Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4

गतेष्वथ नृपो भूयः पौरेषु सह मन्त्रिभिः। मन्त्रयित्वा ततश्चक्रे निश्चयज्ञस्सनिश्चयम्।।2.4.1।। श्व एव पुष्यो भविताश्वोऽभिषेच्यस्तु मे सुतः। रामो राजीवताम्राक्षो यौवराज्य इति प्रभुः।।2.4.2।।

gateṣvatha nṛpo bhūyaḥ paureṣu saha mantribhiḥ| mantrayitvā tataścakre niścayajñassaniścayam śva eva puṣyo bhavitāśvo'bhiṣecyastu me sutaḥ| rāmo rājīvatāmrākṣo yauvarājya iti prabhuḥ

After the citizens departed, the king, an expert in decisionmaking again consulted his counsellors and said, Tomorrow Pushya star is in the ascendence and my son, Rama (handsome) with coppercoloured eyes which resemble red lotus petals will be installed heirapparent.

गतेष्वथ नृपो भूयः पौरेषु सह मन्त्रिभिः। मन्त्रयित्वा ततश्चक्रे निश्चयज्ञस्सनिश्चयम्।।2.4.1।। श्व एव पुष्यो भविताश्वोऽभिषेच्यस्तु मे सुतः। रामो राजीवताम्राक्षो यौवराज्य इति प्रभुः।।2.4.2।।

gateṣvatha nṛpo bhūyaḥ paureṣu saha mantribhiḥ| mantrayitvā tataścakre niścayajñassaniścayam śva eva puṣyo bhavitāśvo'bhiṣecyastu me sutaḥ| rāmo rājīvatāmrākṣo yauvarājya iti prabhuḥ

After the citizens departed, the king, an expert in decisionmaking again consulted his counsellors and said, Tomorrow Pushya star is in the ascendence and my son, Rama (handsome) with coppercoloured eyes which resemble red lotus petals will be installed heirapparent.

अथाऽन्तर्गृहमाविश्य राजा दशरथस्तदा। सूतमामन्त्रयामास रामं पुनरिहानय।।2.4.3।।

athā'ntargṛhamāviśya rājā daśarathastadā| sūtamāmantrayāmāsa rāmaṃ punarihānaya

Therafter king Dasaratha on retiring to his private apartment, ordered Sumantra to bring Rama once again.

प्रतिगृह्य स तद्वाक्यं सूतः पुनरुपाययौ। रामस्य भवनं शीघ्रं राममानयितुं पुनः।।2.4.4।।

pratigṛhya sa tadvākyaṃ sūtaḥ punarupāyayau| rāmasya bhavanaṃ śīghraṃ rāmamānayituṃ punaḥ

In obedience to the command of the king charioteer Sumantra set out speedily to the palace of Rama to fetch him back once again.

द्वार्स्थैरावेदितं तस्य रामायाऽऽगमनं पुनः। श्रुत्वैव चापि रामस्तं प्राप्तं शङ्कान्वितोऽभवत्।।2.4.5।।

dvārsthairāveditaṃ tasya rāmāyā''gamanaṃ punaḥ| śrutvaiva cāpi rāmastaṃ prāptaṃ śaṅkānvito'bhavat

The doorkeepers informed Rama of Sumantra's arrival. As soon as he learnt that Sumantra was back again, Rama was filled with apprehensions.

प्रवेश्य चैनं त्वरितं रामो वचनमब्रवीत्। यदागमनकृत्यं ते भूयस्तद्ब्रूह्यशेषतः।।2.4.6।।

praveśya cainaṃ tvaritaṃ rāmo vacanamabravīt| yadāgamanakṛtyaṃ te bhūyastadbrūhyaśeṣataḥ

Rama got Sumantra admitted and said to him, What is the purpose of your coming back so quickly ? Tell me whatever is there without holding back.

तमुवाच तत स्सूतो राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति। श्रुत्वा प्रमाणमत्र त्वं गमनायेतराय वा।।2.4.7।।

tamuvāca tata ssūto rājā tvāṃ draṣṭumicchati| śrutvā pramāṇamatra tvaṃ gamanāyetarāya vā

Then Sumantra replied, 'The king desires to see you. To go or not to go, the decision is yours'.

