Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 5

सन्दिश्य रामं नृपति श्श्वोभाविन्यभिषेचने। पुरोहितं समाहूय वशिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.5.1।।

sandiśya rāmaṃ nṛpati śśvobhāvinyabhiṣecane| purohitaṃ samāhūya vaśiṣṭhamidamabravīt

The king having instructed Rama summoned Vasistha, the priest and spoke to him about the coronation that was to take place on the following day

गच्छोपवासं काकुत्स्थं कारयाद्य तपोधन। श्रीयशोराज्यलाभाय वध्वा सह यतव्रतम्।।2.5.2।।

gacchopavāsaṃ kākutsthaṃ kārayādya tapodhana| śrīyaśorājyalābhāya vadhvā saha yatavratam

Could you, O sage, whose wealth is asceticism go to Rama engaged in strict observance of vows and advise him along with Sita, my daughterinlaw to undertake fast for securing prosperity, fame and kingdom.

तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः। स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान्ययौ रामनिवेशनम्।।2.5.3।। उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः। ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृढव्रतः।।2.5.4।।

tatheti ca sa rājānamuktvā vedavidāṃ varaḥ| svayaṃ vasiṣṭho bhagavānyayau rāmaniveśanam upavāsayituṃ rāmaṃ mantravanmantrakovidaḥ| brāhmaṃ rathavaraṃ yuktamāsthāya sudṛḍhavrataḥ

Venerabel Vasistha, the best amongst the knowers of the Vedas, skilled in mantras and firm in his vows said to the king, 'Be it so.' Thereafter, mounted on the best of the chariots befitting a brahmin, with horses harnesed he proceeded personally to the abode of Rama to ask him to undertake a fast in accompaniment with mantras preceding the installation ceremony.

तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः। स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान्ययौ रामनिवेशनम्।।2.5.3।। उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः। ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृढव्रतः।।2.5.4।।

tatheti ca sa rājānamuktvā vedavidāṃ varaḥ| svayaṃ vasiṣṭho bhagavānyayau rāmaniveśanam upavāsayituṃ rāmaṃ mantravanmantrakovidaḥ| brāhmaṃ rathavaraṃ yuktamāsthāya sudṛḍhavrataḥ

Venerabel Vasistha, the best amongst the knowers of the Vedas, skilled in mantras and firm in his vows said to the king, 'Be it so.' Thereafter, mounted on the best of the chariots befitting a brahmin, with horses harnesed he proceeded personally to the abode of Rama to ask him to undertake a fast in accompaniment with mantras preceding the installation ceremony.

स रामभवनं प्राप्य पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्रभम्। तिस्रः कक्ष्या रथेनैव विवेशमुनिसत्तमः।।2.5.5।।

sa rāmabhavanaṃ prāpya pāṇḍurābhraghanaprabham| tisraḥ kakṣyā rathenaiva viveśamunisattamaḥ

Having crossed the three courtyards in the chariot, that foremost of ascetics (Vasistha) entered Rams's abode, shining like a mass of white clouds.

तमागतमृषिं रामस्त्वरन्निव ससम्भ्रमः। मानयिष्यन्समानार्हं निश्चक्राम निवेशनात्।।2.5.6।।

tamāgatamṛṣiṃ rāmastvaranniva sasambhramaḥ| mānayiṣyansamānārhaṃ niścakrāma niveśanāt

Seeing the venerable sage(Vasitha) arrive, Rama quickly came out of his abode in great excitement to receive him with honour.

अभ्येत्य त्वरमाणश्च रथाभ्याशं मनीषिणः। ततोऽवतारयामास परिगृह्य रथात्स्वयम्।।2.5.7।।

abhyetya tvaramāṇaśca rathābhyāśaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ| tato'vatārayāmāsa parigṛhya rathātsvayam

Hastening with rapid strides, Rama approached the chariot of the sagacious Vasistha and personally helped him alight from the chariot.

स चैनं प्रश्रितं दृष्ट्वा सम्भाष्याभिप्रसाद्य च। प्रियार्हं हर्षयन्राममित्युवाच पुरोहितः।।2.5.8।।

sa cainaṃ praśritaṃ dṛṣṭvā sambhāṣyābhiprasādya ca| priyārhaṃ harṣayanrāmamityuvāca purohitaḥ

The family priest Vasistha also, having gratified him by enquiring about his welfare, said thus to Rama, who was humble and lovable:

प्रसन्नस्ते पिता राम यौवराज्यमवाप्स्यसि। उपवासं भवानद्य करोतु सह सीतया।।2.5.9।।

prasannaste pitā rāma yauvarājyamavāpsyasi| upavāsaṃ bhavānadya karotu saha sītayā

O Rama, welldisposed towards you, your father will declare you heirapparent. Do undertake fast today, along with Sita.

प्रातस्त्वामभिषेक्ता हि यौवराज्ये नराधिपः। पिता दशरथः प्रीत्या ययातिं नहुषो यथा।।2.5.10।।

prātastvāmabhiṣektā hi yauvarājye narādhipaḥ| pitā daśarathaḥ prītyā yayātiṃ nahuṣo yathā

Your father, king Dasaratha, will be pleased to coronate you as heirapparent early tomorrow morning as Nahusa did (to his son) Yayati.

इत्युक्त्वा स तदा राममुपवासं यतव्रतम्। मन्त्रवत्कारयामास वैदेह्या सहितं मुनिः।।2.5.11।।

ityuktvā sa tadā rāmamupavāsaṃ yatavratam| mantravatkārayāmāsa vaidehyā sahitaṃ muniḥ

The ascetic (Vasistha) having thus spoken to Rama made him undertake fast along with Sita in accompaniment with sacred hymns.

ततो यथावद्रामेण स राज्ञो गुरुरर्चितः। अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य काकुत्स्थं ययौ रामनिवेशनात्।।2.5.12।।

tato yathāvadrāmeṇa sa rājño gururarcitaḥ| abhyanujñāpya kākutsthaṃ yayau rāmaniveśanāt

Thereafter, Vasistha, preceptor of the king duly honoured by the descendant of Kakutstha (Rama) left his abode.

सुहृद्भिस्तत्र रामोऽपि सहासीनः प्रियंवदैः। सभाजितो विवेशाऽथ ताननुज्ञाप्य सर्वशः।।2.5.13।।

suhṛdbhistatra rāmo'pi sahāsīnaḥ priyaṃvadaiḥ| sabhājito viveśā'tha tānanujñāpya sarvaśaḥ

Rama also sat for a while in the company of his sweettongued friends and duly honoured by them in every way took leave of them and entered his apartment.

हृष्टनारीनरयुतं रामवेश्म तदा बभौ। यथा मत्तद्विजगणं प्रफुल्लनलिनं सरः।।2.5.14।।

hṛṣṭanārīnarayutaṃ rāmaveśma tadā babhau| yathā mattadvijagaṇaṃ praphullanalinaṃ saraḥ

The residence of Rama, full of cheerful men and women, looked splendid like a lake with fullblown lotuses flocked by multitudes of intoxicated birds.

स राजभवनप्रख्यात्तस्माद्रामनिवेशानात्। निर्गत्य ददृशे मार्गं वसिष्ठो जनसंवृतम्।।2.5.15।।

sa rājabhavanaprakhyāttasmādrāmaniveśānāt| nirgatya dadṛśe mārgaṃ vasiṣṭho janasaṃvṛtam

Vasistha thereafter emerged from the abode of Rama resembling a royal palace and beheld the highways filled with people.

बृन्दबृन्दैरयोध्यायां राजमार्गास्समन्ततः। बभूवुरभिसम्बाधाः कुतूहलजनैर्वृताः।।2.5.16।।

bṛndabṛndairayodhyāyāṃ rājamārgāssamantataḥ| babhūvurabhisambādhāḥ kutūhalajanairvṛtāḥ

The royal highways in the city of Ayodhya were jammed on all sides with groups of curious people.

जनबृन्दोर्मिसंघर्षहर्षस्वनवतस्तदा। बभूव राजमार्गस्य सागरस्येव निस्वनः।।2.5.17।।

janabṛndormisaṃgharṣaharṣasvanavatastadā| babhūva rājamārgasya sāgarasyeva nisvanaḥ

The highways resembled the sea and the exultation of the multitudes, the roar that emanated from the clashing of waves.

सिक्तसम्मृष्टरथ्या हि तदहर्वनमालिनी। आसीदयोध्यानगरी समुच्छ्रितगृहध्वजा।।2.5.18।।

siktasammṛṣṭarathyā hi tadaharvanamālinī| āsīdayodhyānagarī samucchritagṛhadhvajā

On that day, the thoroughfares of the city of Ayodhya, surrounded with (pleasure) gardens, were sprinkled with water and swept. The flags (on the top) of the houses were raised high.

तदा ह्ययोध्यानिलयः सस्त्रीबालाबलो जनः। रामाभिषेकमाकाङ्क्षन्नाकाङ्क्षदुदयं रवेः।।2.5.19।।

tadā hyayodhyānilayaḥ sastrībālābalo janaḥ| rāmābhiṣekamākāṅkṣannākāṅkṣadudayaṃ raveḥ

Then all the people living in Ayodhya including women, children and aged alike wishing to see the coronation of Rama eagerly waited for the sunrise.

प्रजालङ्कारभूतं च जनस्यानन्दवर्धनम्। उत्सुकोऽभूज्जनो द्रष्टुं तमयोध्यामहोत्सवम्।।2.5.20।।

prajālaṅkārabhūtaṃ ca janasyānandavardhanam| utsuko'bhūjjano draṣṭuṃ tamayodhyāmahotsavam

People were anxious to witness that great festival of Ayodhya which was to them (precious) like an ornament and a source of immense joy.

एवं तज्जनसम्बाधं राजमार्गं पुरोहितः। व्यूहन्निव जनौघं तं शनै राजकुलं ययौ।।2.5.21।।

evaṃ tajjanasambādhaṃ rājamārgaṃ purohitaḥ| vyūhanniva janaughaṃ taṃ śanai rājakulaṃ yayau

The priest (Vasistha), beholding the overcrowded highway forced his passage through the crowds of men dividing them into two tracts and slowly entered the royal palace.

सिताभ्रशिखरप्रख्यं प्रासादमधिरुह्य सः। समीयाय नरेन्द्रेण शक्रेणेव बृहस्पतिः।।2.5.22।।

sitābhraśikharaprakhyaṃ prāsādamadhiruhya saḥ| samīyāya narendreṇa śakreṇeva bṛhaspatiḥ

Having ascended the royal palace resembling the peak of a mountain covered with white clouds, Vasistha approached the king like Brihaspati meeting Indra.

तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य हित्वा राजासनं नृपः। पप्रच्छ स च तस्मै तत्कृतमित्यभ्यवेदयत्।।2.5.23।।

tamāgatamabhiprekṣya hitvā rājāsanaṃ nṛpaḥ| papraccha sa ca tasmai tatkṛtamityabhyavedayat

On seeing Vasistha the king descended from the throne and enquired whether he had performed the mission to which the ascetic replied affirmatively.

चैव तदा तुल्यं सहासीनास्सभासदः। आसनेभ्यस्समुत्तस्थुः पूजयन्तः पुरोहितम्।।2.5.24।।

caiva tadā tulyaṃ sahāsīnāssabhāsadaḥ| āsanebhyassamuttasthuḥ pūjayantaḥ purohitam

All those present in the assembly with him (the king) also got up from their seats as he (Dasaratha) did and paid their obeisance to Vasistha.

गुरुणा त्वभ्यनुज्ञातो मनुजौघं विसृज्य तम्। विवेशान्तः पुरं राजा सिंहो गिरिगुहामिव।।2.5.25।।

guruṇā tvabhyanujñāto manujaughaṃ visṛjya tam| viveśāntaḥ puraṃ rājā siṃho giriguhāmiva

The king then, dully permitted by the preceptor, disposed the assembly of men and stepped into his inner apartment, like a lion entering the cave of a mountain.

तदग्य्रवेषप्रमदाजनाकुलं महेन्द्रवेश्मप्रतिमं निवेशनम्। विदीपयंश्चारु विवेश पार्थिव श्शशीव तारागणसङ्कुलं नभः।।2.5.26।।

tadagyraveṣapramadājanākulaṃ mahendraveśmapratimaṃ niveśanam| vidīpayaṃścāru viveśa pārthiva śśaśīva tārāgaṇasaṅkulaṃ nabhaḥ

The king entered the inner apartment thronged with excellently attired women which looked like the palace of Mahendra. He resembled the beautiful Moon that illuminates the sky crowded with stars. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fifth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.