The Joyful Return to Ayodhya

Shloka 1 (bala.77.1)

गते रामे प्रशांतात्मा रामो दाशरथिर्धनुः। वरुणायाप्रमेयाय ददौ हस्ते महायशाः ॥ १-७७-१ ॥

gate rāme praśāṃtātmā rāmo dāśarathirdhanuḥ| varuṇāyāprameyāya dadau haste mahāyaśāḥ || 1-77-1 ||

When Rama, son of Jamadagni, had departed, Rama, son of Dasharatha, his mind now at peace, that greatly renowned one, gave the bow into the hand of the immeasurable Varuna.

Shloka 2 (bala.77.2)

अभिवाद्य ततो रामो वसिष्ठ प्रमुखानृषीन्। पितरं विह्वलं दृष्ट्वा प्रोवाच रघुनंदनः ॥ १-७७-२ ॥

abhivādya tato rāmo vasiṣṭha pramukhānṛṣīn| pitaraṃ vihvalaṃ dṛṣṭvā provāca raghunaṃdanaḥ || 1-77-2 ||

Then, having saluted Vashishtha and the foremost sages, Rama, scion of Raghu, seeing his father overwhelmed, spoke to him.

Shloka 3 (bala.77.3)

जामदग्न्यो गतो रामः प्रयातु चतुरङ्गिगिणी। अयोध्याभिमुखी सेना त्वया नाथेन पालिता ॥ १-७७-३ ॥

jāmadagnyo gato rāmaḥ prayātu caturaṅgigiṇī| ayodhyābhimukhī senā tvayā nāthena pālitā || 1-77-3 ||

"Rama, son of Jamadagni, has departed; now let the four-fold army, protected by you, its lord, proceed toward Ayodhya."

Shloka 4 (bala.77.4)

4,5 रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दशरथः सुतम्। बाहुभ्यां संपरिष्वज्य मूर्ध्नि चाघ्राय राघवम् ॥ १-७७-४ ॥

4,5 rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā daśarathaḥ sutam| bāhubhyāṃ saṃpariṣvajya mūrdhni cāghrāya rāghavam || 1-77-4 ||

Hearing Rama's words, King Dasharatha embraced his son with both arms and kissed Raghava upon the head.

Shloka 5 (bala.77.5)

गतो राम इति श्रुत्वा हृष्टः प्रमुदितो नृपः। पुनर्जातं तदा मेने पुत्रमात्मानमेव च ॥ १-७७-५ ॥

gato rāma iti śrutvā hṛṣṭaḥ pramudito nṛpaḥ| punarjātaṃ tadā mene putramātmānameva ca || 1-77-5 ||

Hearing that Rama, son of Jamadagni, had gone, the king, delighted and rejoicing, deemed his son, and himself, as if born anew.

Shloka 6 (bala.77.6)

चोदयामास तां सेनां जगामाशु ततः पुरीम्। पताकाध्वजिनीं रम्यां तूर्योद्घुष्टनिनादिताम् ॥ १-७७-६ ॥

codayāmāsa tāṃ senāṃ jagāmāśu tataḥ purīm| patākādhvajinīṃ ramyāṃ tūryodghuṣṭanināditām || 1-77-6 ||

He then set that army in motion, and it quickly proceeded toward the city, lovely with its flags and banners, resounding with the blare of trumpets.

Shloka 7 (bala.77.7)

सिक्तराजपथां रम्यां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्। राजप्रवेशसुमुखैः पौरैर्मंगलपाणिभिः ॥ १-७७-७ ॥

siktarājapathāṃ ramyāṃ prakīrṇakusumotkarām| rājapraveśasumukhaiḥ paurairmaṃgalapāṇibhiḥ || 1-77-7 ||

That lovely city's royal roads were sprinkled with water and strewn with heaps of flowers, and citizens with joyful faces stood ready for the king's entry, hands filled with auspicious offerings.

Shloka 8 (bala.77.8)

संपूर्णां प्राविशद्राजा जनौघैः समलंकृताम्। पौरैः प्रत्युद्गतो दूरं द्विजैश्च पुरवासिभिः ॥ १-७७-८ ॥

saṃpūrṇāṃ prāviśadrājā janaughaiḥ samalaṃkṛtām| pauraiḥ pratyudgato dūraṃ dvijaiśca puravāsibhiḥ || 1-77-8 ||

The king entered that city, full and adorned with crowds of people, having been received from afar by the citizens and by the Brahmins dwelling there.

Shloka 9 (bala.77.9)

पुत्रैरनुगतः श्रीमान् श्रीमद्भिश्च महायशाः। प्रविवेश गृहं राजा हिमवत्सदृशं प्रियम् ॥ १-७७-९ ॥

putrairanugataḥ śrīmān śrīmadbhiśca mahāyaśāḥ| praviveśa gṛhaṃ rājā himavatsadṛśaṃ priyam || 1-77-9 ||

That glorious and greatly renowned king, followed by his splendid sons, entered his beloved palace, as majestic as the Himalaya.

Shloka 10 (bala.77.10)

ननन्द स्वजनै राजा गृहे कामैः सुपूजितः। कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च कैकेयी च सुमध्यमा ॥ १-७७-१० ॥

nananda svajanai rājā gṛhe kāmaiḥ supūjitaḥ| kausalyā ca sumitrā ca kaikeyī ca sumadhyamā || 1-77-10 ||

The king rejoiced in his household among his own people, well-honoured and with every wish fulfilled; and Kausalya, Sumitra, and slender-waisted Kaikeyi—

Shloka 11 (bala.77.11)

वधूप्रतिग्रहे युक्ता याश्चान्या राजयोषितः। ततः सीतां महाभागामूर्मिलां च यशस्विनीम् ॥ १-७७-११ ॥

vadhūpratigrahe yuktā yāścānyā rājayoṣitaḥ| tataḥ sītāṃ mahābhāgāmūrmilāṃ ca yaśasvinīm || 1-77-11 ||

—and the other royal ladies too, occupied themselves with receiving the brides. Then they welcomed the most fortunate Sita and the renowned Urmila—

Shloka 12 (bala.77.12)

कुशध्वजसुते चोभे जगृहुर्नृपयोषितः। मंगलालापनैर्होमैः शोभिताः क्षौमवाससः ॥ १-७७-१२ ॥

kuśadhvajasute cobhe jagṛhurnṛpayoṣitaḥ| maṃgalālāpanairhomaiḥ śobhitāḥ kṣaumavāsasaḥ || 1-77-12 ||

—and both the daughters of Kushadhvaja too; the royal ladies, resplendent in silken garments, received them with auspicious words and sacred rites.

Shloka 13 (bala.77.13)

देवतायतनान्याशु सर्वास्ताः प्रत्यपूजयन्। अभिवाद्याभिवाद्यांश्च सर्वा राजसुतास्तदा ॥ १-७७-१३ ॥

devatāyatanānyāśu sarvāstāḥ pratyapūjayan| abhivādyābhivādyāṃśca sarvā rājasutāstadā || 1-77-13 ||

They all promptly worshipped at the temples of the gods; and then all those royal brides paid homage to all who were worthy of homage.

Shloka 14 (bala.77.14)

रेमिरे मुदिताः सर्वा भर्तृभिः सहिता रहः। कृतदाराः कृतास्त्राश्च सधनाः ससुहृज्जनाः ॥ १-७७-१४ ॥

remire muditāḥ sarvā bhartṛbhiḥ sahitā rahaḥ| kṛtadārāḥ kṛtāstrāśca sadhanāḥ sasuhṛjjanāḥ || 1-77-14 ||

All of them, joyful, took delight with their husbands in private. Now wedded, skilled in arms, possessed of wealth and surrounded by friends—

Shloka 15 (bala.77.15)

शुश्रूषमाणाः पितरं वर्तयन्ति नरर्षभाः। कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य राजा दशरधः सुतम् ॥ १-७७-१५ ॥

śuśrūṣamāṇāḥ pitaraṃ vartayanti nararṣabhāḥ| kasyacittvatha kālasya rājā daśaradhaḥ sutam || 1-77-15 ||

—those bulls among men occupied themselves in the service of their father. Then, after some time, King Dasharatha spoke to his son—

Shloka 16 (bala.77.16)

भरतं कैकेयीपुत्रमब्रवीद्रघुनन्दनः। अयं केकयराजस्य पुत्रो वसति पुत्रक ॥ १-७७-१६ ॥

bharataṃ kaikeyīputramabravīdraghunandanaḥ| ayaṃ kekayarājasya putro vasati putraka || 1-77-16 ||

—Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, and said, that scion of Raghu, "This son of the King of Kekaya has been staying here, my child—"

Shloka 17 (bala.77.17)

त्वां नेतुमागतो वीरो युधाजिन्मातुलस्तव। श्रुत्वा दशरथस्यैतद्भरतः कैकेयीसुतः ॥ १-७७-१७ ॥

tvāṃ netumāgato vīro yudhājinmātulastava| śrutvā daśarathasyaitadbharataḥ kaikeyīsutaḥ || 1-77-17 ||

"—this valiant Yudhajit, your maternal uncle, has come to take you away." Having heard this from Dasharatha, Bharata, son of Kaikeyi—

Shloka 18 (bala.77.18)

गमनायाभिचक्राम शत्रुघ्नसहितस्तदा। आपृच्छ्य पितरं शूरो रामं चाक्लिष्टकर्मणम् ॥ १-७७-१८ ॥

gamanāyābhicakrāma śatrughnasahitastadā| āpṛcchya pitaraṃ śūro rāmaṃ cākliṣṭakarmaṇam || 1-77-18 ||

—then made ready to depart, together with Shatrughna. That valiant one, having taken leave of his father and of Rama, whose deeds are unimpeded—

Shloka 19 (bala.77.19)

मातृश्चापि नरश्रेष्टः शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ। युधाजित् प्राप्य भरतं सशत्रुघ्नं प्रहर्षितः ॥ १-७७-१९ ॥

mātṛścāpi naraśreṣṭaḥ śatrughnasahito yayau| yudhājit prāpya bharataṃ saśatrughnaṃ praharṣitaḥ || 1-77-19 ||

—and from his mothers too, that best of men set out together with Shatrughna. Yudhajit, having gained Bharata together with Shatrughna, greatly delighted—

Shloka 20 (bala.77.20)

स्वपुरं प्राविशद्वीरः पिता तस्य तुतोष ह। गते च भरते रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः ॥ १-७७-२० ॥

svapuraṃ prāviśadvīraḥ pitā tasya tutoṣa ha| gate ca bharate rāmo lakṣmaṇaśca mahābalaḥ || 1-77-20 ||

—that hero entered his own city, and his father was greatly gladdened. And when Bharata had gone, Rama and the mighty Lakshmana—

Shloka 21 (bala.77.21)

पितरं देवसंकाशं पूजयामासतुस्तदा। पितुराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य पौरकार्याणि सर्वशः ॥ १-७७-२१ ॥

pitaraṃ devasaṃkāśaṃ pūjayāmāsatustadā| piturājñāṃ puraskṛtya paurakāryāṇi sarvaśaḥ || 1-77-21 ||

—then honoured their god-like father. Placing their father's command foremost, in every matter concerning the affairs of the citizens—

Shloka 22 (bala.77.22)

चकार रामः सर्वाणि प्रियाणि च हितानि च। मातृभ्यो मातृकार्याणि कृत्वा परमयंत्रितः ॥ १-७७-२२ ॥

cakāra rāmaḥ sarvāṇi priyāṇi ca hitāni ca| mātṛbhyo mātṛkāryāṇi kṛtvā paramayaṃtritaḥ || 1-77-22 ||

—Rama did all that was both pleasing and beneficial. Having performed, with utmost self-restraint, his duties toward his mothers—

Shloka 23 (bala.77.23)

गुरूणां गुरुकार्याणि काले कालेऽन्ववैक्षत। एवं दशरथः प्रीतो ब्राह्मणा नैगमास्तथा ॥ १-७७-२३ ॥

gurūṇāṃ gurukāryāṇi kāle kāle'nvavaikṣata| evaṃ daśarathaḥ prīto brāhmaṇā naigamāstathā || 1-77-23 ||

—he attended, again and again, to the duties owed to his elders. Thus Dasharatha was pleased, and so too were the Brahmins and the merchants—

Shloka 24 (bala.77.24)

रामस्य शीलवृत्तेन सर्वं विषयवासिनः। तेषामतियशा लोके रामः सत्यपराक्रमः ॥ १-७७-२४ ॥

rāmasya śīlavṛttena sarvaṃ viṣayavāsinaḥ| teṣāmatiyaśā loke rāmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ || 1-77-24 ||

—and all the inhabitants of the realm, pleased by Rama's character and conduct. Great was Rama's renown among them in the world, true in valour as he was.

Shloka 25 (bala.77.25)

स्वयम्भूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः। रामश्च सीतया सार्धं विजहार बहूनृतून् ॥ १-७७-२५ ॥

svayambhūriva bhūtānāṃ babhūva guṇavattaraḥ| rāmaśca sītayā sārdhaṃ vijahāra bahūnṛtūn || 1-77-25 ||

He became, like the Self-existent one, the most excellent in virtue among all beings. And Rama sported with Sita through many seasons.

Shloka 26 (bala.77.26)

मनस्वी तद्गतमानस्य तस्या हृदि समर्पितः। प्रिया तु सीता रामस्य दाराः पितृकृता इति ॥ १-७७-२६ ॥

manasvī tadgatamānasya tasyā hṛdi samarpitaḥ| priyā tu sītā rāmasya dārāḥ pitṛkṛtā iti || 1-77-26 ||

That high-minded one, his heart wholly given to her, was devoted to her alone; and Sita, wedded with his father's sanction, was Rama's beloved wife.

Shloka 27 (bala.77.27)

गुणाद्रूपगुणाच्चापि प्रीतिर्भूयोऽभिवर्धते। तस्याश्च भर्ता द्विगुणं हृदये परिवर्तते ॥ १-७७-२७ ॥

guṇādrūpaguṇāccāpi prītirbhūyo'bhivardhate| tasyāśca bhartā dviguṇaṃ hṛdaye parivartate || 1-77-27 ||

By her virtues, and by the virtue of her beauty too, his love grew ever greater; and in her heart, her husband's place grew twice as large in return.

Shloka 28 (bala.77.28)

अन्तर्गतमपि व्यक्तमाख्याति हृदयं हृदा। तस्य भूयो विशेषेण मैथिली जनकात्मजा। देवताभिः समा रूपे सीता श्रीरिव रूपिणी ॥ १-७७-२८ ॥

antargatamapi vyaktamākhyāti hṛdayaṃ hṛdā| tasya bhūyo viśeṣeṇa maithilī janakātmajā| devatābhiḥ samā rūpe sītā śrīriva rūpiṇī || 1-77-28 ||

Heart made known to heart even what lay hidden within. And more especially, the Maithili, Janaka's daughter Sita, equal to the goddesses in beauty, was lovely as Shri herself in bodily form.

Shloka 29 (bala.77.29)

तया स राजर्षिसुतोऽभिकामया समेयिवानुत्तमराजकन्यया। अतीव रामः शुशुभे मुदान्वितो विभुः श्रिया विष्णुरिवामरेश्वरः ॥ १-७७-२९ ॥

tayā sa rājarṣisuto'bhikāmayā sameyivānuttamarājakanyayā| atīva rāmaḥ śuśubhe mudānvito vibhuḥ śriyā viṣṇurivāmareśvaraḥ || 1-77-29 ||

United with her, that best of royal maidens who loved him, the son of the royal sage shone forth exceedingly, filled with joy — like mighty Vishnu, lord of immortals, together with Shri.