इति सूतवच श्श्रुत्वा रामोऽथ त्वरयाऽन्वितः। प्रययौ राजभवनं पुनर्द्रष्टुं नरेश्वरम्।।2.4.8।।

iti sūtavaca śśrutvā rāmo'tha tvarayā'nvitaḥ| prayayau rājabhavanaṃ punardraṣṭuṃ nareśvaram

On hearing the words of the charioteer, Rama immediately set out for the royal palace to see the king again.

तं श्रुत्वा समनुप्राप्तं रामं दशरथो नृपः। प्रवेशयामास गृहं विवक्षुः प्रियमुत्तमम्।।2.4.9।।

taṃ śrutvā samanuprāptaṃ rāmaṃ daśaratho nṛpaḥ| praveśayāmāsa gṛhaṃ vivakṣuḥ priyamuttamam

Having heard of Rama's arrival, king Dasaratha got him admitted into his apartment to tell him something very pleasant.

प्रविशन्नेव च श्रीमान्राघवो भवनं पितुः। ददर्श पितरं दूरात्प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जलिः।।2.4.10।।

praviśanneva ca śrīmānrāghavo bhavanaṃ pituḥ| dadarśa pitaraṃ dūrātpraṇipatya kṛtāñjaliḥ

On entering his father's palace, glorious Rama, folded his hands and bent low in reverence from a distance and beheld his father.

प्रणमन्तं समुत्थाप्य तं परिष्वज्य भूमिपः। प्रदिश्य चास्मै रुचिरमासनं पुनरब्रवीत्।।2.4.11।।

praṇamantaṃ samutthāpya taṃ pariṣvajya bhūmipaḥ| pradiśya cāsmai ruciramāsanaṃ punarabravīt

As he (Rama) was bending (with reverence), Dasaratha lifted him up and embraced him. Thereafter, he offered him a splendid seat and said again:

राम वृद्धोऽस्मि दीर्घायुर्भुक्ता भोगा मयेप्सिताः। अन्नवद्भिः क्रतुशतै स्तथेष्टं भूरिदक्षिणैः।।2.4.12।।

rāma vṛddho'smi dīrghāyurbhuktā bhogā mayepsitāḥ| annavadbhiḥ kratuśatai statheṣṭaṃ bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ

O Rama after a long life I have grown old. I have enjoyed all the pleasures I desired. I have also performed hundreds of rituals which enjoined distribution of abundant food and gifts.

जातमिष्टमपत्यं मे त्वमद्यानुपमं भुवि। दत्तमिष्टमधीतं च मया पुरुषसत्तम।।2.4.13।।

jātamiṣṭamapatyaṃ me tvamadyānupamaṃ bhuvi| dattamiṣṭamadhītaṃ ca mayā puruṣasattama

O best of men I have obtained now a progeny of my liking in you and you have no equal on earth. I have given gifts, performed rituals and also studied (the Vedas) .

अनुभूतानि चेष्टानि मया वीर सुखान्यपि। देवर्षिपितृविप्राणामनृणोऽस्मि तथाऽत्मनः।।2.4.14।।

anubhūtāni ceṣṭāni mayā vīra sukhānyapi| devarṣipitṛviprāṇāmanṛṇo'smi tathā'tmanaḥ

O mighty son I have experienced all the pleasures I longed for. I redeemed my debt to the gods, the sages, my ancestors, brahmins and to myself.

न किञ्चिन्मम कर्तव्यं तवान्यत्राभिषेचनात्। अतो यत्त्वामहं ब्रूयां तन्मे त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि।।2.4.15।।

na kiñcinmama kartavyaṃ tavānyatrābhiṣecanāt| ato yattvāmahaṃ brūyāṃ tanme tvaṃ kartumarhasi

There is nothing left to be done by me except your consecration Hence you should perform what I tell you.

अद्य प्रकृतयस्सर्वास्त्वामिच्छन्ति नराधिपम्। अतस्त्वां युवराजानमभिषेक्ष्यामि पुत्रक।।2.4.16।।

adya prakṛtayassarvāstvāmicchanti narādhipam| atastvāṃ yuvarājānamabhiṣekṣyāmi putraka

Today all the subjects expresed their desire to see you as their king. Therefore, my dear son, I wish to coronate you heirapparent.

