Sloka & Translation

[Vasistha advises Rama and Sita to undertake fast preparatory to coronation.]

sandiśya rāmaṅ nṛpati śśvōbhāvinyabhiṣēcanē.

purōhitaṅ samāhūya vaśiṣṭhamidamabravīt৷৷2.5.1৷৷


nṛpatiḥ the king, rāmam Rama, sandiśya having instructed, purōhitam priest, vaśiṣṭham Vasistha, samāhūya summoning, śvaḥ on the following day, bhāvini about to take place, abhiṣēcanē with regard to coronation, idam these words, abravīt spoke.

The king having instructed Rama summoned Vasistha, the priest and spoke to him about the coronation that was to take place on the following day
gacchōpavāsaṅ kākutsthaṅ kārayādya tapōdhana.

śrīyaśōrājyalābhāya vadhvā saha yatavratam৷৷2.5.2৷৷


tapōdhana O sage whose wealth is asceticism, gaccha go, adya today, yatavratam strictly observing vows, kākutstham son of the family of Kakutstha (Rama), śrīyaśōrājyalābhāya for securing prosperity, fame and kingdom, vadhvā saha along with my daughter-in-law, upavāsam kāraya advise him to undertake fast.

Could you, O sage, whose wealth is asceticism go to Rama engaged in strict observance of vows and advise him along with Sita, my daughter-in-law to undertake fast for securing prosperity, fame and kingdom.
tathēti ca sa rājānamuktvā vēdavidāṅ varaḥ.

svayaṅ vasiṣṭhō bhagavānyayau rāmanivēśanam৷৷2.5.3৷৷

upavāsayituṅ rāmaṅ mantravanmantrakōvidaḥ.

brāhmaṅ rathavaraṅ yuktamāsthāya sudṛḍhavrataḥ৷৷2.5.4৷৷


vēdavidām of those who know the Vedas, varaḥ best, mantrakōvidaḥ skilled in mantras, sudṛḍhavrataḥ one who is firm in his vows, bhagavān venerable, saḥ vasiṣṭhaḥ that Vasistha, tathā iti Be it so, rājānām king, uktvā having said, yuktam harnessed, brāhmam befitting a brahmin, rathavaram best of chariots, āsthāya having mounted, rāmam to Rama, mantravat in accompaniment with mantras, upavāsayitum to make him fast, svayam personally, rāmanivēśanam to the abode of Rama, yayau went.

Venerabel Vasistha, the best amongst the knowers of the Vedas, skilled in mantras and firm in his vows said to the king, 'Be it so.' Thereafter, mounted on the best of the chariots befitting a brahmin, with horses harnesed he proceeded personally to the abode of Rama to ask him to undertake a fast in accompaniment with mantras preceding the installation ceremony.
sa rāmabhavanaṅ prāpya pāṇḍurābhraghanaprabham.

tisraḥ kakṣyā rathēnaiva vivēśamunisattamaḥ৷৷2.5.5৷৷


saḥ munisattamaḥ that foremost of ascetics, pāṇḍurābhraghanaprabham shining like a mass of white clouds beaming with brightness, rāmabhavanam abode of Rama, prāpya having reached, tisraḥ three, kakṣyāḥ yards, rathēnaiva mounted on the chariot itself, vivēśa entered.

Having crossed the three courtyards in the chariot, that foremost of ascetics (Vasistha) entered Rams's abode, shining like a mass of white clouds.
tamāgatamṛṣiṅ rāmastvaranniva sasambhramaḥ.

mānayiṣyansamānārhaṅ niścakrāma nivēśanāt৷৷2.5.6৷৷


saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, mānārham worthy of honour, āgatam who arrived pale, tam ṛṣim to the sage (Vasistha), mānayiṣyan to pay respect, tvaranniva quickly, sasambhramaḥ in great excitement, nivēśanāt from his abode, niścakrāma came out.

