# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 1 — Daśaratha proposes Rāma as heir *With Bharata & Śatrughna in Kekaya, Daśaratha weighs Rāma’s fitness to rule and summons an assembly* Portion: Preparations for Rāma’s abhiṣeka · Verses: 37 · Ref format: 2.1. ## Sequence - Daśaratha tells Bharata that his maternal uncle Yudhājit has come to take him to the Kekaya Kingdom → Bharata and Śatrughna take leave of their father, Rāma, and their mothers and leave with him (1.1–4) - the brothers are warmly received there, but continue to think of their father; Daśaratha also misses them (1.5–9) - back in Ayodhyā, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa attend to their father, while Rāma looks after public affairs and his obligations to his mothers and elders (1.10–14) - the narrator describes the qualities that make Rāma fit to rule: he speaks kindly, remembers kindness rather than injuries, learns from elders, understands duty and government, manages revenue and expenditure, and is accomplished in warfare (1.15–28) - Daśaratha privately considers Rāma's qualifications and the people's affection for him, judging him even better fitted to rule than himself (1.29–33) - he discusses making Rāma heir with his ministers (1.34) - he summons rulers and leading people from the towns and countryside (1.35–37). ## Verses **2.1.1** kasya cit tv atha kālasya rājā daśarathaḥ sutam bharataṃ kekayīputram abravīd raghunandanaḥ Then, after some time had passed, King Daśaratha, the delight of the Raghus, spoke to his son Bharata, the son of Kaikeyī: **2.1.2** ayaṃ kekayarājasya putro vasati putraka tvāṃ netum āgato vīra yudhājin mātulas tava “Here, my dear boy, dwells the son of the Kekaya king; O hero, your maternal uncle Yudhājit has come to take you (with him).” **2.1.3** śrutvā daśarathasyaitad bharataḥ kekayīsutaḥ gamanāyābhicakrāma śatrughnasahitas tadā Hearing this from Daśaratha, Bharata, the son of Kaikeyī, then made ready to go, together with Śatrughna. **2.1.4** āpṛcchya pitaraṃ śūro rāmaṃ cākliṣṭakāriṇam mātṝṃś cāpi naraśreṣṭhaḥ śatrughnasahito yayau Having taken leave of his father, and of Rāma the tireless doer of deeds, and of his mothers as well, that best of men, the hero, set off together with Śatrughna. **2.1.5** yudhājit prāpya bharataṃ saśatrughnaṃ praharṣitaḥ svapuraṃ prāviśad vīraḥ pitā tasya tutoṣa ha Yudhājit, having gained Bharata along with Śatrughna, greatly delighted, entered his own city, the hero; and his (Bharata's) father was pleased. **2.1.6** sa tatra nyavasad bhrātrā saha satkārasatkṛtaḥ mātulenāśvapatinā putrasnehena lālitaḥ There he dwelt with his brother, honoured with hospitality, cherished by his uncle Aśvapati with fatherly affection. **2.1.7** tatrāpi nivasantau tau tarpyamāṇau ca kāmataḥ bhrātarau smaratāṃ vīrau vṛddhaṃ daśarathaṃ nṛpam Even while dwelling there, gratified to their heart's content, the two heroic brothers kept remembering their aged father, King Daśaratha. **2.1.8** rājāpi tau mahātejāḥ sasmāra proṣitau sutau ubhau bharataśatrughnau mahendravaruṇopamau The king too, of great splendour, remembered his two absent sons, both Bharata and Śatrughna, who were like great Indra and Varuṇa. **2.1.9** sarva eva tu tasyeṣṭāś catvāraḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ svaśarīrād vinirvṛttāś catvāra iva bāhavaḥ All four of those bulls among men were indeed dear to him, like four arms sprung from his own body. **2.1.10** teṣām api mahātejā rāmo ratikaraḥ pituḥ svayambhūr iva bhūtānāṃ babhūva guṇavattaraḥ Among them too, Rāma of great splendour, giver of joy to his father, was, like the Self-existent among beings, the most richly endowed with virtues. **2.1.11** gate ca bharate rāmo lakṣmaṇaś ca mahābalaḥ pitaraṃ devasaṃkāśaṃ pūjayām āsatus tadā And when Bharata had gone, Rāma and the mighty Lakṣmaṇa then honoured their father, who resembled a god. **2.1.12** pitur ājñāṃ puraskṛtya paurakāryāṇi sarvaśaḥ cakāra rāmo dharmātmā priyāṇi ca hitāni ca Placing his father's command foremost, righteous Rāma performed all the affairs of the townsfolk in every way, doing what was both pleasing and beneficial. **2.1.13** mātṛbhyo mātṛkāryāṇi kṛtvā paramayantritaḥ gurūṇāṃ gurukāryāṇi kāle kāle 'nvavaikṣata Performing for his mothers the duties owed to mothers, supremely self-controlled, he looked after the duties owed to his elders time after time. **2.1.14** evaṃ daśarathaḥ prīto brāhmaṇā naigamās tathā rāmasya śīlavṛttena sarve viṣayavāsinaḥ Thus Daśaratha was pleased, and so too the brahmins, the townspeople, and all who dwelt in the realm, on account of Rāma's character and conduct. **2.1.15** sa hi nityaṃ praśāntātmā mṛdupūrvaṃ ca bhāṣate ucyamāno 'pi paruṣaṃ nottaraṃ pratipadyate For he, ever serene of soul, spoke gently and courteously; and even when addressed harshly, he would return no (harsh) reply. **2.1.16** kathaṃ cid upakāreṇa kṛtenaikena tuṣyati na smaraty apakārāṇāṃ śatam apy ātmavattayā He is content with a single good turn done him somehow or other, and through his self-possession does not hold in mind even a hundred injuries. **2.1.17** śīlavṛddhair jñānavṛddhair vayovṛddhaiś ca sajjanaiḥ kathayann āsta vai nityam astrayogyāntareṣv api Even in the intervals of his weapons-practice, he would ever pass the time conversing with good men — elders in character, elders in wisdom, and elders in age. **2.1.18** kalyāṇābhijanaḥ sādhur adīnaḥ satyavāg ṛjuḥ vṛddhair abhivinītaś ca dvijair dharmārthadarśibhiḥ Of noble birth, virtuous, undismayed, truthful of speech, upright, he was well-trained by aged brahmins who perceived dharma and artha. **2.1.19** dharmārthakāmatattvajñaḥ smṛtimān pratibhāvanān laukike samayācare kṛtakalpo viśāradaḥ A knower of the true nature of dharma, artha, and kāma, of retentive memory and quick wit, he was accomplished and expert in worldly custom and usage. **2.1.20** śāstrajñaś ca kṛtajñaś ca puruṣāntarakovidaḥ yaḥ pragrahānugrahayor yathānyāyaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ Learned in the scriptures, mindful of favours done, and skilled in reading the characters of men, he was discerning, according to what was just, in matters of restraint and of favour. **2.1.21** āyakarmaṇy upāyajñaḥ saṃdṛṣṭavyayakarmavit śraiṣṭhyaṃ śāstrasamūheṣu prāpto vyāmiśrakeṣv api Skilled in the means of raising revenue, versed in the proper regulation of expenditure, he had attained pre-eminence in the whole body of the sciences, even in the mixed (combined) ones. **2.1.22** arthadharmau ca saṃgṛhya sukhatantro na cālasaḥ vaihārikāṇāṃ śilpānāṃ vijñātārthavibhāgavit Grasping both artha and dharma, devoted to enjoyment yet not slothful, he understood the classification and value of the arts that give pleasure. **2.1.23** ārohe vinaye caiva yukto vāraṇavājinām dhanurvedavidāṃ śreṣṭho loke 'tirathasaṃmataḥ Skilled in the mounting and training of elephants and horses, he was the best among those versed in archery, and in the world was reckoned an atiratha (a foremost chariot-warrior). **2.1.24** abhiyātā prahartā ca senānayaviśāradaḥ apradhṛṣyaś ca saṃgrāme kruddhair api surāsuraiḥ A skilled