Chapter 6

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

गते पुरोहिते रामः स्नातो नियतमानसः
सह पत्न्या विशालाक्ष्या नारायणमुपागमत्

gate purohite rāmaḥ snāto niyatamānasaḥ
saha patnyā viśālākṣyā nārāyaṇamupāgamat

SYNONYMS

purohite: (After) the family priest | gate: left | rāmaḥ: Rama | snātaḥ: took bath | upāgamat: (and) meditated | nārāyaṇam: on Narayana | niyatamānasaḥ: with undistracted mind | saha: along with | viśālākśyā: the wide eyed | patnyā: wife (Seetha). |

TRANSLATION

After Vasistha left, Rama took bath and meditated on Lord Narayana with undistracted mind along with his wide-eyed wife, Seetha.

VERSE 2

प्रगृह्य शिरसा पात्रं हविषो विधिवत्तदा
महते दैवतायाज्यं जुहाव ज्वलितानले

pragṛhya śirasā pātraṃ haviṣo vidhivattadā
mahate daivatāyājyaṃ juhāva jvalitānale

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | pragṛhya: taking | pātram: vessel | haviśo: of clarified butter | sirasā: on head | vidhivat: as per ordinance of the scriptures | juhova: (Rama) offered | mahate daivatāya: to the great lord Vishnu | ājyam: the clarified butter | jvalitānale: (by dropping it ) into blazing fire. |

TRANSLATION

Taking the vessel with clarified butter on his head as per scriptures, he offered to Lord Vishnu the clarified butter, by dropping it into the blazing fire.

VERSE 3

शेषं च हविषस्तस्य प्राश्याशास्यात्मनः प्रियम्
ध्यायन्नारायणं देवं स्वास्तीर्णे कुशसंस्तरे

śeṣaṃ ca haviṣastasya prāśyāśāsyātmanaḥ priyam
dhyāyannārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ svāstīrṇe kuśasaṃstare

SYNONYMS

4| naravarātmajaḥ: The prince Rama | āśāsya: desiring | ātmanaḥ: his own | priyam: good | prāśya ca: ate | seśam: remainder | tasya haviśaḥ: of that clarified butter | dhyāyan: meditating | devam: on Lord | nārāyaṇam: Narayana | bhūtvā: becoming | vāgyataḥ: one of restrained speech | niyatamānasaḥ: with regulated mind | siśye: slept | vaidehyā saḥ: along with Seetha | svāstīrṇe: on properly laid | kuśa saṃstare: bed of Kusa grass | śrīmati āyatane: in a splendid temple | viṣṇoḥ: of Lord Vishnu. |

TRANSLATION

Rama ate the remainder of clarified butter after finishing the sacrifice, which he performed for his own good, silently meditated on Lord Narayana with controlled mind and slept along with Seetha on a properly laid bed of Kusa grass in a splendid temple of Lord Vishnu. *

PURPORT

* The learned commentators point out that the deity referred to here is no other than Lord Ranganatha, who had been worshipped by a long line of rulers of Ayodhya as their chosen deity in a separate shrine built within the precincts of the royal palace. We are told at length in the Patala Khanda of Padma Purana how Rama so kindly handed over the image to Vibhishana; through whom it reached Srirangam (near Tiruchirapally) in South India; where it exists even to this day and is held in the highest reverence by the Vaishnavas and other devotees all over India.
VERSE 5

एकयामावशिष्टायां रात्र्यां प्रतिविबुध्य सः
अलञ्कारविधिं कृत्स्नं कारयामास वेश्मनः

ekayāmāvaśiṣṭāyāṃ rātryāṃ prativibudhya saḥ
alañkāravidhiṃ kṛtsnaṃ kārayāmāsa veśmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: He | prativibudhya: woke up | ekayāma avaśiṣṭāyām: with three hours of night yet remaining | kārayāmāsa: (and) made done | kṛtsnam: entire | alankāravidhim: required decoration | veśmanaḥ: of the house . |

TRANSLATION

Rama woke up three hours before dawn and caused to complete the entire decoration of the house.

