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.
किं नु चित्तं मनुष्याणामनित्यमिति मे मतम्। सतां च धर्मनित्यानां कृतशोभि च राघव
Yet, I believe the minds of men are unstable; but among the virtuous who are steadfast in righteousness, their actions shine, O Rāghava.
इत्युक्तः सोऽभ्यनुज्ञातः श्वोभाविन्यभिषेचने। व्रजेति रामः पितरमभिवाद्याभ्ययाद् गृहम्
Thus addressed and permitted regarding the consecration to occur tomorrow, Rāma, after bowing to his father, departed for his house.
प्रविश्य चात्मनो वेश्म राज्ञाऽऽदिष्टेऽभिषेचने। तत्क्षणादेव निष्क्रम्य मातुरन्तःपुरं ययौ
Entering his own residence, as ordered by the king for the consecration, he immediately went out and proceeded to his mother's inner chambers.
तत्र तां प्रवणामेव मातरं क्षौमवासिनीम्। वाग्यतां देवतागारे ददर्शायाचतीं श्रियम्
There, he saw his mother, humble, dressed in fine linen, silent, seated in the shrine, praying for prosperity.
प्रागेव चागता तत्र सुमित्रा लक्ष्मणस्तथा। सीता चानयिता श्रुत्वा प्रियं रामाभिषेचनम्
Sumitrā and Lakṣmaṇa had already arrived there, and Sītā too had been brought, having heard the joyful news of Rāma's consecration.
तस्मिन् कालेऽपि कौसल्या तस्थावामीलितेक्षणा। सुमित्रयान्वास्यमाना सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च
At that time, Kausalyā stood there, her eyes closed, surrounded by Sumitrā, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa.
श्रुत्वा पुष्ये च पुत्रस्य यौवराज्येऽभिषेचनम्। प्राणायामेन पुरुषं ध्यायमाना जनार्दनम्
Hearing that her son would be anointed as crown prince under the Puṣya constellation, she, restraining her breath, meditated upon Janārdana.
तथा सनियमामेव सोऽभिगम्याभिवाद्य च। उवाच वचनं रामो हर्षयंस्तामिदं वरम्
Then, while she was still engaged in her observances, Rāma approached, greeted her with reverence, and spoke these words, delighting her.
अम्ब पित्रा नियुक्तोऽस्मि प्रजापालनकर्मणि। भविता श्वोऽभिषेको मे यथा मे शासनं पितुः
Mother, my father has appointed me to the duty of protecting the people; tomorrow I will be consecrated, as per my father's command.
सीतयाप्युपवस्तव्या रजनीयं मया सह। एवमुक्तमुपाध्यायैः स हि मामुक्तवान् पिता
Sītā too must observe a fast tonight with me; thus have my teachers instructed me, for my father has told me so.