Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhyakanda, Sarga 5. Festivities in Ayodhya.

 

[Vasistha advises Rama and Sita to undertake fast preparatory to coronation.]

सन्दिश्य रामं नृपति श्श्वोभाविन्यभिषेचने।
पुरोहितं समाहूय वशिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.5.1।।

गच्छोपवासं काकुत्स्थं कारयाद्य तपोधन।
श्रीयशोराज्यलाभाय वध्वा सह यतव्रतम्।।2.5.2।।

तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः।
स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान्ययौ रामनिवेशनम्।।2.5.3।।

उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः।
ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृढव्रतः।।2.5.4।।

स रामभवनं प्राप्य पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्रभम्।
तिस्रः कक्ष्या रथेनैव विवेशमुनिसत्तमः।।2.5.5।।

तमागतमृषिं रामस्त्वरन्निव ससम्भ्रमः।
मानयिष्यन्समानार्हं निश्चक्राम निवेशनात्।।2.5.6।।

अभ्येत्य त्वरमाणश्च रथाभ्याशं मनीषिणः।
ततोऽवतारयामास परिगृह्य रथात्स्वयम्।।2.5.7।।

स चैनं प्रश्रितं दृष्ट्वा सम्भाष्याभिप्रसाद्य च।
प्रियार्हं हर्षयन्राममित्युवाच पुरोहितः।।2.5.8।।

प्रसन्नस्ते पिता राम यौवराज्यमवाप्स्यसि।
उपवासं भवानद्य करोतु सह सीतया।।2.5.9।।

प्रातस्त्वामभिषेक्ता हि यौवराज्ये नराधिपः।
पिता दशरथः प्रीत्या ययातिं नहुषो यथा।।2.5.10।।

इत्युक्त्वा स तदा राममुपवासं यतव्रतम्।
मन्त्रवत्कारयामास वैदेह्या सहितं मुनिः।।2.5.11।।

ततो यथावद्रामेण स राज्ञो गुरुरर्चितः।
अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य काकुत्स्थं ययौ रामनिवेशनात्।।2.5.12।।

सुहृद्भिस्तत्र रामोऽपि सहासीनः प्रियंवदैः।
सभाजितो विवेशाऽथ ताननुज्ञाप्य सर्वशः।।2.5.13।।

हृष्टनारीनरयुतं रामवेश्म तदा बभौ।
यथा मत्तद्विजगणं प्रफुल्लनलिनं सरः।।2.5.14।।

स राजभवनप्रख्यात्तस्माद्रामनिवेशानात्।
निर्गत्य ददृशे मार्गं वसिष्ठो जनसंवृतम्।।2.5.15।।

बृन्दबृन्दैरयोध्यायां राजमार्गास्समन्ततः।
बभूवुरभिसम्बाधाः कुतूहलजनैर्वृताः।।2.5.16।।

जनबृन्दोर्मिसंघर्षहर्षस्वनवतस्तदा।
बभूव राजमार्गस्य सागरस्येव निस्वनः।।2.5.17।।

सिक्तसम्मृष्टरथ्या हि तदहर्वनमालिनी।
आसीदयोध्यानगरी समुच्छ्रितगृहध्वजा।।2.5.18।।

तदा ह्ययोध्यानिलय स्सस्त्रीबालाबलो जनः।
रामाभिषेकमाकाङ्क्षन्नाकाङ्क्षदुदयं रवेः।।2.5.19।।

प्रजालङ्कारभूतं च जनस्यानन्दवर्धनम्।
उत्सुकोऽभूज्जनो द्रष्टुं तमयोध्यामहोत्सवम्।।2.5.20।।

एवं तज्जनसम्बाधं राजमार्गं पुरोहितः।
व्यूहन्निव जनौघं तं शनै राजकुलं ययौ।।2.5.21।।

सिताभ्रशिखरप्रख्यं प्रासादमधिरुह्य सः।
समीयाय नरेन्द्रेण शक्रेणेव बृहस्पतिः।।2.5.22।।

तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य हित्वा राजासनं नृपः।
पप्रच्छ स च तस्मै तत्कृतमित्यभ्यवेदयत्।।2.5.23।।

चैव तदा तुल्यं सहासीनास्सभासदः।
आसनेभ्यस्समुत्तस्थुः पूजयन्तः पुरोहितम्।।2.5.24।।

गुरुणा त्वभ्यनुज्ञातो मनुजौघं विसृज्य तम्।
विवेशान्तः पुरं राजा सिंहो गिरिगुहामिव।।2.5.25।।

तदग्य्रवेषप्रमदाजनाकुलं
महेन्द्रवेश्मप्रतिमं निवेशनम्।
विदीपयंश्चारु विवेश पार्थिव
श्शशीव तारागणसङ्कुलं नभः।।2.5.26।।

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चमस्सर्गः।।

[Vasistha advises Rama and Sita to undertake fast preparatory to coronation.]

