Summary
Dasaratha decides to coronate Rama as the prince the next day. He asks Sumantra to bring Rama to his presence once again. After Rama arrives, Dasaratha expresses to Rama his desire to anoint Rama as a prince the very next day. He cites various bad dreams and inauspicious signs as the reason for his haste. Rama thus informed by his father, goes to his mother's house and informs her of the good news. Kausalya becomes delighted at the news and gives Rama her blessings.
Chapter [Sarga] 4 in Detail

gateshhvatha nripo bhuuyah paureshhu saha mantribhih |
mantrayutvaa tatashchakre nishchayajjnah sa nishchayam || 2-4-1
shva eva pushhyo bhavitaa shvo.abhishhechyastu me sutah |
raamo raajiivataamraaksho yauvaraajya iti prabhuh || 2-4-2
After the citizens left, Dasaratha who was efficient in taking decisions pertaining to place and time of ceremonies, again conferred with the ministers and decided thus: "Tomorrow will be a day when the constellation of Pushya would be in the ascendant. My son Rama, who has eyes like red lotus, can be crowned as a prince tomorrow".
athaantargrihamaasaadya raajaa dasharathastadaa |
suutamaamantrayaamaasa raamam punarihaanaya || 2-4-3
Thereafter, king Dasaratha entered the inner palace and then ordered Sumantra thus, "Bring Rama again here".
pratigrihya sa tadvaakyam suutah punarupaayayau |
raamasya bhavanam shiighram raamamaanayitum punah || 2-4-4
Obeying the king's words, Sumantra went to Rama's house immediately to bring Rama once again.
dvaahsthairaaveditam tasya raamaayaagamanam punah |
shrutvaiva chaapi raamastam praaptam shakaanvito.abhavat || 2-4-5
The doorkeepers informed Rama that Sumantra had come again. Hearing that, Rama was uncertain as to the reason for Sumantra's arrival again.
praveshya chainam tvaritam raamo vachana mabraviit |
yadaagamanakrityam te bhuuyastadbhruhyasheshhatah || 2-4-6
Rama immediately allowed Sumantra inside and spoke these words to him: "Tell me completely the purpose of your arrival again."
tamuvaacha tatah suuto raajaa tvaam drashhtu michchhati |
shrutvaa pramaanamatra tvam gamanaayetaraaya vaa || 2-4-7
Hearing those words, Sumantra said: "King Dasaratha wants to see you. Decide yourself in this matter whether to proceed to your father or otherwise".
iti suutavachah shrutvaa raamo.atha tvarayaanvitah |
prayayau raajabhavanam punardrashhtum nareshvaram || 2-4-8
Rama, after hearing Sumantra's words, started immediately and went to the royal palace to see king Dasaratha, the Lord of people, again.
tam shrutvaa samanupraaptam raamam dasharatho nripah |
praveshyaamaasa griham vivakshuh priyamuttamam || 2-4-9
Hearing Rama to have arrived, king Dasaratha allowed him to come into the house, to tell him an excellent and affectionate word.
pravishnnepa cha shriimaan raaghavo bhavanam pituh |
dadarsha pitaram duuraat pranipatya kritaajnjlih || 2-4-10
The glorious Rama, soon after entering his father's house, saw his father from a distance and fell prostrate before him in an act of submission, with his palms joined together.
pranamantam samutthaapya tam parishhvajya bhuumipah |
pradishya chaasmai ruchiramaasanam punarabraviit || 2-4-11
Dasaratha lifted Rama up and took him into his embrace. Then, he offered a beautiful seat to Rama and spoke to him as follows:
raama vriddho.asmi diirghaayurbhuktaa bhogaa mayepsitaah |
annvadbhih kratushtaistatheshhtam bhuuridakshinaih || 2-4-12
"Oh Rama, I have now become aged after living for a long period. I enjoyed all the luxuries in life, as I desired. I propitiated Gods by performing hundreds of sacrifices, in which food and lots of fees were given away to the officiating priests. "
jaatamishhtamapatyam me tvamadyaanupamam bhuvi |
dattamishhtamadhiitam cha mayaa purushhasattama || 2-4-13
"O Rama, the best of men! You are now born to me as without an equal on earth and as my beloved child. I had given away lots of donations, I had performed holy rites and I have also studied Vedas and other Holy Scriptures during my life time."
anubhuutaani cheshhtaani mayaa viira sukhaanyapi |
devarshhipitrivipraanaamanrino.asmi tathaatmanah || 2-4-14
"Oh gallant Rama! I also enjoyed all the comforts, as I desired. Thus I am relieved of all debts to the celestials (by performing holy sacrifices), to the sages (by studying Vedas etc.), to my ancestors (by begetting you), to the Brahmans (by giving away donations and food) and to myself (by enjoying all comforts as I desired)."
na kijnchinma kartavyam tavaanyatraabhishhechanaat |
ato yuttvaamaham bruuyaam tanme tvam kartumarhasi ||2-4-15
"I have no duty other than to anoint you for the crown. Hence, do what I tell you."
adya prakritayah sarvaastvaamichchhanti naraadhipam |
atastvaam yuvaraajaanamabhishhekshyaami putraka || 2-4-16
"Now all the people want you to be the king. Hence, I can install you as prince."
api chaadyaashubhaan raama svapne pshyaami daarunaan |
sanirghaataa divolkaa cha paratiiha mahaasvanaa || 2-4-17
"Oh, Rama! It is not only the people's desire, but also these days I am getting fearful and inauspicious dreams. Here, thunderous comets are falling with great sound, during day time."
avashhtabdham cha me raama nakshatram daarunairgrahaih |
aavedayanti daivajjnaavh suuryaagaarakaraahubhih || 2-4-18
"Oh, Rama! Astrologers are informing me that fearful planets like Sun, Mars and Rahu are encroaching my birth star."
praayena hi nimittaanaamiidrishaanaam samudbhave |
raajaa hi mrityumaapnoti ghoram vaapadamrichchhati || 2-4-19
"Whenever such inauspicious signs are produced, the king generally will get either death or a fearful accident."
tadyaavadeva me cheto na vimujnchati raaghava |
taavadevaabhishhijnchasva chalaa hi praaninaam matih || 2-4-20
"Oh, Rama! Hence, before my mind gets changed, get you anointed to the crown. Are not the minds of men unstable?"
adya chandrobhyupagatah pushhyaatpuurvam punarvasuu |
shvah pushhyayogam niyatam vakshyante daivachintakaah || 2-4-21
"Today, the moon is entering the constellation known as Punarvasu which comes before Pushyami star. The astrologers inform that the coronation ceremony can be fixed for tomorrow, when the moon joins Pushyami star."
tatah pushhye.abhishhijnchasva manastvarayatiiva maam |
shvastvaahamabhishhekshyaami yauvaraajye paramtapa || 2-4-22
"Hence, get anointed for the crown on the day of Pushyami star. My mind is urging me as it were to expedite things. O, annihilator of the enemies! I shall anoint you for the princely kingdom tomorrow."
tasmaattvayaadaprabhriti nisheyam niyataatmanaa |
saha vadhvopavastavyaa darbhaprastarashaayinaa || 2-4-23
"That is why, with self control, you along with your wife should observe fast for this night from now onwards, and sleep on a couch made of Kusha grass."
suhridashchaapramattaastvaam rakshantvadya samantatah |
bhavanti bahuvighnaani kaaryaanyevamvidhaani hi || 2-4-24
"Generally, there are many obstacles for such type of functions. Hence, your friends should guard you vigilantly from all directions."
viproshhitashcha bharato yaavadeva puraaditah |
taavadevaabhishhekaste praaptakaalo mato mama || 2-4-25
"It is my opinion that your coronation function should occur, while Bharata is away from the city."
kaamam khalu sataam vritte bhraataa te bharatah sthitah |
jyeshhthanuvartii dharmaatmaa saanukrosho jitendriyah || 2-4-26
“Bharata, your brother, goes according to his eldest brother. He is righteous, compassionate and has the senses under control. He verily follows the path of good people."
kintu chittam manushhyaanaamanityamiti me matih |
sataam cha dharmanityaanaam kritashobhi cha raaghava || 2-4-27
"Oh, Rama! It is my opinion that minds of men are inconstant. But the ever righteous, endowed with goodness, sometimes may act unexpectedly on impulse."
ityuktah soo.abhyanujjnaatah shvobhaavinyabhishhechane |
vrajeti raamah pitaramabhivaadyaabhyayaadgriham || 2-4-28
Dasaratha, after telling in this way about the ensuing coronation ceremony scheduled for the next day, permitted Rama to depart. Rama offered his salutations to his father and went to his house.
pravishya chaatmano veshma raajjnoddhishhte.abhishhechane |
tatkshanena cha nirgamya maaturntahpuram yayau || 2-4-29
After hearing the decision of Dasaratha regarding coronation ceremony, Rama entered his house and by starting immediately, went to his mother's queenly house.
tatra taam pravanaameva maataram kshaumavaasiniim |
vaagyataam devataagaare dadarshaayaachatiim shriyam || 2-4-30
There, in the queen's worshipping place, Rama saw Kausalya silently in meditation, wearing silk clothes and praying to goddess Lakshmi.