attacker and striker, expert in the conduct of armies, he was unassailable in battle even by enraged gods and demons. **2.1.25** anasūyo jitakrodho na dṛpto na ca matsarī na cāvamantā bhūtānāṃ na ca kālavaśānugaḥ Free of envy, having conquered anger, neither arrogant nor spiteful, he neither despised any creatures nor yielded to the sway of passing moods. **2.1.26** evaṃ śraiṣṭhair guṇair yuktaḥ prajānāṃ pārthivātmajaḥ saṃmatas triṣu lokeṣu vasudhāyāḥ kṣamāguṇaiḥ buddhyā bṛhaspates tulyo vīryeṇāpi śacīpateḥ Thus endowed with the finest virtues, the prince was esteemed among the people in all three worlds; with his qualities of forbearance he was the equal of the Earth, in intellect the equal of Bṛhaspati, and in valour the equal even of Śacī's lord (Indra). **2.1.27** tathā sarvaprajākāntaiḥ prītisaṃjananaiḥ pituḥ guṇair viruruce rāmo dīptaḥ sūrya ivāṃśubhiḥ Likewise Rāma shone with virtues that endeared him to all the people and gladdened his father, as the blazing sun shines with its rays. **2.1.28** tam evaṃvṛttasaṃpannam apradhṛṣya parākramam lokapālopamaṃ nātham akāmayata medinī Him, thus perfect in conduct and of unassailable prowess, a protector like the guardians of the worlds, the Earth desired for her lord. **2.1.29** etais tu bahubhir yuktaṃ guṇair anupamaiḥ sutam dṛṣṭvā daśaratho rājā cakre cintāṃ paraṃtapaḥ Seeing his son endowed with these many peerless virtues, King Daśaratha, scorcher of foes, fell to pondering. **2.1.30** eṣā hy asya parā prītir hṛdi saṃparivartate kadā nāma sutaṃ drakṣyāmy abhiṣiktam ahaṃ priyam For this supreme longing kept revolving in his heart: “When indeed shall I see my beloved son consecrated (as heir-apparent)?” **2.1.31** vṛddhikāmo hi lokasya sarvabhūtānukampanaḥ mattaḥ priyataro loke parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān “For he desires the prosperity of the world and is compassionate to all beings; he is dearer to the world than I am, like the rain-laden cloud (that all welcome). **2.1.32** yamaśakrasamo vīrye bṛhaspatisamo matau mahīdharasamo dhṛtyāṃ mattaś ca guṇavattaraḥ In valour equal to Yama and Śakra (Indra), in wisdom equal to Bṛhaspati, in steadfastness equal to a mountain, and richer in virtues than I am. **2.1.33** mahīm aham imāṃ kṛtsnām adhitiṣṭhantam ātmajam anena vayasā dṛṣṭvā yathā svargam avāpnuyām Having seen my son, at this (my present) age, ruling over this whole earth, may I thereby attain heaven.” **2.1.34** taṃ samīkṣya mahārājo yuktaṃ samuditair guṇaiḥ niścitya sacivaiḥ sārdhaṃ yuvarājam amanyata Beholding him endowed with these assembled virtues, the great king, after deliberating together with his counsellors, resolved upon (making him) heir-apparent. **2.1.35** nānānagaravāstavyān pṛthagjānapadān api samānināya medinyāḥ pradhānān pṛthivīpatiḥ The lord of the earth summoned together the chief men of the land — residents of the various cities and, separately, those of the country districts. **2.1.36** atha rājavitīrṇeṣu vividheṣv āsaneṣu ca rājānam evābhimukhā niṣedur niyatā nṛpāḥ Then, upon the various seats bestowed by the king, the (assembled) rulers, composed, took their places facing the king. **2.1.37** sa labdhamānair vinayānvitair nṛpaiḥ purālayair jānapadaiś ca mānavaiḥ upopaviṣṭair nṛpatir vṛto babhau sahasracakṣur bhagavān ivāmaraiḥ upopaviṣṭair nṛpatir vṛto babhau sahasracakṣur bhagavān ivāmaraiḥ Surrounded by those honoured and courteous rulers, and by the townsmen and country-folk seated close about him, the sovereign shone like the thousand-eyed lord (Indra) surrounded by the immortals.