कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पिता त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति। महिष्यापि हि कैकेय्या गम्यतां तत्र मा चिरम्
"O Rama, son of Kausalya, your father wishes to see you. Go there without delay, along with Queen Kaikeyi."
एवमुक्तस्तु संहृष्टो नरसिंहो महाद्युतिः। ततः सम्मानयामास सीतामिदमुवाच ह
Thus addressed, the lion among men, radiant and delighted, then honored Sita and spoke these words to her.
देवि देवश्च देवी च समागम्य मदन्तरे। मन्त्रयेते ध्रुवं किंचिदभिषेचनसंहितम्
"Devi, the king and queen are surely conferring together in my absence, discussing something related to the consecration."
सा प्रहृष्टा महाराजं हितकामानुवर्तिनी। जननी चार्थकामा मे केकयाधिपतेः सुता
She, delighted and devoted to my welfare, my mother—daughter of the king of Kekaya—also desires my prosperity.
दिष्ट्या खलु महाराजो महिष्या प्रियया सह। सुमन्त्रं प्राहिणोद् दूतमर्थकामकरं मम
By good fortune, the great king, together with his beloved queen, has sent Sumanta as a messenger, eager to fulfill my wishes.
यादृशी परिषत् तत्र तादृशो दूत आगतः। ध्रुवमद्यैव मां राजा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति
Just as the assembly is distinguished, so is the messenger who has come; surely, today itself, the king will anoint me as crown prince.
हन्त शीघ्रमितो गत्वा द्रक्ष्यामि च महीपतिम्। सह त्वं परिवारेण सुखमास्स्व रमस्व च
"Well then, I shall go quickly and see the king. You remain here happily with your attendants and enjoy yourself."
पतिसम्मानिता सीता भर्तारमसितेक्षणा। आ द्वारमनुवव्राज मङ्गलान्यभिदध्युषी
Honored by her husband, Sita of dark eyes followed him to the door, uttering auspicious words.
राज्यं द्विजातिभिर्जुष्टं राजसूयाभिषेचनम्। कर्तुमर्हति ते राजा वासवस्येव लोककृत्
The king, worthy to perform the royal consecration, surrounded by Brahmins, is fit to install you, as the creator installed Indra.
दीक्षितं व्रतसम्पन्नं वराजिनधरं शुचिम्। कुरङ्गशृङ्गपाणिं च पश्यन्ती त्वां भजाम्यहम्
Seeing you, consecrated, observing vows, pure, clad in a splendid deer skin, and holding a horn of a deer, I rejoice.
पूर्वां दिशं वज्रधरो दक्षिणां पातु ते यमः। वरुणः पश्चिमामाशां धनेशस्तूत्तरां दिशम्
May Indra protect you in the east, Yama in the south, Varuna in the west, and Kubera in the north.
अथ सीतामनुज्ञाप्य कृतकौतुकमङ्गलः। निश्चक्राम सुमन्त्रेण सह रामो निवेशनात्
Then, having taken leave of Sita, who had performed auspicious rites, Rama departed from the residence together with Sumanta.
पर्वतादिव निष्क्रम्य सिंहो गिरिगुहाशयः। लक्ष्मणं द्वारि सोऽपश्यत् प्रह्वाञ्जलिपुटं स्थितम्
Emerging like a lion from a mountain cave, he saw Lakshmana at the door, standing with joined palms in reverence.
अथ मध्यमकक्ष्यायां समागच्छत् सुहृज्जनैः। स सर्वानर्थिनो दृष्ट्वा समेत्य प्रतिनन्द्य च
Then, in the middle chamber, as he approached, surrounded by friends, he saw all the petitioners, greeted them, and welcomed them.
ततः पावकसंकाशमारुरोह रथोत्तमम्। वैयाघ्रं पुरुषव्याघ्रो राजितं राजनन्दनः
Then the tiger among men, the delight of the king, ascended the splendid chariot, radiant like fire.
मेघनादमसम्बाधं मणिहेमविभूषितम्। मुष्णन्तमिव चक्षूंषि प्रभया मेरुवर्चसम्
It thundered like a cloud, was adorned with jewels and gold, and shone with a brilliance rivaling Mount Meru, dazzling the eyes.