अपि चाद्याऽशुभान्राम स्वप्ने पश्यामि दारुणान्। सनिर्घाता दिवोल्का च पततीह महास्वना।।2.4.17।।

api cādyā'śubhānrāma svapne paśyāmi dāruṇān| sanirghātā divolkā ca patatīha mahāsvanā

Moreover Rama, these days I see frightening and ominous events in dreams during day time. I see meteors accompanied by thunders falling, generating great sounds.

अवष्टब्धं च मे राम नक्षत्रं दारुणैर्ग्रहैः। आवेदयन्ति दैवज्ञाः सूर्याङ्गारकराहुभिः।।2.4.18।।

avaṣṭabdhaṃ ca me rāma nakṣatraṃ dāruṇairgrahaiḥ| āvedayanti daivajñāḥ sūryāṅgārakarāhubhiḥ

O Rama astrologers also tell me that formidable planets Sun, Mars and Rahu have afflicted my birth star.

प्रायेण हि निमित्तानामीदृशानां समुद्भवे। राजा हि मृत्युमाप्नोति घोरां वाऽऽपदमृच्छति।।2.4.19।।

prāyeṇa hi nimittānāmīdṛśānāṃ samudbhave| rājā hi mṛtyumāpnoti ghorāṃ vā''padamṛcchati

When such ominous signs appear, usually the king either meets with death or faces a grave calamity.

तद्यावदेव मे चेतो न विमुह्यति राघव। तावदेवाभिषिञ्चस्व चला हि प्राणिनां मतिः।।2.4.20।।

tadyāvadeva me ceto na vimuhyati rāghava| tāvadevābhiṣiñcasva calā hi prāṇināṃ matiḥ

Therefore, before my mind is deluded I wish to see you installed as heirapparent for a man's mind is unstable indeed, O Rama.

अद्य चन्द्रोऽभ्युपगतः पुष्यात्पूर्वं पुनर्वसू। श्वः पुष्ययोगं नियतं वक्ष्यन्ते दैवचिन्तकाः।।2.4.21।।

adya candro'bhyupagataḥ puṣyātpūrvaṃ punarvasū| śvaḥ puṣyayogaṃ niyataṃ vakṣyante daivacintakāḥ

Today the Moon is in conjunction with the Punarvasu constellation. Tomorrow the Moon's conjunction with the Pushya constellation is certain and the astrologers say this auspicious time is highly suitable for the purpose of coronation.

ततः पुष्येऽभिषिञ्चस्व मनस्त्वरयतीव माम्। श्वस्त्वाऽहमभिषेक्ष्यामि यौवराज्ये परन्तप।।2.4.22।।

tataḥ puṣye'bhiṣiñcasva manastvarayatīva mām| śvastvā'hamabhiṣekṣyāmi yauvarājye parantapa

My mind is hastening me saying, 'Coronate Rama in the Pushya constellation itself'. O Slayer of enemies, I shall install you heir apparent tomorrow.

तस्मात्त्वयाऽद्य प्रभृति निशेयं नियतात्मना। सह वध्वोपवस्तव्या दर्भप्रस्तरशायिना।।2.4.23।।

tasmāttvayā'dya prabhṛti niśeyaṃ niyatātmanā| saha vadhvopavastavyā darbhaprastaraśāyinā

Therefore, you and my daughterinlaw (Sita) should fast tonight and sleep on a bed of darbha or kusha grass with selfrestraint.

सुहृदश्चाप्रमत्तास्त्वां रक्षन्त्वद्य समन्ततः। भवन्ति बहु विघ्नानि कार्याण्येवंविधानि हि।।2.4.24।।

suhṛdaścāpramattāstvāṃ rakṣantvadya samantataḥ| bhavanti bahu vighnāni kāryāṇyevaṃvidhāni hi

Many impediments befall acts of this sort indeed. Alert your friends to protect you from all sides today onwards.

विप्रोषितश्च भरतो यावदेव पुरादितः। तावदेवाभिषेकस्ते प्राप्तकालो मतो मम।।2.4.25।।

viproṣitaśca bharato yāvadeva purāditaḥ| tāvadevābhiṣekaste prāptakālo mato mama

While Bharata is away from the city, the time is favourable for your installation. This is my opinion.