സന്ദിശ്യ രാമം നൃപതി ശ്ശ്വോഭാവിന്യഭിഷേചനേ.
പുരോഹിതം സമാഹൂയ വശിഷ്ഠമിദമബ്രവീത്৷৷2.5.1৷৷

The king having instructed Rama summoned Vasistha, the priest and spoke to him about the coronation that was to take place on the following day

ഗച്ഛോപവാസം കാകുത്സ്ഥം കാരയാദ്യ തപോധന.
ശ്രീയശോരാജ്യലാഭായ വധ്വാ സഹ യതവ്രതമ്৷৷2.5.2৷৷

Could you, O sage, whose wealth is asceticism go to Rama engaged in strict observance of vows and advise him along with Sita, my daughter-in-law to undertake fast for securing prosperity, fame and kingdom.

തഥേതി ച സ രാജാനമുക്ത്വാ വേദവിദാം വരഃ.
സ്വയം വസിഷ്ഠോ ഭഗവാന്യയൌ രാമനിവേശനമ്৷৷2.5.3৷৷

ഉപവാസയിതും രാമം മന്ത്രവന്മന്ത്രകോവിദഃ.
ബ്രാഹ്മം രഥവരം യുക്തമാസ്ഥായ സുദൃഢവ്രതഃ৷৷2.5.4৷৷

Venerabel Vasistha, the best amongst the knowers of the Vedas, skilled in mantras and firm in his vows said to the king, 'Be it so.' Thereafter, mounted on the best of the chariots befitting a brahmin, with horses harnesed he proceeded personally to the abode of Rama to ask him to undertake a fast in accompaniment with mantras preceding the installation ceremony.

സ രാമഭവനം പ്രാപ്യ പാണ്ഡുരാഭ്രഘനപ്രഭമ്.
തിസ്രഃ കക്ഷ്യാ രഥേനൈവ വിവേശമുനിസത്തമഃ৷৷2.5.5৷৷

Having crossed the three courtyards in the chariot, that foremost of ascetics (Vasistha) entered Rams's abode, shining like a mass of white clouds.

Having crossed the three courtyards in the chariot, that foremost of ascetics (Vasistha) entered Rams's abode, shining like a mass of white clouds.

തമാഗതമൃഷിം രാമസ്ത്വരന്നിവ സസമ്ഭ്രമഃ.
മാനയിഷ്യന്സമാനാര്ഹം നിശ്ചക്രാമ നിവേശനാത്৷৷2.5.6৷৷

Seeing the venerable sage(Vasitha) arrive, Rama quickly came out of his abode in great excitement to receive him with honour.

അഭ്യേത്യ ത്വരമാണശ്ച രഥാഭ്യാശം മനീഷിണഃ.
തതോവതാരയാമാസ പരിഗൃഹ്യ രഥാത്സ്വയമ്৷৷2.5.7৷৷

Hastening with rapid strides, Rama approached the chariot of the sagacious Vasistha and personally helped him alight from the chariot.

സ ചൈനം പ്രശ്രിതം ദൃഷ്ട്വാ സമ്ഭാഷ്യാഭിപ്രസാദ്യ ച.
പ്രിയാര്ഹം ഹര്ഷയന്രാമമിത്യുവാച പുരോഹിതഃ৷৷2.5.8৷৷

The ascetic (Vasistha) having thus spoken to Rama made him undertake fast along with Sita in accompaniment with sacred hymns.

തതോ യഥാവദ്രാമേണ സ രാജ്ഞോ ഗുരുരര്ചിതഃ.
അഭ്യനുജ്ഞാപ്യ കാകുത്സ്ഥം യയൌ രാമനിവേശനാത്৷৷2.5.12৷৷

Thereafter, Vasistha, preceptor of the king duly honoured by the descendant of Kakutstha (Rama) left his abode.

സുഹൃദ്ഭിസ്തത്ര രാമോപി സഹാസീനഃ പ്രിയംവദൈഃ.
സഭാജിതോ വിവേശാഥ താനനുജ്ഞാപ്യ സര്വശഃ৷৷2.5.13৷৷

Rama also sat for a while in the company of his sweet-tongued friends and duly honoured by them in every way took leave of them and entered his apartment.

ഹൃഷ്ടനാരീനരയുതം രാമവേശ്മ തദാ ബഭൌ.
യഥാ മത്തദ്വിജഗണം പ്രഫുല്ലനലിനം സരഃ৷৷2.5.14৷৷

The residence of Rama, full of cheerful men and women, looked splendid like a lake with full-blown lotuses flocked by multitudes of intoxicated birds.

സ രാജഭവനപ്രഖ്യാത്തസ്മാദ്രാമനിവേശാനാത്.
നിര്ഗത്യ ദദൃശേ മാര്ഗം വസിഷ്ഠോ ജനസംവൃതമ്৷৷2.5.15৷৷

Vasistha thereafter emerged from the abode of Rama resembling a royal palace and beheld the highways filled with people.

ബൃന്ദബൃന്ദൈരയോധ്യായാം രാജമാര്ഗാസ്സമന്തതഃ.
ബഭൂവുരഭിസമ്ബാധാഃ കുതൂഹലജനൈര്വൃതാഃ৷৷2.5.16৷৷

The royal highways in the city of Ayodhya were jammed on all sides with groups of curious people.

ജനബൃന്ദോര്മിസംഘര്ഷഹര്ഷസ്വനവതസ്തദാ.
ബഭൂവ രാജമാര്ഗസ്യ സാഗരസ്യേവ നിസ്വനഃ৷৷2.5.17৷৷

The highways resembled the sea and the exultation of the multitudes, the roar that emanated from the clashing of waves.

സിക്തസമ്മൃഷ്ടരഥ്യാ ഹി തദഹര്വനമാലിനീ.
ആസീദയോധ്യാനഗരീ സമുച്ഛ്രിതഗൃഹധ്വജാ৷৷2.5.18৷৷

On that day, the thoroughfares of the city of Ayodhya, surrounded with (pleasure) gardens, were sprinkled with water and swept. The flags (on the top) of the houses were raised high.

തദാ ഹ്യയോധ്യാനിലയ സ്സസ്ത്രീബാലാബലോ ജനഃ.
രാമാഭിഷേകമാകാങ്ക്ഷന്നാകാങ്ക്ഷദുദയം രവേഃ৷৷2.5.19৷৷

Then all the people living in Ayodhya including women, children and aged alike wishing to see the coronation of Rama eagerly waited for the sunrise.

പ്രജാലങ്കാരഭൂതം ച ജനസ്യാനന്ദവര്ധനമ്.
ഉത്സുകോഭൂജ്ജനോ ദ്രഷ്ടും തമയോധ്യാമഹോത്സവമ്৷৷2.5.20৷৷

People were anxious to witness that great festival of Ayodhya which was to them
(precious) like an ornament and a source of immense joy.

ഏവം തജ്ജനസമ്ബാധം രാജമാര്ഗം പുരോഹിതഃ.
വ്യൂഹന്നിവ ജനൌഘം തം ശനൈ രാജകുലം യയൌ৷৷2.5.21৷৷

The priest (Vasistha), beholding the overcrowded highway forced his passage through the crowds of men dividing them into two tracts and slowly entered the royal palace.

സിതാഭ്രശിഖരപ്രഖ്യം പ്രാസാദമധിരുഹ്യ സഃ.
സമീയായ നരേന്ദ്രേണ ശക്രേണേവ ബൃഹസ്പതിഃ৷৷2.5.22৷৷

Having ascended the royal palace resembling the peak of a mountain covered with white clouds, Vasistha approached the king like Brihaspati meeting Indra.

തമാഗതമഭിപ്രേക്ഷ്യ ഹിത്വാ രാജാസനം നൃപഃ.
പപ്രച്ഛ സ ച തസ്മൈ തത്കൃതമിത്യഭ്യവേദയത്৷৷2.5.23৷৷

On seeing Vasistha the king descended from the throne and enquired whether he had performed the mission to which the ascetic replied affirmatively.

ചൈവ തദാ തുല്യം സഹാസീനാസ്സഭാസദഃ.
ആസനേഭ്യസ്സമുത്തസ്ഥുഃ പൂജയന്തഃ പുരോഹിതമ്৷৷2.5.24৷৷

All those present in the assembly with him (the king) also got up from their seats as he (Dasaratha) did and paid their obeisance to Vasistha.

ഗുരുണാ ത്വഭ്യനുജ്ഞാതോ മനുജൌഘം വിസൃജ്യ തമ്.
വിവേശാന്തഃ പുരം രാജാ സിംഹോ ഗിരിഗുഹാമിവ৷৷2.5.25৷৷

The king then, dully permitted by the preceptor, disposed the assembly of men and stepped into his inner apartment, like a lion entering the cave of a mountain.

തദഗ്യ്രവേഷപ്രമദാജനാകുലം
മഹേന്ദ്രവേശ്മപ്രതിമം നിവേശനമ്.

വിദീപയംശ്ചാരു വിവേശ പാര്ഥിവ
ശ്ശശീവ താരാഗണസങ്കുലം നഭഃ৷৷2.5.26৷৷

The king entered the inner apartment thronged with excellently attired women which looked like the palace of Mahendra. He resembled the beautiful Moon that illuminates the sky crowded with stars.

ഇത്യാര്ഷേ ശ്രീമദ്രാമായണേ വാല്മീകീയ ആദികാവ്യേ അയോധ്യാകാണ്ഡേ പഞ്ചമസ്സര്ഗഃ৷৷

Thus ends the fifth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.