Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 14 of 119 · 69 verses
Dawn of the Coronation Day
Kaikeyi, seeing the king writhing on the ground, presses him: “Why lie there as if you had sinned, after making me a promise? The wise say truth is the highest dharma. Shaibya gave his body to the hawk; Alarka gave his eyes; the ocean keeps to its shore. Truth is Brahman in one word; dharma rests on truth. Exile Rama; I say it three times. If you do not keep your pledge, I will give up my life before you.” Like Bali bound by Indra’s noose, the king cannot free himself. Steadying himself, he says: “The hand I took before the sacred fire, I renounce, and your son too. Night is gone; people will hurry me to the consecration. Let Rama perform my funeral rites with the very things gathered for his consecration; neither you nor your son shall offer me water.” Night ends. Kaikeyi says: “Why talk of poison and sickness? Bring Rama here.” Goaded like a horse by a sharp whip, the king says: “I am bound by the bond of dharma and my mind is gone. I want to see my eldest, beloved, righteous son Rama.”
At sunrise, at the auspicious hour, Vasishtha enters the decorated, incense-filled city with his disciples and everything for the consecration: golden pots of Ganga water and water from the oceans, a fig-wood throne, seeds, perfumes, jewels, honey, curd, ghee, parched grain, darbha, flowers and milk, eight lovely maidens, a rutting elephant, a four-horse chariot, sword and bow, the moon-white umbrella, white whisks, a golden water jar, a white bull with a golden halter, a lion, a tiger-skin throne, sacred fuel and fire, musicians, cattle, sacred animals, and leaders of town and country. He tells Sumantra to hurry the king.
Sumantra enters and praises the king to wake him as Matali woke Indra: “The night is gone; rise, everything is ready; the kingdom without a king is like cattle without a herdsman.” The king, his grief renewed, says: “You cut me to the quick again.” Kaikeyi speaks for him: “The king stayed awake all night in his joy about Rama and has fallen asleep. Go quickly and bring Rama.” Sumantra hesitates until the king says: “Bring handsome Rama quickly; I will see him.” Thinking the king means the consecration, Sumantra goes out joyfully and sees wealthy citizens of every kind waiting at the gate.
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पुत्रशोकार्दितं पापा विसंज्ञं पतितं भुवि । विचेष्टमानमुत्प्रेक्ष्य ऐक्ष्वाकमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Seeing the Ikshvaku king lying senseless on the ground, afflicted with grief for his son, writhing, the wicked woman said:
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पापं कृत्वेव किमिदं मम संश्रुत्य संश्रवम् । शेषे क्षितितले सन्नः स्थित्यां स्थातुं त्वमर्हसि ॥ २ ॥
“Why do you lie collapsed on the ground as if you had done wrong, after promising me a promise? You should hold to your word.
आहुः सत्यं हि परमं धर्मं धर्मविदो जनाः । सत्यमाश्रित्य च मया त्वं धर्मं प्रतिचोदितः ॥ ३ ॥
“The knowers of dharma say truth is the highest dharma. Relying on truth I have urged you toward dharma.
संश्रुत्य शैब्यः श्येनाय स्वां तनुं जगतीपतिः । प्रदाय पक्षिणे राजा जगाम गतिमुत्तमाम् ॥ ४ ॥
“King Shaibya, having promised the hawk, gave his own body to the bird and reached the highest goal.
तथा ह्यलर्कस्तेजस्वी ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे । याचमाने स्वके नेत्रे उद्धृत्याविमना ददौ ॥ ५ ॥
“So too the radiant Alarka, when a brahmana master of the Vedas asked, tore out his own eyes and gave them without a qualm.
सरितां तु पतिः स्वल्पां मर्यादां सत्यमन्वितः । सत्यानुरोधात् समये वेलां स्वां नातिवर्तते ॥ ६ ॥
“The lord of rivers, holding to truth, out of regard for truth does not pass his own shore, however low, at the appointed time.
सत्यमेकपदं ब्रह्म सत्ये धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः । सत्यमेवाक्षया वेदाः सत्येनावाप्यते परम् ॥ ७ ॥
“Truth is Brahman in a single word; dharma stands on truth; truth alone is the imperishable Veda; by truth the highest is reached.
सत्यं समनुवर्तस्व यदि धर्मे धृता मतिः । स वरः सफलो मेऽस्तु वरदो ह्यसि सत्तम ॥ ८ ॥
“Follow truth, if your mind is set on dharma. Let my boon bear fruit, for you are the giver of boons, best of men.