VERSE 6

तत्र शृण्वन् सुखा वाचः सूतमागधवन्दिनाम्
पूर्वां सन्ध्यामुपासीनो जजाप यतमानसः

tatra śṛṇvan sukhā vācaḥ sūtamāgadhavandinām
pūrvāṃ sandhyāmupāsīno jajāpa yatamānasaḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra: there | sṛṇvan: listening to | sukhāḥ: gladdening | vācaḥ: verses | sūtamāgadha vandinām: of professional reciters like Suta | upāsīnaḥ: worshipping | pūrvām sandhyām: the early sunrise(on Gayatri) | jajāpa: meditated | yata mānasaḥ: with undistracted mind. |

TRANSLATION

Listening to the pleasing verses of professional reciters, he worshipped the early sunrise and meditated on Gayatri* with an undistracted mind.

PURPORT

* Gayatri is an ancient meter of twenty-four syllables as a triplet of eight syllables each (Rigveda iii-62-10: - tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat) addressed to Savitri or the Sun as generator. Gayatri personified is considered as the mother of the first three classes viz. priestly class, warrior - class and the trader-class in their capacity of twice born.
VERSE 7

तुष्टाव प्रणतश्चैव शिरसा मधुसूदनम्
विमलक्षौमसंवीतो वाचयामास च द्विजान्

tuṣṭāva praṇataścaiva śirasā madhusūdanam
vimalakṣaumasaṃvīto vācayāmāsa ca dvijān

SYNONYMS

tuṣṭāva: (He) praised | madhusūdhanam: Lord Vishnu | praṇataḥ: by bowing | śirasā: the head | vimalakśouma samvītaḥ: by wearing pure silk clothes | vācayāmāsa: got valedictory text recited by | dvijān: Brahmans. |

TRANSLATION

He praised Lord Vishnu by bowing his head before Him. By wearing pure silk clothes, he got valedictory text recited by Brahmans.

VERSE 8

तेषां पुण्याहघोषो।अध गम्भीरमधुरस्तदा
अयोध्यां पूरयामास तूर्यघोषानुनादितः

teṣāṃ puṇyāhaghoṣo|adha gambhīramadhurastadā
ayodhyāṃ pūrayāmāsa tūryaghoṣānunāditaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: thereafter | teśām: their | gambhīra madhura: deep and sweet | puṇyāha ghoṣaḥ: valedictory sound | tūryaghośānunāditaḥ: united with sound of musical instruments | pūrayāmāsa: filled | ayodhyām: Ayodhya | tadā: then. |

TRANSLATION

Their deep and sweet chorus of the valedictory, united with the accompanying musical instruments, then filled the city of Ayodhya.

VERSE 9

कृतोपवासं तु तदा वैदेह्या सह राघवम्
अयोध्यानिलयः श्रुत्वा सर्वः प्रमुदितो जनः

kṛtopavāsaṃ tu tadā vaidehyā saha rāghavam
ayodhyānilayaḥ śrutvā sarvaḥ pramudito janaḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | sarvaḥ: all | ayodhyānilayaḥ janaḥ: the people residing in Ayodhya | pramuditaḥ: were delighted | śrutvā: after hearing about | kṛtopavāsam: the fast done by | rāghavam: Rama | vaidehyā saha: along with Seetha. |

TRANSLATION

All the people residing in Ayodhya were delighted when they heard that Rama and Seetha had observed fast for the ensuing anointment ceremony.

VERSE 10

ततः पौरजनः सर्वः श्रुत्वा रामाभिषेचनम्
प्रभातां रजनीं दृष्ट्वा चक्रे शोभयितुं पुरीम्

tataḥ paurajanaḥ sarvaḥ śrutvā rāmābhiṣecanam
prabhātāṃ rajanīṃ dṛṣṭvā cakre śobhayituṃ purīm

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | sarvaḥ: all | paurajanaḥ: the citizens | cakre: made | śobhayitum: decoration | purīm: to the town | śrutvā: after hearing | rāma abhiṣecanam: about anointment ceremony of Rama | dṛṣṭvā: after seeing | rajanīm: the night | prabhātām: becoming dawn. |

TRANSLATION

All the citizens decorated the town for coronation function of Rama, soon before sunrise.

