वसिष्ठं मुनिशार्दूलं राजा वचनमब्रवीत्। अभिषेकाय रामस्य यत् कर्म सपरिच्छदम्
Spoke to Vasiṣṭha, the foremost sage, saying: ‘Whatever is required for Rāma’s consecration, with all its arrangements—’
तदद्य भगवन् सर्वमाज्ञापयितुमर्हसि। तच्छ्रुत्वा भूमिपालस्य वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः
Today, O venerable one, you should command everything; hearing the king’s words, Vasiṣṭha, the best of sages,
आदिदेशाग्रतो राज्ञः स्थितान् युक्तान् कृताञ्जलीन्। सुवर्णादीनि रत्नानि बलीन् सर्वौषधीरपि
Ordered those who stood before the king, hands joined in reverence, to bring gold and other jewels, tributes, and all medicinal herbs.
शुक्लमाल्यानि लाजांश्च पृथक् च मधुसर्पिषी। अहतानि च वासांसि रथं सर्वायुधान्यपि
White garlands, parched grains, honey and clarified butter separately, unworn garments, a chariot, and all kinds of weapons as well.
चतुरङ्गबलं चैव गजं च शुभलक्षणम्। चामरव्यजने चोभे ध्वजं छत्रं च पाण्डुरम्
Let the fourfold army be prepared, along with an elephant of auspicious marks, both fly-whisks, the white umbrella, and the banner.
शतं च शातकुम्भानां कुम्भानामग्निवर्चसाम्। हिरण्यशृङ्गमृषभं समग्रं व्याघ्रचर्म च
Let there be a hundred golden water jars, a bull with golden horns, and a complete tiger skin.
यच्चान्यत् किंचिदेष्टव्यं तत् सर्वमुपकल्प्यताम्। उपस्थापयत प्रातरग्न्यगारे महीपतेः
And whatever else is desirable, let all that be arranged; present everything at dawn in the king’s fire-chamber.
अन्तःपुरस्य द्वाराणि सर्वस्य नगरस्य च। चन्दनस्रग्भिरर्च्यन्तां धूपैश्च घ्राणहारिभिः
Let the gates of the inner palace and of the whole city be honored with sandalwood garlands and fragrant incense.
प्रशस्तमन्नं गुणवद् दधिक्षीरोपसेचनम्। द्विजानां शतसाहस्रं यत्प्रकाममलं भवेत्
Let excellent, wholesome food with curds and milk as condiments be provided in abundance for hundreds of thousands of Brahmins, as much as they desire.
सत्कृत्य द्विजमुख्यानां श्वः प्रभाते प्रदीयताम्। घृतं दधि च लाजाश्च दक्षिणाश्चापि पुष्कलाः
Having honored the foremost Brahmins, let ghee, curds, parched grains, and abundant gifts be given to them tomorrow morning.
सूर्येऽभ्युदितमात्रे श्वो भविता स्वस्तिवाचनम्। ब्राह्मणाश्च निमन्त्र्यन्तां कल्प्यन्तामासनानि च
As soon as the sun rises tomorrow, let the auspicious rites be performed; let Brahmins be invited and seats be arranged for them.
आबध्यन्तां पताकाश्च राजमार्गश्च सिच्यताम्। सर्वे च तालापचरा गणिकाश्च स्वलंकृताः
Let banners be fastened and the royal road be sprinkled; let all the doorkeepers and courtesans be adorned.
कक्ष्यां द्वितीयामासाद्य तिष्ठन्तु नृपवेश्मनः। देवायतनचैत्येषु सान्नभक्ष्याः सदक्षिणाः
Let those with food and gifts stand in the second courtyard of the royal residence, and at temples and shrines.
उपस्थापयितव्याः स्युर्माल्ययोग्याः पृथक्पृथक्। दीर्घासिबद्धगोधाश्च संनद्धा मृष्टवाससः
Let those fit to bear garlands be stationed separately; let those with long swords and leather belts, fully armed and splendidly dressed, be present.
महाराजाङ्गनं शूराः प्रविशन्तु महोदयम्। एवं व्यादिश्य विप्रौ तु क्रियास्तत्र विनिष्ठितौ
Let the valiant men enter the great royal hall; thus, having given these instructions, the two Brahmins completed the arrangements there.