धर्मस्यैवाभिकामार्थं मम चैवाभिचोदनात् । प्रव्राजय सुतं रामं त्रिः खलु त्वां ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥ ९ ॥
“For the sake of dharma itself, and at my urging, exile your son Rama. I tell you three times.
समयं च ममार्येमं यदि त्वं न करिष्यसि । अग्रतस्ते परित्यक्ता परित्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम् ॥ १० ॥
“If you do not keep this pledge of mine, noble one, I, abandoned, will give up my life before your eyes.”
एवं प्रचोदितो राजा कैकेय्या निर्विशङ्कया । नाशकत् पाशमुन्मोक्तुं बलिरिन्द्रकृतं यथा ॥ ११ ॥
Urged so by fearless Kaikeyi, the king could not free himself from the noose, as Bali could not from the one Indra made.
उद्भ्रान्तहृदयश्चापि विवर्णवदनोऽभवत् । स धुर्यो वै परिस्पन्दन् युगचक्रान्तरं यथा ॥ १२ ॥
His heart reeling, his face grew pale, like a draught ox straining between the yoke and the wheels.
विकलाभ्यां च नेत्राभ्यामपश्यन्निव भूमिपः । कृच्छ्राद् धैर्येण संस्तभ्य कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १३ ॥
With unsteady eyes, as if not seeing, the lord of the earth steadied himself with difficulty by fortitude and said to Kaikeyi:
यस्ते मन्त्रकृतः पाणिरग्नौ पापे मया धृतः । संत्यजामि स्वजं चैव तव पुत्रं सह त्वया ॥ १४ ॥
“Wicked one, the hand of yours that I took with mantras before the fire, I renounce, and your son, my own, together with you.
प्रयाता रजनी देवि सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति । अभिषेकाय हि जनस्त्वरयिष्यति मां ध्रुवम् ॥ १५ ॥
“The night has gone toward sunrise, queen; the people will surely hurry me to the consecration.
रामाभिषेकसम्भारैस्तदर्थमुपकल्पितैः । रामः कारयितव्यो मे मृतस्य सलिलक्रियाम् ॥ १६ ॥
“With the things gathered for Rama’s consecration, prepared for it, Rama is to perform my funeral water rites after my death.
सपुत्रया त्वया नैव कर्तव्या सलिलक्रिया । व्याहन्तास्यशुभाचारे यदि रामाभिषेचनम् ॥ १७ ॥
“You and your son shall not offer me water, if you, woman of evil conduct, block Rama’s consecration.
न शक्तोऽद्यास्म्यहं द्रष्टुं दृष्ट्वा पूर्वं तथामुखम् । हतहर्षं तथानन्दं पुनर्जनमवाङ्मुखम् ॥ १८ ॥
“I cannot bear today to see the people, whom I saw before with faces so joyful, now with joy destroyed and faces downcast.”
तां तथा ब्रुवतस्तस्य भूमिपस्य महात्मनः । प्रभाता शर्वरी पुण्या चन्द्रनक्षत्रमालिनी ॥ १९ ॥
As the great-souled lord of the earth spoke so to her, the holy night, garlanded with moon and stars, dawned.
ततः पापसमाचारा कैकेयी पार्थिवं पुनः । उवाच परुषं वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञा रोषमूर्च्छिता ॥ २० ॥
Then Kaikeyi, of evil conduct, skilled in speech, faint with rage, again spoke harsh words to the king:
किमिदं भाषसे राजन् वाक्यं गररुजोपमम् । आनाययितुमक्लिष्टं पुत्रं राममिहार्हसि ॥ २१ ॥
“Why do you speak words like the pain of poison, king? You should have your son Rama, who is untroubled, brought here.
स्थाप्य राज्ये मम सुतं कृत्वा रामं वनेचरम् । निःसपत्नां च मां कृत्वा कृतकृत्यो भविष्यसि ॥ २२ ॥
“When you have set my son in the kingdom, made Rama a forest-dweller and left me without a rival, you will have done your duty.”
स तुन्न इव तीक्ष्णेन प्रतोदेन हयोत्तमः । राजा प्रचोदितोऽभीक्ष्णं कैकेय्या वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ २३ ॥
Goaded again and again by Kaikeyi like a fine horse pricked by a sharp whip, the king said:
धर्मबन्धेन बद्धोऽस्मि नष्टा च मम चेतना । ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं प्रियं रामं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि धार्मिकम् ॥ २४ ॥
“I am bound by the bond of dharma and my mind is lost. I wish to see my eldest, beloved, righteous son Rama.”
