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.
स्वयैव प्रभया मेरुमुदये विमलो रविः। तेन विभ्राजिता तत्र सा सभापि व्यरोचत
By his own radiance, pure as the sun rising on Mount Meru, he illumined that assembly, which became resplendent.
विमलग्रहनक्षत्रा शारदी द्यौरिवेन्दुना। तं पश्यमानो नृपतिस्तुतोष प्रियमात्मजम्
Like the autumn sky, pure with planets and stars, shines with the moon, so did that assembly glow; seeing his beloved son, the king was satisfied.
अलंकृतमिवात्मानमादर्शतलसंस्थितम्। स तं सुस्थितमाभाष्य पुत्रं पुत्रवतां वरः
He saw himself adorned, as if reflected in a spotless mirror; then, the best of fathers spoke to his well-seated son.
उवाचेदं वचो राजा देवेन्द्रमिव कश्यपः। ज्येष्ठायामसि मे पत्न्यां सदृश्यां सदृशः सुतः
The king spoke these words to Rāma, as Kaśyapa might to Indra: 'You are born of my chief queen, worthy in every way, and a worthy son.'
उत्पन्नस्त्वं गुणज्येष्ठो मम रामात्मजः प्रियः। त्वया यतः प्रजाश्चेमाः स्वगुणैरनुरञ्जिताः
'You are my beloved son, Rāma, supreme in virtues; by your own qualities, you have won the hearts of these people.'
तस्मात् त्वं पुष्ययोगेन यौवराज्यमवाप्नुहि। कामतस्त्वं प्रकृत्यैव निर्णीतो गुणवानिति
'Therefore, under the star Puṣya, receive the office of heir-apparent; for by nature and by choice, you have been found virtuous.'
गुणवत्यपि तु स्नेहात् पुत्र वक्ष्यामि ते हितम्। भूयो विनयमास्थाय भव नित्यं जितेन्द्रियः
'Yet, though you are virtuous, out of affection I will speak for your good, my son: ever maintain humility and always keep your senses under control.'
कामक्रोधसमुत्थानि त्यजस्व व्यसनानि च। परोक्षया वर्तमानो वृत्त्या प्रत्यक्षया तथा
'Abandon the faults arising from desire and anger; conduct yourself both in private and in public with proper behavior.'
अमात्यप्रभृतीः सर्वाः प्रजाश्चैवानुरञ्जय। कोष्ठागारायुधागारैः कृत्वा संनिचयान् बहून्
'Win over all, from ministers onward, and the people as well; amass great stores in treasuries and armories.'
इष्टानुरक्तप्रकृतिर्यः पालयति मेदिनीम्। तस्य नन्दन्ति मित्राणि लब्ध्वामृतमिवामराः
'He who rules the earth with subjects who are devoted and loving, his friends rejoice as the gods rejoice on obtaining nectar.'