Content

siktasammārjitapathāṅ patākōttama bhūṣitām.

vicitrakusumākīrṇāṅ nānāsragbhirvirājitām৷৷2.14.27৷৷

saṅhṛṣṭamanujōpētāṅ samṛddhavipaṇāpaṇām.

mahōtsavasamākīrṇāṅ rāghavārthē samutsukām৷৷2.14.28৷৷

candanāgarudhūpaiśca sarvataḥ pratidhūpitām.

tāṅ purīṅ samatikramya purandarapurōpamām৷৷.2.14.29৷৷

dadarśāntaḥpuraśrēṣṭhaṅ nānādvijagaṇāyutam.

paurajānapadākīrṇaṅ brāhmaṇairupaśōbhitam৷৷2.14.30৷৷

yajñavidbhi ssusampūrṇaṅ sadasyaiḥ paramadvijaiḥ.

Translation

siktasammārjitapathām streets swept and sprinkled with water, patākōttamabhūṣitām decorated with excellent flags, vicitrakusumākīrṇām strewn with flowers of variegated colours, nānāsragbhi: with various flower garlands, virājitām shining with, saṅhṛṣṭamanujōpētām filled with people who were rejoicing, samṛddhavipaṇāpaṇām stalls and markets abundantly filled with merchandise, mahōtsavasamākīrṇām full of great festivities, rāghavārthē for the sake of the scion of the Raghus (Rama), samutsukām curious, sarvataḥ everywhere, candanāgurudhūpaiḥ with sandal, and incense, pratidhūpitām made fragrant, purandarapurōpamām resembling Amaravati, the abode of Indra, tāṅ purīm that city, samatikramya having covered some distance (by walk ), nānādvijagaṇāyutam with many brahmins, paurajānapadākīrṇam thronged with citizens and villagers, brāhmaṇaiḥ with brahmins, upaśōbhitam graced by, yajñavidbhiḥ conversant with sacrificial rituals, sadasyaiḥ with priests, paramadvijaiḥ with eminent brahmins, sampūrṇam filled with, antaḥpuraśrēṣṭham the best of inner apartments, dadarśa beheld.

The streets in Ayodhya were swept and sprinkled with water, decorated with excellent flags, strewn with flowers of variegated colours and bedecked with various flower garlands. The streets were crowded with curious people rejoicing at the event. The stalls and markets were abundantly filled with merchandise.The city was full of great festivities. The people were curious to see Rama. Sandalwood and incense were burnt and fragrance pervaded in all the directions. The city resembled Amaravati, the abode of Indra.
Vasistha entered the city, covered some distance and beheld the best inner apartment. There he saw host of brahmins, citizens and villagers. The best of inner apartments was graced with brahmins who were experts in sacrificial rituals priests and eminent brahmins.
English Translation of Amruta Kataka


Kaikeyi taunts the king 2.14.1-10

“Having promised to give me boons and having agreed also to grant them, and instead of translating that promise into action, why do you toss on the floor, here? By keeping your promise alone you will be within the bounds of morality practised by your forefathers.
“Giving up one’s life is preferable to giving up one’s promise. It is truth that deserves to be saved more than one’s life.
“Truth is the supreme Brahman. By practising truth only, one attains the Brahman. Hence, follow truth. Truth is dharma, the law of righteousness. Preserve it by sending Rama into the forest. O noble king, if you reject my demand and forget your promise you will be the cause of the death of a woman. That sin also lies on your head! For, in your very presence, I am giving up my life.”


Dasaratha gets disturbed 2.14.11-18

Thus prompted by Kaikeyi, who had lost all scruples, the king could not throw away the fetters of truth, just as Bali could not throw away the noose of promise to give three feet of space to Vamana. Caught, as it were, between the two wheels of a cart, he got disturbed and felt disquiet, thinking that he was getting unrighteous. His eyes were veiled. His sight dimmed. Yet controlling himself somehow, he spoke to Kaikeyi: “I find it proper, just and righteous also to disown you whose hand I held in the presence of the sacred fire, consecrated with the holy marriage mantras. I also like to disown Bharata, the son to whom you have given birth”.


Sumantra awakens Dasaratha 2.14.43-54

Sumantra went to meet the king at his palace. It was his privilege to enter the palace without any permission as he was old in age, ripe in counselling and keen in promoting the interests of the Ikshvaku family. He roused the monarch with eulogy like the Moon awakening the earth or the Vedas, the self-born Brahma.