Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 5 of 119 · 26 verses
Vasishtha Prepares Rama for the Fast
Dasharatha asks Vasishtha to go and have Rama and Sita begin their fast. Vasishtha drives in his brahmana chariot through three courtyards of Rama’s house, white as a cloud. Rama hurries out, helps him down from the chariot himself and honours him. Vasishtha tells him: “Your father is pleased with you; you will have the kingdom. Fast today with Sita; tomorrow at dawn the king will consecrate you as crown prince, as Nahusha did Yayati.” He has the fast begun with mantras, and leaves.
Rama’s house fills with joyful men and women, like a lake of blooming lotuses full of excited birds. On his way back Vasishtha sees the royal roads packed with crowds, roaring like the sea. Ayodhya has been sprinkled, swept and hung with garlands and flags; men, women and children long for the sunrise and the consecration. Slowly parting the crowd, the priest reaches the palace and reports to the king that it is done; the assembly rises in respect. Dasharatha dismisses the people and enters the women’s apartments, shining like the moon among stars.
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संदिश्य रामं नृपतिः श्वोभाविन्यभिषेचने । पुरोहितं समाहूय वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Having instructed Rama about the consecration to take place tomorrow, the king summoned his priest Vasishtha and said:
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Vasishtha Prepares Rama for the Fast 1 min read.
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गच्छोपवासं काकुत्स्थं कारयाद्य तपोधन । श्रेयसे राज्यलाभाय वध्वा सह यतव्रत ॥ २ ॥
“Go today, rich in austerity, and have Kakutstha undertake the fast with his wife, for his good and the gaining of the kingdom, you of controlled vows.”
तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः । स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान् ययौ रामनिवेशनम् ॥ ३ ॥
उपवासयितुं वीरं मन्त्रविन्मन्त्रकोविदम् । ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुधृतव्रतः ॥ ४ ॥
Saying “So be it” to the king, the blessed Vasishtha, best of those who know the Veda, firm in his vows, knowing the mantras, mounted a fine yoked brahmana’s chariot and himself went to Rama’s house to have the hero, skilled in mantras, undertake the fast.
स रामभवनं प्राप्य पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्रभम् । तिस्रः कक्ष्या रथेनैव विवेश मुनिसत्तमः ॥ ५ ॥
Reaching Rama’s house, which shone like a dense white cloud, the best of sages drove through three courtyards in his chariot.
तमागतमृषिं रामस्त्वरन्निव ससम्भ्रमम् । मानयिष्यन् स मानार्हं निश्चक्राम निवेशनात् ॥ ६ ॥
Rama, as if hurrying, in some agitation, came out of the house to honour the sage who had come, worthy of honour.
अभ्येत्य त्वरमाणोऽथ रथाभ्याशं मनीषिणः । ततोऽवतारयामास परिगृह्य रथात् स्वयम् ॥ ७ ॥
Hastening to the side of the wise man’s chariot, he himself took hold of him and helped him down from the chariot.
स चैनं प्रश्रितं दृष्ट्वा सम्भाष्याभिप्रसाद्य च । प्रियार्हं हर्षयन् राममित्युवाच पुरोहितः ॥ ८ ॥
Seeing him so courteous, speaking with him and pleasing him, the priest said, gladdening Rama, who deserved good news:
प्रसन्नस्ते पिता राम यत्त्वं राज्यमवाप्स्यसि । उपवासं भवानद्य करोतु सह सीतया ॥ ९ ॥
“Your father is pleased with you, Rama, since you will receive the kingdom. Let your lordship fast today together with Sita.
प्रातस्त्वामभिषेक्ता हि यौवराज्ये नराधिपः । पिता दशरथः प्रीत्या ययातिं नहुषो यथा ॥ १० ॥
“For at dawn the lord of men, your father Dasharatha, will lovingly consecrate you as crown prince, as Nahusha did Yayati.”
इत्युक्त्वा स तदा राममुपवासं यतव्रतः । मन्त्रवत् कारयामास वैदेह्या सहितं शुचिः ॥ ११ ॥
Having said this to Rama, the pure priest of controlled vows had him, together with Vaidehi, begin the fast with mantras.
ततो यथावद् रामेण स राज्ञो गुरुरर्चितः । अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य काकुत्स्थं ययौ रामनिवेशनात् ॥ १२ ॥
Then the king’s teacher, duly honoured by Rama, took leave of Kakutstha and left Rama’s house.
सुहृद्भिस्तत्र रामोऽपि सहासीनः प्रियंवदैः । सभाजितो विवेशाथ ताननुज्ञाप्य सर्वशः ॥ १३ ॥
Rama too, sitting there with his kind-spoken friends, was honoured by them, took leave of them all, and went inside.
हृष्टनारीनरयुतं रामवेश्म तदा बभौ । यथा मत्तद्विजगणं प्रफुल्लनलिनं सरः ॥ १४ ॥
Rama’s house, full of happy women and men, shone then like a lake of blooming lotuses full of excited flocks of birds.
स राजभवनप्रख्यात् तस्माद् रामनिवेशनात् । निर्गत्य ददृशे मार्गं वसिष्ठो जनसंवृतम् ॥ १५ ॥
Coming out of Rama’s house, which was like a royal palace, Vasishtha saw the road crowded with people.
वृन्दवृन्दैरयोध्यायां राजमार्गाः समन्ततः । बभूवुरभिसम्बाधाः कुतूहलजनैर्वृताः ॥ १६ ॥
On every side the royal roads in Ayodhya were thronged with crowd upon crowd of curious people.
जनवृन्दोर्मिसंघर्षहर्षस्वनवृतस्तदा । बभूव राजमार्गस्य सागरस्येव निःस्वनः ॥ १७ ॥
Filled with the joyful noise of the waves of crowds jostling, the royal road sounded like the ocean.
सिक्तसम्मृष्टरथ्या हि तथा च वनमालिनी । आसीदयोध्या तदहः समुच्छ्रितगृहध्वजा ॥ १८ ॥
For on that day Ayodhya had its streets sprinkled and swept, was garlanded with forest flowers, and had flags raised high on its houses.
तदा ह्ययोध्यानिलयः सस्त्रीबालाकुलो जनः । रामाभिषेकमाकांक्षन्नाकांक्षन्नुदयं रवेः ॥ १९ ॥
Then the people living in Ayodhya, with their women and children, longing for Rama’s consecration, longed for the rising of the sun,
प्रजालंकारभूतं च जनस्यानन्दवर्धनम् । उत्सुकोऽभूज्जनो द्रष्टुं तमयोध्यामहोत्सवम् ॥ २० ॥
eager to see that great festival of Ayodhya, an ornament for the people and an increase of their joy.
एवं तज्जनसम्बाधं राजमार्गं पुरोहितः । व्यूहन्निव जनौघं तं शनै राजकुलं ययौ ॥ २१ ॥
So, as if parting the flood of people on that crowded royal road, the priest went slowly to the royal palace.
सिताभ्रशिखरप्रख्यं प्रासादमधिरुह्य च । समीयाय नरेन्द्रेण शक्रेणेव बृहस्पतिः ॥ २२ ॥
Climbing the palace, like the peak of a white cloud, he met the lord of men, as Brihaspati meets Shakra.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य हित्वा राजासनं नृपः । पप्रच्छ स्वमतं तस्मै कृतमित्यभिवेदयत् ॥ २३ ॥
Seeing him come, the king left his throne and asked him; and he reported that what the king wished had been done.
तेन चैव तदा तुल्यं सहासीनाः सभासदः । आसनेभ्यः समुत्तस्थुः पूजयन्तः पुरोहितम् ॥ २४ ॥
And all the members of the assembly sitting there rose with him from their seats, honouring the priest.
गुरुणा त्वभ्यनुज्ञातो मनुजौघं विसृज्य तम् । विवेशान्तःपुरं राजा सिंहो गिरिगुहामिव ॥ २५ ॥
With his teacher’s leave, the king dismissed that crowd of people and entered the inner apartments, like a lion entering a mountain cave.
तदग्र्यवेषप्रमदाजनाकुलं महेन्द्रवेश्मप्रतिमं निवेशनम् । व्यदीपयंश्चारु विवेश पार्थिवः शशीव तारागणसंकुलं नभः ॥ २६ ॥
The lord of the earth entered that dwelling, like great Indra’s palace, crowded with women in splendid dress, lighting it up beautifully, like the moon entering a sky thronged with stars.