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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 5: Vasiṣṭha prepares the upavāsa
Summary. He establishes Rāma & Sītā’s fast with sacred formulas and reports to Daśaratha as Ayodhyā decorates its streets
Sequence
- Daśaratha sends Vasiṣṭha to supervise Rāma and Sītā's upavāsa (preparatory upavāsa) (2.5.1–2)
- Rāma comes out to welcome the muni and personally helps him down from his chariot (2.5.3–9)
- Vasiṣṭha establishes the upavāsa with the prescribed prayers and leaves; Rāma dismisses his friends and goes indoors (2.5.10–13)
- on his way back, Vasiṣṭha finds the streets swept, watered, decorated with flowers and flags, and crowded with people eager for sunrise (2.5.14–20)
- he reports to Daśaratha that the preparations are complete, and the King retires to his inner apartments. (2.5.21–24)
Verses 2.5.1–24
2.5.1
saṃdiśya rāmaṃ nṛpatiḥ śvobhāviny abhiṣecane
purohitaṃ samāhūya vasiṣṭham idam abravīt
Having given instructions to Rāma concerning the consecration to take place on the morrow, the king summoned the family priest Vasiṣṭha and said this:
Words: saṃdiśya — having instructed; rāmaṃ — Rāma; nṛpatiḥ — the king; śvobhāviny — that is to take place tomorrow; abhiṣecane — in the consecration; purohitaṃ — the family priest; samāhūya — having summoned; vasiṣṭham — Vasiṣṭha; idam — this; abravīt — said
2.5.2
gacchopavāsaṃ kākutsthaṃ kārayādya tapodhana
śrīyaśorājyalābhāya vadhvā saha yatavratam
“Go, O you whose wealth is austerity, and have Kākutstha today observe a fast with strict vows, together with his bride, for the gaining of fortune, glory, and kingship.
Words: gacchopavāsaṃ — go, and the fast; kākutsthaṃ — Kākutstha (Rāma); kārayādya — have (him) undertake today; tapodhana — O you whose wealth is austerity; śrīyaśorājyalābhāya — for the gaining of fortune, glory, and kingship; vadhvā — with his bride; saha — together with; yatavratam — observing controlled vows
2.5.3
tatheti ca sa rājānam uktvā vedavidāṃ varaḥ
svayaṃ vasiṣṭho bhagavān yayau rāmaniveśanam
“So be it,” said the blessed Vasiṣṭha, best of those who know the Vedas, to the king, and he himself went to Rāma's dwelling.
Words: tatheti — ‘so be it’; ca — and; sa — he; rājānam — to the king; uktvā — having said; vedavidāṃ — of the knowers of the Vedas; varaḥ — the best; svayaṃ — himself; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; bhagavān — the blessed one; yayau — went; rāmaniveśanam — to Rāma's dwelling
2.5.4
sa rāmabhavanaṃ prāpya pāṇḍurābhraghanaprabham
tisraḥ kakṣyā rathenaiva viveśa munisattamaḥ
Reaching Rāma's palace, which shone like a mass of white cloud, that best of sages passed through three courtyards by chariot itself.
Words: sa — he; rāmabhavanaṃ — Rāma's palace; prāpya — having reached; pāṇḍurābhraghanaprabham — shining like a mass of white cloud; tisraḥ — three; kakṣyā — courtyards, enclosures; rathenaiva — by chariot itself; viveśa — entered, passed through; munisattamaḥ — the best of sages
2.5.5
tam āgatam ṛṣiṃ rāmas tvarann iva sasaṃbhramaḥ
mānayiṣyan sa mānārhaṃ niścakrāma niveśanāt
As if hastening, in eager haste, Rāma came out from his dwelling to honour that seer who had come and who deserved honour.
Words: tam — that; āgatam — who had come; ṛṣiṃ — seer; rāmas — Rāma; tvarann — hastening; iva — as if; sasaṃbhramaḥ — with eager haste; mānayiṣyan — intending to honour; sa — he; mānārhaṃ — deserving of honour; niścakrāma — came out; niveśanāt — from his dwelling
2.5.6
abhyetya tvaramāṇaś ca rathābhyāśaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ
tato 'vatārayām āsa parigṛhya rathāt svayam
Hurrying up close to the chariot of the wise one, he then himself took hold of him and helped him down from the chariot.
Words: abhyetya — having approached; tvaramāṇaś — hastening; ca — and; rathābhyāśaṃ — to the vicinity of the chariot; manīṣiṇaḥ — of the wise one; tato — then; 'vatārayām āsa — helped down, caused to descend; parigṛhya — having taken hold; rathāt — from the chariot; svayam — himself
2.5.7
sa cainaṃ praśritaṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃbhāṣyābhiprasādya ca
priyārhaṃ harṣayan rāmam ity uvāca purohitaḥ
And the family priest, seeing him so modest, addressing and graciously pleasing him, gladdening Rāma who deserved kindness, spoke thus:
Words: sa — he; cainaṃ — and him; praśritaṃ — modest, humble; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; saṃbhāṣyābhiprasādya — having addressed and graciously pleased; ca — and; priyārhaṃ — deserving of kindness; harṣayan — gladdening; rāmam — Rāma; ity — thus; uvāca — said; purohitaḥ — the family priest
2.5.8
prasannas te pitā rāma yauvarājyam avāpsyasi
upavāsaṃ bhavān adya karotu saha sītayā
“Your father is pleased, Rāma; you will obtain the office of heir-apparent. Let your honour today observe a fast together with Sītā.
Words: prasannas — pleased; te — your; pitā — father; rāma — O Rāma; yauvarājyam — the office of heir-apparent; avāpsyasi — you will obtain; upavāsaṃ — a fast; bhavān — your honour; adya — today; karotu — let (him) undertake; saha — together with; sītayā — Sītā
2.5.9
prātas tvām abhiṣektā hi yauvarājye narādhipaḥ
pitā daśarathaḥ prītyā yayātiṃ nahuṣo yathā
For at dawn your father, King Daśaratha, the lord of men, will with affection consecrate you into the office of heir-apparent, as Nahuṣa did Yayāti.
Words: prātas — at dawn; tvām — you; abhiṣektā — will consecrate; hi — for; yauvarājye — into the office of heir-apparent; narādhipaḥ — the lord of men; pitā — father; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; prītyā — with affection; yayātiṃ — Yayāti; nahuṣo — Nahuṣa; yathā — as
2.5.10
ity uktvā sa tadā rāmam upavāsaṃ yatavratam
mantravat kārayām āsa vaidehyā sahitaṃ muniḥ
Having said this, the sage then had Rāma, together with Vaidehī, observe the fast with strict vows in accordance with the sacred formulas.
Words: ity — thus; uktvā — having said; sa — he; tadā — then; rāmam — Rāma; upavāsaṃ — the fast; yatavratam — observing controlled vows; mantravat — accompanied by sacred formulas; kārayām āsa — caused (him) to undertake; vaidehyā — with Vaidehī; sahitaṃ — together; muniḥ — the sage
2.5.11
tato yathāvad rāmeṇa sa rājño gurur arcitaḥ
abhyanujñāpya kākutsthaṃ yayau rāmaniveśanāt
Then that preceptor of the king, duly honoured by Rāma, took his leave of Kākutstha and went from Rāma's dwelling.
Words: tato — then; yathāvad — duly; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; sa — that; rājño — of the king; gurur — preceptor; arcitaḥ — honoured; abhyanujñāpya — having taken leave of; kākutsthaṃ — Kākutstha; yayau — went; rāmaniveśanāt — from Rāma's dwelling
2.5.12
suhṛdbhis tatra rāmo 'pi tān anujñāpya sarvaśaḥ
sabhājito viveśātha tān anujñāpya sarvaśaḥ
Rāma too, there honoured by his friends and having taken leave of them all, then, having taken leave of them all completely, went in.
Words: suhṛdbhis — by his friends; tatra — there; rāmo 'pi — Rāma too; tān — them; anujñāpya — having taken leave of; sarvaśaḥ — all, in every way; sabhājito — honoured; viveśātha — then went in; tān — them; anujñāpya — having taken leave of; sarvaśaḥ — all, completely
2.5.13
hṛṣṭanārī narayutaṃ rāmaveśma tadā babhau
yathā mattadvijagaṇaṃ praphullanalinaṃ saraḥ
Rāma's house then, filled with joyful women and with men, shone like a lake of full-blown lotuses filled with flocks of exultant birds.
Words: hṛṣṭanārī — (having) joyful women; narayutaṃ — joined with men; rāmaveśma — Rāma's house; tadā — then; babhau — shone; yathā — like; mattadvijagaṇaṃ — having flocks of exultant birds; praphullanalinaṃ — with full-blown lotuses; saraḥ — a lake
2.5.14
sa rājabhavanaprakhyāt tasmād rāmaniveśanāt
nirgatya dadṛśe mārgaṃ vasiṣṭho janasaṃvṛtam
Going out from that dwelling of Rāma, which resembled a royal palace, Vasiṣṭha saw the road thronged with people.
Words: sa — he; rājabhavanaprakhyāt — resembling a royal palace; tasmād — from that; rāmaniveśanāt — from Rāma's dwelling; nirgatya — having gone out; dadṛśe — saw; mārgaṃ — the road; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; janasaṃvṛtam — thronged with people
2.5.15
vṛndavṛndair ayodhyāyāṃ rājamārgāḥ samantataḥ
babhūvur abhisaṃbādhāḥ kutūhalajanair vṛtāḥ
In Ayodhyā the royal roads on every side became thronged, crowded with masses upon masses of curious people.
Words: vṛndavṛndair — with multitudes upon multitudes; ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; rājamārgāḥ — the royal roads; samantataḥ — on every side; babhūvur — became; abhisaṃbādhāḥ — thronged, crowded; kutūhalajanair — with curious people; vṛtāḥ — filled, surrounded
2.5.16
janavṛndormisaṃgharṣaharṣasvanavatas tadā
babhūva rājamārgasya sāgarasyeva nisvanaḥ
Then the sound of the royal road, resounding with the joyous roar of the clashing waves of crowds of people, became like that of the ocean.
Words: janavṛndormisaṃgharṣaharṣasvanavatas — possessing the joyous sound of the clashing waves of crowds of people; tadā — then; babhūva — became; rājamārgasya — of the royal road; sāgarasyeva — like that of the ocean; nisvanaḥ — the sound, roar
2.5.17
siktasaṃmṛṣṭarathyā hi tad ahar vanamālinī
āsīd ayodhyā nagarī samucchritagṛhadhvajā
For on that day the city of Ayodhyā, its streets sprinkled and swept, garlanded with woodland flowers, its house-flags raised high, was thus adorned.
Words: siktasaṃmṛṣṭarathyā — with streets sprinkled and swept; hi — for, indeed; tad — on that; ahar — day; vanamālinī — garlanded with woodland flowers; āsīd — was; ayodhyā — Ayodhyā; nagarī — city; samucchritagṛhadhvajā — with house-flags raised high
2.5.18
tadā hy ayodhyā nilayaḥ sastrībālābalo janaḥ
rāmābhiṣekam ākāṅkṣann ākāṅkṣann udayaṃ raveḥ
On that day the people whose home was Ayodhyā, together with the women, children, and the aged, longing for Rāma's consecration, longed also for the rising of the sun.
Words: tadā — then; hy — indeed; ayodhyā — Ayodhyā; nilayaḥ — (whose) home; sastrībālābalo — together with women, children, and the weak; janaḥ — the people; rāmābhiṣekam — Rāma's consecration; ākāṅkṣann — longing for; ākāṅkṣann — longing for; udayaṃ — the rising; raveḥ — of the sun
2.5.19
prajālaṃkārabhūtaṃ ca janasyānandavardhanam
utsuko 'bhūj jano draṣṭuṃ tam ayodhyā mahotsavam
The people were eager to behold that great festival of Ayodhyā, which was the ornament of the subjects and the increaser of the people's joy.
Words: prajālaṃkārabhūtaṃ — being the ornament of the subjects; ca — and; janasyānandavardhanam — the increaser of the people's joy; utsuko — eager; 'bhūj — became; jano — the people; draṣṭuṃ — to behold; tam — that; ayodhyā — of Ayodhyā; mahotsavam — great festival
2.5.20
evaṃ taṃ janasaṃbādhaṃ rājamārgaṃ purohitaḥ
vyūhann iva janaughaṃ taṃ śanai rāja kulaṃ yayau
Thus the family priest, as if parting that flood of people, slowly made his way along that royal road thronged with people, to the royal palace.
Words: evaṃ — thus; taṃ — that; janasaṃbādhaṃ — thronged with people; rājamārgaṃ — the royal road; purohitaḥ — the family priest; vyūhann — parting, dividing; iva — as if; janaughaṃ — the flood of people; taṃ — that; śanai — slowly; rāja — royal; kulaṃ — house, palace; yayau — went
2.5.21
sitābhraśikharaprakhyaṃ prāsadam adhiruhya saḥ
samiyāya narendreṇa śakreṇeva bṛhaspatiḥ
Ascending the palace that resembled the peak of a white cloud, he met with the king, as Bṛhaspati meets with Śakra (Indra).
Words: sitābhraśikharaprakhyaṃ — resembling the peak of a white cloud; prāsadam — the palace; adhiruhya — having ascended; saḥ — he; samiyāya — met with, came together with; narendreṇa — with the lord of men; śakreṇeva — as with Śakra (Indra); bṛhaspatiḥ — Bṛhaspati
2.5.22
tam āgatam abhiprekṣya hitvā rājāsanaṃ nṛpaḥ
papraccha sa ca tasmai tat kṛtam ity abhyavedayat
Seeing him arrived, the king rose from his royal seat and asked him; and he reported to the king, “It is done.”
Words: tam — him; āgatam — arrived; abhiprekṣya — having beheld; hitvā — having left; rājāsanaṃ — the royal seat; nṛpaḥ — the king; papraccha — asked; sa — he; ca — and; tasmai — to him; tat — that; kṛtam — done; ity — thus; abhyavedayat — reported, informed
2.5.23
guruṇā tv abhyanujñāto manujaughaṃ visṛjya tam
viveśāntaḥpuraṃ rājā siṃho giriguhām iva
Given leave by his preceptor, the king dismissed that throng of men and entered the inner apartments, like a lion entering a mountain cave.
Words: guruṇā — by his preceptor; tv — and; abhyanujñāto — given leave; manujaughaṃ — the throng of men; visṛjya — having dismissed; tam — that; viveśāntaḥpuraṃ — entered the inner apartments; rājā — the king; siṃho — a lion; giriguhām — a mountain cave; iva — like
2.5.24
tad agryaveṣapramadājanākulaṃ mahendraveśmapratimaṃ niveśanam
vyadīpayaṃś cāru viveśa pārthivaḥ śaśīva tārāgaṇasaṃkulaṃ nabhaḥ
The king, beautifully illuminating that dwelling — crowded with a host of women in splendid attire and resembling the abode of great Indra — entered it, like the moon entering the sky thronged with the host of stars.
Words: tad — that; agryaveṣapramadājanākulaṃ — crowded with a host of women in splendid attire; mahendraveśmapratimaṃ — resembling the abode of great Indra; niveśanam — the dwelling; vyadīpayaṃś — illuminating; cāru — beautifully; viveśa — entered; pārthivaḥ — the king; śaśīva — like the moon; tārāgaṇasaṃkulaṃ — thronged with the host of stars; nabhaḥ — the sky
← 2.4 Omens hasten the abhiṣeka · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.6 Worship before 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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