तत्र शृण्वन् सुखा वाचः सूतमागधवन्दिनाम्। पूर्वां संध्यामुपासीनो जजाप सुसमाहितः
There, while listening to pleasant words from bards, genealogists, and panegyrists, he sat for the early morning worship, reciting prayers with full concentration.
तुष्टाव प्रणतश्चैव शिरसा मधुसूदनम्। विमलक्षौमसंवीतो वाचयामास स द्विजान्
He praised and bowed his head to Madhusūdana, and, clothed in pure linen, he had the Brāhmaṇas recite the Vedas.
तेषां पुण्याहघोषोऽथ गम्भीरमधुरस्तथा। अयोध्यां पूरयामास तूर्यघोषानुनादितः
Then, the auspicious and deep, sweet sounds of their chanting, accompanied by the music of instruments, filled Ayodhyā.
कृतोपवासं तु तदा वैदेह्या सह राघवम्। अयोध्यानिलयः श्रुत्वा सर्वः प्रमुदितो जनः
Hearing that Rāghava, together with Vaidehī, had completed the fast, all the people living in Ayodhyā rejoiced.
ततः पौरजनः सर्वः श्रुत्वा रामाभिषेचनम्। प्रभातां रजनीं दृष्ट्वा चक्रे शोभयितुं पुरीम्
Then, all the townspeople, having heard of Rāma’s consecration and seeing the night had ended, set about adorning the city.
सिताभ्रशिखराभेषु देवतायतनेषु च। चतुष्पथेषु रथ्यासु चैत्येष्वट्टालकेषु च
At the temples shining like peaks of white clouds, at crossroads, on streets, at shrines, and on balconies,
नानापण्यसमृद्धेषु वणिजामापणेषु च। कुटुम्बिनां समृद्धेषु श्रीमत्सु भवनेषु च
In the shops of merchants filled with various goods, and in the prosperous, splendid homes of householders,
सभासु चैव सर्वासु वृक्षेष्वालक्षितेषु च। ध्वजाः समुच्छ्रिताः साधु पताकाश्चाभवंस्तथा
And in all the assembly halls and on unmarked trees, flags were raised high and banners appeared as well.
नटनर्तकसङ्घानां गायकानां च गायताम्। मनःकर्णसुखा वाचः शुश्राव जनता ततः
Then the people heard words pleasing to the mind and ear from troupes of actors, dancers, and singers performing.
रामाभिषेकयुक्ताश्च कथाश्चक्रुर्मिथो जनाः। रामाभिषेके सम्प्राप्ते चत्वरेषु गृहेषु च
People spoke among themselves about Rāma’s consecration, both in the squares and in their homes, as the time for Rāma’s anointing approached.
बाला अपि क्रीडमाना गृहद्वारेषु सङ्घशः। रामाभिषवसंयुक्ताश्चक्रुरेव कथा मिथः
Even the children, playing together in groups at the doorways of their homes, spoke only of Rāma's consecration among themselves.
कृतपुष्पोपहारश्च धूपगन्धाधिवासितः। राजमार्गः कृतः श्रीमान् पौरै रामाभिषेचने
The royal road, splendid and adorned with offerings of flowers and perfumed with incense, was prepared by the citizens for Rāma's anointing.
प्रकाशकरणार्थं च निशागमनशङ्कया। दीपवृक्षांस्तथा चक्रुरनुरथ्यासु सर्वशः
And, to illuminate the night out of concern for darkness, they set up lamp-bearing trees along all the side streets.
अलंकारं पुरस्यैवं कृत्वा तत् पुरवासिनः। आकांक्षमाणा रामस्य यौवराज्याभिषेचनम्
Thus, having decorated the city, the inhabitants, longing for Rāma's installation as crown prince, waited in anticipation.
समेत्य सङ्घशः सर्वे चत्वरेषु सभासु च। कथयन्तो मिथस्तत्र प्रशशंसुर्जनाधिपम्
All of them, gathering together in groups in the squares and assembly halls, spoke among themselves there, praising the lord of the people.
