तस्मात् पुत्र त्वमात्मानं नियम्यैवं समाचर। तच्छ्रुत्वा सुहृदस्तस्य रामस्य प्रियकारिणः
Therefore, my son, restrain yourself and act accordingly; hearing this, his friends, who were devoted to Rāma and eager to please him—
त्वरिताः शीघ्रमागत्य कौसल्यायै न्यवेदयन्। सा हिरण्यं च गाश्चैव रत्नानि विविधानि च
Quickly and with haste, they went and reported to Kausalyā; she then distributed gold, cows, and various kinds of jewels—
व्यादिदेश प्रियाख्येभ्यः कौसल्या प्रमदोत्तमा। अथाभिवाद्य राजानं रथमारुह्य राघवः। ययौ स्वं द्युतिमद् वेश्म जनौघैः प्रतिपूजितः
Kausalyā, the foremost among noble women, gave these gifts to those dear to her; then, after saluting the king, Rāghava mounted his chariot and went to his splendid home, honored by crowds of people.
ते चापि पौरा नृपतेर्वचस्त- च्छ्रुत्वा तदा लाभमिवेष्टमाशु। नरेन्द्रमामन्त्र्य गृहाणि गत्वा देवान् समानर्चुरभिप्रहृष्टाः
And those citizens, having heard the king’s words, rejoiced as if they had gained a great prize; after taking leave of the king, they returned to their homes and, filled with joy, worshipped the gods.
thumb|चतुर्थः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः ॥२-
Hear now the fourth chapter.
गतेष्वथ नृपो भूयः पौरेषु सह मन्त्रिभिः। मन्त्रयित्वा ततश्चक्रे निश्चयज्ञः स निश्चयम्
When the people had departed, the king again conferred with his ministers; after deliberation, that resolute king made his decision.
श्व एव पुष्यो भविता श्वोऽभिषेच्यस्तु मे सुतः। रामो राजीवपत्राक्षो युवराज इति प्रभुः
"Tomorrow is the auspicious Puṣya day; tomorrow my son, Rāma, whose eyes are like lotus petals, will be consecrated as crown prince," declared the lord.
अथान्तर्गृहमाविश्य राजा दशरथस्तदा। सूतमामन्त्रयामास रामं पुनरिहानय
Then, entering his inner chambers, King Daśaratha summoned the charioteer and instructed him, "Bring Rāma here again."
द्वाःस्थैरावेदितं तस्य रामायागमनं पुनः। श्रुत्वैव चापि रामस्तं प्राप्तं शङ्कान्वितोऽभवत्
The doorkeepers announced to Rāma that he was being summoned again; upon hearing this, Rāma became apprehensive.
प्रवेश्य चैनं त्वरितो रामो वचनमब्रवीत्। यदागमनकृत्यं ते भूयस्तद्ब्रूह्यशेषतः
Having quickly admitted him, Rāma spoke these words: "Tell me in full the reason for your coming."
तमुवाच ततः सूतो राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति। श्रुत्वा प्रमाणं तत्र त्वं गमनायेतराय वा
Then the charioteer said to him, "The king wishes to see you; after hearing this, you may go or not as you see fit."
इति सूतवचः श्रुत्वा रामोऽपि त्वरयान्वितः। प्रययौ राजभवनं पुनर्द्रष्टुं नरेश्वरम्
Hearing the charioteer's words, Rāma, filled with urgency, went again to the royal palace to see the king.
तं श्रुत्वा समनुप्राप्तं रामं दशरथो नृपः। प्रवेशयामास गृहं विवक्षुः प्रियमुत्तमम्
Hearing that Rāma had arrived, King Daśaratha, wishing to speak kindly, had him brought into the chamber.
प्रविशन्नेव च श्रीमान् राघवो भवनं पितुः। ददर्श पितरं दूरात् प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जलिः
As the illustrious Rāghava entered his father's palace, he saw his father from afar and, with joined palms, bowed down.
प्रणमन्तं तमुत्थाप्य सम्परिष्वज्य भूमिपः। प्रदिश्य चासनं चास्मै रामं च पुनरब्रवीत्
The king raised him up as he bowed, embraced him, offered him a seat, and then spoke again to Rāma.
राम वृद्धोऽस्मि दीर्घायुर्भुक्ता भोगा यथेप्सिताः। अन्नवद्भिः क्रतुशतैर्यथेष्टं भूरिदक्षिणैः
"Rāma, I am old, long-lived, and have enjoyed pleasures as I wished; I have performed hundreds of sacrifices with abundant gifts, as desired."
जातमिष्टमपत्यं मे त्वमद्यानुपमं भुवि। दत्तमिष्टमधीतं च मया पुरुषसत्तम
"Today, O best of men, you are my incomparable and cherished son, born as I wished; I have given, learned, and achieved what I desired."
अनुभूतानि चेष्टानि मया वीर सुखान्यपि। देवर्षिपितृविप्राणामनृणोऽस्मि तथाऽऽत्मनः
"O hero, I have also experienced happiness; I am free of debts to the gods, seers, ancestors, priests, and to myself."
न किंचिन्मम कर्तव्यं तवान्यत्राभिषेचनात्। अतो यत्त्वामहं ब्रूयां तन्मे त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि
I have nothing else to do for you except your consecration; therefore, whatever I tell you now, you ought to carry out for me.
अद्य प्रकृतयः सर्वास्त्वामिच्छन्ति नराधिपम्। अतस्त्वां युवराजानमभिषेक्ष्यामि पुत्रक
Today, all the people desire you as their king; thus, my son, I will consecrate you as the crown prince.
अपि चाद्याशुभान् राम स्वप्नान् पश्यामि राघव। सनिर्घाता दिवोल्काश्च पतन्ति हि महास्वनाः
Moreover, today, O Rāma, I see ominous dreams; fiery meteors with thunderous sounds are falling down.
अवष्टब्धं च मे राम नक्षत्रं दारुणग्रहैः। आवेदयन्ति दैवज्ञाः सूर्याङ्गारकराहुभिः
Rāma, astrologers inform me that my star is afflicted by cruel planets—by the Sun, Mars, and Rāhu.
प्रायेण च निमित्तानामीदृशानां समुद्भवे। राजा हि मृत्युमाप्नोति घोरां चापदमृच्छति
Generally, when such omens arise, the king meets death and encounters terrible calamity.
तद् यावदेव मे चेतो न विमुह्यति राघव। तावदेवाभिषिञ्चस्व चला हि प्राणिनां मतिः
Therefore, Rāghava, before my mind becomes confused, you must be consecrated; for the thoughts of living beings are indeed fickle.
अद्य चन्द्रोऽभ्युपगमत् पुष्यात् पूर्वं पुनर्वसुम्। श्वः पुष्ययोगं नियतं वक्ष्यन्ते दैवचिन्तकाः
Today, the moon has reached Pūrvāṣāḍhā before Puṣya; tomorrow, astrologers will certainly announce the conjunction with Puṣya.
तत्र पुष्येऽभिषिञ्चस्व मनस्त्वरयतीव माम्। श्वस्त्वाहमभिषेक्ष्यामि यौवराज्ये परंतप
Therefore, be consecrated during Puṣya; my mind urges me strongly. Tomorrow, I will consecrate you as crown prince, O scorcher of foes.
तस्मात् त्वयाद्यप्रभृति निशेयं नियतात्मना। सह वध्वोपवस्तव्या दर्भप्रस्तरशायिना
From today onward, you must spend the night, with self-restraint, together with your wife, lying upon a bed of darbha grass.
सुहृदश्चाप्रमत्तास्त्वां रक्षन्त्वद्य समन्ततः। भवन्ति बहुविघ्नानि कार्याण्येवंविधानि हि
Your friends, alert, will guard you today on all sides; for undertakings of this kind encounter many obstacles.
विप्रोषितश्च भरतो यावदेव पुरादितः। तावदेवाभिषेकस्ते प्राप्तकालो मतो मम
Since Bharata is away from the city, the time for your consecration has arrived, in my opinion.
कामं खलु सतां वृत्ते भ्राता ते भरतः स्थितः। ज्येष्ठानुवर्ती धर्मात्मा सानुक्रोशो जितेन्द्रियः
Indeed, your brother Bharata follows the conduct of the virtuous; he honors his elder, is righteous, compassionate, and has mastered his senses.