कामं खलु सतां वृत्ते भ्राता ते भरतस्स्थितः। ज्येष्ठानुवर्ती धर्मात्मा सानुक्रोशो जितेन्द्रियः।।2.4.26।।

kāmaṃ khalu satāṃ vṛtte bhrātā te bharatassthitaḥ| jyeṣṭhānuvartī dharmātmā sānukrośo jitendriyaḥ

It is true, your brother Bharata has adhered to the path of the virtuous and has followed his elder brother. No doubt, he is righteous, compassionate and self controlled.

किन्तु चित्तं मनुष्याणामनित्यमिति मे मतिः। सतां च धर्मनित्यानां कृतशोभि च राघव।।2.4.27।।

kintu cittaṃ manuṣyāṇāmanityamiti me matiḥ| satāṃ ca dharmanityānāṃ kṛtaśobhi ca rāghava

Yet I think even the propitious minds of those who are virtuous and whose thoughts are fixed in righteousness can also become fickle.

इत्युक्त स्सोऽभ्यनुज्ञात श्श्वोभाविन्यभिषेचने। व्रजेति रामः पितरमभिवाद्याभ्ययाद्गृहम्।।2.4.28।।

ityukta sso'bhyanujñāta śśvobhāvinyabhiṣecane| vrajeti rāmaḥ pitaramabhivādyābhyayādgṛham

Having spoken to Rama about the installation ceremony fixed for the next day, he (Dasaratha) permitted him to leave saying, 'You may go'. Rama paid obeisance to his father and returned to his abode.

प्रविश्य चात्मनो वेश्मराज्ञोद्दिष्टेऽभिषेचने। तत्क्षणेन विनिर्गम्य मातुरन्तपुरं ययौ।।2.4.29।।

praviśya cātmano veśmarājñoddiṣṭe'bhiṣecane| tatkṣaṇena vinirgamya māturantapuraṃ yayau

With the installation fixed by the king, Rama went into his residence but left immediately to see his mother in her inner apartment.

तत्र तां प्रवणामेव मातरं क्षौमवासिनीम्। वाग्यतां देवतागारे ददर्शाऽऽयाचतीं श्रियम्।।2.4.30।।

tatra tāṃ pravaṇāmeva mātaraṃ kṣaumavāsinīm| vāgyatāṃ devatāgāre dadarśā''yācatīṃ śriyam

There he beheld his mother in silk apparel engrossed in silent prayer (to the gods) for his royal fortune in the room meant for the worship of the gods.

प्रागेव चागता तत्र सुमित्रा लक्ष्मण स्तथा। सीता चानायिता श्रुत्वा प्रियं रामाभिषेचनम्।।2.4.31।।

prāgeva cāgatā tatra sumitrā lakṣmaṇa stathā| sītā cānāyitā śrutvā priyaṃ rāmābhiṣecanam

Hearing the welcome tidings of the installation of her beloved Rama, Sita too, had been brought in. Sumitra and Lakshmana had already arrived there.

तस्मिन् काले हि कौशल्या तस्थावामीलितेक्षणा। सुमित्रयाऽन्वास्यमाना सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च।।2.4.32।।

tasmin kāle hi kauśalyā tasthāvāmīlitekṣaṇā| sumitrayā'nvāsyamānā sītayā lakṣmaṇena ca

At that moment Kausalya was meditating with her eyes halfclosed. Sumitra, Lakshmana and Sita were attending on her.

श्रुत्वा पुष्येण पुत्रस्य यौवराज्याऽभिषेचनम्। प्राणायामेन पुरुषं ध्यायमाना जनार्दनम्।।2.4.33।।

śrutvā puṣyeṇa putrasya yauvarājyā'bhiṣecanam| prāṇāyāmena puruṣaṃ dhyāyamānā janārdanam

Having heard that installation of her son as heirapparent was planned in Pushya constellation, Kausalya was meditating upon the Supreme Person, Lord Visnu by controlling her breath (Pranayama).

तथा सनियमामेव सोऽभिगम्याभिवाद्य च। उवाच वचनं रामो हर्षयंस्तामनिन्दिताम्।।2.4.34।।

tathā saniyamāmeva so'bhigamyābhivādya ca| uvāca vacanaṃ rāmo harṣayaṃstāmaninditām

While she (Kausalya) was in that state of meditation, Rama approached her, offered reverential salutation and said these words of praise enhancing her joy: