Summary
In this chapter, Sumantra arrives at Rama's palace to fetch him to royal court. Rama starts to the royal court to meet his father. On the way Rama observes the jubilant city.
Chapter [Sarga] 16 in Detail
sa tat antah pura dvaaram samatiitya jana aakulam |
praviviktaam tatah kaksyaam aasasaada puraanavit || 2-16-1
praasa kaarmuka bibhradbhir yuvabhir mrista kundalaih |
apramaadibhir eka agraih svanuraktaih adhisthitaam || 2-16-2
That Sumantra, who knew the ancient sacred works, passed over the crowded entrance of the palace and reached the secluded inner apartment. In that area of the inner apartment, some youths , wearing darts and bows, were on security-duty with due vigilance and attention. They were all greatly devoted to the king and were wearing polished ear-rings.
tatra kaasaayino vriddhaan vetra paaniin svalamkritaan |
dadarsha visthitaan dvaari stry adhyaksaan susamaahitaan || 2-16-3
There he saw aged palace-supervisors wearing orange colored clothes, adorning themselves well, having canes in their hands, well composed and being posted at door-ways.
te samiiksya samaayaantam raama priya cikiirsavah |
saha bhaaryaaya raamaaya ksipram eva aacacaksire || 2-16-4
All of them, the well-wishers of Rama, saw that Sumantra arriving and raised from their seats hurriedly at once.
prativeditam aajnaaya suutam abhyantaram pituh |
tatra eva aanaayayaam aasa raaghavah priya kaamyayaa || 2-16-5
That humble-minded Sumantra spoke to them thus, "Tell Rama immediately that Sumantra is waiting with reverence at the entrance"
te raamamupasamgamya bhartuh priyachikiirshhavah |
sahabhaaryaaya raamaaya kshipramevaachachakshire || 2-16-6
They, the well-wishers of their master, approached Rama who was with his wife and immediately informed him.
prativeditamaajjnaaya suutamabhyamtaram pituh |
tatraivaanaayayaamaasa raaghavah piyakaamyayaa || 2-16-7
Knowing that Sumantra, who was intimate to his father, came, Rama who desired to show kindness, called him in there.
tam vaishravana samkaasham upavistam svalamkritam |
daadarsha suutah paryanke sauvano sa uttarac chade || 2-16-8
varaaha rudhira aabhena shucinaa ca sugandhinaa |
anuliptam para ardhyena candanena param tapam || 2-12-9
sthitayaa paarshvatah ca api vaala vyajana hastayaa |
upetam siitayaa bhuuyah citrayaa shashinam yathaa || 2-16-10
That Sumantra saw Rama sitting like Kubera on a golden couch with the best cloth-covering. He adorned himself well and had the body anointed with sandal perfume, purely smelling like blood of a boar. With Sita, standing on his side with chowrie in her hand, Rama was shining like moon with Chitra star.
tam tapantam iva aadityam upapannam sva tejasaa |
vavande varadam bandii niyamajno viniitavat || 2-16-11
Sumantra, who knew polite conduct, offered salutation to Rama, who was refined with his own brilliance, shining like the sun and the fulfiller of desires.
praanjalis tu sukham pristvaa vihaara shayana aasane |
raaja putram uvaaca idam sumantrah raaja satkritah || 2-16-12
Sumantra, who was treated with respect by Rama spoke thus with folded hands to that prince with beautiful face and who was seated on a swinging sofa.
kausalyaa suprabhaa deva pitaa tvam drastum icchati |
mahisyaa saha kaikeyyaa gamyataam tatra maaciram || 2-16-13
"Oh Rama, the good offspring of Kausalya! Your father and the Queen Kaikeyi want to see you. Go there soon."
evam uktah tu samhristah nara simho mahaa dyutih |
tatah sammaanayaam aasa siitaam idam uvaaca ha || 2-16-14
That best of men with great brilliance was pleased to hear those words, then honored him and spoke thus to Sita.
devi devah ca devii ca samaagamya mad antare |
mantreyete dhruvam kimcit abhisecana samhitam || 2-16-15
"Oh Sita! The king and the queen together are thinking of something about me, relating to coronation. It is certain."
laksayitvaa hi abhipraayam priya kaamaa sudaksinaa |
samcodayati raajaanam mad artham madira iiksanaa || 2-16-16
"Then black-eyed Kaikeyi who is dexterous and friendly disposed, has perceived the king's opinion and is inciting him for my sake"
saa prahrishhtaa mahaaraajam hitakaamaanuvartinii |
jananii chaarthakaamaa me kekayaadhipatessutaa || 2-16-17
"Kaikeyi, my mother is following the king's intentions with great pleasure, desirous of my benefit and prosperity"
dishhtyaa khalu mahaaraajo mahishhyaa priyayaa saha |
sumamtram praahinodduuta marthakaamakaram mama || 2-16-18
"It is certainly our luck that king and queen have sent Sumantra, who fulfils my desires and wishes, as messenger".
yaadrishii parisat tatra taadrisho duutaaagatah |
dhruvam adya eva maam raajaa yauvaraajye abhiseksyati || 2-16-19
"A worthy messenger has come who is truly representing the assembly there. It is certain that today itself the king will anoint me for the right of succession to kingdom".
hanta shiighram itah gatvaa draksyaami ca mahii patih |
saha tvam parivaarena sukham aassva ramasya ca || 2-16-20
"I shall go immediately and see the king. You stay happily with the circle of friends and enjoy yourself."
pati sammaanitaa siitaa bhartaaram asita iiksanaa |
aadvaaram anuvavraaja mangalaani abhidadhyusii || 2-16-21
Sita, treated with respect by her husband and having black eyes, followed her husband up to the door, thinking of auspicious things in her mind.
raajyam dvijaatibhirjushhtam raajasuuyaabhishhechanam |
kartumarhati te raajaa vaasavasyeva lokakrit || 2-16-22
"King Dasaratha will give you kingdom, being served by Brahmanas, which will invest you with eligibility to perform the great sacrifice at the coronation ceremony like Brahma to Devendra."
diikshitam vratasampannam varaajinadharam shuchim |
kuragapaanim cha pashyantii tvaam bhajaamyaham || 2-16-23
"I shall be delighted to see you, initiated for the perfect religious act of austerity, wearing excellent antelope-hide, being pure and bearing a deer-horn in hand".
puurvaam disham vajradharo dakshinaam paatu te yamah |
varunah pashchimaamaashaam dhaneshastuuttaraam disham || 2-16-24
"May Indra the god of rain in the east, Yama the god of death in the south, Varuna the regent of the ocean in the west and Kubera the god of riches and treasure in the north, protect you".
atha siitaamanujjnaapya kritakautukamagalah |
nishchakraama sumantrena saha raamo niveshanaat || 2-16-25
Rama, adorned as in an auspicious festivity, took permission from Sita and started from house along with Sumantra.
parvataadiva nishhkramya simho giriguhaashayah |
lakshmanam dvaariso.apashyat prahvajnjaliputam sthitam || 2-16-26
That Rama who came out, like a lion residing in a mountain cave from out of the mountain, saw Lakshmana standing at the door, bowing with palms of the hand joined and put to the forehead as a mark of respect.
atha madhyamakakshyaayaam samaagachchhat suhrijjanaih |
sa sarvaan arthino dristvaa sametya pratinandya ca || 2-16-27
tatah paavaka samkaasham aaruroha ratha uttamam |
vaiyaaghram purushhvyaa gho raajitam raajanamdanah || 2-16-28
Then, that prince the best of men met his friends in the middle chamber. He saw all the people who came there to behold him, approached nearer to them, greeted them and mounted the excellent chariot, which was resplendent like fire and covered with tiger's skin.
meghanaadamasambaadham manihemavibhuushitam |
musnantam iva caksuumsi prabhayaa hema varcasam || 2-16-29
karenu shishu kalpaih ca yuktam parama vaajibhih |
hari yuktam sahasra akso ratham indraiva aashugam || 2-16-30
prayayau tuurnam aasthaaya raaghavo jvalitah shriyaa |
That chariot was sounding like thunder. It was not congested. It was decorated with gold and jewels. Its splendor was like that of Meru mountain, stealing the eyes. Excellent horses looking like infantine elephants were tied to the chariot, which was moving quickly. That Rama shining with splendor like Indra, the lord of sky, mounted such a chariot and went forth quickly.
sa parjanyaiva aakaashe svanavaan abhinaadayan || 2-16-31
niketaan niryayau shriimaan mahaa abhraat iva candramaah |
That splendid chariot, sounding like rain-cloud in the sky, came out of the house like moon coming out of a mighty cloud.
chatra caamara paanis tu laksmano raaghava anujah ||2-16-32
jugopa bhraataram bhraataa ratham aasthaaya pristhatah |
Lakshmana, Rama's younger brother mounted the chariot in the back-side and protected Rama with umbrella and chamara fan.
tatah hala halaa shabdah tumulah samajaayata ||2-16-33
tasya niskramamaanasya jana oghasya samantatah |
Then, the crowds started dispersing from all sides generating tumultuous hallowing sound.
tato hayavaraa mukhyaa naagaashcha girisannibhaah || 2-16-34
anujagmustadaa raamam shatasho.atha sahasrashah |
Thereupon, hundreds and thousands of important people mounted on excellent horses and soldiers mounted on elephants, then followed Rama.
agratashchaasya sannaddhaashchandanaagurubhuushhitaah || 2-16-35
khadgachaapadharaah shuuraa jagmuraashamsavo janaah |
Valiant persons, dressed in amour adorned with sandal and aloe perfumes, wearing swords and bows, declaring the arrival of Rama, went in front of Rama to receive him.
tato vaaditrashabdaashcha stutishabdaashcha vandinaam ||2-16-36
simhanaadaashcha shuuraanaam tadaa shushruvire pathi |
At that time, sounds of musical instruments, sounds of praising hymns of panegyrists [one who speaks and sings in high praise of] and lion-like roars of valiant persons were heard on the way.
harmyavaataayanasthaabhirbhuushhitaabhih samantatah || 2-16-37
kiiryamaanah supushhpaughairyayau striibhirarimdamah |
While Rama, the annihilator of enemies, was going, well-adorned women standing in porticoes of palaces, sprinkled flowers on him from all sides.
raamam sarvaanavadyaangyo raamapipriishhayaa tatah || 2-16-38
vachobhiragryairharmyasthaah kshitisthaashcha vavandire |
Women of exquisitely beautiful form standing in palaces and on ground were offering salutations to Rama with the best words with a desire to please Rama.
nuunam nandhiti te maataa kausalyaa maatrinandana || 2-16-39
pashyantii siddhayaatram tvaam pitryam raajyamupasthitam |
"Oh, Rama, who creates happiness to mother! Have successful journey! Your mother Kausalya will be certainly delighted to see you obtaining the paternal kingdom."
sarvasiimantiniibhyashcha siitaam siimantiniim varaam || 2-16-40
amanyanta hi taa naaryo raamasya hridayapriyaam |
Those women thought that Sita, who is dear to Rama's heart, is better woman than all women.
tayaa sucharitam devyaa puraa nuunam mahattapah || 2-16-41
rohiniiva shashaakena raamasamyogamaapa yaa |
"As Rohini star stays together with the moon, Sita having obtained Rama as husband must have certainly performed a great penance in former times."
iti praasaadashrigeshhu pramadaabhirnarottamah || 2-16-42
shushraava raajamaargasthah priyaa vaacha udaahritaah |
While going through the royal road, Rama heard those pleasant words spoken thus by women standing in turrets.
sa raaghavah tatra kathaa pralaapam |
shushraava lokasya samaagatasya |
aatma adhikaaraa vividhaah ca vaacah |
prahrista ruupasya pure janasya || 2-16-43
Then, Rama heard the words of people gathered there and also the words variously pertaining to himself, by citizens.
esa shriyam gacchati raaghavo adya|
raaja prasaadaat vipulaam gamisyan |
ete vayam sarva samriddha kaamaa|
yesaam ayam no bhavitaa prashaastaa || 2-16-44
"By the king's propitiousness [favor], this Rama today is going to obtain this earth and the wealthy kingdom. All our desires are going to be fulfilled because Rama will become the ruler."
laabho janasya asya yad esa sarvam |
prapatsyate raastram idam ciraaya |
sa ghosavadbhih ca hayaih sanaagaih |
purahsaraih svastika suuta maagadhaih || 2-16-45
"If Rama rules this state for a long time, it will be a great benefit to the people. If he becomes a king none can see dislike and sorrow at any time."
sa ghoshhavadbhishcha hayaih sanaagaih |
purassaraih svastikasuutamaagadhaih |
mahiiyamaanah pravaraih ca vaadakaih |
abhistutah vaishravano yathaa yayau|| 2-16-46
While bards and panegyrists were moving in front praising with great respect, invoking blessings and eulogized by the most excellent instrumentalists, Rama, like Kubera the god of wealth, went with resounding horses and elephants.
karenu maatanga ratha ashva samkulam |
mahaa jana oghaih paripuurna catvaram |
pabhuutaratnam bahupanyasamchayam |
dadarsha raamo vimalam mahaapatham || 2-16-47
Rama saw the great royal road which was spotlessly clean, having diamonds and various vendible commodities. It was full of male and female elephants, horses and chariots. There was abundance of people gathered at road junctions.
|| iti shrimad ramayane shhodasha sargah ||
Thus completes sixteenth sarga of Ayodhya Kanda in Srimad Ramayana.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate