काञ्चनप्रतिमैकाग्रं मणिविद्रुमतोरणम्। शारदाभ्रघनप्रख्यं दीप्तं मेरुगुहासमम्
It stood out with golden images, jeweled and coral-arched gateways, resembling autumn clouds and glowing like a cave of Mount Meru.
मणिभिर्वरमाल्यानां सुमहद्भिरलंकृतम्। मुक्तामणिभिराकीर्णं चन्दनागुरुभूषितम्
It was magnificently decorated with garlands of precious gems, strewn with pearls and jewels, and perfumed with sandalwood and agaru.
गन्धान् मनोज्ञान् विसृजद् दार्दुरं शिखरं यथा। सारसैश्च मयूरैश्च विनदद्भिर्विराजितम्
It emitted delightful fragrances like a mountain peak in the rainy season, and was resplendent with the calls of cranes and peacocks.
सुकृतेहामृगाकीर्णमुत्कीर्णं भक्तिभिस्तथा। मनश्चक्षुश्च भूतानामाददत् तिग्मतेजसा
It was surrounded by well-made deer, beautifully carved with devotion, captivating the minds and eyes of all beings with its brilliant radiance.
चन्द्रभास्करसंकाशं कुबेरभवनोपमम्। महेन्द्रधामप्रतिमं नानापक्षिसमाकुलम्
Resembling the moon and sun in brilliance, like Kubera's mansion, equal to Indra's abode, and filled with various birds.
मेरुशृङ्गसमं सूतो रामवेश्म ददर्श ह। उपस्थितैः समाकीर्णं जनैरञ्जलिकारिभिः
The charioteer beheld Rāma's house, lofty as the peak of Mount Meru, crowded with people who had gathered and stood with joined palms.
उपादाय समाक्रान्तैस्तदा जानपदैर्जनैः। रामाभिषेकसुमुखैरुन्मुखैः समलंकृतम्
It was thronged by country folk who had assembled, adorned with faces beaming in anticipation of Rāma's consecration.
महामेघसमप्रख्यमुदग्रं सुविराजितम्। नानारत्नसमाकीर्णं कुब्जकैरपि चावृतम्
Majestic as a great cloud, splendid and lofty, filled with various gems, and surrounded even by dwarfs.
स वाजियुक्तेन रथेन सारथिः समाकुलं राजकुलं विराजयन्। वरूथिना राजगृहाभिपातिना पुरस्य सर्वस्य मनांसि हर्षयन्
The charioteer, riding a horse-drawn chariot, made the royal palace bustle with activity, shining forth; as he approached the king’s residence with a splendid escort, he delighted the hearts of all the people of the city.
ततः समासाद्य महाधनं महत् प्रहृष्टरोमा स बभूव सारथिः। मृगैर्मयूरैश्च समाकुलोल्बणं गृहं वरार्हस्य शचीपतेरिव
Then, upon reaching the magnificent, wealthy house, the charioteer’s hair stood on end with joy; the house, teeming with deer and peacocks, was splendid like the abode of Indra’s queen.
स तत्र कैलासनिभाः स्वलंकृताः प्रविश्य कक्ष्यास्त्रिदशालयोपमाः। प्रियान् वरान् राममते स्थितान् बहून् व्यपोह्य शुद्धान्तमुपस्थितौ रथी
There, entering chambers adorned like Kailāsa and resembling the dwellings of the gods, the charioteer, after passing by many dear and excellent attendants devoted to Rāma, reached the pure inner quarters.
स तत्र शुश्राव च हर्षयुक्ता रामाभिषेकार्थकृतां जनानाम्। नरेन्द्रसूनोरभिमङ्गलार्थाः सर्वस्य लोकस्य गिरः प्रहृष्टाः
There he heard the joyful voices of people, gathered for Rāma’s consecration, expressing auspicious wishes for the king’s son, their words filled with delight for the whole world.
महेन्द्रसद्मप्रतिमं च वेश्म रामस्य रम्यं मृगपक्षिजुष्टम्। ददर्श मेरोरिव शृङ्गमुच्चं विभ्राजमानं प्रभया सुमन्त्रः
Sumantra beheld Rāma’s splendid palace, equal to Indra’s mansion, delightful and inhabited by deer and birds, towering like a peak of Mount Meru, radiant with its own brilliance.
उपस्थितैरञ्जलिकारिभिश्च सोपायनैर्जानपदैर्जनैश्च। कोट्या परार्धैश्च विमुक्तयानैः समाकुलं द्वारपदं ददर्श
He saw the entrance crowded with villagers, bearing gifts and offering respectful salutations, and with countless vehicles parked, making the gateway thronged and bustling.
ततो महामेघमहीधराभं प्रभिन्नमत्यङ्कुशमत्यसह्यम्। रामोपवाह्यं रुचिरं ददर्श शत्रुञ्जयं नागमुदग्रकायम्
Then he saw the mighty elephant, resembling a great cloud-covered mountain, fierce and difficult to restrain even by goads, splendid and fit for Rāma, named Shatruñjaya, with an imposing form.
स्वलंकृतान् साश्वरथान् सकुञ्जरा- नमात्यमुख्यांश्च ददर्श वल्लभान्। व्यपोह्य सूतः सहितान् समन्ततः समृद्धमन्तःपुरमाविवेश ह
He saw the chief ministers, splendidly adorned, accompanied by horses, chariots, and elephants, all dear to Rāma; the charioteer, after passing through them on every side, entered the prosperous inner palace.
ततोऽद्रिकूटाचलमेघसंनिभं महाविमानोपमवेश्मसंयुतम्। अवार्यमाणः प्रविवेश सारथिः प्रभूतरत्नं मकरो यथार्णवम्
Then the charioteer, unstoppable, entered a mansion resembling a mountain peak and a vast palace, filled with treasures, like a makara entering the ocean.
thumb|षोडशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे षोडशः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the sixteenth chapter be heard.
स तदन्तःपुरद्वारं समतीत्य जनाकुलम्। प्रविविक्तां ततः कक्ष्यामाससाद पुराणवित्
He crossed the palace entrance, crowded with people, and then reached a secluded chamber, well-versed in the ancient ways.
प्रासकार्मुकबिभ्रद्भिर्युवभिर्मृष्टकुण्डलैः। अप्रमादिभिरेकाग्रैः स्वानुरक्तैरधिष्ठिताम्
There, young men bearing swords and bows, adorned with polished earrings, vigilant and focused, loyal to their master, stood guard.
तत्र काषायिणो वृद्धान् वेत्रपाणीन् स्वलंकृतान्। ददर्श विष्ठितान् द्वारि स्त्र्यध्यक्षान् समाहितान्
There he saw elderly men in saffron robes, holding staffs and adorned, stationed at the door, and women’s overseers, attentive and composed.
ते समीक्ष्य समायान्तं रामप्रियचिकीर्षवः। सहसोत्पतिताः सर्वे ह्यासनेभ्यः ससम्भ्रमाः
Seeing him approaching, all those eager to please Rāma quickly rose from their seats in haste and reverence.
तानुवाच विनीतात्मा सूतपुत्रः प्रदक्षिणः। क्षिप्रमाख्यात रामाय सुमन्त्रो द्वारि तिष्ठति
With a humble heart, the charioteer’s son, circling them, said: 'Quickly tell Rāma that Sumanta waits at the door.'
ते राममुपसङ्गम्य भर्तुः प्रियचिकीर्षवः। सहभार्याय रामाय क्षिप्रमेवाचचक्षिरे
They, eager to please their master, promptly informed Rāma and his wife of Sumanta’s arrival.
प्रतिवेदितमाज्ञाय सूतमभ्यन्तरं पितुः। तत्रैवानाययामास राघवः प्रियकाम्यया
Upon hearing the report, Rāghava, desiring to please, summoned the charioteer into his father’s inner chamber.
तं वैश्रवणसंकाशमुपविष्टं स्वलंकृतम्। ददर्श सूतः पर्यङ्के सौवर्णे सोत्तरच्छदे
The charioteer saw Rāma, resembling Kubera, seated, adorned, upon a golden couch with a canopy.
वराहरुधिराभेण शुचिना च सुगन्धिना। अनुलिप्तं परार्घ्येन चन्दनेन परंतपम्
He, the scorcher of foes, was anointed with sandalwood paste, pure and fragrant, resembling the hue of boar's blood, and of supreme value.
स्थितया पार्श्वतश्चापि वालव्यजनहस्तया। उपेतं सीतया भूयश्चित्रया शशिनं यथा
And by his side stood Sita, holding a yak-tail fan, adorned and resplendent, like the moon attended by a beautiful star.
तं तपन्तमिवादित्यमुपपन्नं स्वतेजसा। ववन्दे वरदं वन्दी विनयज्ञो विनीतवत्
The bard, skilled in reverence and humility, bowed to him—shining with his own radiance like the blazing sun, the bestower of boons.
प्राञ्जलिः सुमुखं दृष्ट्वा विहारशयनासने। राजपुत्रमुवाचेदं सुमन्त्रो राजसत्कृतः
Sumanta, honored by the king, with joined palms, addressed the prince—whose face was radiant—as he reclined at ease.