अहो महात्मा राजायमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनः। ज्ञात्वा वृद्धं स्वमात्मानं रामं राज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति
Ah, the great-souled king, the joy of the Ikṣvāku line, knowing himself to be aged, will anoint Rāma as king.
सर्वे ह्यनुगृहीताः स्म यन्नो रामो महीपतिः। चिराय भविता गोप्ता दृष्टलोकपरावरः
Indeed, we are all blessed, for Rāma, who has seen the ways of the world, will be our king and protector for a long time.
अनुद्धतमना विद्वान् धर्मात्मा भ्रातृवत्सलः। यथा च भ्रातृषु स्निग्धस्तथास्मास्वपि राघवः
Rāghava, whose mind is free from arrogance, learned, righteous, and loving toward his brothers, is as affectionate to us as he is to them.
चिरं जीवतु धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथोऽनघः। यत्प्रसादेनाभिषिक्तं रामं द्रक्ष्यामहे वयम्
Long may the righteous and faultless King Daśaratha live, by whose favor we shall see Rāma anointed.
एवंविधं कथयतां पौराणां शुश्रुवुः परे। दिग्भ्यो विश्रुतवृत्तान्ताः प्राप्ता जानपदा जनाः
While the citizens were speaking in this way, others, having heard the news from all directions, came from the countryside.
ते तु दिग्भ्यः पुरीं प्राप्ता द्रष्टुं रामाभिषेचनम्। रामस्य पूरयामासुः पुरीं जानपदा जनाः
Those people, arriving from all directions to see Rāma's anointing, filled the city.
जनौघैस्तैर्विसर्पद्भिः शुश्रुवे तत्र निःस्वनः। पर्वसूदीर्णवेगस्य सागरस्येव निःस्वनः
With those crowds spreading everywhere, a great sound arose there, like the roar of the ocean at the time of the full moon.
ततस्तदिन्द्रक्षयसंनिभं पुरं दिदृक्षुभिर्जानपदैरुपाहितैः। समन्ततः सस्वनमाकुलं बभौ समुद्रयादोभिरिवार्णवोदकम्
Then that city, resembling Indra's own abode, thronged on all sides by eager country folk, resounded tumultuously and shone like the ocean filled with its waters.
thumb|सप्तमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तमः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the seventh chapter be heard.
ज्ञातिदासी यतो जाता कैकेय्या तु सहोषिता। प्रासादं चन्द्रसंकाशमारुरोह यदृच्छया
A maidservant, born among relatives, who had lived with Kaikeyī, happened by chance to ascend a palace shining like the moon.
सिक्तराजपथां कृत्स्नां प्रकीर्णकमलोत्पलाम्। अयोध्यां मन्थरा तस्मात् प्रासादादन्ववैक्षत
From that palace, Mantharā looked down upon Ayodhyā, whose royal roads were sprinkled and strewn with lotuses and water-lilies.
पताकाभिर्वरार्हाभिर्ध्वजैश्च समलंकृताम्। सिक्तां चन्दनतोयैश्च शिरःस्नातजनैर्युताम्
She saw the city adorned with splendid banners and flags, sprinkled with sandalwood water, and filled with people who had bathed their heads.
माल्यमोदकहस्तैश्च द्विजेन्द्रैरभिनादिताम्। शुक्लदेवगृहद्वारां सर्ववादित्रनादिताम्
Resounding with the voices of distinguished Brāhmaṇas holding garlands and sweets, with white temple doorways, and filled with the sound of all musical instruments.
सम्प्रहृष्टजनाकीर्णां ब्रह्मघोषनिनादिताम्। प्रहृष्टवरहस्त्यश्वां सम्प्रणर्दितगोवृषाम्
Filled with joyful people, resounding with the chanting of Brahmins, with delighted and splendid elephants and horses, and the bellowing of excited bulls and cows—
हृष्टप्रमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम्। अयोध्यां मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमागता
Seeing Ayodhya adorned with raised banners, its citizens elated and rejoicing, Manthara was struck with the utmost astonishment.