ययौ गृहं दाशरथं सैन्येन महता वृतः । ब्रह्मेव शक्रनगरं समस्तसुरमालितः
He went to the house of Daśaratha, surrounded by a great army, like Brahmā entering Indra’s city attended by all the gods.
विवेश विततां तत्र रम्यां दाशरथीं सभाम् । हंसयूथानुवलितो राजहंस इवाब्जिनीम्
There he entered the spacious and delightful assembly hall of Daśaratha, like a royal swan entering a lotus pond, followed by a flock of swans.
त्रीणि तस्य पदान्य् आशु तदा दशरथो नृपः । निर्जगाम महावीर्यस् सिंहासनसमुत्थितः
At that moment, Daśaratha, the mighty king, quickly took three steps from his throne and came forth.
विविशुस् तत्र ते सर्वे नृपा दशरथादयः । वसिष्ठाद्याश् च मुनय ऋषयो ब्राह्मणास् तथा
There entered all those kings, including Daśaratha, as well as sages such as Vasiṣṭha, and likewise seers and brāhmaṇas.
मन्त्रिणश् च सुमन्त्राद्या धौम्याद्याश् च विपश्चितः । राजपुत्राश् च रामाद्या मन्त्रिपुत्रास् सुहादयः
Also present were ministers like Sumantra, learned priests like Dhaumya, royal princes such as Rāma, sons of ministers, and close companions.
सामन्ताद्याः प्रकृतयस् सुहोत्राद्याश् च नागराः । मालवाद्यास् तथा भृत्याः पौराद्याश् चैव लालकाः
There were feudal lords and officials, citizens like Suhotra, servants from Mālava and elsewhere, and city-dwellers and attendants as well.
स्वोचितेषु प्रदेशेषु स्वोचितेष्व् आसनेषु च । सर्वेष्व् एवोपविष्टेषु वसिष्ठोन्मुखदृष्टिषु
All of them, having taken their appropriate places and seats, sat with their gaze directed toward Vasiṣṭha.
सभाकलकले शान्ते मौनसंस्थेषु वन्दिषु । पृष्टासु स्थितिवार्त्तासु सोम्ये तस्मिन् सभान्तरे
In that tranquil assembly, where the bustle had quieted, the bards were silent, questions about affairs had been asked, and the atmosphere was gentle.
सिन्दूरधूलिपुञ्जाभे बाले दिनकरातपे । वितानतलविश्रान्ते कचत्य् आदर्शमण्डले
In the soft sunlight of the young day, resembling a mass of vermilion dust, the reflection played on the surface of the canopy.
स्फुरत्य् अञ्चलमालासु विशत्य् अम्भोजकोटरं । पद्मरागेष्व् अपिहिते मुक्तादामसु चञ्चले
The hem of a garland quivered, entering the hollow of a lotus; on the padmarāga gems, covered with restless pearl necklaces, it sparkled.
बृहत्कुसुमदोलाभ्यः प्रसृताभ्यस् समन्ततः । वाति मांसलम् आमोदम् आदाय मधुरानिले
From the great flower-swinging branches spread all around, the sweet breeze carried a rich fragrance.
वातायनेषु मृदुषु कुसुमाकीर्णभूमिषु । पर्यङ्केषूपविष्टासु पश्यन्तीषु पुरन्ध्रिषु
Seated on couches by gentle windows, upon floors strewn with flowers, the noble women gaze about.
जालागतार्ककरलोलविलोचनासु रत्नप्रभाप्रकरपिङ्गलचामरासु । सन्त्यक्तचापललवं चपलाबलासु मौनस्थितासु सितचामरधारिणीषु
Their eyes wander to the sunlight playing through the lattice, to the tawny fans shining with gems; restless only in trace, these lively young women sit in silence, holding white chāmaras.
मुक्ताफलप्रतिफलत्प्रतिमार्करश्मिशारोदरास्व् अजिरभूमिषु चण्पकौघम् । नास्वादयत्य् अभिनवातपबिन्दुबुद्ध्या भ्रान्त्या भ्रमिण्य् अलिबले नभसीव मेघे
On the courtyard floors, where pearls reflect the rays of the sun like a second moon, the swarm of bees does not taste the fresh drops of sunlight, mistaking them for something else, just as a bee, deluded, circles a cloud in the sky.
पुण्यो वसिष्ठवचनप्रसरश् श्रुतो यस् तं शंसति प्रसृतविस्मयम् आर्यलोके । संसद्गते मृदुपदाक्षरमुग्धवाक्यम् अन्योऽन्यम् उत्स्मितम् अनल्पगुणाभिरामम्
He who has heard the sacred flow of Vasiṣṭha’s words praises it with wonder among the noble, speaking in gentle, clear, and charming phrases, each smiling at the other, delighting in its many virtues.
दिग्भ्यः पुराच् च गगनाच् च नृपर्षिसिद्धविद्याधरार्यमुनिविप्रगणे विशिष्टे । मौनप्रणामम् अभितः प्रविशत्य् अशब्दं सोपांशु गौरववता सह जातवाक्ये
From every direction—city, sky, and beyond—the assembly of kings, sages, siddhas, vidyādharas, noble monks, and brahmins, distinguished among all, enters silently, with gestures of reverent silence, together with those whose words are born of gravity.
उन्निद्रकोकनदकोमलकोशकृष्टमत्तालिजालमकरन्दसुवर्णरागैः । आपिङ्गले मरुति वाति विलोलघण्टाटाङ्कारगीतवति पीतनिशाम्बुशीते
The air stirs the golden-dusted swarms of intoxicated bees drawn to the half-open, lotus-soft buds, while the tinkling of swinging bells resounds, and the cool night dew has been drunk.
अगुरुतगरधूमे चन्दनामोदमिश्रे सरसकुसुमदामोद्दामगन्धाङ्किताभ्रे । सरति सितवितानाम्भोरुहावर्तलेशैश् चलकुसुमरजोऽङ्कैश् शब्दविज्ञातभृङ्गम्
Fragrant clouds, marked by the mingled scent of sandalwood and incense, drift above, perfumed by the heady aroma of fresh flowers; in their folds, the dust of scattered blossoms clings, and the hum of bees is heard.
मेघगम्भीरया वाचा विस्रब्धपदसुन्दरम् । इदं दशरथो वाक्यम् उवाच मुनिनायकम्
With a voice deep as thunderclouds, clear and confident in every word, Daśaratha spoke these words to the chief of sages.
भगवन् ह्यस्तनेन त्वं वाक्यसन्दर्भजन्मना । कच्चिन् मुक्तो ऽसि खेदेन तपःकार्श्यातिशायिना
O venerable one, by your discourse yesterday, which was born of the context of wise words, have you been freed from the weariness that surpasses even the emaciation caused by austerities?
ह्यस् त्वयोक्तो य आनन्दी विविक्तो वचसां गणः । अमृतावर्षणेनेव तेनेहाश्वासिता वयम्
Indeed, the words you spoke—joyful and distinct from the multitude of ordinary speech—have refreshed us here, as if by a shower of nectar.
चन्द्रांशव इवोत्सार्य तमांस्य् अमृतनिर्मिताः । अन्तश् शीतलयन्त्य् एता महताम् अमला गिरः
Just as moonbeams, made of nectar, dispel darkness, so too do these pure words of the great cool the heart from within.
अपूर्वाह्लाददायिन्य उच्चैस्तरपदाश्रयाः । अतिमोहापहारिण्यस् सूक्तयो ऽमृतवृष्टयः
Bestowing unprecedented delight, resting in the highest meaning, these wise sayings are showers of nectar that remove even the deepest delusion.
आत्मरत्नावलोकैकदीपिका पारमार्थिकी । यस्माद् उक्तिलतोदेति स वन्द्यस् सज्जनद्रुमः
He is to be revered as a tree of virtue, from whom arises a vine of speech that is the sole lamp illuminating the jewel of the Self and the ultimate truth.
दुरीहितं दुर्विहितं सर्वं सज्जनसूक्तयः । प्रमार्जयन्ति शीतांशोस् तमस्काण्डम् इवांशवः
All the misdeeds and ill-fated actions are wiped away by the wise sayings of the virtuous, just as the rays of the cool moon dispel masses of darkness.
तृष्णालोभादयो ऽस्माकं संसारनिगडा मुने । तवोक्त्या तनुतां याताश् शरदीवासिताम्बुदाः
Desires, greed, and the like—the chains of worldly existence for us—have become thin by your words, O sage, just as autumn disperses the clouds.
सम्प्रवृत्ता वयं द्रष्टुम् आत्मानम् अपकल्मषम् । रसाञ्जनानीतदृशो जात्यन्धा इव काञ्चनम्
We have now begun to behold the stainless Self, our vision clarified by your teachings, like those born blind who, with eyes anointed, see gold for the first time.
संसारवासनानाम्नी मिहिका हृदयाम्बरे । प्रवृत्ता तनुतां गन्तुं त्वदुक्तिशरदेह नः
The mist called the tendencies of worldly existence, in the sky of the heart, has begun to thin because of the autumn of your words.
मुने मन्दारमञ्जर्यस् तरङ्गा वामृताम्भसः । न तथाह्लादयन्त्य् अन्तर् यथोदारधियां गिरः
O sage, the waves of nectar from the coral blossoms of the heavenly tree do not bring as much delight within as the words of those with noble understanding.
यद् यद् राघव संयाति महाजनसपर्यया । दिनं तद् इह सालोकं शेषास् त्व् अन्धा दिनालयः
O Raghava, each day that passes in the company of great souls here is truly illuminated; the rest are but blind days dwelling in darkness.