Vasishtha's Errand and the Joy of Ayodhya

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.5.1)

सन्दिश्य रामं नृपतिः श्वोभाविन्यभिषेचने | पुरोहितं समाहूय वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ 5.1 ॥

sandiśya rāmaṃ nṛpatiḥ śvobhāvinyabhiṣecane | purohitaṃ samāhūya vasiṣṭhamidamabravīt

Having instructed Rama concerning the consecration to take place on the morrow, the king summoned his family priest Vasishtha and spoke to him thus:

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.5.2)

गच्छोपवासं काकुत्थ्सं कारयाद्य तपोधन | श्रीयशोराज्यलाभाय वध्वा सह यतव्रतम् ॥ 5.2 ॥

gacchopavāsaṃ kākutthsaṃ kārayādya tapodhana | śrīyaśorājyalābhāya vadhvā saha yatavratam

"O sage of great austerity, go now and have the disciplined Kakutstha, together with his wife, observe the fast today, for the attainment of glory, fame and the kingdom."

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.5.3)

तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः | स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान् ययौ रामनिवेशनम् ॥ 5.3 ॥

tatheti ca sa rājānamuktvā vedavidāṃ varaḥ | svayaṃ vasiṣṭho bhagavān yayau rāmaniveśanam

Saying "so be it" to the king, that foremost of the knowers of the Veda, the venerable Vasishtha, himself went to Rama's dwelling,

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.5.4)

उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः | ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृधव्रतः ॥ 5.4 ॥

upavāsayituṃ rāmaṃ mantravanmantrakovidaḥ | brāhmaṃ rathavaraṃ yuktamāsthāya sudṛdhavrataḥ

mounting an excellent chariot fitting for a brahmin, in order to have Rama, versed in sacred formulas, observe the fast together with its mantras — he, of unshaken vows and skilled in mantras himself.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.5.5)

स रामभवनं प्राप्य पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्रभम् | तिस्रः कक्ष्या रथेनैव विवेश मुनिसत्तमः ॥ 5.5 ॥

sa rāmabhavanaṃ prāpya pāṇḍurābhraghanaprabham | tisraḥ kakṣyā rathenaiva viveśa munisattamaḥ

That noblest of sages, having reached Rama's dwelling, radiant like a mass of white clouds, passed through its three courtyards riding in his very chariot.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.5.6)

तमागतमृषिं रामस्त्वरन्निव ससंभ्रमः | मानयिष्यन् स मानार्हं निश्चक्राम निवेशनात् ॥ 5.6 ॥

tamāgatamṛṣiṃ rāmastvaranniva sasaṃbhramaḥ | mānayiṣyan sa mānārhaṃ niścakrāma niveśanāt

Rama, wishing to honour the venerable sage who had arrived, hurried out from his house, almost in agitation.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.5.7)

अभ्येत्य त्वरमाणश्च रथाभ्याशं मनीषिणः | ततोऽवतारयामास परिगृह्य रथात्स्वयम् ॥ 5.7 ॥

abhyetya tvaramāṇaśca rathābhyāśaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ | tato'vatārayāmāsa parigṛhya rathātsvayam

Hastening up close to the wise sage's chariot, he then, with his own hands, helped him down from it.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.5.8)

सचैनं प्रश्रितं दृष्ट्वा सं भाष्याभिप्रसाद्य च | प्रियार्हं हर्षयन् राममित्युवाच पुरोहितः ॥ 5.8 ॥

sacainaṃ praśritaṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃ bhāṣyābhiprasādya ca | priyārhaṃ harṣayan rāmamityuvāca purohitaḥ

The family priest, seeing him so humble, spoke to him graciously, and, delighting Rama, who was deserving of every affection, said this:

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.5.9)

प्रसन्नस्ते पिता राम यौवराज्यमवाप्स्यसि | उपवासं भवानद्य करोतु सह सीतया ॥ 5.9 ॥

prasannaste pitā rāma yauvarājyamavāpsyasi | upavāsaṃ bhavānadya karotu saha sītayā

"Rama, your father is well pleased with you; you shall attain the office of crown prince. Observe the fast today, together with Sita."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.5.10)

प्रातस्त्वामभिषेक्ता हि यौवराज्ये नराधिपः | पिता दशरथः प्रीत्या ययातिं नहुषो यथा ॥ 5.10 ॥

prātastvāmabhiṣektā hi yauvarājye narādhipaḥ | pitā daśarathaḥ prītyā yayātiṃ nahuṣo yathā

"For tomorrow morning your father, King Dasharatha, will affectionately consecrate you to the office of crown prince, as Nahusha once did for Yayati."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.5.11)

इत्युक्त्वा स तदा राम मुपवासं यतव्रतम् | मन्त्रवत् कारयामास वैदेह्या सहितं मुनिः ॥ 5.11 ॥

ityuktvā sa tadā rāma mupavāsaṃ yatavratam | mantravat kārayāmāsa vaidehyā sahitaṃ muniḥ

Having said this, the sage then had Rama, disciplined in his vows, together with Vaidehi, undertake the fast with due mantras.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.5.12)

ततो यथावद्रामेण स राज्ञो गुरुरर्चितः | अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य काकुत्थ्सं ययौ रामनिवेशनात् ॥ 5.12 ॥

tato yathāvadrāmeṇa sa rājño gururarcitaḥ | abhyanujñāpya kākutthsaṃ yayau rāmaniveśanāt

Then, having been duly honoured by Rama, the king's preceptor took leave of Kakutstha and departed from Rama's dwelling.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.5.13)

सुहृद्भिस्तत्र रामोऽपि सहासीनः प्रियंवदैः | सभाजितो विवेशाथ ताननुज्ञाप्य सर्वशः ॥ 5.13 ॥

suhṛdbhistatra rāmo'pi sahāsīnaḥ priyaṃvadaiḥ | sabhājito viveśātha tānanujñāpya sarvaśaḥ

Rama too sat there for a while with his sweet-spoken friends, and, having been congratulated by them in every way, took leave of them and went within.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.5.14)

हृष्टनारीनरयुतं रामवेश्म तदा बबौ | यथा मत्तद्विजगणं प्रपुल्लनलिनं सरः ॥ 5.14 ॥

hṛṣṭanārīnarayutaṃ rāmaveśma tadā babau | yathā mattadvijagaṇaṃ prapullanalinaṃ saraḥ

Then Rama's dwelling, filled with joyful men and women, shone forth like a lake covered with blooming lotuses and thronged with intoxicated flocks of birds.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.5.15)

स राजभवनप्रख्यात्तस्माद्रामनिवेशनात् | निर्गत्य ददृशे मार्गं वसिष्ठो जनसंवृतम् ॥ 5.15 ॥

sa rājabhavanaprakhyāttasmādrāmaniveśanāt | nirgatya dadṛśe mārgaṃ vasiṣṭho janasaṃvṛtam

Going out from that dwelling of Rama, resembling a royal palace itself, Vasishtha saw the road thronged with people.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.5.16)

बृन्दबृन्दैरयोध्यायां राजमार्गाः समन्ततः | बभूवुरभिसंबाधाः कुतूहलजनैर्वृताः ॥ 5.16 ॥

bṛndabṛndairayodhyāyāṃ rājamārgāḥ samantataḥ | babhūvurabhisaṃbādhāḥ kutūhalajanairvṛtāḥ

In Ayodhya, on every side, the royal roads had become crowded and congested with throngs of curious people gathered in groups.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.5.17)

जनबृन्दोर्मिसंघर्षहर्षस्वनवतस्तदा | बभूव राजमार्गस्य सागरस्येव निस्वनः ॥ 5.17 ॥

janabṛndormisaṃgharṣaharṣasvanavatastadā | babhūva rājamārgasya sāgarasyeva nisvanaḥ

Then, from the surging of the waves of people jostling one another in their joy, the sound of the royal road became like the roar of the ocean.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.5.18)

सिक्तसंमृष्टरथ्या हि तदहर्वनमालिनी | आसीदयोध्या नगरी समुच्छ्रितगृहध्वजा ॥ 5.18 ॥

siktasaṃmṛṣṭarathyā hi tadaharvanamālinī | āsīdayodhyā nagarī samucchritagṛhadhvajā

On that day the city of Ayodhya, its streets sprinkled and swept clean, garlanded with rows of trees, had banners raised high over every house.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.5.19)

तदा ह्ययोध्यानिलयः सस्त्रीबालाबलो जनः | रामाभिषेकमाकाञ्क्षन्नाकाण्क्षदुदयं रवेः ॥ 5.19 ॥

tadā hyayodhyānilayaḥ sastrībālābalo janaḥ | rāmābhiṣekamākāñkṣannākāṇkṣadudayaṃ raveḥ

Then the people dwelling in Ayodhya, women, children and the aged among them, longing for Rama's consecration, waited eagerly for the sun to rise.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.5.20)

प्रजालङ्कारभूतं च जनस्यानन्दवर्धनम् | उत्सुकोऽभूज्जनो द्रष्टुं तमयोध्यामहोत्सवम् ॥ 5.20 ॥

prajālaṅkārabhūtaṃ ca janasyānandavardhanam | utsuko'bhūjjano draṣṭuṃ tamayodhyāmahotsavam

The people were eager to witness that great festival of Ayodhya, an ornament to its citizens and a source of ever-growing joy to all.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.5.21)

एवं तं जनसंबाधं राजमार्गं पुरोहितः | व्यूहन्निव जनौघं तं शनैराजकुलं ययौ ॥ 5.21 ॥

evaṃ taṃ janasaṃbādhaṃ rājamārgaṃ purohitaḥ | vyūhanniva janaughaṃ taṃ śanairājakulaṃ yayau

Thus the family priest, making his way slowly through that royal road crowded with people, parting the multitude as it were, proceeded to the royal palace.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.5.22)

सिताभ्रशिखरप्रख्यं प्रासादमधिरुह्य सः | समीयाय नरेन्द्रेण शक्रेणेव बृहस्पतिः ॥ 5.22 ॥

sitābhraśikharaprakhyaṃ prāsādamadhiruhya saḥ | samīyāya narendreṇa śakreṇeva bṛhaspatiḥ

Ascending the palace, which resembled a peak of white cloud, he met with the king, as Brihaspati meets with Indra.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.5.23)

तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य हित्वा राजासनं नृपः | पप्रच्छ स च तस्मै तत्कृतमित्यभ्यवेदयत् ॥ 5.23 ॥

tamāgatamabhiprekṣya hitvā rājāsanaṃ nṛpaḥ | papraccha sa ca tasmai tatkṛtamityabhyavedayat

Seeing him arrive, the king rose from his royal seat and questioned him; and Vasishtha informed him that all had been accomplished.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.5.24)

तेन चैव तदा तुल्यं सहासीनाः सभासदः | आसनेभ्यः समुत्तस्थुः पूजयन्तः पुरोहितम् ॥ 5.24 ॥

tena caiva tadā tulyaṃ sahāsīnāḥ sabhāsadaḥ | āsanebhyaḥ samuttasthuḥ pūjayantaḥ purohitam

The courtiers seated there, following the king's own example, likewise rose from their seats, honouring the family priest.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.5.25)

गुरुणा त्वभ्यनुज्ञातो मनिजौघं विसृज्य तम् | विवेशान्तःपुरं राजा सिंहो गिरिगुहामिव ॥ 5.25 ॥

guruṇā tvabhyanujñāto manijaughaṃ visṛjya tam | viveśāntaḥpuraṃ rājā siṃho giriguhāmiva

Given leave by his preceptor, the king dismissed that gathering of men and entered his inner apartments, as a lion enters a mountain cave.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.5.26)

तमग्र्यवेष्प्रमदाजनाकुलं | महेन्द्रवेश्मप्रतिमं निवेशनम् | विदीपयंश्चारु विवेश पार्थिवः | शशीव तारागणसंकुलं नभः ॥ 5.26 ॥

tamagryaveṣpramadājanākulaṃ | mahendraveśmapratimaṃ niveśanam | vidīpayaṃścāru viveśa pārthivaḥ | śaśīva tārāgaṇasaṃkulaṃ nabhaḥ

The king entered that palace, thronged with beautifully adorned women, resembling the mansion of great Indra, and made it shine even more brightly, as the moon lights up the lovely sky filled with clusters of stars.