← 2.13 The abhiṣeka awaits Daśaratha · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.15 Rāma enters the palace →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 14: Rāma answers the summons

Summary. Expecting his abhiṣeka and assuming Kaikeyī’s support, Rāma takes leave of Sītā and rides out with Lakṣmaṇa

Sequence

  1. Sumantra is admitted through the guarded courtyards and finds Rāma seated with Sītā beside him (2.14.1–9)
  2. he says that Daśaratha and Kaikeyī wish to see Rāma immediately (2.14.10–11)
  3. Rāma assumes they are discussing his abhiṣeka and that Kaikeyī is helping the arrangements → he reassures Sītā and takes leave of her (2.14.12–16)
  4. she follows him to the door with blessings → he greets the people waiting outside and mounts his chariot (2.14.17–20)
  5. Lakṣmaṇa stands behind him with the parasol and fan while the crowds cheer and speak of the good fortune ahead. (2.14.21–27)

Verses 2.14.1–27

2.14.1

sa tad antaḥpuradvāraṃ samatītya janākulam
praviviktāṃ tataḥ kakṣyām āsasāda purāṇavit

Passing that gate of the inner palace, thronged with people, the knower of ancient lore then reached a secluded courtyard.

Words: sa — he; tad — that; antaḥpuradvāraṃ — the inner-palace gate; samatītya — having passed; janākulam — thronged with people; praviviktāṃ — secluded; tataḥ — then; kakṣyām — courtyard, enclosure; āsasāda — reached; purāṇavit — the knower of ancient lore

2.14.2

prāsakārmukabibhradbhir yuvabhir mṛṣṭakuṇḍalaiḥ
apramādibhir ekāgraiḥ svanuraktair adhiṣṭhitām

(a courtyard) guarded by young men bearing javelins and bows, with polished earrings, vigilant, single-minded, and well-devoted.

Words: prāsakārmukabibhradbhir — by (those) bearing javelins and bows; yuvabhir — by young men; mṛṣṭakuṇḍalaiḥ — with polished earrings; apramādibhir — vigilant; ekāgraiḥ — single-minded; svanuraktair — well-devoted; adhiṣṭhitām — occupied, guarded

2.14.3

tatra kāṣāyiṇo vṛddhān vetrapāṇīn svalaṃkṛtān
dadarśa viṣṭhitān dvāri stryadhyakṣān susamāhitān

There he saw, stationed at the door, aged men in ochre robes, staves in hand, well-adorned, overseers of the women's quarters, fully composed.

Words: tatra — there; kāṣāyiṇo — clad in ochre; vṛddhān — aged (men); vetrapāṇīn — staff in hand; svalaṃkṛtān — well-adorned; dadarśa — saw; viṣṭhitān — stationed; dvāri — at the door; stryadhyakṣān — overseers of the women; susamāhitān — fully composed

2.14.4

te samīkṣya samāyāntaṃ rāmapriyacikīrṣavaḥ
sahabhāryāya rāmāya kṣipram evācacakṣire

Seeing him approaching, they, wishing to do Rāma a kindness, quickly announced him to Rāma, who was with his wife.

Words: te — they; samīkṣya — having seen; samāyāntaṃ — approaching; rāmapriyacikīrṣavaḥ — wishing to please Rāma; sahabhāryāya — to (Rāma) together with his wife; rāmāya — to Rāma; kṣipram — quickly; evācacakṣire — indeed announced

2.14.5

prativeditam ājñāya sūtam abhyantaraṃ pituḥ
tatraivānāyayām āsa rāghavaḥ priyakāmyayā

Learning that it had been announced, Rāghava, wishing to please, had the charioteer — his father's intimate — brought right there.

Words: prativeditam — (that it was) announced; ājñāya — having learned; sūtam — the charioteer; abhyantaraṃ — intimate, inner; pituḥ — of (his) father; tatraivānāyayām āsa — had (him) brought right there; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; priyakāmyayā — out of the wish to please

2.14.6

taṃ vaiśravaṇasaṃkāśam upaviṣṭaṃ svalaṃkṛtam
dādarśa sūtaḥ paryaṅke sauvaṇo sottaracchade

The charioteer beheld him — resembling Vaiśravaṇa, seated, well-adorned, upon a golden couch spread with a fine coverlet.

Words: taṃ — him; vaiśravaṇasaṃkāśam — resembling Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera); upaviṣṭaṃ — seated; svalaṃkṛtam — well-adorned; dādarśa — beheld; sūtaḥ — the charioteer; paryaṅke — on a couch; sauvaṇo — golden; sottaracchade — with an upper coverlet

2.14.7

varāharudhirābheṇa śucinā ca sugandhinā
anuliptaṃ parārdhyena candanena paraṃtapam

(He beheld) that scorcher of foes anointed with priceless sandal-paste — pure, fragrant, and of the hue of boar's blood.

Words: varāharudhirābheṇa — of the hue of boar's blood; śucinā — pure; ca — and; sugandhinā — fragrant; anuliptaṃ — anointed; parārdhyena — with the most precious; candanena — with sandal-paste; paraṃtapam — the scorcher of foes

2.14.8

sthitayā pārśvataś cāpi vālavyajanahastayā
upetaṃ sītayā bhūyaś citrayā śaśinaṃ yathā

and attended too by Sītā standing at his side, a yak-tail fan in her hand — like the moon accompanied by the star Citrā.

Words: sthitayā — by (her) standing; pārśvataś — at (his) side; cāpi — and also; vālavyajanahastayā — with a yak-tail fan in hand; upetaṃ — attended, accompanied; sītayā — by Sītā; bhūyaś — moreover; citrayā — by (the star) Citrā; śaśinaṃ — the moon; yathā — as, like

2.14.9

taṃ tapantam ivādityam upapannaṃ svatejasā
vavande varadaṃ bandī niyamajño vinītavat

The bard, knowing his office, humbly saluted that boon-giver, endowed with his own splendour and blazing like the sun.

Words: taṃ — him; tapantam — blazing; ivādityam — like the sun; upapannaṃ — endowed; svatejasā — with his own splendour; vavande — saluted; varadaṃ — the boon-giver; bandī — the bard, panegyrist; niyamajño — knowing his observance; vinītavat — humbly

2.14.10

prāñjalis tu sukhaṃ pṛṣṭvā vihāraśayanāsane
rājaputram uvācedaṃ sumantro rājasatkṛtaḥ

With hands joined, having asked after his ease in his pleasures, his bed and his seat, Sumantra, honoured by the king, said this to the prince:

Words: prāñjalis — with joined hands; tu — and; sukhaṃ — comfort, ease; pṛṣṭvā — having asked after; vihāraśayanāsane — regarding pleasure, bed, and seat; rājaputram — the prince; uvācedaṃ — said this; sumantro — Sumantra; rājasatkṛtaḥ — honoured by the king

2.14.11

kausalyā suprabhā deva pitā tvaṃ draṣṭum icchati
mahiṣyā saha kaikeyyā gamyatāṃ tatra māciram

O lord, fair glory of Kausalyā! Your father wishes to see you, together with Queen Kaikeyī; go there, and do not delay.

Words: kausalyā — Kausalyā's; suprabhā — O fair-radiant one; deva — O lord; pitā — (your) father; tvaṃ — you; draṣṭum — to see; icchati — wishes; mahiṣyā — with the queen; saha — together; kaikeyyā — with Kaikeyī; gamyatāṃ — go, let there be a going; tatra — there; māciram — without delay

2.14.12

evam uktas tu saṃhṛṣṭo narasiṃho mahādyutiḥ
tataḥ saṃmānayām āsa sītām idam uvāca ha

Thus addressed, that lion among men of great lustre, delighted, then took leave of Sītā and spoke this:

Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — and; saṃhṛṣṭo — delighted; narasiṃho — the lion among men; mahādyutiḥ — of great lustre; tataḥ — then; saṃmānayām āsa — honoured, took leave of; sītām — Sītā; idam — this; uvāca — said; ha — indeed

2.14.13

devi devaś ca devī ca samāgamya madantare
mantreyete dhruvaṃ kiṃ cid abhiṣecanasaṃhitam

O queen, the king and the queen (Kaikeyī), having met, are surely deliberating together over something concerning my consecration.

Words: devi — O queen; devaś — the king; ca — and; devī — the queen; ca — and; samāgamya — having met; madantare — concerning me; mantreyete — are deliberating together; dhruvaṃ — surely; kiṃ cid — something; abhiṣecanasaṃhitam — connected with the consecration

2.14.14

lakṣayitvā hy abhiprāyaṃ priyakāmā sudakṣiṇā
saṃcodayati rājānaṃ madarthaṃ madirekṣaṇā

For, having discerned his intention, the very gracious queen, wishing to please, with her intoxicating eyes, is urging on the king for my sake.

Words: lakṣayitvā — having discerned; hy — for; abhiprāyaṃ — (his) intention; priyakāmā — wishing to please; sudakṣiṇā — very gracious, obliging; saṃcodayati — urges on; rājānaṃ — the king; madarthaṃ — for my sake; madirekṣaṇā — with intoxicating eyes

2.14.15

yādṛśī pariṣat tatra tādṛśo dūta āgataḥ
dhruvam adyaiva māṃ rājā yauvarājye 'bhiṣekṣyati

Such is the assembly there, and such the messenger who has come; surely this very day the king will consecrate me to the heir-apparency.

Words: yādṛśī — of what kind; pariṣat — the assembly; tatra — there; tādṛśo — of such kind; dūta — the messenger; āgataḥ — has come; dhruvam — surely; adyaiva — this very day; māṃ — me; rājā — the king; yauvarājye — to the heir-apparency; 'bhiṣekṣyati — will consecrate

2.14.16

hanta śīghram ito gatvā drakṣyāmi ca mahīpatiḥ
saha tvaṃ parivāreṇa sukham āssva ramasya ca

Come! Going quickly hence, I shall see the lord of the earth; do you meanwhile, with your attendants, remain at ease and take your pleasure.

Words: hanta — come!, well!; śīghram — quickly; ito — from here; gatvā — having gone; drakṣyāmi — I shall see; ca — and; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth; saha — together; tvaṃ — you; parivāreṇa — with (your) retinue; sukham — at ease; āssva — remain, stay; ramasya — and take pleasure; ca — and

2.14.17

patisaṃmānitā sītā bhartāram asitekṣaṇā
ādvāram anuvavrāja maṅgalāny abhidadhyuṣī

Honoured by her husband, dark-eyed Sītā followed her lord to the door, uttering words of blessing.

Words: patisaṃmānitā — honoured by (her) husband; sītā — Sītā; bhartāram — (her) husband; asitekṣaṇā — dark-eyed; ādvāram — up to the door; anuvavrāja — followed; maṅgalāny — auspicious (words); abhidadhyuṣī — uttering, invoking

2.14.18

sa sarvān arthino dṛṣṭvā sametya pratinandya ca
tataḥ pāvakasaṃkāśam āruroha rathottamam

Seeing all the petitioners, meeting them and greeting them in return, he then mounted his excellent chariot, resplendent as fire.

Words: sa — he; sarvān — all; arthino — the petitioners; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; sametya — having met; pratinandya — having greeted in return; ca — and; tataḥ — then; pāvakasaṃkāśam — resembling fire; āruroha — mounted; rathottamam — the excellent chariot

2.14.19

muṣṇantam iva cakṣūṃṣi prabhayā hemavarcasaṃ
kareṇuśiśukalpaiś ca yuktaṃ paramavājibhiḥ

(the chariot,) golden-hued, as if stealing the eyes with its radiance, yoked with the finest horses resembling young elephants,

Words: muṣṇantam — stealing; iva — as if; cakṣūṃṣi — the eyes; prabhayā — with (its) radiance; hemavarcasaṃ — golden-hued; kareṇuśiśukalpaiś — resembling young she-elephants; ca — and; yuktaṃ — yoked; paramavājibhiḥ — with the finest steeds

2.14.20

hariyuktaṃ sahasrākṣo ratham indra ivāśugam
prayayau tūrṇam āsthāya rāghavo jvalitaḥ śriyā

Mounting that swift, horse-yoked chariot, Rāghava, blazing with splendour, drove swiftly forth, like the thousand-eyed Indra his own.

Words: hariyuktaṃ — yoked with bay horses; sahasrākṣo — the thousand-eyed (Indra); ratham — chariot; indra — Indra; ivāśugam — like, swift; prayayau — drove forth; tūrṇam — swiftly; āsthāya — having mounted; rāghavo — Rāghava; jvalitaḥ — blazing; śriyā — with splendour

2.14.21

sa parjanya ivākāśe svanavān abhinādayan
niketān niryayau śrīmān mahābhrād iva candramāḥ

Resounding like a thundercloud in the sky, making all echo, the illustrious one went forth from his dwelling, like the moon from a great cloud.

Words: sa — he; parjanya — a thundercloud, Parjanya; ivākāśe — as in the sky; svanavān — resounding; abhinādayan — making (all) resound; niketān — from (his) dwelling; niryayau — went forth; śrīmān — the illustrious one; mahābhrād — from a great cloud; iva — like; candramāḥ — the moon

2.14.22

chatracāmarapāṇis tu lakṣmaṇo rāghavānujaḥ
jugopa bhrātaraṃ bhrātā ratham āsthāya pṛṣṭhataḥ

Lakṣmaṇa, Rāghava's younger brother, parasol and yak-tail fan in hand, guarded his brother, mounting the chariot behind him.

Words: chatracāmarapāṇis — with parasol and fan in hand; tu — and; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; rāghavānujaḥ — Rāghava's younger brother; jugopa — guarded; bhrātaraṃ — (his) brother; bhrātā — the brother; ratham — the chariot; āsthāya — having mounted; pṛṣṭhataḥ — from behind

2.14.23

tato halahalāśabdas tumulaḥ samajāyata
tasya niṣkramamāṇasya janaughasya samantataḥ

Then, as he went forth, a tumultuous clamour of cheering arose on every side from the throng of people.

Words: tato — then; halahalāśabdas — a clamour of cheering; tumulaḥ — tumultuous; samajāyata — arose; tasya — of him; niṣkramamāṇasya — of (him) going forth; janaughasya — of the crowd of people; samantataḥ — on all sides

2.14.24

sa rāghavas tatra kathāpralāpaṃ śuśrāva lokasya samāgatasya
ātmādhikārā vividhāś ca vācaḥ prahṛṣṭarūpasya pure janasya

There Rāghava heard the buzz of talk of the assembled folk, and the various words, concerning himself, of the delighted people of the city.

Words: sa — he; rāghavas — Rāghava; tatra — there; kathāpralāpaṃ — the buzz of talk; śuśrāva — heard; lokasya — of the folk; samāgatasya — of (the folk) assembled; ātmādhikārā — concerning himself; vividhāś — various; ca — and; vācaḥ — words; prahṛṣṭarūpasya — of (the people) in delight; pure — in the city; janasya — of the people

2.14.25

eṣa śriyaṃ gacchati rāghavo 'dya rājaprasādād vipulāṃ gamiṣyan
ete vayaṃ sarvasamṛddhakāmā yeṣām ayaṃ no bhavitā praśāstā
lābho janasyāsya yad eṣa sarvaṃ prapatsyate rāṣṭram idaṃ cirāya

'Here goes Rāghava today, about to attain, by the king's grace, vast fortune. We here have all our desires fulfilled, we whose ruler this man shall be. It is a boon for these people that he shall take charge of this whole realm for a long time to come.'

Words: eṣa — this one, here; śriyaṃ — fortune; gacchati — goes to, attains; rāghavo — Rāghava; 'dya — today; rājaprasādād — by the king's grace; vipulāṃ — vast; gamiṣyan — about to attain; ete — these; vayaṃ — we; sarvasamṛddhakāmā — all whose desires are fulfilled; yeṣām — of whom; ayaṃ — this one; no — our; bhavitā — shall be; praśāstā — ruler; lābho — a gain, boon; janasyāsya — for this people; yad — that; eṣa — this one; sarvaṃ — whole; prapatsyate — shall take charge of; rāṣṭram — the realm; idaṃ — this; cirāya — for a long time

2.14.26

sa ghoṣavadbhiś ca hayaiḥ sanāgaiḥ puraḥsaraiḥ svastikasūtamāgadhaiḥ
mahīyamānaḥ pravaraiś ca vādakair abhiṣṭuto vaiśravaṇo yathā yayau

Amid neighing horses and elephants, with heralds, benediction-singers, bards, and panegyrists going before, exalted and eulogized by excellent musicians, he went forth like Vaiśravaṇa.

Words: sa — he; ghoṣavadbhiś — with the neighing (horses); ca — and; hayaiḥ — with horses; sanāgaiḥ — with elephants; puraḥsaraiḥ — with harbingers going before; svastikasūtamāgadhaiḥ — with benediction-reciters, bards, and panegyrists; mahīyamānaḥ — being exalted; pravaraiś — with excellent; ca — and; vādakair — with musicians; abhiṣṭuto — eulogized; vaiśravaṇo — Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera); yathā — like; yayau — went

2.14.27

kareṇumātaṅgarathāśvasaṃkulaṃ mahājanaughaiḥ paripūrṇacatvaram
prabhūtaratnaṃ bahupaṇyasaṃcayaṃ dadarśa rāmo ruciraṃ mahāpatham

Rāma beheld the lovely high road, crowded with she-elephants, tuskers, chariots, and horses, its squares filled with great throngs of people, abounding in jewels and heaped with many wares.

Words: kareṇumātaṅgarathāśvasaṃkulaṃ — crowded with she-elephants, tuskers, chariots, and horses; mahājanaughaiḥ — with great throngs of people; paripūrṇacatvaram — its squares quite full; prabhūtaratnaṃ — abounding in jewels; bahupaṇyasaṃcayaṃ — heaped with many wares; dadarśa — beheld; rāmo — Rāma; ruciraṃ — lovely; mahāpatham — the high road

← 2.13 The abhiṣeka awaits Daśaratha · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.15 Rāma enters the palace →

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.

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