Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhyakanda, Sarga 6. Rama and Sita observe the prescribed rites.

 

[Rama and Sita observe the prescribed rites--rejoiced citizens of Ayodhya express their gratitude to the king--people from villages arrive in multitudes.]

गते पुरोहिते रामः स्नातो नियतमानसः।
सह पत्न्या विशालाक्ष्या नारायणमुपागमत्।।2.6.1।।

प्रगृह्य शिरसा पात्रीं हविषो विधिवत्तदा।
महते दैवतायाज्यं जुहाव ज्वलितेऽनले।।2.6.2।।

शेषं च हविषस्तस्य प्राश्याशास्यात्मनः प्रियम्।
ध्यायन्नारायणं देवं स्वास्तीर्णे कुशसंस्तरे।।2.6.3।।

वाग्यत स्सह वैदेह्या भूत्वा नियतमानसः।
श्रीमत्यायतने विष्णो श्शिश्ये नरवरात्मजः।।2.6.4।।

एकयामावशिष्टायां रात्र्यां प्रतिविबुद्ध्य सः।
अलङ्कारविधिं कृत्स्नं कारयामास वेश्मनः।।2.6.5।।

तत्र श्रृण्वन्सुखा वाच स्सूतमागधवन्दिनाम्।
पूर्वां सध्यामुपासीनो जजाप यतमानसः।।2.6.6।।

तुष्टाव प्रणतश्चैव शिरसा मधुसूदनम्।
विमलक्षौमसंवीतो वाचयामास स द्विजान्।।2.6.7।।

तेषां पुण्याहघोषोऽथ गम्भीरमधुरस्तदा।
अयोध्यां पूरयामास तूर्यघोषानुनादितः।।2.6.8।।

कृतोपवासं तु तदा वैदेह्या सह राघवम्।
अयोध्यानिलयश्श्रुत्वा सर्वः प्रमुदितो जनः।।2.6.9।।

ततः पौरजनस्सर्वश्श्रुत्वा रामाभिषेचनम्।
प्रभातां रजनीं दृष्ट्वा चक्रे शोभयितुं पुरीम्।।2.6.10।।

सिताभ्रशिखराभेषु देवतायतनेषु च।
चतुष्पथेषु रथ्यासु चैत्येष्वट्टालकेषु च।।2.6.11।।

नानापण्यसमृद्धेषु वणिजामापणेषु च।
कुटुम्बिनां समृद्धेषु श्रीमत्सु भवनेषु च।।2.6.12।।

सभासु चैव सर्वासु वृक्षेष्वालक्षितेषु च।
ध्वजा स्समुच्छ्रिताश्चित्राः पताकाश्चाभवंस्तदा।।2.6.13।।

नटनर्तकसङ्घानां गायकानां च गायताम्।
मनः कर्णसुखा वाच श्शुशृवुश्च ततस्ततः।।2.6.14।।

रामाभिषेकयुक्ताश्च कथाश्चक्रुर्मिथो जनाः।
रामाभिषेके सम्प्राप्ते चत्वरेषु गृहेषु च।।2.6.15।।

बाला अपि क्रीडमाना गृहद्वारेषु सङ्घशः।
रामाभिषवसंयुक्ताश्चक्रुरेवं मिथः कथाः।।2.6.16।।

कृतपुष्पोपहारश्च धूपगन्धाधिवासितः।
राजमार्गः कृतः श्रीमान्पौरै रामाभिषेचने।।2.6.17।।

प्रकाशकरणार्थं च निशागमनशङ्कया।
दीपवृक्षां स्तथा चक्रुरनु रथ्यासु सर्वशः।।2.6.18।।

अलङ्कारं पुरस्यैवं कृत्वा तत्पुरवासिनः।
आकाङ्क्षमाणा रामस्य यौवराज्याभिषेचनम्।।2.6.19।।

समेत्य सङ्घशस्सर्वे चत्वरेषु सभासु च।
कथयन्तो मिथस्तत्र प्रशशंसुर्जनाधिपम्।।2.6.20।।

अहो महात्मा राजाऽयमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनः।
ज्ञात्वा यो वृद्धमात्मानं रामं राज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति।।2.6.21।।

सर्वेप्यनुगृहीता स्मो यन्नो रामो महीपतिः।
चिराय भविता गोप्ता दृष्टलोकपरावरः।।2.6.22।।

अनुद्धतमनाः विद्वान्धर्मात्मा भ्रातृवत्सलः।
यथा च भ्रातृषु स्निग्धस्तथाऽस्मास्वपि राघवः।।2.6.23।।

चिरं जीवतु धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथोऽनघः।
यत्प्रसादोनभिषिक्तं तु रामं द्रक्ष्यामहे वयम्।।2.6.24।।

एवंविधं कथयतां पौराणां शुश्रुवु स्तदा।
दिग्भ्योपि श्रुतवृत्तान्ता: प्राप्ता जानपदा जनाः।।2.6.25।।

ते तु दिग्भ्यः पुरीं प्राप्ता द्रष्टुं रामाभिषेचनम्।
रामस्य पूरयामासुः पुरीं जानपदा जनाः।।2.6.26।।

जनौघैस्तैर्विसर्पद्भिः शुश्रुवे तत्र निस्वनः।
पर्वसूदीर्णवेगस्य सागरस्येव निस्वनः।।2.6.27।।

ततस्तदिन्द्रक्षयसन्निभं पुरं
दिदृक्षुभिर्जानपदैरुपागतैः।
समन्तत स्सस्वनमाकुलं बभौ
समुद्रयादोभिरिवार्णवोदकम्।।2.6.28।।

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षष्ठस्सर्गः।।

[Rama and Sita observe the prescribed rites--rejoiced citizens of Ayodhya express their gratitude to the king--people from villages arrive in multitudes.]

ഗതേ പുരോഹിതേ രാമഃ സ്നാതോ നിയതമാനസഃ.
സഹ പത്ന്യാ വിശാലാക്ഷ്യാ നാരായണമുപാഗമത്৷৷2.6.1৷৷

With the family priest (Vasistha) gone, Rama had his bath, and with his mind under control came to Lord Narayana along with his large-eyed consort, Sita. (with an intention to worship him)

പ്രഗൃഹ്യ ശിരസാ പാത്രീം ഹവിഷോ വിധിവത്തദാ.
മഹതേ ദൈവതായാജ്യം ജുഹാവ ജ്വലിതേനലേ৷৷2.6.2৷৷

Then holding the vessel containing havis on his head, he offered the oblations of clarified butter into the sacred fire for Visnu in accordance with ritual practices.

ശേഷം ച ഹവിഷസ്തസ്യ പ്രാശ്യാശാസ്യാത്മനഃ പ്രിയമ്.
ധ്യായന്നാരായണം ദേവം സ്വാസ്തീര്ണേ കുശസംസ്തരേ৷৷2.6.3৷৷

വാഗ്യത സ്സഹ വൈദേഹ്യാ ഭൂത്വാ നിയതമാനസഃ.
ശ്രീമത്യായതനേ വിഷ്ണോ ശ്ശിശ്യേ നരവരാത്മജഃ৷৷2.6.4৷৷

The son of the king (Rama) partook the remainder of the havis seeking his own welfare. With a restrained mind and a vow of silence, he meditated upon Lord Narayana and slept along with Vaidehi on a well-spread bed of kusha grass in the auspicious temple of lord Visnu.

ഏകയാമാവശിഷ്ടായാം രാത്ര്യാം പ്രതിവിബുദ്ധ്യ സഃ.
അലങ്കാരവിധിം കൃത്സ്നം കാരയാമാസ വേശ്മനഃ৷৷2.6.5৷৷

He got up (Rama) with one yama (three hours) of the night still left, and had his entire residence decorated.

തത്ര ശ്രൃണ്വന്സുഖാ വാച സ്സൂതമാഗധവന്ദിനാമ്.
പൂര്വാം സധ്യാമുപാസീനോ ജജാപ യതമാനസഃ৷৷2.6.6৷৷

Then (in the last watch of the night) hearing the pleasant words of bards and panegyrists he attended to early morning rites and intoned Gayatri with a
concentrated mind.

തുഷ്ടാവ പ്രണതശ്ചൈവ ശിരസാ മധുസൂദനമ്.
വിമലക്ഷൌമസംവീതോ വാചയാമാസ സ ദ്വിജാന്৷৷2.6.7৷৷

Clad in spotless silk garments, he extoled Lord Madhusudana (Visnu) with his head bowed low. He listened to the purificatory mantras recited by brahmins.