चक्रतुश्चैव यच्छेषं पार्थिवाय निवेद्य च। कृतमित्येव चाब्रूतामभिगम्य जगत्पतिम्
They did everything else as ordered, reported to the king, and, approaching the lord of the world, said, 'It is done.'
यथोक्तवचनं प्रीतौ हर्षयुक्तौ द्विजोत्तमौ। ततः सुमन्त्रं द्युतिमान् राजा वचनमब्रवीत्
Pleased and filled with joy at their faithful execution of his words, the radiant king then spoke to Sumantra.
रामः कृतात्मा भवता शीघ्रमानीयतामिति। स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय सुमन्त्रो राजशासनात्
'Let Rama, who is self-controlled, be brought here quickly by you.' Sumantra, having agreed, went at the king’s command.
रामं तत्रानयांचक्रे रथेन रथिनां वरम्। अथ तत्र सहासीनास्तदा दशरथं नृपम्
He brought Rama there in a chariot, the best among charioteers; then, as they sat together, Rama saw King Dasharatha.
प्राच्योदीच्या प्रतीच्याश्च दाक्षिणात्याश्च भूमिपाः। म्लेच्छाश्चार्याश्च ये चान्ये वनशैलान्तवासिनः
Kings from the east, north, west, and south, as well as foreigners, Aryans, and others dwelling in forests and mountains,
उपासांचक्रिरे सर्वे तं देवा वासवं यथा। तेषां मध्ये स राजर्षिर्मरुतामिव वासवः
All of them waited upon him as the gods do upon Indra; among them, that royal sage shone like Indra among the Maruts.
प्रासादस्थो दशरथो ददर्शायान्तमात्मजम्। गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमं लोके विख्यातपौरुषम्
Standing on the palace terrace, Dasharatha saw his son approaching, renowned in the world for his valor, resembling a king of the Gandharvas.
दीर्घबाहुं महासत्त्वं मत्तमातङ्गगामिनम्। चन्द्रकान्ताननं राममतीव प्रियदर्शनम्
Rāma, long-armed, of great strength, moving like a proud elephant, with a face radiant as the moonstone, was exceedingly pleasing to behold.
रूपौदार्यगुणैः पुंसां दृष्टिचित्तापहारिणम्। घर्माभितप्ताः पर्जन्यं ह्लादयन्तमिव प्रजाः
With beauty, nobility, and virtues that captivated the eyes and hearts of men, he delighted the people scorched by heat, as rain delights the earth.
न ततर्प समायान्तं पश्यमानो नराधिपः। अवतार्य सुमन्त्रस्तु राघवं स्यन्दनोत्तमात्
Even as Rāma approached, the king could not have enough of gazing at him; then Sumantra helped Rāghava descend from the excellent chariot.
पितुः समीपं गच्छन्तं प्राञ्जलिः पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात्। स तं कैलासशृङ्गाभं प्रासादं रघुनन्दनः
With joined palms, Sumantra followed behind Rāma as he went toward his father; the joy of the Raghu line approached that palace, shining like a peak of Kailāsa.
आरुरोह नृपं द्रष्टुं सहसा तेन राघवः। स प्राञ्जलिरभिप्रेत्य प्रणतः पितुरन्तिके
Rāghava swiftly ascended to see the king in that palace; approaching with joined hands, he bowed before his father.
नाम स्वं श्रावयन् रामो ववन्दे चरणौ पितुः। तं दृष्ट्वा प्रणतं पार्श्वे कृताञ्जलिपुटं नृपः
Announcing his own name, Rāma bowed at his father's feet; seeing him bowed with hands joined at his side, the king—
गृह्याञ्जलौ समाकृष्य सस्वजे प्रियमात्मजम्। तस्मै चाभ्युद्यतं सम्यङ्मणिकाञ्चनभूषितम्
The king drew his beloved son close, grasping his joined hands; to him, he offered a splendid seat adorned with gems and gold.
दिदेश राजा रुचिरं रामाय परमासनम्। तथाऽऽसनवरं प्राप्य व्यदीपयत राघवः
The king directed Rāma to that beautiful, highest seat; having attained that excellent seat, Rāghava shone forth.