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.
एष श्रियं गच्छति राघवोऽद्य राजप्रसादाद् विपुलां गमिष्यन्। एते वयं सर्वसमृद्धकामा येषामयं नो भविता प्रशास्ता
'Today Rāghava attains prosperity, about to receive abundant royal favor; we all will have every fulfilled desire, for he will be our ruler.'
लाभो जनस्यास्य यदेष सर्वं प्रपत्स्यते राष्ट्रमिदं चिराय। न ह्यप्रियं किंचन जातु कश्चित् पश्येन्न दुःखं मनुजाधिपेऽस्मिन्
'It is a blessing for the people that he will govern this kingdom for a long time; under this lord of men, no one will ever see anything unpleasant or experience sorrow.'
स घोषवद्भिश्च हयैः सनागैः पुरःसरैः स्वस्तिकसूतमागधैः। महीयमानः प्रवरैश्च वादकै- रभिष्टुतो वैश्रवणो यथा ययौ
Accompanied by horses neighing like a village, with elephants, and preceded by auspicious bards and heralds, honored by the finest musicians, he proceeded, praised as Vaiśravaṇa would be.
करेणुमातङ्गरथाश्वसंकुलं महाजनौघैः परिपूर्णचत्वरम्। प्रभूतरत्नं बहुपण्यसंचयं ददर्श रामो विमलं महापथम्
Rama beheld the great highway, crowded with elephants, chariots, horses, and throngs of people, its crossroads filled, abundant in gems and rich in many wares, shining pure.
thumb|सप्तदशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तदशः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the seventeenth chapter be heard.
स रामो रथमास्थाय सम्प्रहृष्टसुहृज्जनः। पताकाध्वजसम्पन्नं महार्हागुरुधूपितम्
Rama mounted the chariot, surrounded by joyful friends, adorned with banners and flags, and perfumed with costly incense.
अपश्यन्नगरं श्रीमान् नानाजनसमन्वितम्। स गृहैरभ्रसंकाशैः पाण्डुरैरुपशोभितम्
The illustrious Rama gazed upon the city, teeming with people, its houses shining pale like clouds.
राजमार्गं ययौ रामो मध्येनागुरुधूपितम्। चन्दनानां च मुख्यानामगुरूणां च संचयैः
Rama proceeded along the royal road, its center scented with incense, and lined with heaps of sandalwood and aloe.
उत्तमानां च गन्धानां क्षौमकौशाम्बरस्य च। अविद्धाभिश्च मुक्ताभिरुत्तमैः स्फाटिकैरपि
There were the finest fragrances, silks of linen and cotton, and pearls unpierced, along with exquisite crystals.
शोभमानमसम्बाधं तं राजपथमुत्तमम्। संवृतं विविधैः पुष्पैर्भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैरपि
He saw that splendid, unobstructed royal road, covered with various flowers and foods, both high and low.
ददर्श तं राजपथं दिवि देवपतिर्यथा। दध्यक्षतहविर्लाजैर्धूपैरगुरुचन्दनैः
He beheld that royal road, as the lord of the gods might in heaven, adorned with offerings of curd, rice, and barley, and with incense of aloe and sandalwood.
नानामाल्योपगन्धैश्च सदाभ्यर्चितचत्वरम्। आशीर्वादान् बहून् शृण्वन् सुहृद्भिः समुदीरितान्
The crossroads were always worshipped with garlands of many kinds and fragrant scents; he heard many blessings spoken by his friends.
यथार्हं चापि सम्पूज्य सर्वानेव नरान् ययौ। पितामहैराचरितं तथैव प्रपितामहैः
He honored all the people as was proper, proceeding as his ancestors and forefathers had done.
अद्योपादाय तं मार्गमभिषिक्तोऽनुपालय। यथा स्म पोषिताः पित्रा यथा सर्वैः पितामहैः। ततः सुखतरं सर्वे रामे वत्स्याम राजनि
Today, once you are consecrated, protect this path, as we were nurtured by your father and all the forefathers; then, with Rama as king, we will live most happily.
अलमद्य हि भुक्तेन परमार्थैरलं च नः। यदि पश्याम निर्यान्तं रामं राज्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्
We have no need now for food or great wealth; if we see Rama established in the kingdom, that is enough for us.
ततो हि नः प्रियतरं नान्यत् किंचिद् भविष्यति। यथाभिषेको रामस्य राज्येनामिततेजसः
Nothing will ever be dearer to us than the consecration of Rama, whose splendor is boundless, as king.
एताश्चान्याश्च सुहृदामुदासीनः शुभाः कथाः। आत्मसम्पूजनीः शृण्वन् ययौ रामो महापथम्
Hearing these and other auspicious words from friends and well-wishers, which honored him, Rama proceeded along the great highway.
न हि तस्मान्मनः कश्चिच्चक्षुषी वा नरोत्तमात्। नरः शक्नोत्यपाक्रष्टुमतिक्रान्तेऽपि राघवे
No one could withdraw their mind or eyes from that foremost man, even as Rama passed by.
यश्च रामं न पश्येत्तु यं च रामो न पश्यति। निन्दितः सर्वलोकेषु स्वात्माप्येनं विगर्हते
Whoever does not see Rama, or whom Rama does not see, is scorned by all people, and even his own self despises him.
सर्वेषु स हि धर्मात्मा वर्णानां कुरुते दयाम्। चतुर्णां हि वयःस्थानां तेन ते तमनुव्रताः
That righteous one shows compassion to all classes and to all ages; therefore, they all follow him.