# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 3 — Rāma’s abhiṣeka announced *Daśaratha orders preparations and counsels Rāma on self-restraint, ministers and the welfare of his subjects* Portion: Preparations for Rāma’s abhiṣeka · Verses: 32 · Ref format: 2.3. ## Sequence - Delighted by the assembly's support, Daśaratha asks Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva to prepare the ceremony during the spring month of Caitra (3.1–5) - Sumantra fetches Rāma by chariot (3.6–13) - Rāma bows at his father's feet; Daśaratha embraces him and seats him before the assembled rulers (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 (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 (3.29–32). ## Verses **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: **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.” **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: **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.” **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. **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.” **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. **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, **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). **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. **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, **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.