसङ्घोपमै श्शुभैः।।2.17.17।। प्रासादशृङ्गैर्विविधैःकैलास शिखरोपमैः। आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः।।2.17.18।। वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः। तत्पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्।।2.17.19।। राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्।

sa rājakulamāsādya meghasaṅghopamai śśubhaiḥ prāsādaśṛṅgairvividhaiḥkailāsa śikharopamaiḥ| āvārayadbhirgaganaṃ vimānairiva pāṇḍuraiḥ vardhamānagṛhaiścāpi ratnajālapariṣkṛtaiḥ| tatpṛthivyāṃ gṛhavaraṃ mahendrasadanopamam rājaputraḥ piturveśma praviveśa śriyā jvalan|

That prince (Rama) arrived at the excellent palace of the king, which looked like the abode of Indra on earth, blazing with splendour. The various towers of the palace touching the sky resembled clusters of white clouds, like auspicious peaks of Kailasa, and like white aerial chariots decorated with gems.

स राजकुलमासाद्य मेघसङ्घोपमै श्शुभैः।।2.17.17।। प्रासादशृङ्गैर्विविधैःकैलास शिखरोपमैः। आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः।।2.17.18।। वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः। तत्पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्।।2.17.19।। राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्।

sa rājakulamāsādya meghasaṅghopamai śśubhaiḥ prāsādaśṛṅgairvividhaiḥkailāsa śikharopamaiḥ| āvārayadbhirgaganaṃ vimānairiva pāṇḍuraiḥ vardhamānagṛhaiścāpi ratnajālapariṣkṛtaiḥ| tatpṛthivyāṃ gṛhavaraṃ mahendrasadanopamam rājaputraḥ piturveśma praviveśa śriyā jvalan|

That prince (Rama) arrived at the excellent palace of the king, which looked like the abode of Indra on earth, blazing with splendour. The various towers of the palace touching the sky resembled clusters of white clouds, like auspicious peaks of Kailasa, and like white aerial chariots decorated with gems.

स कक्ष्या धन्विभिर्गुप्तास्तिस्रोऽतिक्रम्य वाजिभिः।।2.17.20।। पदातिरपरे कक्ष्ये द्वे जगाम नरोत्तमः।

sa kakṣyā dhanvibhirguptāstisro'tikramya vājibhiḥ padātirapare kakṣye dve jagāma narottamaḥ|

Rama, the best among men, crossed the first three courtyards which were protected by bowmen on horses and crossed the remaining two on foot.

स सर्वा स्समतिक्रम्य कक्ष्या दशरथात्मजः। सन्निवर्त्य जनं सर्वं शुद्धान्तः पुरमभ्यगात्।।2.17.21।।

sa sarvā ssamatikramya kakṣyā daśarathātmajaḥ| sannivartya janaṃ sarvaṃ śuddhāntaḥ puramabhyagāt

Crossing the courtyards on his way Rama sent back his followers and entered the private apartment of the king.

तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे पितुरन्तिकं तदा जन स्स सर्वो मुदितो नृपात्मजे। प्रतीक्षते तस्य पुनः स्म निर्गमं यथोदयं चन्द्रमसस्सरित्पतिः।।2.17.22।।

tasmin praviṣṭe piturantikaṃ tadā jana ssa sarvo mudito nṛpātmaje| pratīkṣate tasya punaḥ sma nirgamaṃ yathodayaṃ candramasassaritpatiḥ

When the prince approached his father all the people were delighted and awaited his return like the ocean waiting for the rise of the Moon. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तदशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.