VERSE 11

सिताभ्रशिखराभेषु देवतायतनेषु च
ङ्��चतुष्पधेषु रध्यासु चैत्येष्वट्टाल केषु च

sitābhraśikharābheṣu devatāyataneṣu ca
ṅ��catuṣpadheṣu radhyāsu caityeṣvaṭṭāla keṣu ca

SYNONYMS

13| dhvajāḥ: banners and | citrāḥ: colorful | patākāḥ ca: flags | samucchritāḥ: were hoisted | tadā: then | devatāyataneṣu: in temples | sitābhra śikharābheṣu: which looked shiningly like the lining of a cloud | catuṣpatheṣu: at road junctions | rathyāsu: in streets | caityeṣu: on big trees situated in temple-compounds | aṭṭālakeṣu ca: from watching towers in city gates | āpaṇeṣu ca: on shops | vaṇijām: of merchants | nānāpaṇya samṛddheṣu: with a lot of saleable goods | bhavaneṣu ca: on buldings of | samṛddheṣu śrīmatsu: very rich | kuṭumbinām: family-persons | sarvāsu: on all | sabhāsu: assembly halls | ālakśiteṣu: on all-visible | vṛkśeṣu: trees. |

TRANSLATION

Banners and colorful flags were hoisted on temples, which looked brilliantly like the silver lining of cloud, at road junctions, in streets, on big trees situated in temple compounds, from watching towers at city gates, on shops of wealthy merchants, on buildings of rich family persons, on all assembly halls and all visible trees.

VERSE 14

नटनर्तकसंघानां गायकानां च गायताम्
मनःकर्णसुखा वाचः शुश्रुवुश्च ततस्ततः

naṭanartakasaṃghānāṃ gāyakānāṃ ca gāyatām
manaḥkarṇasukhā vācaḥ śuśruvuśca tatastataḥ

SYNONYMS

tatastataḥ: from there and there | vācaḥ: voices | manaḥ karṇasukhāḥ: pleasing to the minds and ears | śuśruvuḥ: were heard | naṭa nartaka saṃghānām: from groups of actors and dancers | gāyakānām ca: and of singers | gāyatām: singing. |

TRANSLATION

From different sides, actors were showing their talents, dancers were performing dance. Singers were singing and sweet voices were heard, pleasing the minds and ears.

VERSE 15

रामाभिषेकयुक्ताश्च कथाश्चक्रुर्मिथो जनाः
रामाभिषेके संप्रप्ते चत्वरेषु गृहेषु च

rāmābhiṣekayuktāśca kathāścakrurmitho janāḥ
rāmābhiṣeke saṃprapte catvareṣu gṛheṣu ca

SYNONYMS

rāmābhiṣeke: (with) Rama's anointment ceremony | samprāpte: approaching | janāḥ: people | cakruḥ: made | mithaḥ: mutual | kathāḥ: conversations | rāmābhiṣekayuktāḥ: about Rama's anointment ceremony | catvareṣu: in road junctions | gṛheṣu ca: and in houses. |

TRANSLATION

With Rama's anointment ceremony approaching, people were engaged in mutual conversations in their houses and at road junctions, about the ceremony.

VERSE 16

बाला अपि क्रीडमाना गृ हद्वारेषु संघशः
रामाभिषवसंयुक्ताश्चक्रुरेवं मिथः कथाः

bālā api krīḍamānā gṛ hadvāreṣu saṃghaśaḥ
rāmābhiṣavasaṃyuktāścakrurevaṃ mithaḥ kathāḥ

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | bālāḥ api: even children | krīḍamānāḥ: playing | saṃghaśaḥ: in groups | gṛhadvāreṣu: before gateways of houses | cakruḥ: made | kathāḥ: narrations | rāmābhiṣava saṃyuktāḥ: concerning Rama's anointment ceremony | mithaḥ: mutually. |

TRANSLATION

Even children playing together before gateways of houses were telling each other, narratives of Rama's anointment ceremony.