തേഷാം പുണ്യാഹഘോഷോഥ ഗമ്ഭീരമധുരസ്തദാ.
അയോധ്യാം പൂരയാമാസ തൂര്യഘോഷാനുനാദിതഃ৷৷2.6.8৷৷

And then the deep and sweet proclamations of 'This is an auspicious day' mingled with the sounds of trumpets reverberated (the city of) Ayodhya.

കൃതോപവാസം തു തദാ വൈദേഹ്യാ സഹ രാഘവമ്.
അയോധ്യാനിലയശ്ശ്രുത്വാ സര്വഃ പ്രമുദിതോ ജനഃ৷৷2.6.9৷৷

The residents of Ayodhya were happy to hear that the scion of the Raghus (Rama) along with princess of Videha (Sita) had undertaken the fast.

തതഃ പൌരജനസ്സര്വശ്ശ്രുത്വാ രാമാഭിഷേചനമ്.
പ്രഭാതാം രജനീം ദൃഷ്ട്വാ ചക്രേ ശോഭയിതും പുരീമ്৷৷2.6.10৷৷

Having heard about the coronation of Rama, all the citizens began to decorate the city soon after daybreak.

സിതാഭ്രശിഖരാഭേഷു ദേവതായതനേഷു ച.
ചതുഷ്പഥേഷു രഥ്യാസു ചൈത്യേഷ്വട്ടാലകേഷു ച৷৷2.6.11৷৷

നാനാപണ്യസമൃദ്ധേഷു വണിജാമാപണേഷു ച.
കുടുമ്ബിനാം സമൃദ്ധേഷു ശ്രീമത്സു ഭവനേഷു ച৷৷2.6.12৷৷

സഭാസു ചൈവ സര്വാസു വൃക്ഷേഷ്വാലക്ഷിതേഷു ച.
ധ്വജാ സ്സമുച്ഛ്രിതാശ്ചിത്രാഃ പതാകാശ്ചാഭവംസ്തദാ৷৷2.6.13৷৷

Banners of varying colours and flags were raised on the temples looking resplendent like peaks wreathed by a mass of white clouds, at the cross-roads, on the thoroughfares, on the trees standing on avenues, on the towers and stalls of the merchants abounding in various kinds of merchandise, on prosperous and graceful
houses of house-holders, in all public halls and on trees looking tall from a distance.

നടനര്തകസങ്ഘാനാം ഗായകാനാം ച ഗായതാമ്.
മനഃ കര്ണസുഖാ വാച ശ്ശുശൃവുശ്ച തതസ്തതഃ৷৷2.6.14৷৷

Troupes of actors and dancers entertained the people with songs pleasing to the mind and ears and their utterances were heard here and there.

രാമാഭിഷേകയുക്താശ്ച കഥാശ്ചക്രുര്മിഥോ ജനാഃ.
രാമാഭിഷേകേ സമ്പ്രാപ്തേ ചത്വരേഷു ഗൃഹേഷു ച৷৷2.6.15৷৷

As the time for Rama's coronation was approaching, men in public squares and in private houses talked with one another about the consecration of Rama.

ബാലാ അപി ക്രീഡമാനാ ഗൃഹദ്വാരേഷു സങ്ഘശഃ.
രാമാഭിഷവസംയുക്താശ്ചക്രുരേവം മിഥഃ കഥാഃ৷৷2.6.16৷৷

Similarly children playing in groups in front of the houses also related to each other stories regarding the coronation of Rama.

കൃതപുഷ്പോപഹാരശ്ച ധൂപഗന്ധാധിവാസിതഃ.
രാജമാര്ഗഃ കൃതഃ ശ്രീമാന്പൌരൈ രാമാഭിഷേചനേ৷৷2.6.17৷৷

On the occasion of Rama's coronation the highway, strewn with flowers and rendered fragrant with the burning of incense by the citizens looked glorious.

പ്രകാശകരണാര്ഥം ച നിശാഗമനശങ്കയാ.
ദീപവൃക്ഷാം സ്തഥാ ചക്രുരനു രഥ്യാസു സര്വശഃ৷৷2.6.18৷৷

In the same way lest night should fall (by the time the installation ceremony was completed), the streets were provided with lamps in the shape of trees to light them up.

അലങ്കാരം പുരസ്യൈവം കൃത്വാ തത്പുരവാസിനഃ.
ആകാങ്ക്ഷമാണാ രാമസ്യ യൌവരാജ്യാഭിഷേചനമ്৷৷2.6.19৷৷

സമേത്യ സങ്ഘശസ്സര്വേ ചത്വരേഷു സഭാസു ച.
കഥയന്തോ മിഥസ്തത്ര പ്രശശംസുര്ജനാധിപമ്৷৷2.6.20৷৷

Thus the residents of Ayodhya decorated the city and eagerly waited for Rama's cornonation as heir-apparent. Gathered in groups at public squares and in the assembly halls they conversed among themselves about the event, praising Dasaratha, the lord among men.

അഹോ മഹാത്മാ രാജായമിക്ഷ്വാകുകുലനന്ദനഃ.
ജ്ഞാത്വാ യോ വൃദ്ധമാത്മാനം രാമം രാജ്യേഭിഷേക്ഷ്യതി৷৷2.6.21৷৷

Oh! having realised that he himself has grown old the high-souled king Dasaratha the veritable delight to the Ikshvaku race, is going to coronate Rama in the kingdom.

സര്വേപ്യനുഗൃഹീതാ സ്മോ യന്നോ രാമോ മഹീപതിഃ.
ചിരായ ഭവിതാ ഗോപ്താ ദൃഷ്ടലോകപരാവരഃ৷৷2.6.22৷৷

All of us are fortunate indeed that Rama who knows the world's high and low shall be our king, protector for a long time.

അനുദ്ധതമനാഃ വിദ്വാന്ധര്മാത്മാ ഭ്രാതൃവത്സലഃ.
യഥാ ച ഭ്രാതൃഷു സ്നിഗ്ധസ്തഥാസ്മാസ്വപി രാഘവഃ৷৷2.6.23৷৷

This scion of the Raghus (Rama) is free from arrogance, is learned, righteous and affectionate towards his brothers as much as towards us.

ചിരം ജീവതു ധര്മാത്മാ രാജാ ദശരഥോനഘഃ.
യത്പ്രസാദോനഭിഷിക്തം തു രാമം ദ്രക്ഷ്യാമഹേ വയമ്৷৷2.6.24৷৷

May the virtuous and sinless king Dasaratha live long by whose grace we are beholding (going to behold) Rama's coronation.

ഏവംവിധം കഥയതാം പൌരാണാം ശുശ്രുവു സ്തദാ.
ദിഗ്ഭ്യോപി ശ്രുതവൃത്താന്താ: പ്രാപ്താ ജാനപദാ ജനാഃ৷৷2.6.25৷৷

Having heard about the coronation of Rama, villagers arrived from all directions and
listened to the citizens conversing in this manner.

തേ തു ദിഗ്ഭ്യഃ പുരീം പ്രാപ്താ ദ്രഷ്ടും രാമാഭിഷേചനമ്.
രാമസ്യ പൂരയാമാസുഃ പുരീം ജാനപദാ ജനാഃ৷৷2.6.26৷৷

The city was filled with villagers coming from different directions to behold Rama's coronation.

ജനൌഘൈസ്തൈര്വിസര്പദ്ഭിഃ ശുശ്രുവേ തത്ര നിസ്വനഃ.
പര്വസൂദീര്ണവേഗസ്യ സാഗരസ്യേവ നിസ്വനഃ৷৷2.6.27৷৷

The multitudes of men moving to and fro gave rise to a noise like the roar of the ocean enhanced by the violent speed (of the wind) on the full and new moon days.

തതസ്തദിന്ദ്രക്ഷയസന്നിഭം പുരം
ദിദൃക്ഷുഭിര്ജാനപദൈരുപാഗതൈഃ.
സമന്തത സ്സസ്വനമാകുലം ബഭൌ
സമുദ്രയാദോഭിരിവാര്ണവോദകമ്৷৷2.6.28৷৷

The city (of Ayodhya), resembling the abode of Indra, (Amaravati) crowded with villagers from all over wishing to witness it (the coronation of Rama), grew noisy and sparkled like the water of the ocean teeming with aquatic animals.

ഇത്യാര്ഷേ ശ്രീമദ്രാമായണേ വാല്മീകീയ ആദികാവ്യേ അയോധ്യാകാണ്ഡേ ഷഷ്ഠസ്സര്ഗഃ৷৷

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