← 2.12 Daśaratha summons Rāma · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.14 Rāma answers the summons →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 13: The abhiṣeka awaits Daśaratha

Summary. Priests and dignitaries gather with the sacred waters, the King fails to appear and Sumantra is sent for Rāma

Sequence

  1. The narrative returns to the people waiting for the ceremony: priests, ministers, commanders, and civic leaders assemble after the night has passed (2.13.1–2)
  2. sacred waters, including water from the Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence, are gathered with the offerings; the throne, tiger skin, white parasol, fan, ceremonial animals, maidens, and musicians are ready (2.13.3–12)
  3. when Daśaratha fails to appear, the gathering asks who will announce them, and Sumantra approaches the inner apartments (2.13.13–19)
  4. Daśaratha says he has not been asleep and again orders Rāma brought to him (2.13.20–23)
  5. Sumantra proceeds through the decorated city to Rāma's crowded residence. (2.13.24–28)

Verses 2.13.1–28

2.13.1

te tu tāṃ rajanīm uṣya brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ
upatasthur upasthānaṃ saharājapurohitāḥ

Having passed that night, those brahmins, masters of the Vedas, together with the royal chaplains, came to the assembly-hall.

Words: te — those; tu — and, indeed; tāṃ — that; rajanīm — night; uṣya — having passed, spent (the night); brāhmaṇā — the brahmins; vedapāragāḥ — masters of the Vedas; upatasthur — approached, attended; upasthānaṃ — the assembly-hall, place of attendance; saharājapurohitāḥ — together with the royal chaplains

2.13.2

amātyā balamukhyāś ca mukhyā ye nigamasya ca
rāghavasyābhiṣekārthe prīyamāṇās tu saṃgatāḥ

The ministers, the chief army-commanders, and those who were foremost of the town gathered together, rejoicing, for the sake of Rāghava's consecration.

Words: amātyā — the ministers; balamukhyāś — the chief army-commanders; ca — and; mukhyā — the foremost ones; ye — who; nigamasya — of the town, mercantile community; ca — and; rāghavasyābhiṣekārthe — for the sake of Rāghava's consecration; prīyamāṇās — rejoicing, being pleased; tu — indeed; saṃgatāḥ — come together, assembled

2.13.3

udite vimale sūrye puṣye cābhyāgate 'hani
abhiṣekāya rāmasya dvijendrair upakalpitam

When the spotless sun had risen and the day had come with the moon in Puṣya, everything was prepared by the chief brahmins for Rāma's consecration:

Words: udite — having risen; vimale — spotless, clear; sūrye — the sun; puṣye — in (the lunar mansion) Puṣya; cābhyāgate — and having arrived; 'hani — on the day; abhiṣekāya — for the consecration; rāmasya — of Rāma; dvijendrair — by the chief brahmins; upakalpitam — was prepared, arranged

2.13.4

kāñcanā jalakumbhāś ca bhadrapīṭhaṃ svalaṃkṛtam
rāmaś ca samyagāstīrṇo bhāsvarā vyāghracarmaṇā

golden water-jars, and a well-adorned auspicious throne, delightful and well spread over with a gleaming tiger-skin;

Words: kāñcanā — golden; jalakumbhāś — water-jars; ca — and; bhadrapīṭhaṃ — an auspicious throne; svalaṃkṛtam — well-adorned; rāmaś — delightful, lovely; ca — and; samyagāstīrṇo — well spread over; bhāsvarā — gleaming, shining; vyāghracarmaṇā — with a tiger-skin

2.13.5

gaṅgāyamunayoḥ puṇyāt saṃgamād āhṛtaṃ jalam
yāś cānyāḥ saritaḥ puṇyā hradāḥ kūpāḥ sarāṃsi ca

water brought from the holy confluence of the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, and whatever other holy rivers there were, and lakes, wells, and ponds—