करेणुशिशुकल्पैश्च युक्तं परमवाजिभिः। हरियुक्तं सहस्राक्षो रथमिन्द्र इवाशुगम्
Drawn by excellent horses resembling young elephants, swift as the wind, yoked with green steeds, it was like Indra's chariot driven by the thousand-eyed god.
प्रययौ तूर्णमास्थाय राघवो ज्वलितः श्रिया। स पर्जन्य इवाकाशे स्वनवानभिनादयन्
Rāghava, ablaze with splendor, mounted quickly and departed, resounding like a rain cloud in the sky.
निकेतान्निर्ययौ श्रीमान् महाभ्रादिव चन्द्रमाः। चित्रचामरपाणिस्तु लक्ष्मणो राघवानुजः
The illustrious prince left his residence like the moon emerging from great clouds, attended by Lakṣmaṇa, his brother, holding a decorated fan.
जुगोप भ्रातरं भ्राता रथमास्थाय पृष्ठतः। ततो हलहलाशब्दस्तुमुलः समजायत
Lakṣmaṇa, having mounted the chariot behind, protected his brother; then a tumultuous sound arose.
तस्य निष्क्रममाणस्य जनौघस्य समन्ततः। ततो हयवरा मुख्या नागाश्च गिरिसंनिभाः
As he departed, crowds of people gathered all around; then the finest horses and elephants, massive as mountains, followed.
अनुजग्मुस्तथा रामं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। अग्रतश्चास्य संनद्धाश्चन्दनागुरुभूषिताः
Thus, hundreds and thousands followed Rāma; in front marched warriors adorned with sandalwood and aloe.
खड्गचापधराः शूरा जग्मुराशंसवो जनाः। ततो वादित्रशब्दाश्च स्तुतिशब्दाश्च वन्दिनाम्
Brave men bearing swords and bows went forward, full of hope; then arose sounds of instruments and praises from bards.
सिंहनादाश्च शूराणां ततः शुश्रुविरे पथि। हर्म्यवातायनस्थाभिर्भूषिताभिः समन्ततः
Lion-like roars of the heroes were heard along the road, from women adorned and standing at palace windows all around.
कीर्यमाणः सुपुष्पौघैर्ययौ स्त्रीभिररिंदमः। रामं सर्वानवद्याङ्ग्यो रामपिप्रीषया ततः
The destroyer of foes proceeded, showered with abundant flowers by women; Rāma, flawless in every limb, delighted them.
वचोभिरग्र्यैर्हर्म्यस्थाः क्षितिस्थाश्च ववन्दिरे। नूनं नन्दति ते माता कौसल्या मातृनन्दन
Those in palaces and on the ground honored Rāma with excellent words: 'Surely your mother Kausalyā rejoices, O delight of mothers.'
पश्यन्ती सिद्धयात्रं त्वां पित्र्यं राज्यमुपस्थितम्। सर्वसीमन्तिनीभ्यश्च सीतां सीमन्तिनीं वराम्
'Seeing you achieve the successful journey and the ancestral kingdom, and Sītā, the foremost among noble women, among all noble wives.'
अमन्यन्त हि ता नार्यो रामस्य हृदयप्रियाम्। तया सुचरितं देव्या पुरा नूनं महत् तपः
Those women regarded Sītā, beloved to Rāma's heart, as the best among noble ladies; surely the queen had performed great austerity in the past.
रोहिणीव शशाङ्केन रामसंयोगमाप या। इति प्रासादशृङ्गेषु प्रमदाभिर्नरोत्तमः। शुश्राव राजमार्गस्थः प्रिया वाच उदाहृताः
She attained union with Rāma as Rohiṇī with the moon; thus, the best of men heard sweet words spoken by women from palace towers as he proceeded along the royal road.
स राघवस्तत्र तदा प्रलापान् शुश्राव लोकस्य समागतस्य। आत्माधिकारा विविधाश्च वाचः प्रहृष्टरूपस्य पुरे जनस्य
There, Rāghava heard the conversations of the gathered people, various words expressing their own thoughts, from the joyful citizens in the city.