VERSE 17

कृतपुष्पोपहारश्च धूपगन्धाधिवासितः
राजमार्गः कृतः श्रीमान् पौरै रामाभिषेचने

kṛtapuṣpopahāraśca dhūpagandhādhivāsitaḥ
rājamārgaḥ kṛtaḥ śrīmān paurai rāmābhiṣecane

SYNONYMS

pauraiḥ: citizens | kṛtaḥ: made | rājamārgaḥ: king's road | śrīmān: splendid | kṛta puṣpopahāraśca: by making a sprinkle of flowers | dhūpagandhādhivāsitaḥ: and by making it good smelling from incense and perfumes | rāmābhiṣecane: on the occasion of Rama's anointment ceremony. |

TRANSLATION

The citizens made king's road splendid, by sprinkling flowers on it and by making it good smelling with burning of incense and perfumes, on the occasion of Rama's anointment ceremony.

VERSE 18

प्रकाशकरणार्धं च निशागमनशञ्कया
दीपवृक्षां स्तथाचक्रु रनुर्थ्यसु सर्वशः

prakāśakaraṇārdhaṃ ca niśāgamanaśañkayā
dīpavṛkṣāṃ stathācakru ranurthyasu sarvaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

tathā: and | anu: after (such decoration) | niśāgamana śankayā: on doubt of arrival of night | cakruḥ: (they) arranged | dīpavṛkśān: lamps in the shape of trees | sarvaḥ rathyāsu: in all the streets | prakāśakaraṇārtham: for the purpose of illumination. |

TRANSLATION

On a doubt of approach of night on completion of the ceremony, they arranged lamps in the shape of trees to illuminate all the streets.

VERSE 19

अलङ्कारं पुरस्त्यवं कृत्वा तत्पुरवासिनः
आकाङ्क्षमाणा रामस्य यौवराज्याभिषेचनम्

alaṅkāraṃ purastyavaṃ kṛtvā tatpuravāsinaḥ
ākāṅkṣamāṇā rāmasya yauvarājyābhiṣecanam

SYNONYMS

20| sarve: all | tat puravāsinaḥ: the residents of that city | evam: thus | kṛtvā: having made | alaṅkāraṃ: decoration | purasya: of the city | ākāṅkśamāṇāḥ: desiring | rāmasya: Rama's | yauvarājyābhiṣecanam: anointment as prince | sanghaśaḥ: gathered | sametya: together | catvareṣu: in road junctions | sabhāsuca: and in assembly halls | mithaḥ: mutually | kathayantaḥ: talking about it | tatra: there | praśaśamsuḥ: praised | janādhipam: king Dasaratha. |

TRANSLATION

All the citizens residing in Ayodhya, having thus decorated the city desiring Rama's coronation, gathered together in groups at road junctions and in assembly halls, mutually talking about this matter there and praising king Dasaratha.

VERSE 21

अहोओ महात्मा राजायमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनः
ज्ञात्वा यो वृद्ध मात्मानं रामं राज्ये।अभिषेक्ष्यति

ahoo mahātmā rājāyamikṣvākukulanandanaḥ
jñātvā yo vṛddha mātmānaṃ rāmaṃ rājye|abhiṣekṣyati

SYNONYMS

aho: O! | yaḥ: which king | jñātvā: having known | ātmānām: himself | vṛddham: as aged | abhiṣekśyati: is going to anoint | rāmam: Rama | rājye: for kingdom | ayam: (such) this | rājā: king Dasaratha | ikśvāku kulanandanaḥ: who delights Ikshvaaku dynasty | mahātmā: has a great mind. |

TRANSLATION

"O! This king Dasaratha, who delights Ikshvaaku dynasty, having known himself that he became aged, is going to anoint Rama for the kingdom. What a great man he is!"

VERSE 22

सर्वे।अप्यनुगृहीताः स्म यन्नो रामो महीपतिः
चिराय भविता गोप्ता दृष्टलोकपरावरः

sarve|apyanugṛhītāḥ sma yanno rāmo mahīpatiḥ
cirāya bhavitā goptā dṛṣṭalokaparāvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

yat: because | rāmaḥ: Rama | dṛṣṭa loka parāvaraḥ: has seen the totality of the world | mahīpatiḥ: he as king | bhavitā: is going to become | goptā: protector | naḥ: to us | cirāya: for a long period | sarve api: all of us | anugṛhītāḥ sma: have become gifted people. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama; who has seen the totality of the world is going to become our protector for long. We have all been blessed by king Dasaratha."

VERSE 23

आनुद्धतमना विद्वान् धर्मात्मा भ्रातृवत्सलः
यधा च भ्रातृषु स्निग्धस्तथास्मास्वपि राघवः

ānuddhatamanā vidvān dharmātmā bhrātṛvatsalaḥ
yadhā ca bhrātṛṣu snigdhastathāsmāsvapi rāghavaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | ānuddhata manāḥ: who has no arrogance in his mind | vidvān: learned man | dharmātmā: righteous man | bhrātṛvatsalaḥ: who has love towards brothers | yathā: so | snigdhaḥ: compassionate person | tathā: as | asmāsvapi: also to us. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama is modest, knowledgeable and righteous. He is as compassionate to us as to his brothers."

VERSE 24

चिरं जीवतु धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथो।अनघः
यत्प्रसादेनाभिषिक्तं रामं द्रक्ष्यामहे वयम्

ciraṃ jīvatu dharmātmā rājā daśaratho|anaghaḥ
yatprasādenābhiṣiktaṃ rāmaṃ drakṣyāmahe vayam

SYNONYMS

yatprasādena: by whose blessing | drakśyāmahe: we are seeing | rāmam: Rama | abhiṣiktam: being anointed | daśarathaḥ rājā: such king Dasaratha | dharmātmā: who is righteous | anaghaḥ: who is faultless | jīvatu: let him live | ciram: for long period. |

TRANSLATION

"Let the faultless and righteous king Dasaratha live long! Due to his blessings, we are going to see Rama as being anointed for the kingdom."

VERSE 25

एवंविधं कथयतां पौराणां शुश्रुवुस्तदा
दिग्भ्यो।अपि श्रुतवृत्तान्ताः प्राप्ताजानपदा नराः

evaṃvidhaṃ kathayatāṃ paurāṇāṃ śuśruvustadā
digbhyo|api śrutavṛttāntāḥ prāptājānapadā narāḥ

SYNONYMS

jānapadāḥ: villagers | prāptā: who came | digbhyaḥ api: from different directions also | śṛta vṛttāntāḥ: after hearing the news | tadā: then | śuśruvuḥ: listened to | paurāṇām: citizens | evam vidham: thus | kathayatām: narrating. |

TRANSLATION

The villagers, who came from different directions after hearing the news of coronation ceremony of Rama, listened to the narration of the citizens of Ayodhya.

VERSE 26

ते तु दिग्भ्यः पुरीं प्राप्ता द्रष्टुं रामाभिषेचनम्
रामस्य पूरयामासुः पुरीं जानपदा जनाः

te tu digbhyaḥ purīṃ prāptā draṣṭuṃ rāmābhiṣecanam
rāmasya pūrayāmāsuḥ purīṃ jānapadā janāḥ

SYNONYMS

rāmasya: Rama's | purīm: city of Ayodhya | pūrayāmasuḥ: was filled with | te: those | janāḥ: people | jānapadāḥ: residing in villages | prāptāḥ: who came | digbhyaḥ: from various directions | puram: to the city | draṣṭum: to see | rāmābhiṣecanam: Rama's anointment ceremony. |

TRANSLATION

The city of Ayodhya was filled with villagers who came from different directions to see the anointment ceremony of Rama.

VERSE 27

जनौघै स्तैर्विसर्पद्भिः शुश्रुवे तत्र निस्वनः
पर्वसूदीर्णवेगस्य सागरस्येव निस्वनः

janaughai stairvisarpadbhiḥ śuśruve tatra nisvanaḥ
parvasūdīrṇavegasya sāgarasyeva nisvanaḥ

SYNONYMS

nisvanaḥ: The noise | śuśruve: was heard | taiḥ janaughaiḥ: by groups of those people | visarpadbhiḥ: while moving | tatra: there | nisvanaḥ iva: as the roaring | udīrṇa vegasya sāgarasya: of an impetuous ocean | parvasu: on full moon days. |

TRANSLATION

The noise in the city was heard by the groups of those people, while moving here and there, as the roaring of an impetuous ocean on full moon days.