Words: gaṅgāyamunayoḥ — of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā; puṇyāt — holy; saṃgamād — from the confluence; āhṛtaṃ — brought; jalam — water; yāś — which (fem. pl.); cānyāḥ — and other; saritaḥ — rivers; puṇyā — holy; hradāḥ — lakes, deep pools; kūpāḥ — wells; sarāṃsi — ponds, lakes; ca — and

2.13.6

prāgvāhāś cordhvavāhāś ca tiryagvāhāḥ samāhitāḥ
tābhyaś caivāhṛtaṃ toyaṃ samudrebhyaś ca sarvaśaḥ

those flowing eastward, those flowing upward, and those flowing crosswise, duly gathered—from these, and from the oceans on every side, water too was brought.

Words: prāgvāhāś — flowing eastward; cordhvavāhāś — and flowing upward; ca — and; tiryagvāhāḥ — flowing crosswise; samāhitāḥ — duly gathered, collected; tābhyaś — from those (rivers); caivāhṛtaṃ — and (was) brought; toyaṃ — water; samudrebhyaś — from the oceans; ca — and; sarvaśaḥ — on every side, from all

2.13.7

kṣaudraṃ dadhighṛtaṃ lājā dharbhāḥ sumanasaḥ payaḥ
salājāḥ kṣīribhiś channā ghaṭāḥ kāñcanarājatāḥ
padmotpalayutā bhānti pūrṇāḥ paramavāriṇā

Honey, curds and ghee, parched grain, darbha grass, flowers, milk; and gold and silver jars, holding parched grain and covered over with branches of milk-trees, furnished with lotuses and water-lilies and brimming with the finest water, gleamed.

Words: kṣaudraṃ — honey; dadhighṛtaṃ — curds and ghee; lājā — parched grain; dharbhāḥ — darbha grass; sumanasaḥ — flowers; payaḥ — milk; salājāḥ — holding parched grain; kṣīribhiś — with branches of milk-trees (milky-sapped); channā — covered over; ghaṭāḥ — jars, pots; kāñcanarājatāḥ — of gold and silver; padmotpalayutā — furnished with lotuses and water-lilies; bhānti — they shine, gleam; pūrṇāḥ — filled, brimming; paramavāriṇā — with the finest water

2.13.8

candrāṃśuvikacaprakhyaṃ pāṇḍuraṃ ratnabhūṣitam
sajjaṃ tiṣṭhati rāmasya vālavyajanam uttamam

An excellent yak-tail fan, white and adorned with gems, gleaming like the opened rays of the moon, stands ready for Rāma.

Words: candrāṃśuvikacaprakhyaṃ — resembling the opened rays of the moon; pāṇḍuraṃ — white, pale; ratnabhūṣitam — adorned with gems; sajjaṃ — ready, prepared; tiṣṭhati — stands; rāmasya — for Rāma; vālavyajanam — the yak-tail fan (chowrie); uttamam — excellent, best

2.13.9

candramaṇḍalasaṃkāśam ātapatraṃ ca pāṇḍuram
sajjaṃ dyutikaraṃ śrīmad abhiṣekapuraskṛtam

And a white parasol, resembling the disc of the moon, radiant and splendid, stands ready, set foremost for the consecration.

Words: candramaṇḍalasaṃkāśam — resembling the disc of the moon; ātapatraṃ — the parasol; ca — and; pāṇḍuram — white; sajjaṃ — ready; dyutikaraṃ — radiant, light-making; śrīmad — splendid; abhiṣekapuraskṛtam — set foremost for the consecration

2.13.10

pāṇḍuraś ca vṛṣaḥ sajjaḥ pāṇḍurāśvaś ca susthitaḥ
prasrutaś ca gajaḥ śrīmān aupavāhyaḥ pratīkṣate

A white bull stands ready, and a white horse stands firmly in place; and a splendid rutting elephant, fit to be ridden, waits in attendance.

Words: pāṇḍuraś — white; ca — and; vṛṣaḥ — bull; sajjaḥ — ready; pāṇḍurāśvaś — and a white horse; ca — and; susthitaḥ — well-positioned, standing firm; prasrutaś — in rut (with flowing temporal fluid); ca — and; gajaḥ — elephant; śrīmān — splendid; aupavāhyaḥ — fit to be ridden, a state mount; pratīkṣate — waits, is in attendance

2.13.11

aṣṭau kanyāś ca maṅgalyāḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ
vāditrāṇi ca sarvāṇi bandinaś ca tathāpare

And eight auspicious maidens, adorned with every ornament, and all the musical instruments, and likewise the other bards (were ready).

Words: aṣṭau — eight; kanyāś — maidens; ca — and; maṅgalyāḥ — auspicious; sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ — adorned with every ornament; vāditrāṇi — the musical instruments; ca — and; sarvāṇi — all; bandinaś — the bards, panegyrists; ca — and; tathāpare — likewise the others

2.13.12

ikṣvākūṇāṃ yathā rājye saṃbhriyetābhiṣecanam
tathā jātīyām ādāya rājaputrābhiṣecanam

Just as, in the kingdom of the Ikṣvākus, a consecration is customarily furnished, so, taking up (materials) of that same kind, the prince's consecration was made ready.

Words: ikṣvākūṇāṃ — of the Ikṣvākus; yathā — just as, in the manner in which; rājye — in the kingdom; saṃbhriyetābhiṣecanam — a consecration should be furnished; tathā — so, likewise; jātīyām — of that same kind; ādāya — having taken up; rājaputrābhiṣecanam — the prince's consecration

2.13.13

te rājavacanāt tatra samavetā mahīpatim
apaśyanto 'bruvan ko nu rājño naḥ prativedayet

Assembled there at the king's command and not seeing him, they said: “Who now will announce us to the king?”

Words: te — they; rājavacanāt — at the king's word; tatra — there; samavetā — assembled; mahīpatim — the king; apaśyanto — not seeing; 'bruvan — said; ko — who; nu — now, pray; rājño — to the king; naḥ — us; prativedayet — should announce, make known

2.13.14

na paśyāmaś ca rājānam uditaś ca divākaraḥ
yauvarājyābhiṣekaś ca sajjo rāmasya dhīmataḥ

“We do not see the king, and the sun has risen, and the consecration of wise Rāma to the heir-apparency is all ready.”

Words: na — not; paśyāmaś — we see; ca — and; rājānam — the king; uditaś — risen; ca — and; divākaraḥ — the sun (day-maker); yauvarājyābhiṣekaś — the consecration to the heir-apparency; ca — and; sajjo — ready; rāmasya — of Rāma; dhīmataḥ — wise

2.13.15

iti teṣu bruvāṇeṣu sārvabhaumān mahīpatīn
abravīt tān idaṃ sarvān sumantro rājasatkṛtaḥ

While they were speaking thus, Sumantra, honored by the king, said this to all those sovereign lords of the earth:

Words: iti — thus; teṣu — while they; bruvāṇeṣu — were speaking; sārvabhaumān — the universal sovereigns; mahīpatīn — the lords of earth; abravīt — said; tān — to them; idaṃ — this; sarvān — all; sumantro — Sumantra; rājasatkṛtaḥ — honored by the king

2.13.16

ayaṃ pṛcchāmi vacanāt sukham āyuṣmatām aham
rājñaḥ saṃpratibuddhasya yac cāgamanakāraṇam

“At (your) word, I here go to ask the now-awakened king after the welfare of you long-lived ones, and what the reason of your coming is.”

Words: ayaṃ — here (I); pṛcchāmi — I ask, inquire; vacanāt — at (your) word, by command; sukham — the welfare, well-being; āyuṣmatām — of you long-lived ones; aham — I; rājñaḥ — of the king; saṃpratibuddhasya — who has now awoken; yac — what; cāgamanakāraṇam — and the cause of coming

2.13.17

ity uktvāntaḥpuradvāram ājagāma purāṇavit
āśīrbhir guṇayuktābhir abhituṣṭāva rāghavam

Having spoken thus, the knower of ancient lore came to the door of the inner apartments and extolled the Rāghava (king) with fitting benedictions.

Words: ity — thus; uktvāntaḥpuradvāram — having spoken, ... the door of the inner apartments; ājagāma — came to; purāṇavit — the knower of ancient lore; āśīrbhir — with benedictions; guṇayuktābhir — endowed with excellence; abhituṣṭāva — extolled, praised; rāghavam — the Rāghava (Daśaratha)

2.13.18

gatā bhagavatī rātrirahaḥ śivam upasthitam
budhyasva nṛpaśārdūla kuru kāryam anantaram

“The blessed night has passed, the auspicious day has come; awake, O tiger among kings, and do next what must be done.

Words: gatā — has gone, passed; bhagavatī — the blessed one (fem.); rātrirahaḥ — the night (has gone); the day; śivam — auspicious; upasthitam — has come, is at hand; budhyasva — awake; nṛpaśārdūla — O tiger among kings; kuru — do; kāryam — what is to be done, the task; anantaram — next, thereafter

2.13.19

brāhmaṇā balamukhyāś ca naigamāś cāgatā nṛpa
darśanaṃ pratikāṅkṣante pratibudhyasva rāghava

The brahmins, the chief commanders, and the townsmen have come, O king; they await an audience—awake, O Rāghava.”

Words: brāhmaṇā — the brahmins; balamukhyāś — the chief commanders; ca — and; naigamāś — the townsmen, merchants; cāgatā — and have come; nṛpa — O king; darśanaṃ — an audience, sight; pratikāṅkṣante — they await, long for; pratibudhyasva — awake; rāghava — O Rāghava

2.13.20

stuvantaṃ taṃ tadā sūtaṃ sumantraṃ mantrakovidam
pratibudhya tato rājā idaṃ vacanam abravīt

Then the king, awaking, spoke these words to that charioteer Sumantra, skilled in counsel, as he was extolling him:

Words: stuvantaṃ — praising, extolling; taṃ — that; tadā — then; sūtaṃ — charioteer; sumantraṃ — Sumantra; mantrakovidam — skilled in counsel; pratibudhya — having awoken; tato — then; rājā — the king; idaṃ — this; vacanam — speech, words; abravīt — spoke

2.13.21

na caiva saṃprasuto 'ham ānayed āśu rāghavam
iti rājā daśarathaḥ sūtaṃ tatrānvaśāt punaḥ

“I am not asleep at all; let one quickly bring the Rāghava (Rāma)”—thus King Daśaratha again commanded the charioteer there.

Words: na — not; caiva — at all, and indeed; saṃprasuto — asleep; 'ham — I am; ānayed — let one bring; āśu — quickly; rāghavam — the Rāghava (Rāma); iti — thus; rājā — king; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; sūtaṃ — the charioteer; tatrānvaśāt — commanded there; punaḥ — again

2.13.22

sa rājavacanaṃ śrutvā śirasā pratipūjya tam
nirjagāma nṛpāvāsān manyamānaḥ priyaṃ mahat

Hearing the king's command and honoring him with a bow of his head, he went forth from the king's dwelling, deeming it a great favor.

Words: sa — he; rājavacanaṃ — the king's command; śrutvā — having heard; śirasā — with his head; pratipūjya — having honored, saluted; tam — him; nirjagāma — went forth; nṛpāvāsān — from the king's dwelling; manyamānaḥ — deeming, considering; priyaṃ — a favor, dear thing; mahat — great

2.13.23

prapanno rājamārgaṃ ca patākā dhvajaśobhitam
sa sūtas tatra śuśrāva rāmādhikaraṇāḥ kathāḥ

Reaching the royal highway, adorned with pennants and banners, the charioteer there heard talk that had Rāma for its subject.

Words: prapanno — having reached, entered upon; rājamārgaṃ — the royal highway; ca — and; patākā — pennants, flags; dhvajaśobhitam — adorned with banners; sa — that; sūtas — charioteer; tatra — there; śuśrāva — heard; rāmādhikaraṇāḥ — having Rāma as their subject; kathāḥ — talk, conversations

2.13.24

tato dadarśa ruciraṃ kailāsasadṛśaprabham
rāmaveśma sumantras tu śakraveśmasamaprabham

Then Sumantra beheld Rāma's lovely mansion, whose splendor was like Kailāsa's, radiant as the palace of Indra:

Words: tato — then; dadarśa — beheld, saw; ruciraṃ — lovely, radiant; kailāsasadṛśaprabham — with splendor like Kailāsa's; rāmaveśma — Rāma's mansion; sumantras — Sumantra; tu — and, but; śakraveśmasamaprabham — radiant as the palace of Indra (Śakra)

2.13.25

mahākapāṭapihitaṃ vitardiśataśobhitam
kāñcanapratimaikāgraṃ maṇividrumatoraṇam

closed with great door-panels, adorned with hundreds of raised terraces, its foremost points crowned with golden images, its archways of gems and coral,

Words: mahākapāṭapihitaṃ — closed with great door-panels; vitardiśataśobhitam — adorned with hundreds of raised terraces; kāñcanapratimaikāgraṃ — its foremost points crowned with golden images; maṇividrumatoraṇam — with archways of gems and coral

2.13.26

śāradābhraghanaprakhyaṃ dīptaṃ meruguhopamam
dāmabhir varamālyānāṃ sumahadbhir alaṃkṛtam

resembling a dense autumn cloud, gleaming, like a cavern of Mount Meru, adorned with very great festoons of the finest garlands.

Words: śāradābhraghanaprakhyaṃ — resembling a dense autumn cloud; dīptaṃ — gleaming, blazing; meruguhopamam — like a cavern of Meru; dāmabhir — with festoons, wreaths; varamālyānāṃ — of the finest garlands; sumahadbhir — very great; alaṃkṛtam — adorned

2.13.27

sa vājiyuktena rathena sārathir narākulaṃ rājakulaṃ vilokayan
tataḥ samāsādya mahādhanaṃ mahat prahṛṣṭaromā sa babhūva sārathiḥ

That charioteer, in his horse-yoked chariot, gazing at the royal palace thronged with people, then reaching that great and richly furnished mansion, became thrilled, his body-hair bristling with joy.

Words: sa — that; vājiyuktena — yoked with horses; rathena — with the chariot; sārathir — charioteer; narākulaṃ — thronged with people; rājakulaṃ — the royal palace; vilokayan — gazing at, surveying; tataḥ — then; samāsādya — having reached, approached; mahādhanaṃ — richly furnished, of great wealth; mahat — great; prahṛṣṭaromā — with body-hair bristling in delight; sa — he; babhūva — became; sārathiḥ — the charioteer

2.13.28

tad adrikūṭācalameghasaṃnibhaṃ mahāvimānottamaveśmasaṃghavat
avāryamāṇaḥ praviveśa sārathiḥ prabhūtaratnaṃ makaro yathārṇavam

The charioteer entered, unhindered, that mansion—resembling a mountain-peak or a motionless cloud, holding a cluster of great and splendid palatial buildings and abounding in gems—as a sea-monster enters the gem-filled ocean.

Words: tad — that; adrikūṭācalameghasaṃnibhaṃ — resembling a mountain-peak or a motionless cloud; mahāvimānottamaveśmasaṃghavat — holding a cluster of great and excellent palatial mansions; avāryamāṇaḥ — unhindered, not being stopped; praviveśa — entered; sārathiḥ — the charioteer; prabhūtaratnaṃ — abounding in gems; makaro — a sea-monster, makara; yathārṇavam — as (enters) the ocean

← 2.12 Daśaratha summons Rāma · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.14 Rāma answers the summons →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

Plain text: /text/2/13.md · JSON: /data/2/13.json