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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 6: Worship before the abhiṣeka

Summary. Rāma worships Nārāyaṇa with Sītā, offers havis and eats its remainder, they sleep on kuśa as Ayodhyā celebrates

Sequence

  1. Rāma bathes, worships Nārāyaṇa with Sītā, makes an āhuti (oblation) into Agni, eats the remaining havis, and lies with her on a grass bed in Viṣṇu's shrine (2.6.1–4)
  2. before dawn he rises, arranges decorations, performs his morning worship, and has brāhmaṇas pronounce blessings as music fills the city (2.6.5–8)
  3. hearing that the couple have observed the upavāsa, the citizens renew their celebrations (2.6.9–10)
  4. flags rise over temples, markets, houses, public halls, and trees; performers entertain the crowds, flowers and incense cover the royal road, and lamps are prepared (2.6.11–18)
  5. people praise Daśaratha for recognizing his age and choosing a capable, considerate successor (2.6.19–24)
  6. visitors arrive from the countryside until Ayodhyā is packed with people waiting to witness the ceremony. (2.6.25–28)

Verses 2.6.1–28

2.6.1

gate purohite rāmaḥ snāto niyatamānasaḥ
saha patnyā viśālākṣyā nārāyaṇam upāgamat

When the family priest had gone, Rāma, bathed and with mind controlled, together with his large-eyed wife approached Nārāyaṇa.

Words: gate purohite — when the family priest had gone; rāmaḥ — Rāma; snāto — bathed; niyatamānasaḥ — with mind controlled; saha — together with; patnyā — his wife; viśālākṣyā — large-eyed; nārāyaṇam — Nārāyaṇa; upāgamat — approached

2.6.2

pragṛhya śirasā pātrīṃ haviṣo vidhivat tadā
mahate daivatāyājyaṃ juhāva jvalite 'nale

Taking up on his head the vessel of oblation according to rule, he then offered the clarified butter to the great deity in the blazing fire.

Words: pragṛhya — having taken up; śirasā — on his head; pātrīṃ — the vessel; haviṣo — of oblation; vidhivat — according to rule; tadā — then; mahate — to the great; daivatāyājyaṃ — clarified butter to the deity; juhāva — offered; jvalite — in the blazing; 'nale — in the fire

2.6.3

śeṣaṃ ca haviṣas tasya prāśyāśāsyātmanaḥ priyam
dhyāyan nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ svāstīrṇe kuśasaṃstare

And having eaten the remainder of that oblation and prayed for what was dear to himself, meditating on the god Nārāyaṇa, on a well-spread bed of kuśa grass,

Words: śeṣaṃ — the remainder; ca — and; haviṣas — of the oblation; tasya — that; prāśyāśāsyātmanaḥ — having eaten and prayed for, of himself; priyam — what is dear; dhyāyan — meditating on; nārāyaṇaṃ — Nārāyaṇa; devaṃ — god; svāstīrṇe — on the well-spread; kuśasaṃstare — bed of kuśa grass

2.6.4

vāgyataḥ saha vaidehyā bhūtvā niyatamānasaḥ
śrīmaty āyatane viṣṇoḥ śiśye naravarātmajaḥ

with speech restrained, together with Vaidehī, and with mind controlled, the son of the best of men lay down in the splendid shrine of Viṣṇu.

Words: vāgyataḥ — with speech restrained; saha — together with; vaidehyā — Vaidehī; bhūtvā — having become; niyatamānasaḥ — with mind controlled; śrīmaty — in the splendid; āyatane — shrine, abode; viṣṇoḥ — of Viṣṇu; śiśye — lay down; naravarātmajaḥ — the son of the best of men

2.6.5

ekayāmāvaśiṣṭāyāṃ rātryāṃ prativibudhya saḥ
alaṃkāravidhiṃ kṛtsnaṃ kārayām āsa veśmanaḥ

When but one watch of the night remained, he woke and had the entire decoration of the house carried out.

Words: ekayāmāvaśiṣṭāyāṃ — when one watch remained; rātryāṃ — in the night; prativibudhya — having woken up; saḥ — he; alaṃkāravidhiṃ — the arrangement of decoration; kṛtsnaṃ — entire; kārayām āsa — had (it) carried out; veśmanaḥ — of the house

2.6.6

tatra śṛṇvan sukhā vācaḥ sūtamāgadhabandinām
pūrvāṃ saṃdhyām upāsīno jajāpa yatamānasaḥ

There, listening to the pleasant voices of the bards, panegyrists, and minstrels, and worshipping at the morning twilight, with mind controlled he prayed silently.

Words: tatra — there; śṛṇvan — listening to; sukhā — pleasant; vācaḥ — voices; sūtamāgadhabandinām — of the bards, panegyrists, and minstrels; pūrvāṃ — the early (morning); saṃdhyām — twilight; upāsīno — worshipping, sitting near; jajāpa — prayed silently, muttered; yatamānasaḥ — with mind controlled

2.6.7

tuṣṭāva praṇataś caiva śirasā madhusūdanam
vimalakṣaumasaṃvīto vācayām āsa ca dvijān

Bowing his head, he praised Madhusūdana; and clad in spotless silk, he had the brahmins recite benedictions.

Words: tuṣṭāva — praised; praṇataś — bowed; caiva — and indeed; śirasā — with his head; madhusūdanam — Madhusūdana (slayer of Madhu, Viṣṇu); vimalakṣaumasaṃvīto — clad in spotless silk; vācayām āsa — had (them) recite; ca — and; dvijān — the brahmins

2.6.8

teṣāṃ puṇyāhaghoṣo 'tha gambhīramadhuras tadā
ayodhyāṃ pūrayām āsa tūryaghoṣānunāditaḥ

Then the sound of their auspicious-day benediction, deep and sweet, resounding with the sound of musical instruments, filled Ayodhyā.

Words: teṣāṃ — of them; puṇyāhaghoṣo — the sound of the auspicious-day benediction; 'tha — then; gambhīramadhuras — deep and sweet; tadā — then; ayodhyāṃ — Ayodhyā; pūrayām āsa — filled; tūryaghoṣānunāditaḥ — resounding with the sound of musical instruments

2.6.9

kṛtopavāsaṃ tu tadā vaidehyā saha rāghavam
ayodhyā nilayaḥ śrutvā sarvaḥ pramudito janaḥ

Then, hearing that Rāghava together with Vaidehī had observed the fast, all the people whose home was Ayodhyā were delighted.

Words: kṛtopavāsaṃ — who had observed the fast; tu — and; tadā — then; vaidehyā — Vaidehī; saha — together with; rāghavam — Rāghava; ayodhyā — Ayodhyā; nilayaḥ — (whose) home; śrutvā — having heard; sarvaḥ — all; pramudito — delighted; janaḥ — the people

2.6.10

tataḥ paurajanaḥ sarvaḥ śrutvā rāmābhiṣecanam
prabhātāṃ rajanīṃ dṛṣṭvā cakre śobhāṃ parāṃ punaḥ

Then all the townsfolk, hearing of Rāma's consecration and seeing that the night had brightened into dawn, again made supreme adornment.

Words: tataḥ — then; paurajanaḥ — the townsfolk; sarvaḥ — all; śrutvā — having heard; rāmābhiṣecanam — Rāma's consecration; prabhātāṃ — brightened into dawn; rajanīṃ — the night; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; cakre — made; śobhāṃ — adornment, splendour; parāṃ — supreme; punaḥ — again

2.6.11

sitābhraśikharābheṣu devatāyataneṣu ca
catuṣpatheṣu rathyāsu caityeṣv aṭṭālakeṣu ca

On the temples of the gods that resembled peaks of white cloud, at the crossroads, in the streets, on the sacred shrines and the watchtowers,

Words: sitābhraśikharābheṣu — on (those) resembling peaks of white cloud; devatāyataneṣu — on the temples of the gods; ca — and; catuṣpatheṣu — at the crossroads; rathyāsu — in the streets; caityeṣv — on the sacred shrines; aṭṭālakeṣu — on the watchtowers; ca — and

2.6.12

nānāpaṇyasamṛddheṣu vaṇijām āpaṇeṣu ca
kuṭumbināṃ samṛddheṣu śrīmatsu bhavaneṣu ca

and in the markets of merchants, rich with various wares, and in the prosperous, splendid houses of householders,

Words: nānāpaṇyasamṛddheṣu — rich with various wares; vaṇijām — of merchants; āpaṇeṣu — in the markets, shops; ca — and; kuṭumbināṃ — of householders; samṛddheṣu — in the prosperous; śrīmatsu — splendid; bhavaneṣu — in the houses; ca — and

2.6.13

sabhāsu caiva sarvāsu vṛkṣeṣv ālakṣiteṣu ca
dhvajāḥ samucchritāś citrāḥ patākāś cābhavaṃs tadā

and in all the assembly halls and on conspicuous trees, bright banners were raised high, and flags too, at that time.

Words: sabhāsu — in the assembly halls; caiva — and; sarvāsu — all; vṛkṣeṣv — on the trees; ālakṣiteṣu — conspicuous; ca — and; dhvajāḥ — banners; samucchritāś — raised high; citrāḥ — bright, variegated; patākāś — flags; cābhavaṃs — and were; tadā — then

2.6.14

naṭanartakasaṃghānāṃ gāyakānāṃ ca gāyatām
manaḥkarṇasukhā vācaḥ śuśruvuś ca tatas tataḥ

And here and there people heard the voices of troupes of actors and dancers and of singers as they sang, voices pleasing to the mind and the ear.

Words: naṭanartakasaṃghānāṃ — of troupes of actors and dancers; gāyakānāṃ — of singers; ca — and; gāyatām — of those singing; manaḥkarṇasukhā — pleasing to mind and ear; vācaḥ — voices; śuśruvuś — (they) heard; ca — and; tatas — here; tataḥ — and there

2.6.15

rāmābhiṣekayuktāś ca kathāś cakrur mitho janāḥ
rāmābhiṣeke saṃprāpte catvareṣu gṛheṣu ca

And when Rāma's consecration had arrived, the people held conversations with one another about Rāma's consecration, in the squares and in the houses.

Words: rāmābhiṣekayuktāś — engaged with Rāma's consecration; ca — and; kathāś — conversations; cakrur — made; mitho — with one another; janāḥ — the people; rāmābhiṣeke — at Rāma's consecration; saṃprāpte — having arrived; catvareṣu — in the squares; gṛheṣu — in the houses; ca — and

2.6.16

bālā api krīḍamānā gṛhadvāreṣu saṃghaśaḥ
rāmābhiṣekasaṃyuktāś cakrur eva mithaḥ kathāḥ

Even the children, playing in groups at the house-doors, held conversations with one another about Rāma's consecration.

Words: bālā — children; api — even; krīḍamānā — playing; gṛhadvāreṣu — at the house-doors; saṃghaśaḥ — in groups; rāmābhiṣekasaṃyuktāś — engaged with Rāma's consecration; cakrur — made; eva — indeed; mithaḥ — with one another; kathāḥ — conversations

2.6.17

kṛtapuṣpopahāraś ca dhūpagandhādhivāsitaḥ
rājamārgaḥ kṛtaḥ śrīmān paurai rāmābhiṣecane

And at Rāma's consecration the splendid royal road was made by the townsfolk, strewn with offerings of flowers and perfumed with the fragrance of incense.

Words: kṛtapuṣpopahāraś — on which flower-offerings had been made; ca — and; dhūpagandhādhivāsitaḥ — perfumed with the fragrance of incense; rājamārgaḥ — the royal road; kṛtaḥ — made; śrīmān — splendid; paurai — by the townsfolk; rāmābhiṣecane — at Rāma's consecration

2.6.18

prakāśīkaraṇārthaṃ ca niśāgamanaśaṅkayā
dīpavṛkṣāṃs tathā cakrur anu rathyāsu sarvaśaḥ

And for the purpose of illumination, fearing the coming of night, they likewise set up lamp-trees everywhere along the streets.

Words: prakāśīkaraṇārthaṃ — for the purpose of illumination; ca — and; niśāgamanaśaṅkayā — out of fear of the coming of night; dīpavṛkṣāṃs — lamp-trees; tathā — likewise; cakrur — made; anu — along; rathyāsu — in the streets; sarvaśaḥ — everywhere

2.6.19

alaṃkāraṃ purasyaivaṃ kṛtvā tat puravāsinaḥ
ākāṅkṣamāṇā rāmasya yauvarājyābhiṣecanam

Having thus made that adornment of the city, the city-dwellers, longing for Rāma's consecration as heir-apparent,

Words: alaṃkāraṃ — the adornment; purasyaivaṃ — of the city thus; kṛtvā — having made; tat — that; puravāsinaḥ — the city-dwellers; ākāṅkṣamāṇā — longing for; rāmasya — of Rāma; yauvarājyābhiṣecanam — the consecration as heir-apparent

2.6.20

sametya saṃghaśaḥ sarve catvareṣu sabhāsu ca
kathayanto mithas tatra praśaśaṃsur janādhipam

all coming together in groups in the squares and assembly halls, conversing with one another there, praised the king.

Words: sametya — having come together; saṃghaśaḥ — in groups; sarve — all; catvareṣu — in the squares; sabhāsu — in the assembly halls; ca — and; kathayanto — conversing; mithas — with one another; tatra — there; praśaśaṃsur — praised; janādhipam — the king (ruler of people)

2.6.21

aho mahātmā rājāyam ikṣvākukulanandanaḥ
jñātvā yo vṛddham ātmānaṃ rāmaṃ rājye 'hbiṣekṣyati

“Ah, this king, the delight of the Ikṣvāku line, is great-souled, in that, knowing himself to be aged, he will consecrate Rāma in the kingdom!”

Words: aho — ah!; mahātmā — great-souled; rājāyam — this king; ikṣvākukulanandanaḥ — the delight of the Ikṣvāku line; jñātvā — having known; yo — who; vṛddham — aged; ātmānaṃ — himself; rāmaṃ — Rāma; rājye — in the kingdom; 'hbiṣekṣyati — will consecrate

2.6.22

sarve hy anugṛhītāḥ sma yan no rāmo mahīpatiḥ
cirāya bhavitā goptā dṛṣṭalokaparāvaraḥ

“For we are all favoured, in that Rāma, the lord of the earth, who has seen the higher and lower of the world, will be our protector for a long time.

Words: sarve — all; hy — for; anugṛhītāḥ — favoured; sma — (particle: we are); yan — in that; no — our; rāmo — Rāma; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth; cirāya — for a long time; bhavitā — will be; goptā — protector; dṛṣṭalokaparāvaraḥ — who has seen the higher and lower of the world

2.6.23

anuddhatamanā vidvān dharmātmā bhrātṛvatsalaḥ
yathā ca bhrātṛṣu snigdhas tathāsmāsv api rāghavaḥ

“Unarrogant of mind, learned, righteous, affectionate to his brothers — and as Rāghava is tender toward his brothers, so is he toward us also.

Words: anuddhatamanā — of unarrogant mind; vidvān — learned; dharmātmā — righteous-souled; bhrātṛvatsalaḥ — affectionate to his brothers; yathā — as; ca — and; bhrātṛṣu — toward his brothers; snigdhas — tender, affectionate; tathāsmāsv — so toward us; api — also; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava

2.6.24

ciraṃ jīvatu dharmātmā rājā daśaratho 'naghaḥ
yatprasādenābhiṣiktaṃ rāmaṃ drakṣyāmahe vayam

“Long may the righteous, sinless King Daśaratha live, by whose grace we shall behold Rāma consecrated!”

Words: ciraṃ — long; jīvatu — let (him) live; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; rājā — king; daśaratho — Daśaratha; 'naghaḥ — sinless; yatprasādenābhiṣiktaṃ — consecrated by whose grace; rāmaṃ — Rāma; drakṣyāmahe — we shall behold; vayam — we

2.6.25

evaṃvidhaṃ kathayatāṃ paurāṇāṃ śuśruvus tadā
digbhyo 'pi śrutavṛttāntāḥ prāptā jānapadā janāḥ

The country-folk, who had come having heard the news even from (all) the quarters, then listened to the townspeople speaking in this manner.

Words: evaṃvidhaṃ — in this manner; kathayatāṃ — of (them) speaking; paurāṇāṃ — of the townspeople; śuśruvus — heard; tadā — then; digbhyo — from the quarters; 'pi — even; śrutavṛttāntāḥ — having heard the news; prāptā — arrived; jānapadā — country-folk; janāḥ — the people

2.6.26

te tu digbhyaḥ purīṃ prāptā draṣṭuṃ rāmābhiṣecanam
rāmasya pūrayām āsuḥ purīṃ jānapadā janāḥ

And those country-folk, having come to the city from the quarters to behold Rāma's consecration, filled Rāma's city.

Words: te — they; tu — and; digbhyaḥ — from the quarters; purīṃ — the city; prāptā — arrived; draṣṭuṃ — to behold; rāmābhiṣecanam — Rāma's consecration; rāmasya — of Rāma; pūrayām āsuḥ — filled; purīṃ — the city; jānapadā — country-folk; janāḥ — the people

2.6.27

janaughais tair visarpadbhiḥ śuśruve tatra nisvanaḥ
parvasūdīrṇavegasya sāgarasyeva nisvanaḥ

From those spreading floods of people a sound was heard there, like the sound of the ocean whose surge has swelled high at the full-moon days.

Words: janaughais — by floods of people; tair — those; visarpadbhiḥ — spreading, moving about; śuśruve — was heard; tatra — there; nisvanaḥ — a sound; parvasūdīrṇavegasya — of (the ocean) whose surge has swelled at the full-moon days; sāgarasyeva — like that of the ocean; nisvanaḥ — the sound

2.6.28

tatas tad indrakṣayasaṃnibhaṃ puraṃ didṛkṣubhir jānapadair upāgataiḥ
samantataḥ sasvanam ākulaṃ babhau samudrayādobhir ivārṇavodakam

Then that city, resembling the abode of Indra, thronged and full of noise on every side with the country-folk who had come desiring to see, shone like the waters of the ocean crowded with sea-monsters.

Words: tatas — then; tad — that; indrakṣayasaṃnibhaṃ — resembling the abode of Indra; puraṃ — city; didṛkṣubhir — by (those) desiring to see; jānapadair — by the country-folk; upāgataiḥ — who had come; samantataḥ — on every side; sasvanam — with noise; ākulaṃ — thronged, crowded; babhau — shone; samudrayādobhir — with sea-monsters; ivārṇavodakam — like the water of the ocean

← 2.5 Vasiṣṭha prepares the upavāsa · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.7 Mantharā’s alarm, Kaikeyī’s joy →

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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