ततः प्रभातां रजनीमुदिते च दिवाकरे । पुण्ये नक्षत्रयोगे च मुहूर्ते च समागते ॥ २५ ॥
वसिष्ठो गुणसम्पन्नः शिष्यैः परिवृतस्तथा । उपगृह्याशु सम्भारान् प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम् ॥ २६ ॥
Then, when the night had dawned and the sun had risen, and the auspicious conjunction of stars and the hour had come, the virtuous Vasishtha, surrounded by his disciples, quickly gathered the materials and entered the best of cities,
सिक्तसम्मार्जितपथां पताकोत्तमभूषिताम् । संहृष्टमनुजोपेतां समृद्धविपणापणाम् ॥ २७ ॥
महोत्सवसमायुक्तां राघवार्थे समुत्सुकाम् । चन्दनागुरुधूपैश्च सर्वतः परिधूमिताम् ॥ २८ ॥
its roads sprinkled and swept, adorned with fine banners, full of delighted people, with markets and shops full of goods, given to a great festival, eager for Raghava, perfumed all over with sandal, aloe and incense.
तां पुरीं समतिक्रम्य पुरंदरपुरोपमाम् । ददर्शान्तःपुरं श्रीमान् नानाध्वजगणायुतम् ॥ २९ ॥
पौरजानपदाकीर्णं ब्राह्मणैरुपशोभितम् । यष्टिमद्भिः सुसम्पूर्णं सदश्वैः परमार्चितैः ॥ ३० ॥
Passing through that city, like Purandara’s, the glorious one saw the inner palace, crowded with many banners, thronged with townsmen and countrymen, adorned with brahmanas, full of men with staves and of fine, richly honoured horses.
तदन्तःपुरमासाद्य व्यतिचक्राम तं जनम् । वसिष्ठः परमप्रीतः परमर्षिभिरावृतः ॥ ३१ ॥
Reaching the inner palace, Vasishtha, greatly pleased, surrounded by supreme sages, passed through that crowd.
स त्वपश्यद् विनिष्क्रान्तं सुमन्त्रं नाम सारथिम् । द्वारे मनुजसिंहस्य सचिवं प्रियदर्शनम् ॥ ३२ ॥
He saw Sumantra, the charioteer, come out at the door of the lion among men, the king’s handsome minister.
तमुवाच महातेजाः सूतपुत्रं विशारदम् । वसिष्ठः क्षिप्रमाचक्ष्व नृपतेर्मामिहागतम् ॥ ३३ ॥
The radiant Vasishtha said to the skilled charioteer’s son: “Quickly tell the lord of men that I have come.
इमे गङ्गोदकघटाः सागरेभ्यश्च काञ्चनाः । औदुम्बरं भद्रपीठमभिषेकार्थमाहृतम् ॥ ३४ ॥
“Here are golden jars of Ganga water and water from the oceans, and a fig-wood throne, brought for the consecration;
सर्वबीजानि गन्धाश्च रत्नानि विविधानि च । क्षौद्रं दधि घृतं लाजा दर्भाः सुमनसः पयः ॥ ३५ ॥
“all seeds, perfumes, jewels of many kinds, honey, curd, ghee, parched grain, darbha grass, flowers and milk;
अष्टौ च कन्या रुचिरा मत्तश्च वरवारणः । चतुरश्वो रथः श्रीमान् निस्त्रिंशो धनुरुत्तमम् ॥ ३६ ॥
“eight lovely maidens and a fine rutting elephant, a splendid four-horse chariot, a sword and an excellent bow,
वाहनं नरसंयुक्तं छत्रं च शशिसंनिभम् । श्वेते च वालव्यजने भृङ्गारं च हिरण्मयम् ॥ ३७ ॥
“a palanquin borne by men, an umbrella like the moon, two white yak-tail whisks and a golden water jar,
हेमदामपिनद्धश्च ककुद्मान् पाण्डुरो वृषः । केसरी च चतुर्दंष्ट्रो हरिश्रेष्ठो महाबलः ॥ ३८ ॥
“a humped white bull bound with a golden halter, a four-fanged lion, the mightiest and best of beasts,
सिंहासनं व्याघ्रतनुः समिधश्च हुताशनः । सर्वे वादित्रसङ्घाश्च वेश्याश्चालंकृताः स्त्रियः ॥ ३९ ॥
“a throne, a tiger skin, fuel and fire, all the bands of musicians, and courtesans and well-adorned women,
आचार्या ब्राह्मणा गावः पुण्याश्च मृगपक्षिणः । पौरजानपदश्रेष्ठा नैगमाश्च गणैः सह ॥ ४० ॥
“teachers, brahmanas, cows and holy beasts and birds, the leaders of town and country, and the merchants with their guilds:
एते चान्ये च बहवः प्रीयमाणाः प्रियंवदाः । अभिषेकाय रामस्य सह तिष्ठन्ति पार्थिवैः ॥ ४१ ॥
“these and many others, happy and speaking kindly, stand here with the kings for Rama’s consecration.
