Summary
In this chapter, Sumantra enters the royal court and observes all the arrangements made for the coronation of Sri Rama. Ordered by Dasaratha to fetch Sri Rama, he enters the mighty building of Sri Rama.
Chapter [Sarga] 15 in Detail

te tu taam rajaniim usya braahmanaa veda paaragaah |
upatasthur upasthaanam saha raaja purohitaah || 2-15-1
Those Brahmans skilled in Vedas stayed there all the night and arrived at a nearby place along with the royal priest, Vashishta.
amaatyaa bala mukhyaah ca mukhyaa ye nigamasya ca |
raaghavasya abhiseka arthe priiyamaanaah tu samgataah || 2-15-2
Ministers, army chiefs, prominent leaders of the city assembled there, welcoming the cause of Rama's coronation.
udite vimale suurye pusye ca abhyaagate ahani |
abhisekaaya raamasya dvija indraih upakalpitam || 2-15-3
kaancanaa jala kumbhaah ca bhadra piitham svalamkrtam |
The best of Brahmanas were prepared to do Rama's coronation in day-time after the sun rises clearly at the arrival of Pushya star and on arrival of Rama's auspicious birth time of Cancer.
kaajnchanaa jalakumaabhashcha bhadrapiitham svalakritam || 2-15-4
rathashcha samyagaa stiirnobhaasvataa vyaagracharmanaa |
Golden water-pots, well-decorated throne and chariot covered well by shining tiger-skin were impressive.
gagaayamunayoh punyaatsagamaadaahritam jalam || 2-15-5
yaashchaanyaah saritah punyaa hradaah kuupaah saraamsi cha |
praagvaahaashchordhvavaahaashcha tiryagvaahaa ssamaahitaah || 2-15-6
taabhyashchaivaahritam to yam samudrebhyashcha sarvashah |
Water was brought from auspicious conjunction of rivers ganga and Yamuna, from other rivers, lakes, wells, ponds, from streams flowing eastwards, from streams which joined together and from oceans in all sides.
salaajaah kshiiribhishchhannaa ghataah kaajnchanaraajataah || 2-15-7
padmotpalayutaa bhaanti puurnaah paramavaarinaa |
Gold and silver pots filled with best water together with popped grain and covered by milky sapped leaves, lotuses and water-lilies were shining there.
kshaudram dadhi ghritam laajaa darbhaah sumanasah payah || 2-15-8
veshyaashchaiva shubhaachaaraah sarvaabharanabhuushhitaah |
Honey, curd, clarified butter popped grain, sacred grass, flowers and milk were kept ready. Harlots adorned with all types of ornaments were also glimmering there.
chandraamshuvikachaprakhyam kaajnchanam ratnabhushhitam ||2-15-9
sajjam tishhthati raamasya vaalavyajanamuttamam |
An excellent fly-flopper which was like spread-out rays of moon, made of gold, adorned with diamonds was kept ready for Rama.
chandramandalasamkaashamaatapatram cha paanduram || 2-15-10
sajjam dyutikaram shriimadabhishhekapuraskritam |
A white umbrella like circular moon, which was kept in advance for the occasion of coronation, was also kept ready.
paandurashcha vrishhah sajjah paanduro.asvashcha susthitah || 2-15-11
prasritashcha gajah shriimaanaupavaahyah pratiikshate |
A white bull, a white horse a mighty and beautiful elephant which was fit to be mounted by kings were readily waiting.
ashhtau cha kanyaa maagalyaah sarvaabharanabhuushhitaah || 2-15-12
vaaditraani cha sarvaani vandinashcha tathaapare |
Eight auspicious virgins adorned all types of ornaments, various types of musical instruments, panegyrists and others were also waiting.
ikshvaakuunaam yathaa raajye sambhriyetaabhishhechanam || 2-15-13
tathaajaatiiyamaadaaya raajaputraabhishhechanm |
te raajavachanaattatra samavetaa mahiipatim || 2-15-14
apashyanto.abruvan ko bu raajjnonah pratipaadayet |
The people who gathered there after getting the things required as per orders of king for coronation ceremony to be held in a kingdom of Ikshvaku dynasty, could not sight the king and discussed among themselves about how to inform the king regarding their arrival.
na pashyaamashcha raajaanamuditashcha divaakarah || 2-15-15
yauvaraajyaabhishhekashcha sajjo raamasya dhiimatah |
“The king is not being seen. The sun has risen. Everything is ready for the coronation of Rama, the wise".
iti teshhu bruvaaneshhu saarvabhaumaan mahiipatiin || 2-15-16
abraviittaanidam sarvaansumantro raajasatkritah |
Sumantra, who received good respect from Dasaratha, heard them thus speaking and addressed those kings, who came from different countries.
raamah ca samyag aastiirno bhaasvaraa vyaaghra carmanaa || 2-15-17
gangaa yamunayoh punyaat samgamaat aahrtam jalam |
"I am going to Rama quickly as per king's directions. But, you are all worthy of worship by Dasaratha and by Rama in particular."
ayam prichchhaami vachanaat sukhamaayushhmataamaham || 2-15-18
raajjnh sampratibuddhasya chaanaagamanakaaranam |
"I shall ask as your word about the well-being of king who is now awake and also about the reason of his not coming here."
ityuktvaantahpuradvaaramaajagaama puraanavit || 2-15-19
sadaasaktam cha tadveshma sumantrah pravivesha ha |
That Sumantra, knower of sacred works spoke thus, approached entrance of royal palace and entered the inner quarters which is always kept closed.
tushhtaavaasya tadaa vamsham pravishya sa vishaam pateh || 2-15-20
shayaniiyam narendhrasya tadasaadya vyatishhthata |
He entered the inner quarters and praised the king's dynasty. He approached the royal bedroom and stood there at a distance.
soatyaasaadya tu tadveshma tiraskarini mantraa || 2-15-21
aashiirbhirgunayuktaabhirabhitushhtaava raaghavam |
He entered the bedroom, approached nearer to the curtain there and praised Dasaratha's qualities with blessings.
somasuuryau cha kaakutstha shivavaishravanaavapi || 2-15-22
varunashchagnirindrashcha vijayam pradishantu te |
"Oh, king Dasaratha! Let sun and the moon, guardians of the world like Shiva and Kubera, Varuna, Agni and Indra grant victory to you!"
gataa bhagavatii raatrirah shivamupasthitam || 2-15-23
buddhyasva nripashaarduula kuru kaaryamanantaram |
"Oh, the best of kings! The venerable night has gone. The auspicious day has come. Wake up and do whatever needs to be done thereafter."
braahmanaa balamukhyaashcha naigamaashchaagataa nripa || 2-15-24
darshanam pratikaakshante pratibuddhyasva raaghava |
"Oh, king Dasaratha! Brahmanas, chiefs of armed forces and traders are waiting to see you. Please wake up."
stuvantam tam tadaa suutam sumantram mantrakovidam || 2-15-25
pratibuddhya tato raajaa idam vachanamabraviit |
Then, Dasaratha woke up and spoke these words to Sumantra, who was eulogizing him, who was skilled in giving advice and who was his charioteer.
raamamaanaya suuteti yadasyabhihito/anayaa || 2-15-26
kimidam kaaranam yena mamaajjnaa pratihanyate |
"Why have you not followed my orders even though you were asked by her to bring Rama."
na chaiva samprasupto.ahamaanayehaashu raaghavam || 2-15-27
iti raajaa dasharathah suutam tatraanvashaatpunah |
King Dasaratha ordered that charioteer there again thus - “I am not sleeping. Bring Rama here soon".
sa raajavachanam shrutvaa shirasaa pratipuujya tam || 2-15-28
nirjagama nripaavaasaanmanyamaanah priyam mahat |
He listened to king's words, bowed his head in salutation to him, thought for goodness of king, and came out of the king's palace.
prasanno raajamaargam cha pataakaadhvajashobhitam || 2-15-29
hrishhtah pramuditah suuto jagaamaashu vilokayan |
That Sumantra with placid mind went happily seeing the royal roads adorned with flags and banners.
sa suutastatra shushraava raamaadhikaranaah kathaah || 2-15-30
abhishhechanasamyuktaassarvalokasya hrishhtavat |
Sumantra heard the words pertaining to Rama and Rama's coronation spoken together by joyful people there.
tato dadarsha ruchiram kailaasashikharaprabham || 2-15-31
raamaveshma sumantrastu shakraveshmasamaprabham |
Then, Sumantra saw Rama's palace which was lovely shining like top of a mountain and radiant like Indra's palace.
mahaakavaatapihitam vitardishatashobhitam || 2-15-32
kaajnchanapratimaikaagram manividrumatoranam |
shaaradaabhraghanaprakhyam diiptam meruguhopamam || 2-15-33
manibhirvaramaalyaanaam sumahadbhiralamkritam |
muktaamanibhiraakiirnam chandhanaagurubhuushhitam || 2-15-34
gandhaanmanojjnaan visrijaddhaarduram shikharam yathaa |
saarasaishcha mayuuraishcha vinadadbhirviraajitam || 2-15-35
sukritehaamrigaakiirnam sukiirnam bhaktibhistathaa |
manshchakshushcha bhuutaanaamaadadattigmatejasaa || 2-15-36
chandrabhaaskarasamkaasham kuberabhavanopamam |
mahendradhaamapratimam naanaapakshisamaakulam || 2-15-37
merushrigasamam suuto raamaveshma dadarsha ha |
upasthitaih samaakiirnam janairajnjalikaaribhih || 2-15-38
upaadaaya samaakraantaistathaa jaanapadairjanaih |
raamaabhishhekasumukhairunmukhaih samalamkritam || 2-15-39
mahaameghasamaprakhyamudagram suvibhuushhitam |
naanaaratnasamaakiirnam kubjakairaatakaavritam || 2-15-40
Rama's palace was beautiful with large doors and adorned with hundreds of raised quadrangular seats. There were festooned decorations over doorways with gems and corals. It was adorned with various precious stones and the best of garlands. Pearls were scattered all over abundantly. It was decorated with sandal and aloe woods, spreading out beautiful smells like the peak of a Darddura Mountain. Cranes and peacocks were singing sweetly. Figures of wolves and other art forms were sculptured here and there. It was attracting the eyes and minds of living beings by its brilliance. It was shining like a constellation of moon and the sun. It was full of various kinds of birds. It was as high as Meru Mountain. Sumantra saw such a palace of Rama. People who came from different rural parts to see Rama's coronation were waiting with different gifts in their hands. That house decorated with various diamonds, was looking high like a great cloud. Hunch backed servants and servants of Kirata tribe were moving all over the house.
sa vaajiyuktena rathena saarathi |
rnaraakulam raajakulam viraajayan |
varuuthinaa raamagrihaabhipaatinaa |
purasya sarvasya manaamsi harshayan || 2-15-41
That Sumantra with chariot fastened with horses and having a top, approached towards Rama's palace, beautifying the human and the royal races, gladdened the hearts of all citizens.
tatassamaasaadya mahaadhanam mahat |
prahrishhtaromaa sa babhuuva saarathih |
mrigairmayuuraishcha samaakulolbanam |
griham varaarhasya shachiipateriva || 2-15-42
That palace of the great souled Rama was like Indra's palace with great wealth. It was filled with various deer and peacocks. After approaching that palace, he became quite thrilled.
sa tatra kailaasanibhaah svalamkritaah |
pravishya kakshyaastridashaalayopamaah |
priyaan varaan raamamate sthitaan bahuun |
vyapohya shuddhaamtamupasthito rathii || 2-15-43
The inner apartments of Rama's palace were well decorated, high as Kailasa Mountain and like abodes of deities. Sumantra entered there, passed over many of Rama's friends who well wishers and approached Rama's inner apartment.
sa tatra shushraava cha harshhayuktaa |
raamaabhishhekaarthakritaa janaanaam |
naremdrasuunorabhimamgalaarthaah |
sarvasya lokasya girah prahrishhtah || 2-15-44
There, Sumantra heard delightful people talking about Rama's coronation and the rites to be performed for the sake of Rama's prosperity.
mahemdrasadmapratimam tu veshma |
raamasya ramyam mrigamuchcham |
vibhraajamaanam prabhayaa sumamtrah || 2-15-45
Rama's palace was as high as top of the Meru mountain, shining with radiance. The mansion was filled with birds and antelopes. It was like Indra’s mansion. Sumantra saw such a beautiful house of Rama.
upasthitai rajnjalikaaribhishcha |
sopaayanairjaanapadairjanaishcha |
kotyaa paraardhaishcha vimuktayaanaih |
samaakulam dvaarapadam dadarsha || 2-15-46
He saw crores and millions of rural folk and other people with folded hands approaching the area leaving their respective vehicles.
tato mahaameghamahiidharaabham |
prabhinnamatyakushamatyasahyam |
raamopavaahyaam ruchiram dadarsha |
shatrumjayam naagamudagrakaayam || 2-15-47
There he saw a beautiful elephant called Satrunjaya with highly elevated body and Rama's royal conveyance. It was like a great cloud and a mountain. It was intoxicated, uncontrollable and intolerable.
svalamkritaan saasvarathaan sakumjaraa |
namaatyamukhayaamshcha dadarsha vallabhaan |
vyapohya suutah sahitaansamamtatah |
samriddhamamtahpura maavivesha ha || 2-15-48
The ministers in chief, who were beloved to the king, were well-adorned and came there on horse-carriages and elephants. Sumantra passed over the people gathered there on all sides and entered the rich inner apartment.
tatoadrikuutaachalameghasanni bham |
mahaavimaanopamaveshmasamyutam |
avaaryamaanah pravivesha saarathih |
prabhuutaratnam makaro yathaarnavam || 2-15-49
Then, that Sumantra entered Rama's palace, which was like top of a mountain, like an unmoving cloud, which contained houses equal to excellent divine cars, like crocodile entering the ocean containing a number of precious stones. Nobody obstructed him.
|| ityaarshhe shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande
pajnchadashah sargah ||
Thus completes fifteenth sarga of Ayodhya kanda in Srimad Ramayana.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate