The Eve of the Coronation

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.4.1)

गतेष्वथ नृपो भूयः पौरेषु सह मन्त्रिभिः | मन्त्रयुत्वा ततश्चक्रे निश्चयज्ञः स निश्चयम् ॥ 4.1 ॥

gateṣvatha nṛpo bhūyaḥ paureṣu saha mantribhiḥ | mantrayutvā tataścakre niścayajñaḥ sa niścayam

Then, when the citizens had departed, the king, skilled in reaching decisions, took counsel once more with his ministers, and came to this resolve:

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.4.2)

श्व एव पुष्यो भविता श्वोऽभिषेच्यस्तु मे सुतः | रामो राजीवताम्राक्षो यौवराज्य इति प्रभुः ॥ 4.2 ॥

śva eva puṣyo bhavitā śvo'bhiṣecyastu me sutaḥ | rāmo rājīvatāmrākṣo yauvarājya iti prabhuḥ

"Tomorrow itself will be the Pushya asterism; tomorrow, then, my son Rama, whose eyes are like the red lotus, shall be consecrated to the office of crown prince."

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.4.3)

अथान्तर्गृहमासाद्य राजा दशरथस्तदा | सूतमामन्त्रयामास रामं पुनरिहानय ॥ 4.3 ॥

athāntargṛhamāsādya rājā daśarathastadā | sūtamāmantrayāmāsa rāmaṃ punarihānaya

Then, entering the inner apartments, King Dasharatha summoned the charioteer and said: "Bring Rama here once more."

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.4.4)

प्रतिगृह्य स तद्वाक्यं सूतः पुनरुपाययौ | रामस्य भवनं शीघ्रं राममानयितुं पुनः ॥ 4.4 ॥

pratigṛhya sa tadvākyaṃ sūtaḥ punarupāyayau | rāmasya bhavanaṃ śīghraṃ rāmamānayituṃ punaḥ

Receiving that command, the charioteer went once again quickly to Rama's dwelling, to bring Rama back a second time.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.4.5)

द्वाःस्थैरावेदितं तस्य रामायागमनं पुनः | श्रुत्वैव चापि रामस्तं प्राप्तं शङ्कान्वितोऽभवत् ॥ 4.5 ॥

dvāḥsthairāveditaṃ tasya rāmāyāgamanaṃ punaḥ | śrutvaiva cāpi rāmastaṃ prāptaṃ śaṅkānvito'bhavat

The doorkeepers announced his second arrival to Rama; and as soon as Rama heard that he had come again, he grew uneasy with doubt.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.4.6)

प्रवेश्य चैनं त्वरितं रामो वचन मब्रवीत् | यदागमनकृत्यं ते भूयस्तद्भ्रुह्यशेषतः ॥ 4.6 ॥

praveśya cainaṃ tvaritaṃ rāmo vacana mabravīt | yadāgamanakṛtyaṃ te bhūyastadbhruhyaśeṣataḥ

Rama had him brought in at once and said: "Tell me fully the purpose of your coming here again."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.4.7)

तमुवाच ततः सूतो राजा त्वां द्रष्टु मिच्छति | श्रुत्वा प्रमाणमत्र त्वं गमनायेतराय वा ॥ 4.7 ॥

tamuvāca tataḥ sūto rājā tvāṃ draṣṭu micchati | śrutvā pramāṇamatra tvaṃ gamanāyetarāya vā

The charioteer then said to him: "The king wishes to see you. Having heard this, you yourself must decide whether to go, or otherwise."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.4.8)

इति सूतवचः श्रुत्वा रामोऽथ त्वरयान्वितः | प्रययौ राजभवनं पुनर्द्रष्टुं नरेश्वरम् ॥ 4.8 ॥

iti sūtavacaḥ śrutvā rāmo'tha tvarayānvitaḥ | prayayau rājabhavanaṃ punardraṣṭuṃ nareśvaram

Hearing these words of the charioteer, Rama at once set out in haste for the royal palace, to see the lord of men once more.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.4.9)

तं श्रुत्वा समनुप्राप्तं रामं दशरथो नृपः | प्रवेश्यामास गृहं विवक्षुः प्रियमुत्तमम् ॥ 4.9 ॥

taṃ śrutvā samanuprāptaṃ rāmaṃ daśaratho nṛpaḥ | praveśyāmāsa gṛhaṃ vivakṣuḥ priyamuttamam

Hearing that Rama had arrived, King Dasharatha, wishing to tell him something dear and excellent, had him brought into his private chamber.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.4.10)

प्रविश्न्नेप च श्रीमान् राघवो भवनं पितुः | ददर्श पितरं दूरात् प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्ज्लिः ॥ 4.10 ॥

praviśnnepa ca śrīmān rāghavo bhavanaṃ pituḥ | dadarśa pitaraṃ dūrāt praṇipatya kṛtāñjliḥ

The glorious Raghava, as he entered his father's chamber, saw his father from afar, and bowed low with joined palms.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.4.11)

प्रणमन्तं समुत्थाप्य तं परिष्वज्य भूमिपः | प्रदिश्य चास्मै रुचिरमासनं पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ 4.11 ॥

praṇamantaṃ samutthāpya taṃ pariṣvajya bhūmipaḥ | pradiśya cāsmai ruciramāsanaṃ punarabravīt

The king raised him up as he bowed, embraced him, and offering him a beautiful seat, spoke to him again:

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.4.12)

राम वृद्धोऽस्मि दीर्घायुर्भुक्ता भोगा मयेप्सिताः | अन्न्वद्भिः क्रतुश्तैस्तथेष्टं भूरिदक्षिणैः ॥ 4.12 ॥

rāma vṛddho'smi dīrghāyurbhuktā bhogā mayepsitāḥ | annvadbhiḥ kratuśtaistatheṣṭaṃ bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ

"Rama, I have grown old, having lived long; I have enjoyed all the pleasures I desired; I have performed sacrifices by the hundred, rich with offerings of food and lavish with gifts to the priests.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.4.13)

जातमिष्टमपत्यं मे त्वमद्यानुपमं भुवि | दत्तमिष्टमधीतं च मया पुरुषसत्तम ॥ 4.13 ॥

jātamiṣṭamapatyaṃ me tvamadyānupamaṃ bhuvi | dattamiṣṭamadhītaṃ ca mayā puruṣasattama

O best of men, you were born to me as a beloved child unequalled on this earth; I have given gifts, performed sacrifices, and studied the scriptures.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.4.14)

अनुभूतानि चेष्टानि मया वीर सुखान्यपि | देवर्षिपितृविप्राणामनृणोऽस्मि तथात्मनः ॥ 4.14 ॥

anubhūtāni ceṣṭāni mayā vīra sukhānyapi | devarṣipitṛviprāṇāmanṛṇo'smi tathātmanaḥ

O hero, I have also enjoyed all the pleasures I desired; I am now free of debt to the gods, the sages, the ancestors, the brahmins, and to my own self.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.4.15)

न किञ्चिन्म कर्तव्यं तवान्यत्राभिषेचनात् | अतो युत्त्वामहं ब्रूयां तन्मे त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ 4.15 ॥

na kiñcinma kartavyaṃ tavānyatrābhiṣecanāt | ato yuttvāmahaṃ brūyāṃ tanme tvaṃ kartumarhasi

There remains nothing left for me to do save your consecration. Therefore, whatever I now ask of you, you should be willing to do for me.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.4.16)

अद्य प्रकृतयः सर्वास्त्वामिच्छन्ति नराधिपम् | अतस्त्वां युवराजानमभिषेक्ष्यामि पुत्रक ॥ 4.16 ॥

adya prakṛtayaḥ sarvāstvāmicchanti narādhipam | atastvāṃ yuvarājānamabhiṣekṣyāmi putraka

Today all the people desire you as their king; therefore, my dear son, I shall consecrate you as crown prince.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.4.17)

अपि चाद्याशुभान् राम स्वप्ने प्श्यामि दारुणान् | सनिर्घाता दिवोल्का च परतीह महास्वना ॥ 4.17 ॥

api cādyāśubhān rāma svapne pśyāmi dāruṇān | sanirghātā divolkā ca paratīha mahāsvanā

Moreover, O Rama, of late I have been seeing dreadful, inauspicious things in my dreams; thunderbolt-like meteors, loud with sound, fall even by day.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.4.18)

अवष्टब्धं च मे राम नक्षत्रं दारुणैर्ग्रहैः | आवेदयन्ति दैवज्ञावः सूर्याङ्गारकराहुभिः ॥ 4.18 ॥

avaṣṭabdhaṃ ca me rāma nakṣatraṃ dāruṇairgrahaiḥ | āvedayanti daivajñāvaḥ sūryāṅgārakarāhubhiḥ

The astrologers tell me, O Rama, that my birth star is being seized by dreadful planets — the Sun, Mars and Rahu.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.4.19)

प्रायेण हि निमित्तानामीदृशानां समुद्भवे | राजा हि मृत्युमाप्नोति घोरं वापदमृच्छति ॥ 4.19 ॥

prāyeṇa hi nimittānāmīdṛśānāṃ samudbhave | rājā hi mṛtyumāpnoti ghoraṃ vāpadamṛcchati

For generally, when such omens arise, a king either meets with death or falls into some dreadful calamity.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.4.20)

तद्यावदेव मे चेतो न विमुञ्चति राघव | तावदेवाभिषिञ्चस्व चला हि प्राणिनां मतिः ॥ 4.20 ॥

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

Therefore, O Raghava, be consecrated while my resolve still holds firm — for the minds of living beings are ever fickle.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.4.21)

अद्य चन्द्रोभ्युपगतः पुष्यात्पूर्वं पुनर्वसू | श्वः पुष्ययोगं नियतं वक्ष्यन्ते दैवचिन्तकाः ॥ 4.21 ॥

adya candrobhyupagataḥ puṣyātpūrvaṃ punarvasū | śvaḥ puṣyayogaṃ niyataṃ vakṣyante daivacintakāḥ

Today the moon has entered Punarvasu, which precedes Pushya; the astrologers assure me that tomorrow will surely be under the conjunction of Pushya.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.4.22)

ततः पुष्येऽभिषिञ्चस्व मनस्त्वरयतीव माम् | श्वस्त्वाहमभिषेक्ष्यामि यौवराज्ये परंतप ॥ 4.22 ॥

tataḥ puṣye'bhiṣiñcasva manastvarayatīva mām | śvastvāhamabhiṣekṣyāmi yauvarājye paraṃtapa

Therefore be consecrated under Pushya; my mind, as it were, urges me on. Tomorrow, O scourge of your foes, I shall consecrate you to the crown prince's office.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.4.23)

तस्मात्त्वयादप्रभृति निशेयं नियतात्मना | सह वध्वोपवस्तव्या दर्भप्रस्तरशायिना ॥ 4.23 ॥

tasmāttvayādaprabhṛti niśeyaṃ niyatātmanā | saha vadhvopavastavyā darbhaprastaraśāyinā

Therefore, from today onward, you, with disciplined mind, together with your wife, should observe a fast this night, and sleep upon a bed of kusha grass.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.4.24)

सुहृदश्चाप्रमत्तास्त्वां रक्षन्त्वद्य समन्ततः | भवन्ति बहुविघ्नानि कार्याण्येवंविधानि हि ॥ 4.24 ॥

suhṛdaścāpramattāstvāṃ rakṣantvadya samantataḥ | bhavanti bahuvighnāni kāryāṇyevaṃvidhāni hi

Let your friends, ever vigilant, guard you today on every side; for undertakings of this kind are often beset with many obstacles."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.4.25)

विप्रोषितश्च भरतो यावदेव पुरादितः | तावदेवाभिषेकस्ते प्राप्तकालो मतो मम ॥ 4.25 ॥

viproṣitaśca bharato yāvadeva purāditaḥ | tāvadevābhiṣekaste prāptakālo mato mama

"It is my judgement that the fitting time for your consecration is precisely while Bharata is still away from this city.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.4.26)

कामं खलु सतां वृत्ते भ्राता ते भरतः स्थितः | ज्येष्ठनुवर्ती धर्मात्मा सानुक्रोशो जितेन्द्रियः ॥ 4.26 ॥

kāmaṃ khalu satāṃ vṛtte bhrātā te bharataḥ sthitaḥ | jyeṣṭhanuvartī dharmātmā sānukrośo jitendriyaḥ

Not that your brother Bharata does not stand firmly in the conduct of the virtuous — he is righteous, compassionate, master of his senses, and ever follows his elder brother's lead;

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.4.27)

किन्तु चित्तं मनुष्याणामनित्यमिति मे मतिः | सतां च धर्मनित्यानां कृतशोभि च राघव ॥ 4.27 ॥

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

yet it is my opinion, O Raghava, that the minds of men are inconstant — and even good men, ever devoted to righteousness, may sometimes act on a sudden impulse."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.4.28)

इत्युक्तः सोओऽभ्यनुज्ञातः श्वोभाविन्यभिषेचने | व्रजेति रामः पितरमभिवाद्याभ्ययाद्गृहम् ॥ 4.28 ॥

ityuktaḥ soo'bhyanujñātaḥ śvobhāvinyabhiṣecane | vrajeti rāmaḥ pitaramabhivādyābhyayādgṛham

Having been told this, and given leave with the words "Go now," concerning the consecration to take place on the morrow, Rama saluted his father and returned to his own house.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.4.29)

प्रविश्य चात्मनो वेश्म राज्ञोद्धिष्टेऽभिषेचने | तत्क्षणेन च निर्गम्य मातुर्न्तःपुरं ययौ ॥ 4.29 ॥

praviśya cātmano veśma rājñoddhiṣṭe'bhiṣecane | tatkṣaṇena ca nirgamya māturntaḥpuraṃ yayau

Having entered his own house, now that the king had determined upon the consecration, he at once set out again and went to his mother's apartments.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.4.30)

तत्र तां प्रवणामेव मातरं क्षौमवासिनीम् | वाग्यतां देवतागारे ददर्शायाचतीं श्रियम् ॥ 4.30 ॥

tatra tāṃ pravaṇāmeva mātaraṃ kṣaumavāsinīm | vāgyatāṃ devatāgāre dadarśāyācatīṃ śriyam

There he saw his mother, clad in silken garments, absorbed in devotion, standing silent in the shrine room, praying to the goddess Shri.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.4.31)

प्रागेव चागता तत्र सुमित्रा लक्ष्मण स्तदा | सीता चानायिता श्रुत्वा प्रियं रामाभिषेचनम् ॥ 4.31 ॥

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

Sumitra and Lakshmana had already arrived there before him, on hearing the happy news of Rama's coming consecration, and Sita too had been sent for.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.4.32)

तस्मिन् काले हि कौसल्या तस्थावामीलितेक्षणा | सुमित्रयान्वास्यमाना सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च ॥ 4.32 ॥

tasmin kāle hi kausalyā tasthāvāmīlitekṣaṇā | sumitrayānvāsyamānā sītayā lakṣmaṇena ca

At that time Kausalya stood there with eyes half closed, attended closely by Sumitra, by Sita, and by Lakshmana.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.4.33)

श्रुत्वा पुष्येण पुत्रस्य यौवराज्याभिषेचनम् | प्राणायामेन पुरुषं ध्यायमाना जनार्दनम् ॥ 4.33 ॥

śrutvā puṣyeṇa putrasya yauvarājyābhiṣecanam | prāṇāyāmena puruṣaṃ dhyāyamānā janārdanam

Having heard of her son's consecration to the crown prince's office under the Pushya star, she, with controlled breath, was meditating upon the Supreme Being, Janardana.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.4.34)

तथा सनियमामेव सोऽभिगम्याभिवाद्य च | उवाच वचनं रामो हर्ष्यंस्तामिदं तदा ॥ 4.34 ॥

tathā saniyamāmeva so'bhigamyābhivādya ca | uvāca vacanaṃ rāmo harṣyaṃstāmidaṃ tadā

Rama approached her thus, engaged in her observance, saluted her, and then, to gladden her, spoke these words:

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.4.35)

अम्ब पित्रा नियुक्तोऽस्मि प्रजापालनकर्मणि | भविता श्वोऽभिषेको मे यथा मि शासनं पितुः ॥ 4.35 ॥

amba pitrā niyukto'smi prajāpālanakarmaṇi | bhavitā śvo'bhiṣeko me yathā mi śāsanaṃ pituḥ

"Mother, I have been appointed by father to the task of ruling the people; as my father has ordained, my consecration will take place tomorrow.

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.4.36)

सीतया प्युपवस्तव्या रजनीयं मया सह | एवमृत्विगुपाध्यायैस्सह मामुक्तवान् पिता ॥ 4.36 ॥

sītayā pyupavastavyā rajanīyaṃ mayā saha | evamṛtvigupādhyāyaissaha māmuktavān pitā

Sita too must observe a fast tonight together with me; so my father, together with the priests and preceptors, has instructed me."

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.4.37)

यानि यान्यत्र योग्यानि श्वो भाविन्यभिषेचने | तानि मे मङ्गळान्यद्य वैदेह्याश्चैव कारय ॥ 4.37 ॥

yāni yānyatra yogyāni śvo bhāvinyabhiṣecane | tāni me maṅgaḷānyadya vaidehyāścaiva kāraya

"Whatever auspicious rites are proper for tomorrow's coming consecration, have those performed for me and for Vaidehi this very day."

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.4.38)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु कौसल्या चिरकालाभिकाङ्क्षितम् | हर्ष्बाष्पकलं वाक्यमिदं राम मभाषत ॥ 4.38 ॥

etacchrutvā tu kausalyā cirakālābhikāṅkṣitam | harṣbāṣpakalaṃ vākyamidaṃ rāma mabhāṣata

Hearing this news, so long desired, Kausalya, her voice choked with tears of joy, spoke these words to Rama:

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.4.39)

वत्स राम चिरं जीव हतास्ते परिपन्थिनः | ज्ञातीन्मे त्वं श्रियायुक्तः सुमित्रायाश्च नन्दय ॥ 4.39 ॥

vatsa rāma ciraṃ jīva hatāste paripanthinaḥ | jñātīnme tvaṃ śriyāyuktaḥ sumitrāyāśca nandaya

"Live long, my child Rama! May your enemies be destroyed! Endowed with royal fortune, bring joy to my kinsfolk and to Sumitra's."

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.4.40)

कल्याणे बत न्क्षत्रे मयि जातोऽसि पुत्रक | येन त्वया दशरथो गुणैराराधितः पिता ॥ 4.40 ॥

kalyāṇe bata nkṣatre mayi jāto'si putraka | yena tvayā daśaratho guṇairārādhitaḥ pitā

"How fortunate, my son, that you were born to me under an auspicious star, through which you, by your virtues, have won the heart of your father Dasharatha!

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.4.41)

अमोघं बत मे क्षान्तं पुरुषे पुष्करेक्षणे | येयमिक्ष्वाकुराज्यश्रीः पुत्र त्वां संश्रयिष्यति ॥ 4.41 ॥

amoghaṃ bata me kṣāntaṃ puruṣe puṣkarekṣaṇe | yeyamikṣvākurājyaśrīḥ putra tvāṃ saṃśrayiṣyati

How fruitful, indeed, has been my patient devotion to the lotus-eyed Lord! For, my son, this very glory of the Ikshvaku kingdom is now about to take refuge in you."

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.4.42)

इत्येवमुक्तो मात्रेदं रामो भ्रातरमब्रवीत् | प्राञ्जलिं प्रह्वमासीनमभिवीख्स्य स्मयन्निव ॥ 4.42 ॥

ityevamukto mātredaṃ rāmo bhrātaramabravīt | prāñjaliṃ prahvamāsīnamabhivīkhsya smayanniva

Thus addressed by his mother, Rama, glancing with a slight smile at his brother, who sat nearby, bowed low with joined palms, spoke to him:

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.4.43)

लक्ष्मणेमां माया सार्धं प्रशाधि त्वं वसुन्धराम् | द्वितीयं मेऽन्तरात्मानं त्वामियं श्रीरुपस्थिता ॥ 4.43 ॥

lakṣmaṇemāṃ māyā sārdhaṃ praśādhi tvaṃ vasundharām | dvitīyaṃ me'ntarātmānaṃ tvāmiyaṃ śrīrupasthitā

"Lakshmana, rule this earth together with me; for this royal fortune has come now to you as well, you who are my second self."

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.4.44)

सौमित्रे भुङ्क्ष्व भोगां स्त्वमिष्टान् राज्यफलानि च | जीवितं च हि राज्यं च त्वदर्थमभिकामये ॥ 4.44 ॥

saumitre bhuṅkṣva bhogāṃ stvamiṣṭān rājyaphalāni ca | jīvitaṃ ca hi rājyaṃ ca tvadarthamabhikāmaye

"O son of Sumitra, enjoy whatever pleasures you desire, and the fruits of the kingdom too; for it is for your sake that I desire life and kingdom alike."

Shloka 45 (ayodhya.4.45)

इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामो मातरावभिवाद्य च | अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य सीतां च जगाम स्वं निवेश्नम् ॥ 4.45 ॥

ityuktvā lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmo mātarāvabhivādya ca | abhyanujñāpya sītāṃ ca jagāma svaṃ niveśnam

Having spoken thus to Lakshmana, Rama saluted both mothers, and, taking leave with Sita, went to his own dwelling.