# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 5 — Vasiṣṭha prepares the upavāsa *He establishes Rāma & Sītā’s fast with sacred formulas and reports to Daśaratha as Ayodhyā decorates its streets* Portion: Preparations for Rāma’s abhiṣeka · Verses: 24 · Ref format: 2.5. ## Sequence - Daśaratha sends Vasiṣṭha to supervise Rāma and Sītā's upavāsa (preparatory upavāsa) (5.1–2) - Rāma comes out to welcome the muni and personally helps him down from his chariot (5.3–9) - Vasiṣṭha establishes the upavāsa with the prescribed prayers and leaves; Rāma dismisses his friends and goes indoors (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 (5.14–20) - he reports to Daśaratha that the preparations are complete, and the King retires to his inner apartments (5.21–24). ## Verses **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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). **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.” **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. **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.