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.
आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः। वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः
With mansions pale as clouds, adorned with jeweled lattices, rising up as if to cover the sky—
तत् पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्। राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्
That foremost house on earth, rivaling the palace of Indra, the prince entered, shining with splendor, his father's residence.
स कक्ष्या धन्विभिर्गुप्तास्तिस्रोऽतिक्रम्य वाजिभिः। पदातिरपरे कक्ष्ये द्वे जगाम नरोत्तमः
Passing through three courtyards guarded by archers and horses, the best of men then crossed two more courtyards on foot.
स सर्वाः समतिक्रम्य कक्ष्या दशरथात्मजः। संनिवर्त्य जनं सर्वं शुद्धान्तःपुरमत्यगात्
Having passed through all the courtyards, the son of Dasharatha dismissed all the people and entered the pure inner chambers.
तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे पितुरन्तिकं तदा जनः स सर्वो मुदितो नृपात्मजे। प्रतीक्षते तस्य पुनः स्म निर्गमं यथोदयं चन्द्रमसः सरित्पतिः
When he entered his father's presence, all the people, delighted with the prince, waited for his return, as the ocean waits for the moon's rising.
thumb|अष्टादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टादशः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the eighteenth sarga be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa.
स ददर्शासने रामो विषण्णं पितरं शुभे। कैकेय्या सहितं दीनं मुखेन परिशुष्यता
There, Rāma saw his father seated, dejected, with Kaikeyī, his face dried and sorrowful.
स पितुश्चरणौ पूर्वमभिवाद्य विनीतवत्। ततो ववन्दे चरणौ कैकेय्याः सुसमाहितः
First, with proper conduct, he bowed to his father's feet; then, with full composure, he bowed to Kaikeyī's feet.
रामेत्युक्त्वा तु वचनं बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः। शशाक नृपतिर्दीनो नेक्षितुं नाभिभाषितुम्
When the king, his eyes filled with tears, said 'Rāma,' he was too distressed to look at him or to speak.
तदपूर्वं नरपतेर्दृष्ट्वा रूपं भयावहम्। रामोऽपि भयमापन्नः पदा स्पृष्ट्वेव पन्नगम्
Seeing this unprecedented, fearsome appearance of the king, Rāma too was seized by fear, as if stepping on a serpent.
इन्द्रियैरप्रहृष्टैस्तं शोकसंतापकर्शितम्। निःश्वसन्तं महाराजं व्यथिताकुलचेतसम्
He saw the great king, tormented by grief and sorrow, sighing deeply, his mind disturbed and troubled, his senses joyless.
ऊर्मिमालिनमक्षोभ्यं क्षुभ्यन्तमिव सागरम्। उपप्लुतमिवादित्यमुक्तानृतमृषिं यथा
Like the ocean, wreathed in waves yet unshaken, now agitated; like the sun eclipsed; like a sage who has spoken falsehood.
अचिन्त्यकल्पं नृपतेस्तं शोकमुपधारयन्। बभूव संरब्धतरः समुद्र इव पर्वणि
Perceiving the king's grief, unfathomable as it was, Rāma became even more anxious, like the ocean at the time of the full moon.
चिन्तयामास चतुरो रामः पितृहिते रतः। किंस्विदद्यैव नृपतिर्न मां प्रत्यभिनन्दति
Devoted to his father's welfare, Rāma pondered four possibilities: 'Why does the king not greet me today?'
अन्यदा मां पिता दृष्ट्वा कुपितोऽपि प्रसीदति। तस्य मामद्य सम्प्रेक्ष्य किमायासः प्रवर्तते
'At other times, even if angry, my father is pleased to see me; what distress has now arisen in him when he looks upon me?'
स दीन इव शोकार्तो विषण्णवदनद्युतिः। कैकेयीमभिवाद्यैव रामो वचनमब्रवीत्
Appearing sorrowful, afflicted by grief, his face downcast, Rāma bowed to Kaikeyī and spoke these words:
कच्चिन्मया नापराद्धमज्ञानाद् येन मे पिता। कुपितस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व त्वमेवैनं प्रसादय
'I hope I have not unknowingly done wrong, on account of which my father is angry with me. Tell me, and please appease him.'
अप्रसन्नमनाः किं नु सदा मां प्रति वत्सलः। विषण्णवदनो दीनः नहि मां प्रति भाषते
'Why is my father, who is always affectionate toward me, now displeased, his face sorrowful, and does not speak to me?'
शारीरो मानसो वापि कच्चिदेनं न बाधते। संतापो वाभितापो वा दुर्लभं हि सदा सुखम्
I hope that neither physical nor mental distress troubles him; for happiness is always hard to obtain, and sorrow or anxiety may arise.
कच्चिन्न किंचिद् भरते कुमारे प्रियदर्शने। शत्रुघ्ने वा महासत्त्वे मातॄणां वा ममाशुभम्
I trust that nothing inauspicious has happened to Prince Bharata, who is pleasing to behold, or to the mighty Shatrughna, or to any of my mothers.