praageva chaagataa tatra sumitraa lakshmana stadaa |
siitaa chaanaayitaa shrutvaa priyam raamaabhishhechanam || 2-4-31
Hearing the good news of the coronation ceremony of Rama, Sumitra and Lakshmana came there even before Seetha was brought.
tasmin kaale hi kausalyaa tasthaavaamiilitekshanaa |
sumitrayaanvaasyamaanaa siitayaa lakshmanena cha ||2-4-32
At that time, Kausalya closed her eyes and was in meditation. Along with her, Sumitra, Lakshmana and Seetha were sitting nearby.
shrutvaa pushhyena putrasya yauvaraajyaabhishhechanam |
praanaayaamena purushham dhyaayamaanaa janaardanam || 2-4-33
Hearing that her son will be anointed for the princely kingdom on the day of Pushyami star, Kausalya with controlled breath was meditating on lord Vishnu.
tathaa saniyamaameva so.abhigamyaabhivaadya cha |
uvaacha vachanam raamo harshhyamstaamidam tadaa || 2-4-34
Rama approached his mother, even while she was engaged in pious observance, offered salutation and spoke the following words making her delighted.
amba pitraa niyukto.asmi prajaapaalanakarmani |
bhavitaa shvo.abhishheko me yathaa mi shaasanam pituh || 2-4-35
"Oh, mother! My father ordered that I should rule the people. As per his orders, there will be anointing ceremony to me tomorrow."
siitayaa pyupavastavyaa rajaniiyam mayaa saha |
evamritvigupaadhyaayaissaha maamuktavaan pitaa || 2-4-36
"Seetha too, along with me should observe fast this whole night. The father together with preceptors and teachers said this to me."
yaani yaanyatra yogyaani shvo bhaavinyabhishhechane |
taani me magalaanyadya vaidehyaashchaiva kaaraya || 2-4-37
"Have all the auspicious rites that are required for the ensuing tomorrow's anointment ceremony, performed to me and to Seetha today."
etachchhrutvaa tu kausalyaa chirakaalaabhikaakshitam |
harshhbaashhpakalam vaakyamidam raama mabhaashhata || 2-4-38
Hearing the news of anointment ceremony, which was being desired by her for a long time, Kausalya spoke to Rama the following sweet words with tears of joy in her eyes.
vatsa raama chiram jiiva hataaste paripanthinah |
jjnaatiinme tvam shriyaayuktah sumitraayaashcha nandaya || 2-4-39
"Oh, child Rama! You live a long life! Let your enemies be destroyed! Let the cousins of mine and of Sumitra be made happy by your glory."
kalyaane bata nkshatre mayi jaato.asi putraka |
yena tvayaa dasharatho gunairaaraadhitah pitaa || 2-4-40
"O, my little son! You were born to me on a day of an auspicious star. That is why, your father king Dasaratha was propitiated by your virtues."
amogham bata me kshaantam purushhe pushhkarekshane |
yeyamikshvaakuraajyashriih putra tvaam samshrayishhyati || 2-4-41
"O, son! My worship to the lotus eyed Lord Vishnu with endurance has become fruitful. Hence, this glorious kingdom of Ikshvaku dynasty is going to embrace you."
ityevamukto maatredam raamo bhraataramabraviit |
praajnjalim prahvamaasiinamabhiviikhsya smayanniva || 2-4-42
Rama, after hearing the words spoken by his mother, saw his brother Lakshmana who was sitting humbly nearby with joined palms and spoke to him smilingly as follows:
lakshmanemaam maayaa saardham prashaadhi tvam vasundharaam |
dvitiiyam me.antaraatmaanam tvaamiyam shriirupasthitaa || 2-4-43
"O, Lakshmana! You rule this earth together with me. This glorious kingdom has reached you, who are my second conscience."
saumitre bhukshva bhogaam stvamishhtaan raajyaphalaani cha |
jiivitam cha hi raajyam cha tvadarthamabhikaamaye || 2-4-44
"O, Lakshmana! You enjoy the benefits as desired by you and the fruits of kingdom. I desire to live and even to rule the kingdom but for you."
ityuktvaa lakshmanam raamo maataraavabhivaadya cha |
abhyanujjnaapya siitaam cha jagaama svam niveshnam || 2-4-45
Rama, after speaking thus to Lakshmana, offered salutations to both the mothers, got Seetha to obtain permission from them and went to his house along with Seetha.
|| ityaarshhe shriimad raamaayane aadikaavye ayodhya kaande chaturthah sargah ||
Thus completes 4th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate