Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 5

Meaning

Having instructed Śrī Rāma in connection with his installation fixed for the morrow, and summoning the sage, Vasiṣṭha, his family priest, Daśaratha (a ruler of men) spoke to him as follows : (1)

Meaning

“Kindly go and get Śrī Rāma, a scion of Kākutstha, to observe a fast alongwith his wife, Sītā, tonight for his welfare in the shape of removal of obstacles and for his acquiring sovereignty, O Vasiṣṭha, rich in asceticism, firm of resolve, as you yourself are ! (2)

Meaning

Saying “Amen !” to the Emperor and mounting an excellent chariot fit for Brāhmaṇas and ready with horses yoked to it, the celebrated and powerful sage Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of those well-versed in the Vedas, and a knower of Mantras (sacred spells), who had firmly kept his vows, personally proceeded to Śrī Rāma’s palace in order to ask the hero, a knower of Mantras (himself), to undertake a fast. (3-4)

Meaning

Reaching Śrī Rāma’s palace, resplendent like a compact mass of white clouds, Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of ascetics, drove through its three enclosures in the chariot itself. (5)

Meaning

In order to honour the sage arrived at his door, who deserved great respect, Śrī Rāma reverently issued out of his palace in great hurry. (6)

Meaning

Hastily drawing near the sage’s chariot, he forthwith helped him alight from that chariot, personally taking him by the hand. (7)

Meaning

Seeing him bent low with humility and inquiring after his welfare and praising him, the aforesaid Vasiṣṭha (his family priest) spoke to Śrī Rāma as follows, bringing joy to him by his loving words, deserving as he was of kind words : (8)

Meaning

“Propitious is your father to you, O Rāma, inasmuch as you are going to attain sovereignty tomorrow. Therefore, keep you fast for the night with Sītā. (9)

Meaning

“Out of love your father, Emperor Daśaratha, is positively going to install you in the office of Prince Regent next morning, even as Nahuṣa installed his son Yayāti.” (10)

Meaning

Saying so, the holy sage Vasiṣṭha of firm resolve enjoined Śrī Rāma alongwith Sītā (a princess of the Videha territory) to undertake a vow of fasting for the night in accordance with sacred texts prescribing such fasting. (11)

Meaning

Duly worshipped by Śrī Rāma and taking leave of that scion of Kakutstha, Vasiṣṭha, the king’s preceptor, then withdrew from Śrī Rāma’s palace. (12)

Meaning

Sitting there with his childhood friends, who spoke kindly to him, Śrī Rāma presently took leave of them all and, greeted by them, retired to his inner apartments. (13)

Meaning

Crowded with joyful men and women, Śrī Rāma’s palace at that time looked like a lake swarming with flocks of joyous birds and adorned with full-blown lotuses. (14)

Meaning

Coming out of the aforesaid palace of Śrī Rāma, which vied with the royal palace, Vasiṣṭha found the road thronged with men. (15)

Meaning

Crowded with men full of curiosity to witness the festivities connected with Śrī Rāma’s installation, moving in multitudinous batches, the main roads in all the quarters of Ayodhyā became impassable. (16)

Meaning

The noise on the main roads, filled with the hilarious sound produced by the striking of waves in the shape of crowds of men, resembled the roaring of a sea. (17)

Meaning

On that day Ayodhyā had all its streets thoroughly swept and sprinkled with scented water, overhung with garlands of sylvan flowers and had tall flags hoisted on its house-tops. (18)

Meaning

Full of flurry the people living in Ayodhyā, including women and children, longed for sunrise, eagerly looking forward as they did to the installation of Śrī Rāma as Prince Regent. (19)

Meaning

Men were eager to witness that grand festival in Ayodhyā, which served as an adornment for the people and enhanced their joy. (20)

Meaning

In this way Vasiṣṭha, the family priest of Daśaratha, drove slowly to the royal palace, parting asunder, as it were, the crowd of men that stood blocking the main road already crammed with people. (21)

Meaning

Nay, ascending the palace, which resembled the Himalayan range with its peaks looking like white clouds, he met Daśaratha (a ruler of men) as the sage Bṛhaspati would meet Indra, the ruler of gods. (22)

Meaning

Quitting his royal seat the moment he perceived that sage Vasiṣṭha had come, the Emperor inquired what was in his mind (viz., whether Śrī Rāma had been approached by the sage) and the sage reported to him that what he had been charged with had been accomplished. (23)

Meaning

The councillors too, who were sitting by the side of the Emperor at that time, duly rose from their seats all at once, showing their honour to the family priest. (24)

Meaning

Proroguing that assembly of men as soon as permitted by his preceptor, the Emperor for his part retired to the gynaeceum even as a lion would enter a mountain-cave. (25)

Meaning

Daśaratha, the ruler of the earth, entered that charming gynaeceum, crowded with young ladies, clad in excellent robes, and vying with the abode of the mighty Indra (the ruler of gods), illumining it by his august presence as the moon would illumine the heavens spangled with a host of stars. (26)