Entering the City

Verse 1 (padma.5.3.1)

शेष उवाच। दृष्ट्वा रामो राजधानीं निजलोकनिवासिनीम् । जहर्ष मतिमान्वीरश्चिरदर्शनलालसः

śeṣa uvāca dṛṣṭvā rāmo rājadhānīṁ nijalokanivāsinīm jaharṣa matimānvīraściradarśanalālasaḥ

Shesha said: Seeing his own capital, home of his own people, wise and heroic Rama, who had long yearned for this sight, rejoiced greatly.

Verse 2 (padma.5.3.2)

भरतोऽपि स्वकं मित्रं सुमुखं नगरं प्रति । प्रेषयामास सचिवं नगरोत्सवसिद्धये

bharato'pi svakaṁ mitraṁ sumukhaṁ nagaraṁ prati preṣayāmāsa sacivaṁ nagarotsavasiddhaye

Bharata too sent his own dear friend, the minister Sumukha, toward the city, to arrange for the city's festivities.

Verse 3 (padma.5.3.3)

भरत उवाच। कुर्वंतु लोकास्त्वरितं रघुनाथागमोत्सवम् । मंदिरे मंदिरे रम्यं कृतकौतुकचित्रकम्

bharata uvāca kurvaṁtu lokāstvaritaṁ raghunāthāgamotsavam maṁdire maṁdire ramyaṁ kṛtakautukacitrakam

Bharata said: "Let the people quickly hold a festival for Raghunatha's arrival, adorning every house beautifully with festive decorations."

Verse 4 (padma.5.3.4)

विपांसुका राजमार्गाश्चंदनद्रवसिंचिताः । प्रसूनभरसंकॢप्ता हृष्टपुष्टजनावृताः

vipāṁsukā rājamārgāścaṁdanadravasiṁcitāḥ prasūnabharasaṁkḷptā hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanāvṛtāḥ

"Let the royal roads be free of dust, sprinkled with sandal-water, heaped with flowers, and thronged with cheerful, well-fed people."

Verse 5 (padma.5.3.5)

विचित्रवर्णध्वजभा चित्रिताखिलस्वांगणाः । मेघागमे धनुरिव पश्यंत्वेव वलीमुखाः

vicitravarṇadhvajabhā citritākhilasvāṁgaṇāḥ meghāgame dhanuriva paśyaṁtveva valīmukhāḥ

"Let banners of many colors shine, every courtyard be painted, so that the monkeys gaze upon them as if at a rainbow appearing with the coming of clouds."

Verse 6 (padma.5.3.6)

प्रतिगेहं तु लोकानां कारयंत्वगरूक्षणम् । यद्धूमं वीक्ष्य शिखिनो नृत्यं कुर्वंतु लीलया

pratigehaṁ tu lokānāṁ kārayaṁtvagarūkṣaṇam yaddhūmaṁ vīkṣya śikhino nṛtyaṁ kurvaṁtu līlayā

"Let people in every house burn fragrant aloeswood, so that peacocks, seeing the smoke, break into playful dance."

Verse 7 (padma.5.3.7)

हस्तिनो मम शैलाभानाधोरणसुयंत्रितान् । विचित्रयंतु बहुशो गैरिकाद्युपधातुभिः

hastino mama śailābhānādhoraṇasuyaṁtritān vicitrayaṁtu bahuśo gairikādyupadhātubhiḥ

"Let my mountain-like elephants, well-controlled by their mahouts, be adorned in many ways with red ochre and other pigments."

Verse 8 (padma.5.3.8)

वाजिनश्चित्रिता भूयः सुशोभंतु मनोजवाः । यद्वेगवीक्षणादेव गर्वं त्यजति स्वर्हयः

vājinaścitritā bhūyaḥ suśobhaṁtu manojavāḥ yadvegavīkṣaṇādeva garvaṁ tyajati svarhayaḥ

"Let the horses, swift as thought, be adorned further and made to shine, so that even the celestial steeds forsake their pride at a mere glimpse of their speed."

Verse 9 (padma.5.3.9)

कन्याः सहस्रशो रम्याः सर्वाभरणभूषिताः । गजोपरि समारूढा मुक्ताभिर्विकिरंतु च

kanyāḥ sahasraśo ramyāḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ gajopari samārūḍhā muktābhirvikiraṁtu ca

"Let thousands of lovely maidens, adorned with every ornament, mounted upon elephants, scatter pearls."

Verse 10 (padma.5.3.10)

ब्राह्मण्यः पात्रहस्ताश्च दूर्वाहारिद्रसंयुताः । सुवासिन्यो महाराजं रामं नीराजयंतु ताः

brāhmaṇyaḥ pātrahastāśca dūrvāhāridrasaṁyutāḥ suvāsinyo mahārājaṁ rāmaṁ nīrājayaṁtu tāḥ

"Let the brahmin women, vessels in hand with durva grass and turmeric, and the married women, wave the lamps of welcome before great King Rama."

Verse 11 (padma.5.3.11)

कौसल्यापुत्रसंयोगसंदेश विधुरा सती । हर्षं प्राप्नोतु सुकृशा तदीक्षणसुलालसा

kausalyāputrasaṁyogasaṁdeśa vidhurā satī harṣaṁ prāpnotu sukṛśā tadīkṣaṇasulālasā

"Let the chaste Kausalya, pained by longing for news of her son and wasted thin, eagerly awaiting the sight of him, attain her happiness."

Verse 12 (padma.5.3.12)

इत्येवमादिरचनाः पुरशोभाविधायिकाः । करोतु जनता हृष्टा रामस्यागमनं प्रति

ityevamādiracanāḥ puraśobhāvidhāyikāḥ karotu janatā hṛṣṭā rāmasyāgamanaṁ prati

"Let the joyful populace make these and other such arrangements to beautify the city, in honor of Rama's arrival."

Verse 13 (padma.5.3.13)

शेष उवाच। इति श्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं सुमुखो मंत्रवित्तमः । प्रययौ नगरीं कर्तुं कृतकौतुकतोरणाम्

śeṣa uvāca iti śrutvā tato vākyaṁ sumukho maṁtravittamaḥ prayayau nagarīṁ kartuṁ kṛtakautukatoraṇām

Shesha said: Having heard this command, Sumukha, most skilled in counsel, set out to adorn the city with festive arches.

Verse 14 (padma.5.3.14)

गत्वाथ नगरीं तां वै मंत्री तु सुमुखाभिधः । ख्यापयामास लोकानां रामागममहोत्सवम्

gatvātha nagarīṁ tāṁ vai maṁtrī tu sumukhābhidhaḥ khyāpayāmāsa lokānāṁ rāmāgamamahotsavam

Having gone to that city, the minister named Sumukha proclaimed to the people the great festival of Rama's arrival.

Verse 15 (padma.5.3.15)

लोकाः श्रुत्वा पुरीं प्राप्तं रघुनाथं सुहर्षिताः । पूर्वं तदीय विरहत्यक्तभोगसुखादयः

lokāḥ śrutvā purīṁ prāptaṁ raghunāthaṁ suharṣitāḥ pūrvaṁ tadīya virahatyaktabhogasukhādayaḥ

The people, hearing that Raghunatha had reached the city, were overjoyed — those who had earlier given up all pleasure because of separation from him.

Verse 16 (padma.5.3.16)

ब्राह्मणा वेदसंपन्नाः पवित्रा दर्भपाणयः । धौतोत्तरीयवलिता जग्मुः श्रीरघुनायकम्

brāhmaṇā vedasaṁpannāḥ pavitrā darbhapāṇayaḥ dhautottarīyavalitā jagmuḥ śrīraghunāyakam

Brahmins, learned in the Vedas, pure, with darbha grass in hand and clad in washed upper garments, went forth to Sri Raghunatha.

Verse 17 (padma.5.3.17)

क्षत्रिया ये शूरतमा धनुर्बाणधरा वराः । संग्रामे बहुशो वीरा जेतारो ययुरप्यमुम्

kṣatriyā ye śūratamā dhanurbāṇadharā varāḥ saṁgrāme bahuśo vīrā jetāro yayurapyamum

The kshatriyas — mightiest of warriors, bearers of excellent bows and arrows, heroes victorious in many battles — went to him as well.

Verse 18 (padma.5.3.18)

वैश्या धनसमृद्धाश्च मुद्राशोभितपाणयः । शुभ्रवस्त्रपरीधाना अभिजग्मुर्नरेश्वरम्

vaiśyā dhanasamṛddhāśca mudrāśobhitapāṇayaḥ śubhravastraparīdhānā abhijagmurnareśvaram

The vaishyas, prosperous in wealth, their hands adorned with coins, clad in white garments, went before that lord of men.

Verse 19 (padma.5.3.19)

शूद्रा द्विजेषु ये भक्ताः स्वीयाचारसुनिष्ठिताः । वेदाचाररता ये वै तेऽपिजग्मुः पुरीपतिम्

śūdrā dvijeṣu ye bhaktāḥ svīyācārasuniṣṭhitāḥ vedācāraratā ye vai te'pijagmuḥ purīpatim

The shudras devoted to the twice-born, firmly established in their own proper conduct, given to Vedic observance — they too went to that lord of the city.

Verse 20 (padma.5.3.20)

ये ये वृत्तिकरा लोकाः स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यधिष्ठिताः । स्वकं वस्तु समादाय ययुः श्रीरामभूपतिम्

ye ye vṛttikarā lokāḥ sve sve karmaṇyadhiṣṭhitāḥ svakaṁ vastu samādāya yayuḥ śrīrāmabhūpatim

All the people, engaged each in their own trade and occupation, took up their own wares and went to Sri Rama, the king.

Verse 21 (padma.5.3.21)

इत्थं भूपतिसंदेशात्प्रमोदाप्लवसंयुताः । नाना कौतुकसंयुक्ता आजग्मुर्मनुजेश्वरम्

itthaṁ bhūpatisaṁdeśātpramodāplavasaṁyutāḥ nānā kautukasaṁyuktā ājagmurmanujeśvaram

Thus, at the king's command, overflowing with joy and filled with many festive preparations, they came before that lord of men.

Verse 22 (padma.5.3.22)

शेष उवाच। रघुनाथोऽपि सकलैर्दैवतैः स्वस्वयानगैः । परीतः प्रविवेशोच्चैः पुरीं रचितमोहनाम्

śeṣa uvāca raghunātho'pi sakalairdaivataiḥ svasvayānagaiḥ parītaḥ praviveśoccaiḥ purīṁ racitamohanām

Shesha said: Raghunatha too, surrounded by all the gods, each in his own vehicle, entered in great splendor that city adorned to enchant the eye.

Verse 23 (padma.5.3.23)

प्लवंगाः प्लवनैर्युक्ता आकाशपथचारिणः । स्वस्वशोभापरीतांगाश्चानुजग्मुः पुरोत्तमम्

plavaṁgāḥ plavanairyuktā ākāśapathacāriṇaḥ svasvaśobhāparītāṁgāścānujagmuḥ purottamam

The monkeys, skilled leapers moving through the pathways of the sky, their bodies each shining with their own splendor, followed behind toward that great city.

Verse 24 (padma.5.3.24)

पुष्पकादवरुह्याशु नरयानमथारुहत् । सीतया सहितो रामः परिवारसमावृतः

puṣpakādavaruhyāśu narayānamathāruhat sītayā sahito rāmaḥ parivārasamāvṛtaḥ

Quickly descending from the Pushpaka, Rama, together with Sita and surrounded by his retinue, then mounted a palanquin borne by men.

Verse 25 (padma.5.3.25)

अयोध्यां प्रविवेशाथ कृतकौतुकतोरणाम् । हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णामुत्सवैः परीभूषिताम्

ayodhyāṁ praviveśātha kṛtakautukatoraṇām hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākīrṇāmutsavaiḥ parībhūṣitām

He then entered Ayodhya, adorned with festive arches, thronged with cheerful, well-fed people, decked out for celebration.

Verse 26 (padma.5.3.26)

वीणापणवभेर्यादिवादित्रैराहतैर्भृशम् । शोभमानः स्तूयमानः सूतमागधबंदिभिः

vīṇāpaṇavabheryādivāditrairāhatairbhṛśam śobhamānaḥ stūyamānaḥ sūtamāgadhabaṁdibhiḥ

Resplendent amid the loud sound of vina, drums, and kettledrums struck all together, and praised aloud by bards, panegyrists, and heralds —

Verse 27 (padma.5.3.27)

जय राघवरामेति जय सूर्यकुलांगद । जय दाशरथे देव जयताल्लोकनायकः

jaya rāghavarāmeti jaya sūryakulāṁgada jaya dāśarathe deva jayatāllokanāyakaḥ

"Victory to Raghava Rama! Victory to the ornament of the Solar dynasty! Victory, O son of Dasharatha, O Lord! Victory to the leader of all the worlds!"

Verse 28 (padma.5.3.28)

इति शृण्वञ्छुभां वाचं पौराणां हर्षितांगिनाम् । रामदर्शनसंजात पुलकोद्भेद शोभिनाम्

iti śṛṇvañchubhāṁ vācaṁ paurāṇāṁ harṣitāṁginām rāmadarśanasaṁjāta pulakodbheda śobhinām

Hearing this auspicious cry of the city-dwellers, whose bodies, thrilling with joy at the sight of Rama, stood beautifully bristling with horripilation —

Verse 29 (padma.5.3.29)

प्रविवेश वरं मार्गं रथ्याचत्वरभूषितम् । चंदनोदकसंसिक्तं पुष्पपल्लवसंयुतम्

praviveśa varaṁ mārgaṁ rathyācatvarabhūṣitam caṁdanodakasaṁsiktaṁ puṣpapallavasaṁyutam

he entered that excellent road, adorned with streets and squares, sprinkled with sandal-water, and strewn with flowers and fresh shoots.

Verse 30 (padma.5.3.30)

तदा पौरांगनाः काश्चिद्गवाक्षबिलमाश्रिताः । रघुनाथस्वरूपेक्षा जातकामा अथाब्रुवन्

tadā paurāṁganāḥ kāścidgavākṣabilamāśritāḥ raghunāthasvarūpekṣā jātakāmā athābruvan

Then some of the city-women, seated at their lattice windows, gazing upon Raghunatha's form and stirred with longing, spoke thus —

Verse 31 (padma.5.3.31)

पौरांगना ऊचुः। धन्या अभूवन्बत भिल्लकन्या वनेषु या राममुखारविंदम् । स्वलोचनेंदीवरकैरथापिबन्स्वभाग्यसंजातमहोदया इमाः

paurāṁganā ūcuḥ dhanyā abhūvanbata bhillakanyā vaneṣu yā rāmamukhāraviṁdam svalocaneṁdīvarakairathāpibansvabhāgyasaṁjātamahodayā imāḥ

The city-women said: "Blessed indeed were those forest-dwelling Bhilla maidens who, in the wilderness, drank in Rama's lotus-face with their own lotus-blue eyes — by their own destiny they attained this great fortune!"

Verse 32 (padma.5.3.32)

धन्यं मुखं पश्यत वीरधाम्नः श्रीरामदेवस्य सरोजनेत्रम् । यद्दर्शनं धातृमुखाः सुरा अपि प्रापुर्महद्भाग्ययुता वयंत्वहो

dhanyaṁ mukhaṁ paśyata vīradhāmnaḥ śrīrāmadevasya sarojanetram yaddarśanaṁ dhātṛmukhāḥ surā api prāpurmahadbhāgyayutā vayaṁtvaho

"Behold the blessed lotus-eyed face of Shri Ramadeva, abode of heroism! Even the gods, Brahma foremost, count its sight their great fortune — how fortunate are we today!"

Verse 33 (padma.5.3.33)

एतन्मुखं पश्यत चारुहासं किरीटसंशोभिनिजोत्तमांगम् । बंधूकधिक्कारलसच्छविप्रदं दंतच्छदं बिभ्रतमुच्चनासम्

etanmukhaṁ paśyata cāruhāsaṁ kirīṭasaṁśobhinijottamāṁgam baṁdhūkadhikkāralasacchavipradaṁ daṁtacchadaṁ bibhratamuccanāsam

"Behold this face — with its lovely smile, its head shining with a crown, its lips glowing with a hue that puts the bandhuka flower to shame, its high and graceful nose!"

Verse 34 (padma.5.3.34)

इति गदितवतीस्ताः स्नेहभारेण रामा नलिनदलसदृक्षैर्नेत्रपातैर्निरीक्ष्य । निखिलगुरुरनूनप्रेमभारं नृलोकं जननिगृहमियेष प्रोषितांगेन हृष्टः

iti gaditavatīstāḥ snehabhāreṇa rāmā nalinadalasadṛkṣairnetrapātairnirīkṣya nikhilagururanūnapremabhāraṁ nṛlokaṁ jananigṛhamiyeṣa proṣitāṁgena hṛṣṭaḥ

Having looked upon those women who spoke thus with glances soft as lotus petals, heavy with affection, Rama — the guru of all the world — beholding the human world overflowing with unstinting love, made his way joyfully, his long-absent form home once more, toward his mother's dwelling.