Summary
On the wish of King Dasaratha, Vasishta goes to Rama's palace and asks him to perform fast that night along with Seetha. Vasishta returns to Dasaratha's palace and informs him about this. On the way to the king's palace Vasishta observes the festive atmosphere in Ayodhya anticipating Rama's coronation the next day.
Chapter [Sarga] 5 in Detail
sandishya raamam nripatih shvobhaavinyabhishhechane |
purohitam samaahuuya vasishhthamidamabraviit || 2-5-1
After Rama left, king Dasaratha called for his family priest Vasishta and spoke to him as follows about the ensuing anointment ceremony of the next day.
gachchhopavaasam kaakutthsam kaarayaadya tapodhana |
shriiyashoraajyalaabhaaya vadhvaa saha yatavratam || 2-5-2
"O, great sage Vasishta! Please go to the avowed Rama and Seetha today to make them perform fasting for obtaining prosperity, glory and sovereignty."
tatheti cha sa raajaanamuktvaa vedavidaam varah |
svayam vasishhtho bhagavaan yayau raamaniveshanam || 2-5-3
upavaasayitum raamam mantravanmantrakovidah |
braahmam rathavaram yuktamaasthaaya sudridhavratah || 2-5-4
Vasista, who is the best of knower of Veda, who is expert in mantras, who is firm in austerities and who is divine, said to Dasaratha : "I agree to it" and personally went to Rama's house on a chariot which was ready and quite suitable for a Brahman; so as to advise Rama to undertake a fast (with mantras) performed by Rama, a knower of mantras.
sa raamabhavanam prapya paanduraabhraghanaprabham |
tisrah kakshyaa rthenaiva vivesha munisattamah || 2-5-5
That great sage reached Rama's house, which was radiant like a dense white cloud and entered the three gateways of the house by the chariot itself.
tamaagatamrishhim raamastvaranniva sasambhramah |
maanayishhyan sa maanaarham nishchakraama niveshanaat || 2-5-6
To respect the honorable sage, who arrived, Rama came quickly and hurriedly out of the house.
abhyetya tvaramaanashcha rathaabhyaasham maniishhinah |
tato.avataarayaamaasa parigrihya rathaatsvayam || 2-5-7
Rama quickly got nearer to Vashishta’s chariot and personally helped him to alight from the chariot.
sachainam prashritam drishhtvaa sam bhaashhyaabhiprasaadya cha |
priyaarham harshhayan raamamityuvaacha purohitah || 2-5-8
That family priest Vasishta seeing that lovable and humble Rama, spoke the following words, bringing cheerfulness and happiness to him:
prasannaste pitaa raama yauvaraajyamavaapsyasi |
upavaasam bhavaanadya karotu saha siitayaa || 2-5-9
"O, Rama! Your father is delighted with you. You will be getting the princely kingdom. Hence, you and Seetha perform fasting today."
praatastvaamabhishhektaa hi yauvaraajye naraadhipah |
pitaa dasharathah priityaa yayaatim nahushho yathaa || 2-5-10
"Your father; King Dasaratha is anointing you affectionately for the princely kingdom tomorrow at dawn; even as king Nahusha has done to Yayaati".
ityuktvaa sa tadaa raama mupavaasam yatavratam |
mantravat kaarayaamaasa vaidehyaa sahitam munih || 2-5-11
Vasistha thus spoke to Rama and enjoined him to undertake a vow of fasting together with Seetha, in the accompaniment of mantras.
tato yathaavadraamena sa raajjno gururarchitah |
abhyanujjnaapya kaakutthsam yayau raamaniveshanaat || 2-5-12
Thereafter, Rama worshipped the royal priest Vasistha suitably. Vasistha then got Rama's permission and left his house.
suhridbhistatra raamo.api sahaasiinah priyamvadaih |
sabhaajito viveshaatha taananujjnaapya sarvashah || 2-5-13
Rama spent some time by delightedly talking with friends and having been congratulated by them in various ways went into his palace after taking leave of them.
hrishhtanaariinarayutam raamaveshma tadaa babau |
yathaa mattadvijaganam prapullanalinam sarah || 2-5-14
Then, Rama's house was shining, as brilliantly with delighted men and women, as a lake filled with opened lotuses and visited by innumerable happy birds.
sa raajabhavanaprakhyaattasmaadraamaniveshanaat |
nirgatya dadrishe maargam vasishhtho janasamvritam || 2-5-15
Vasishta, leaving Rama's house, which seemed like the royal palace, saw the way filled with people.
brindabrindairayodhyaayaam raajamaargaah samantatah |
babhuuvurabhisambaadhaah kutuuhalajanairvritaah || 2-5-16
All the royal highways in the city of Ayodhya were filled with groups and groups of delighted people and became congested.
janabrindormisamgharshhaharshhasvanavatastadaa |
babhuuva raajamaargasya saagarasyeva nisvanah || 2-5-17
Then, on the royal road, the resonance created by the rush of the people, moving hither and thither like waves, combined with their rejoicing, resounded like the roar of an ocean.
siktasammrishhtarathyaa hi tadaharvanamaalinii |
aasiidayodhyaa nagarii samuchchhritagrihadhvajaa || 2-5-18
On that day, in the city of Ayodhya, all the roads were cleaned and sprinkled with water. There were rows of trees on both sides of the roads and flags hoisted on houses.
tadaa hyayodhyaanilayah sastriibaalaabalo janah |
raamaabhishhekamaakaajnkshannaakaankshadudayam raveh | 2-5-19
Then, the people of Ayodhya including children, women and the old-aged were waiting for sunrise, wishing the anointment ceremony of Rama to happen.
prajaalakaarabhuutam cha janasyaanandavardhanam |
utsuko.abhuujjano drashhtum tamayodhyaamahotsavam || 2-5-20
In Ayodhya, people were enthusiastic to see the great public function, which was decorative to the community and which would bring forward an increased joy.
evam tam janasambaadham raajamaargam purohitah |
vyuuhanniva janaugham tam shanairaajakulam yayau || 2-5-21
Vasishta, thus seeing the king's way being overcrowded with people, reached the royal palace slowly by forcing a passage through that crowd.
sitaabhrashikharaprakhyam praasaadamadhiruhya sah |
samiiyaaya narendrena shakreneva brihaspatih || 2-5-22
He walked up the royal palace, which was akin to the top of a mountain enclosed by a white cloud and met king Dasaratha in the manner Brihaspati met Devendra.
tamaagatamabhiprekshya hitvaa raajaasanam nripah |
paprachchha sa cha tasmai tatkritamityabhyavedayat || 2-5-23
Seeing Vasistha had returned, King Dasaratha alighted from his throne and asked him with regard to his mission. Vasistha informed him that it was accomplished.
tena chaiva tadaa tulyam sahaasiinaah sabhaasadah |
aasanebhyah samuttasthuh puujayantah purohitam || 2-5-24
The members of assembly who were sitting along with the king till then, raised in obeisance to Vasishta from their seats, following the example of the king.
gurunaa tvabhyanujjnaato manijaugham visrijya tam |
viveshaantahpuram raajaa simho giriguhaamiva || 2-5-25
King Dasaratha, after obtaining permission from Vasishta, left that assembly of men and entered his palace as a lion enters a mountain cave.
tamagryaveshhpramadaajanaakulam |
mahendraveshmapratimam niveshanam |
vidiipayamshchaaru vivesha paarthivah |
shashiiva taaraaganasamkulam nabhah || 2-5-26
That palace with women in top dress and form was like the palace of Devendra. By the entering of King Dasaratha, the palace became more radiant, just as the moon radiates a beautiful sky with its stars.
|| ityaarshe sriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyakaande panchama sargah ||
Thus completes 5th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate