← 2.2 The assembly endorses Rāma · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.4 Omens hasten the abhiṣeka →
Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 3: Rāma’s abhiṣeka announced
Summary. Daśaratha orders preparations and counsels Rāma on self-restraint, ministers and the welfare of his subjects
Sequence
- Delighted by the assembly's support, Daśaratha asks Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva to prepare the ceremony during the spring month of Caitra (2.3.1–5)
- Sumantra fetches Rāma by chariot (2.3.6–13)
- Rāma bows at his father's feet; Daśaratha embraces him and seats him before the assembled rulers (2.3.14–21)
- Daśaratha tells him that he will become heir at the Puṣya conjunction → he advises him to remain humble, control desire and anger, maintain the confidence of his ministers and other parts of the state, and keep his subjects content (2.3.22–28)
- messengers bring the news to Kausalyā, who rewards them with gold, cattle, and jewels → Rāma returns home, and the delighted citizens disperse to worship the Devas. (2.3.29–32)
Verses 2.3.1–32
2.3.1
teṣām ajñalipadmāni pragṛhītāni sarvaśaḥ
pratigṛhyābravīd rājā tebhyaḥ priyahitaṃ vacaḥ
Accepting the lotus-like joined palms that they all held out, the king spoke to them words both kind and beneficial:
Words: teṣām — their; ajñalipadmāni — the lotuses of joined palms; pragṛhītāni — held out, raised; sarvaśaḥ — altogether, on all sides; pratigṛhyābravīd — having accepted, said; rājā — the king; tebhyaḥ — to them; priyahitaṃ — kind and beneficial; vacaḥ — words, speech
2.3.2
aho 'smi paramaprītaḥ prabhāvaś cātulo mama
yan me jyeṣṭhaṃ priyaṃ putraṃ yauvarājyastham icchatha
“Ah, I am supremely delighted, and matchless is my power, in that you wish my beloved eldest son to be installed as heir-apparent.”
Words: aho — ah! (exclamation); 'smi — I am; paramaprītaḥ — supremely delighted; prabhāvaś — power, majesty; cātulo — and matchless; mama — my; yan — in that, because; me — my; jyeṣṭhaṃ — eldest; priyaṃ — beloved; putraṃ — son; yauvarājyastham — installed as heir-apparent; icchatha — you wish, desire
2.3.3
iti pratyarcya tān rājā brāhmaṇān idam abravīt
vasiṣṭhaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca teṣām evopaśṛṇvatām
Having thus honoured those brahmins in return, the king said this to Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva, while the others were listening:
Words: iti — thus; pratyarcya — having honoured in return; tān — them; rājā — the king; brāhmaṇān — the brahmins; idam — this; abravīt — said, spoke; vasiṣṭhaṃ — Vasiṣṭha; vāmadevaṃ ca — and Vāmadeva; teṣām — of them; evopaśṛṇvatām — even as they listened
2.3.4
caitraḥ śrīmān ayaṃ māsaḥ puṇyaḥ puṣpitakānanaḥ
yauvarājyāya rāmasya sarvam evopakalpyatām
“This lovely, holy month of Caitra, when the woodlands are in flower, is at hand; let everything be made ready for Rāma's installation as heir-apparent.”
Words: caitraḥ — Caitra (the spring month); śrīmān — lovely, glorious; ayaṃ — this; māsaḥ — month; puṇyaḥ — holy, auspicious; puṣpitakānanaḥ — with woodlands in flower; yauvarājyāya — for the heir-apparency; rāmasya — of Rāma; sarvam — everything, all; evopakalpyatām — let it be prepared
2.3.5
kṛtam ity eva cābrūtām abhigamya jagatpatim
yathoktavacanaṃ prītau harṣayuktau dvijarṣabhau
“It is as good as done” — so said the two bulls among brahmins, delighted and filled with joy, approaching the lord of the world in accordance with his words.
Words: kṛtam — done, accomplished; ity eva — just so, thus indeed; cābrūtām — and the two said; abhigamya — having approached; jagatpatim — the lord of the world; yathoktavacanaṃ — in accordance with (his) words; prītau — the two pleased; harṣayuktau — the two filled with joy; dvijarṣabhau — the two bulls among brahmins
2.3.6
tataḥ sumantraṃ dyutimān rājā vacanam abravīt
rāmaḥ kṛtātmā bhavatā śīghram ānīiyatām iti
Then the resplendent king said these words to Sumantra: “Let the noble-souled Rāma be brought here by you at once.”
Words: tataḥ — then; sumantraṃ — Sumantra; dyutimān — the resplendent; rājā — the king; vacanam — words, speech; abravīt — said, spoke; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kṛtātmā — the noble-souled, disciplined; bhavatā — by you (honorific); śīghram — quickly, at once; ānīiyatām — let (him) be brought; iti — thus (end quote)
2.3.7
sa tatheti pratijñāya sumantro rājaśāsanāt
rāmaṃ tatrānayāṃ cakre rathena rathināṃ varam
Assenting with “So be it,” Sumantra, at the king's command, brought Rāma there by chariot — that best of chariot-warriors.
Words: sa — he; tatheti — “so be it”; pratijñāya — having promised, assented; sumantro — Sumantra; rājaśāsanāt — at the king's command; rāmaṃ — Rāma; tatrānayāṃ cakre — brought there; rathena — by chariot; rathināṃ — of chariot-warriors; varam — the best
2.3.8
atha tatra samāsīnās tadā daśarathaṃ nṛpam
prācyodīcyāḥ pratīcyāś ca dākṣiṇātyāś ca bhūmipāḥ
Then, seated there about King Daśaratha, were rulers of the East, the North, the West, and the South,
Words: atha — then; tatra — there; samāsīnās — seated together; tadā — then; daśarathaṃ — Daśaratha; nṛpam — the king; prācyodīcyāḥ — the Eastern and Northern (kings); pratīcyāś ca — and the Western; dākṣiṇātyāś ca — and the Southern; bhūmipāḥ — the rulers, lords of the earth
2.3.9
mlecchāś cāryāś ca ye cānye vanaśailāntavāsinaḥ
upāsāṃ cakrire sarve taṃ devā iva vāsavam
barbarians and Aryans, and whatever others dwelt at the edges of forests and mountains — all of them waited upon him, as the gods upon Vāsava (Indra).
Words: mlecchāś — barbarians, foreigners; cāryāś ca — and Aryans; ye cānye — and whatever others; vanaśailāntavāsinaḥ — dwellers at the borders of forest and mountain; upāsāṃ cakrire — waited upon, attended; sarve — all; taṃ — him; devā iva — like the gods; vāsavam — Vāsava (Indra)
2.3.10
teṣāṃ madhye sa rājarṣir marutām iva vāsavaḥ
prāsādastho rathagataṃ dadarśāyāntam ātmajam
In their midst, that royal sage, like Vāsava among the Maruts, standing on his palace, saw his son coming, borne in the chariot.
Words: teṣāṃ madhye — in their midst; sa — he; rājarṣir — the royal sage; marutām iva — like among the Maruts; vāsavaḥ — Vāsava (Indra); prāsādastho — standing on the palace; rathagataṃ — gone in the chariot; dadarśāyāntam — saw (him) coming; ātmajam — the son
2.3.11
gandharvarājapratimaṃ loke vikhyātapauruṣam
dīrghabāhuṃ mahāsattvaṃ mattamātaṅgagāminam
(He saw him) like the king of the gandharvas, of manhood renowned in the world, long-armed, of great strength, moving with the gait of a rutting elephant,
Words: gandharvarājapratimaṃ — like the king of the gandharvas; loke — in the world; vikhyātapauruṣam — of renowned manhood; dīrghabāhuṃ — long-armed; mahāsattvaṃ — of great strength/spirit; mattamātaṅgagāminam — moving like a rutting elephant
2.3.12
candrakāntānanaṃ rāmam atīva priyadarśanam
rūpaudāryaguṇaiḥ puṃsāṃ dṛṣṭicittāpahāriṇam
Rāma, his face lovely as the moon, exceedingly pleasing to behold, who by the qualities of his beauty and nobility stole away the eyes and hearts of men.
Words: candrakāntānanaṃ — moon-lovely of face; rāmam — Rāma; atīva — exceedingly; priyadarśanam — pleasing to behold; rūpaudāryaguṇaiḥ — by the qualities of beauty and nobility; puṃsāṃ — of men; dṛṣṭicittāpahāriṇam — stealing away the eyes and hearts
2.3.13
gharmābhitaptāḥ parjanyaṃ hlādayantam iva prajāḥ
na tatarpa samāyāntaṃ paśyamāno narādhipaḥ
As the people, scorched by heat, are refreshed by a rain-cloud, so the king, gazing on his approaching son, could not be sated with the sight.
Words: gharmābhitaptāḥ — scorched by heat; parjanyaṃ — a rain-cloud; hlādayantam iva — as if refreshing; prajāḥ — the people, creatures; na — not; tatarpa — was sated, satisfied; samāyāntaṃ — (him) approaching; paśyamāno — gazing, looking at; narādhipaḥ — the king, lord of men
2.3.14
avatārya sumantras taṃ rāghavaṃ syandanottamāt
pituḥ samīpaṃ gacchantaṃ prāñjaliḥ pṛṣṭhato 'nvagāt
Having helped that Rāghava down from the excellent chariot, Sumantra, with palms joined, followed behind him as he went into his father's presence.
Words: avatārya — having helped down, brought down; sumantras — Sumantra; taṃ — him; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; syandanottamāt — from the excellent chariot; pituḥ — of the father; samīpaṃ — near, to the presence; gacchantaṃ — going; prāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; pṛṣṭhato 'nvagāt — followed behind
2.3.15
sa taṃ kailāsaśṛṅgābhaṃ prāsādaṃ narapuṃgavaḥ
āruroha nṛpaṃ draṣṭuṃ saha sūtena rāghavaḥ
That bull among men, Rāghava, together with the charioteer, ascended the palace, radiant as a peak of Kailāsa, to see the king.
Words: sa — he; taṃ — that; kailāsaśṛṅgābhaṃ — radiant as a Kailāsa peak; prāsādaṃ — the palace; narapuṃgavaḥ — the bull among men; āruroha — ascended, climbed; nṛpaṃ — the king; draṣṭuṃ — to see; saha sūtena — together with the charioteer; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava
2.3.16
sa prāñjalir abhipretya praṇataḥ pitur antike
nāma svaṃ śrāvayan rāmo vavande caraṇau pituḥ
With palms joined and bowing low in his father's presence, Rāma, announcing his own name, saluted his father's feet.
Words: sa — he; prāñjalir — with palms joined; abhipretya — having approached, drawn near; praṇataḥ — bowed low, humbly; pitur — of the father; antike — near, in the presence; nāma svaṃ — his own name; śrāvayan — causing to be heard, announcing; rāmo — Rāma; vavande — saluted, paid homage to; caraṇau — the two feet; pituḥ — of the father
2.3.17
taṃ dṛṣṭvā praṇataṃ pārśve kṛtāñjalipuṭaṃ nṛpaḥ
gṛhyāñjalau samākṛṣya sasvaje priyam ātmajam
Seeing him bowed at his side with hollowed palms joined, the king, taking him by the joined hands and drawing him near, embraced his beloved son.
Words: taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; praṇataṃ — bowed, bent low; pārśve — at (his) side; kṛtāñjalipuṭaṃ — with hollowed palms joined; nṛpaḥ — the king; gṛhyāñjalau — having taken by the joined hands; samākṛṣya — having drawn near; sasvaje — embraced; priyam — beloved; ātmajam — the son
2.3.18
tasmai cābhyudyataṃ śrīmān maṇikāñcanabhūṣitam
dideśa rājā ruciraṃ rāmāya paramāsanam
And the glorious king assigned to him — to Rāma — a splendid, lofty seat, adorned with jewels and gold, an excellent throne.
Words: tasmai — to him; cābhyudyataṃ — and raised up, lofty; śrīmān — the glorious; maṇikāñcanabhūṣitam — adorned with jewels and gold; dideśa — assigned, pointed out; rājā — the king; ruciraṃ — splendid, lovely; rāmāya — for Rāma; paramāsanam — an excellent seat
2.3.19
tad āsanavaraṃ prāpya vyadīpayata rāghavaḥ
svayeva prabhayā merum udaye vimalo raviḥ
Taking that excellent seat, Rāghava lit it up, as the spotless rising sun lights up Mount Meru with its own radiance.
Words: tad — that; āsanavaraṃ — the excellent seat; prāpya — having taken, reached; vyadīpayata — lit up, illumined; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; svayeva — as with (his) own; prabhayā — with radiance, light; merum — Mount Meru; udaye — at (its) rising; vimalo — spotless, clear; raviḥ — the sun
2.3.20
tena vibhrājitā tatra sā sabhābhivyarocata
vimalagrahanakṣatrā śāradī dyaur ivendunā
Made radiant by him, that assembly shone there like an autumn sky, with its clear planets and stars, lit by the moon.
Words: tena — by him; vibhrājitā — made radiant, illumined; tatra — there; sā — that; sabhābhivyarocata — the assembly shone forth; vimalagrahanakṣatrā — with clear planets and stars; śāradī — autumnal; dyaur ivendunā — like the sky by the moon
2.3.21
taṃ paśyamāno nṛpatis tutoṣa priyam ātmajam
alaṃkṛtam ivātmānam ādarśatalasaṃsthitam
Gazing on his beloved son, the king rejoiced, (seeing him) as though it were his own adorned self set within the surface of a mirror.
Words: taṃ — him; paśyamāno — gazing at; nṛpatis — the king; tutoṣa — rejoiced, was pleased; priyam — beloved; ātmajam — son; alaṃkṛtam — adorned; ivātmānam — as if (his own) self; ādarśatalasaṃsthitam — set in the mirror's surface
2.3.22
sa taṃ sasmitam ābhāṣya putraṃ putravatāṃ varaḥ
uvācedaṃ vaco rājā devendram iva kaśyapaḥ
That best among fathers, the king, addressing his son with a smile, spoke these words, as Kaśyapa (spoke) to Indra, king of the gods:
Words: sa — he; taṃ — him; sasmitam — with a smile; ābhāṣya — having addressed; putraṃ — the son; putravatāṃ — of those having sons; varaḥ — the best; uvācedaṃ — spoke this; vaco — words, speech; rājā — the king; devendram — Indra, lord of the gods; iva — like, as; kaśyapaḥ — Kaśyapa
2.3.23
jyeṣṭhāyām asi me patnyāṃ sadṛśyāṃ sadṛśaḥ sutaḥ
utpannas tvaṃ guṇaśreṣṭho mama rāmātmajaḥ priyaḥ
“You are a son worthy of me, born of my eldest and worthy queen; you, Rāma, best in virtues, are my beloved son.
Words: jyeṣṭhāyām — in the eldest; asi — you are; me — my; patnyāṃ — wife, queen; sadṛśyāṃ — worthy, matching; sadṛśaḥ — worthy, like (me); sutaḥ — son; utpannas — born, arisen; tvaṃ — you; guṇaśreṣṭho — best in virtues; mama — my; rāmātmajaḥ — O Rāma, (my) son; priyaḥ — beloved
2.3.24
tvayā yataḥ prajāś cemāḥ svaguṇair anurañjitāḥ
tasmāt tvaṃ puṣyayogena yauvarājyam avāpnuhi
Since these subjects have been won over by your own virtues, therefore, at the conjunction with (the constellation) Puṣya, receive the office of heir-apparent.
Words: tvayā — by you; yataḥ — since, because; prajāś — the subjects, people; cemāḥ — and these; svaguṇair — by your own virtues; anurañjitāḥ — won over, pleased; tasmāt — therefore; tvaṃ — you; puṣyayogena — by the conjunction with Puṣya; yauvarājyam — the office of heir-apparent; avāpnuhi — obtain, receive
2.3.25
kāmatas tvaṃ prakṛtyaiva vinīto guṇavān asi
guṇavaty api tu snehāt putra vakṣyāmi te hitam
By nature and of your own accord you are indeed disciplined and virtuous; yet, though you are virtuous, out of affection, my son, I shall tell you what is good for you.
Words: kāmatas — of your own will, willingly; tvaṃ — you; prakṛtyaiva — by nature itself; vinīto — disciplined, well-trained; guṇavān — virtuous; asi — you are; guṇavaty — though virtuous; api tu — yet, but even so; snehāt — out of affection; putra — O son; vakṣyāmi — I shall tell; te — to you; hitam — what is beneficial, good
2.3.26
bhūyo vinayam āsthāya bhava nityaṃ jitendriyaḥ
kāmakrodhasamutthāni tyajethā vyasanāni ca
Cultivating humility still more, be ever master of your senses; and shun the vices that spring from desire and anger.
Words: bhūyo — still more, again; vinayam — humility, discipline; āsthāya — having taken up, resorting to; bhava — be; nityaṃ — ever, always; jitendriyaḥ — master of the senses; kāmakrodhasamutthāni — arising from desire and anger; tyajethā — you should abandon, shun; vyasanāni ca — and the vices, addictions
2.3.27
parokṣayā vartamāno vṛttyā pratyakṣayā tathā
amātyaprabhṛtīḥ sarvāḥ prakṛtīś cānurañjaya
Conducting yourself both by indirect means (through agents) and directly, win over all the elements of state, beginning with the ministers.
Words: parokṣayā — by indirect (means); vartamāno — conducting yourself, acting; vṛttyā — by conduct, means; pratyakṣayā — by direct (means); tathā — likewise, and; amātyaprabhṛtīḥ — beginning with the ministers; sarvāḥ — all; prakṛtīś — the elements of state, subjects; cānurañjaya — and win over, conciliate
2.3.28
tuṣṭānuraktaprakṛtir yaḥ pālayati medinīm
tasya nandanti mitrāṇi labdhvāmṛtam ivāmarāḥ
tasmāt putra tvam ātmānaṃ niyamyaiva samācara
The friends of one who rules the earth with his subjects contented and devoted rejoice, as the immortals do on obtaining the nectar; therefore, my son, conduct yourself keeping yourself ever restrained.
Words: tuṣṭānuraktaprakṛtir — whose subjects are contented and devoted; yaḥ — who; pālayati — protects, rules; medinīm — the earth; tasya — his; nandanti — rejoice; mitrāṇi — the friends; labdhvāmṛtam — having obtained the nectar; ivāmarāḥ — as the immortals; tasmāt — therefore; putra — O son; tvam — you; ātmānaṃ — yourself; niyamyaiva — keeping restrained; samācara — conduct yourself, act
2.3.29
tac chrutvā suhṛdas tasya rāmasya priyakāriṇaḥ
tvaritāḥ śīghram abhyetya kausalyāyai nyavedayan
Hearing that, the well-wishers of Rāma, eager to do him a kindness, hastened swiftly to Kausalyā and reported it.
Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; suhṛdas — the well-wishers, friends; tasya — his; rāmasya — of Rāma; priyakāriṇaḥ — doing (him) kindness; tvaritāḥ — hastening, hurried; śīghram — quickly; abhyetya — having approached; kausalyāyai — to Kausalyā; nyavedayan — reported, announced
2.3.30
sā hiraṇyaṃ ca gāś caiva ratnāni vividhāni ca
vyādideśa priyākhyebhyaḥ kausalyā pramadottamā
That best of women, Kausalyā, ordered gold, cattle, and jewels of every kind (to be given) to those who brought the glad news.
Words: sā — she; hiraṇyaṃ ca — and gold; gāś caiva — and cows, cattle; ratnāni — jewels, gems; vividhāni ca — and of various kinds; vyādideśa — ordered, commanded (to be given); priyākhyebhyaḥ — to the bringers of glad news; kausalyā — Kausalyā; pramadottamā — the best of women
2.3.31
athābhivādya rājānaṃ ratham āruhya rāghavaḥ
yayau svaṃ dyutimad veśma janaughaiḥ pratipūjitaḥ
Then, having saluted the king and mounted his chariot, Rāghava went to his own splendid dwelling, honoured by the crowds of people.
Words: athābhivādya — then having saluted; rājānaṃ — the king; ratham — the chariot; āruhya — having mounted; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; yayau — went; svaṃ — own; dyutimad — splendid, radiant; veśma — dwelling, house; janaughaiḥ — by crowds of people; pratipūjitaḥ — honoured, saluted
2.3.32
te cāpi paurā nṛpater vacas tac chrutvā tadā lābham iveṣṭam āpya
narendram āmantya gṛhāṇi gatvā devān samānarcur atīva hṛṣṭāḥ
narendram āmantya gṛhāṇi gatvā
devān samānarcur atīva hṛṣṭāḥ
And those townsfolk too, on hearing that speech of the king, as if they had gained a wished-for prize, took leave of the king, went to their homes, and, greatly delighted, worshipped the gods.
Words: te cāpi — and they too; paurā — the townsfolk; nṛpater — of the king; vacas — speech, words; tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; tadā — then; lābham — a gain, prize; iveṣṭam — as if wished-for; āpya — having obtained; narendram — the king, lord of men; āmantya — having taken leave of; gṛhāṇi — the houses, homes; gatvā — having gone; devān — the gods; samānarcur — worshipped, honoured; atīva — exceedingly; hṛṣṭāḥ — delighted, thrilled
← 2.2 The assembly endorses Rāma · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.4 Omens hasten the abhiṣeka →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. 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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