त्वरयस्व महाराजं यथा समुदितेऽहनि । पुष्ये नक्षत्रयोगे च रामो राज्यमवाप्नुयात् ॥ ४२ ॥
“Hurry the great king, so that on this day now risen, under the conjunction of Pushya, Rama may receive the kingdom.”
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सूतपुत्रो महाबलः । स्तुवन् नृपतिशार्दूलं प्रविवेश निवेशनम् ॥ ४३ ॥
Hearing his words, the mighty charioteer’s son, praising the tiger among kings, entered the palace.
तं तु पूर्वोदितं वृद्धं द्वारस्था राजसम्मताः । न शेकुरभिसंरोद्धुं राज्ञः प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥ ४४ ॥
The doorkeepers, valued by the king, wishing to please him, could not stop that old man, who had been ordered earlier.
स समीपस्थितो राज्ञस्तामवस्थामजज्ञिवान् । वाग्भिः परमतुष्टाभिरभिष्टोतुं प्रचक्रमे ॥ ४५ ॥
Standing near the king, not knowing his condition, he began to praise him with most joyful words.
ततः सूतो यथापूर्वं पार्थिवस्य निवेशने । सुमन्त्रः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा तुष्टाव जगतीपतिम् ॥ ४६ ॥
Then the charioteer Sumantra, as before, in the king’s palace, with joined palms, praised the lord of the world:
यथा नन्दति तेजस्वी सागरो भास्करोदये । प्रीतः प्रीतेन मनसा तथा नन्दय नस्ततः ॥ ४७ ॥
“As the radiant ocean rejoices at the rising of the sun, so, glad and with a glad heart, gladden us.
इन्द्रमस्यां तु वेलायामभितुष्टाव मातलिः । सोऽजयद् दानवान् सर्वांस्तथा त्वां बोधयाम्यहम् ॥ ४८ ॥
“As Matali praised Indra at this very hour, and he conquered all the danavas, so I wake you.
वेदाः सहाङ्गा विद्याश्च यथा ह्यात्मभुवं प्रभुम् । ब्रह्माणं बोधयन्त्यद्य तथा त्वां बोधयाम्यहम् ॥ ४९ ॥
“As the Vedas with their limbs and the sciences wake the self-born lord Brahma, so I wake you today.
आदित्यः सह चन्द्रेण यथा भूतधरां शुभाम् । बोधयत्यद्य पृथिवीं तथा त्वां बोधयाम्यहम् ॥ ५० ॥
“As the sun with the moon wakes the lovely earth, bearer of beings, so I wake you today.
उत्तिष्ठ सुमहाराज कृतकौतुकमङ्गलः । विराजमानो वपुषा मेरोरिव दिवाकरः ॥ ५१ ॥
“Rise, great king, your auspicious rites performed, shining in your body like the sun on Meru.
सोमसूर्यौ च काकुत्स्थ शिववैश्रवणावपि । वरुणश्चाग्निरिन्द्रश्च विजयं प्रदिशन्तु ते ॥ ५२ ॥
“May the moon and sun, Shiva and Vaishravana, Varuna, Agni and Indra grant you victory, Kakutstha.
गता भगवती रात्रिः कृतं कृत्यमिदं तव । बुध्यस्व नृपशार्दूल कुरु कार्यमनन्तरम् ॥ ५३ ॥
“The blessed night is gone; what you had to do is done. Wake, tiger among kings, and do what comes next.
उदतिष्ठत रामस्य समग्रमभिषेचनम् । पौरजानपदाश्चापि नैगमश्च कृताञ्जलिः ॥ ५४ ॥
“The whole consecration of Rama is ready; the townsmen and countrymen and the merchants stand with joined palms.
स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान् ब्राह्मणैः सह तिष्ठति । क्षिप्रमाज्ञाप्यतां राजन् राघवस्याभिषेचनम् ॥ ५५ ॥
“The blessed Vasishtha himself stands with the brahmanas. Quickly let Raghava’s consecration be ordered, king.
यथा ह्यपालाः पशवो यथा सेना ह्यनायका । यथा चन्द्रं विना रात्रिर्यथा गावो विना वृषम् ॥ ५६ ॥
एवं हि भविता राष्ट्रं यत्र राजा न दृश्यते । एवं तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सान्त्वपूर्वमिवार्थवत् ॥ ५७ ॥
“As cattle without a herdsman, an army without a leader, night without the moon, cows without a bull, so is a kingdom where the king is not seen.” Hearing his words, as if soothing and full of meaning,
अभ्यकीर्यत शोकेन भूय एव महीपतिः । ततस्तु राजा तं सूतं सन्नहर्षः सुतं प्रति ॥ ५८ ॥
शोकरक्तेक्षणः श्रीमानुद्वीक्ष्योवाच धार्मिकः । वाक्यैस्तु खलु मर्माणि मम भूयो निकृन्तसि ॥ ५९ ॥
the lord of the earth was overwhelmed again by grief. Then the king, his joy in his son gone, his eyes red with grief, the glorious and righteous one looked up and said to the charioteer: “With your words you cut my vitals again.”
सुमन्त्रः करुणं श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा दीनं च पार्थिवम् । प्रगृहीताञ्जलिः किंचित् तस्माद् देशादपाक्रमत् ॥ ६० ॥
Sumantra, hearing the pitiful words and seeing the king wretched, with joined palms withdrew a little from that place.
यदा वक्तुं स्वयं दैन्यान्न शशाक महीपतिः । तदा सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रज्ञा कैकेयी प्रत्युवाच ह ॥ ६१ ॥
When the lord of the earth, from wretchedness, could not speak himself, Kaikeyi, skilled in counsel, answered Sumantra:
सुमन्त्र राजा रजनीं रामहर्षसमुत्सुकः । प्रजागरपरिश्रान्तो निद्रावशमुपागतः ॥ ६२ ॥
“Sumantra, the king, eager in his joy about Rama, kept awake all night; exhausted by the vigil, he has fallen asleep.
तद् गच्छ त्वरितं सूत राजपुत्रं यशस्विनम् । राममानय भद्रं ते नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ ६३ ॥
“So go quickly, charioteer, and bring the glorious prince Rama, bless you; there is nothing to consider here.”
अश्रुत्वा राजवचनं कथं गच्छामि भामिनि । तच्छ्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणो वाक्यं राजा मन्त्रिणमब्रवीत् ॥ ६४ ॥
“How can I go without hearing the king’s word, lady?” Hearing the minister’s words, the king said to the minister:
सुमन्त्र रामं द्रक्ष्यामि शीघ्रमानय सुन्दरम् । स मन्यमानः कल्याणं हृदयेन ननन्द च ॥ ६५ ॥
“Sumantra, I will see Rama; quickly bring the handsome one.” Thinking it good, he rejoiced in his heart,
निर्जगाम च स प्रीत्या त्वरितो राजशासनात् । सुमन्त्रश्चिन्तयामास त्वरितं चोदितस्तया ॥ ६६ ॥
व्यक्तं रामाभिषेकार्थे इहायास्यति धर्मराट् । इति सूतो मतिं कृत्वा हर्षेण महता पुनः ॥ ६७ ॥
and joyfully went out quickly at the king’s command. Sumantra thought, urged on by her in haste: “Clearly the righteous king will come here for Rama’s consecration.” Having made up his mind so, with great joy again
निर्जगाम महातेजा राघवस्य दिदृक्षया । सागरह्रदसंकाशात्सुमन्त्रोऽन्तःपुराच्छुभात् । निष्क्रम्य जनसम्बाधं ददर्श द्वारमग्रतः ॥ ६८ ॥
the radiant charioteer went out, eager to see Raghava. Coming out of the lovely inner palace, like an ocean or a lake, Sumantra saw before him the gate crowded with people.
ततः पुरस्तात् सहसा विनिःसृतो महीपतेर्द्वारगतान् विलोकयन् । ददर्श पौरान् विविधान् महाधना- नुपस्थितान् द्वारमुपेत्य विष्ठितान् ॥ ६९ ॥
Then, hurrying out from the front, looking at those gathered at the king’s gate, he saw citizens of many kinds, very wealthy, who had come to the gate and were waiting there.