Seeing the venerable sage(Vasitha) arrive, Rama quickly came out of his abode in great excitement to receive him with honour.
abhyētya tvaramāṇaśca rathābhyāśaṅ manīṣiṇaḥ.

tatō.vatārayāmāsa parigṛhya rathātsvayam৷৷2.5.7৷৷


manīṣiṇaḥ sagacious Vasistha's, rathābhyāśam near the chariot, tvaramāṇaḥ hastening steps, abhyētya having approached, tataḥ thereafter, rathāt from the chariot, svayam personally , parigṛhya holding(his hand), avatārayāmāsa got him alighted.

Hastening with rapid strides, Rama approached the chariot of the sagacious Vasistha and personally helped him alight from the chariot.
sa cainaṅ praśritaṅ dṛṣṭvā sambhāṣyābhiprasādya ca.

priyārhaṅ harṣayanrāmamityuvāca purōhitaḥ৷৷2.5.8৷৷


saḥ purōhitaḥ ca the family priest also, priyārham lovable words, praśritam humble, ēnam rāmam to this Rama, dṛṣṭvā having seen, saṅbhāṣya having addressed him, abhiprasādya ca and making him gratified, harṣayan causing him delight, iti thus, uvāca said.

The family priest Vasistha also, having gratified him by enquiring about his welfare, said thus to Rama, who was humble and lovable:
prasannastē pitā rāma yauvarājyamavāpsyasi.

upavāsaṅ bhavānadya karōtu saha sītayā৷৷2.5.9৷৷


rāma O Rama, tē with you, pitā (your) father, prasannaḥ well-disposed, yauvarājyam as heir-apparent, avāpsyasi will obtain, bhavān you, adya today, saha sītayā with Sita, upavāsaṅ karōtu undertake fast.

O Rama!, well-disposed towards you, your father will declare you heir-apparent. Do undertake fast today, along with Sita.
prātastvāmabhiṣēktā hi yauvarājyē narādhipaḥ.

pitā daśarathaḥ prītyā yayātiṅ nahuṣō yathā৷৷2.5.10৷৷


narādhipaḥ the king, pitā father, daśarathaḥ Dasaratha, prātaḥ early in the morning, tvām you, nahuṣaḥ Nahusha, yayātiṅ yathā like Yayati, prītyā with affection, yauvarājyē as heir-apparent, abhiṣēktā hi will coronate .

Your father, king Dasaratha, will be pleased to coronate you as heir-apparent early tomorrow morning as Nahusa did (to his son) Yayati.
ityuktvā sa tadā rāmamupavāsaṅ yatavratam.

mantravatkārayāmāsa vaidēhyā sahitaṅ muniḥ৷৷2.5.11৷৷


saḥ muniḥ that ascetic(Vasistha), iti thus, uktvā having spoken, yatavratam observing vow, vaidēhyā sahitam together with Sita, rāmam Rama, tadā then, mantravat in accompaniment with sacred hymns, upavāsam fast, kārayāmāsa made (to undertake).

The ascetic (Vasistha) having thus spoken to Rama made him undertake fast along with Sita in accompaniment with sacred hymns.
tatō yathāvadrāmēṇa sa rājñō gururarcitaḥ.

abhyanujñāpya kākutsthaṅ yayau rāmanivēśanāt৷৷2.5.12৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, rājñaḥ king's, guruḥ preceptor, saḥ he, (Vasistha), rāmēṇa by Rama, yathāvat duly, arcitaḥ honoured, kākutstham the descendant of Kakutstha (Rama), abhyanujñāpya having taken leave, rāmanivēśanāt from the abode of Rama, yayau departed.

Thereafter, Vasistha, preceptor of the king duly honoured by the descendant of Kakutstha (Rama) left his abode.
suhṛdbhistatra rāmō.pi sahāsīnaḥ priyaṅvadaiḥ.

sabhājitō vivēśā.tha tānanujñāpya sarvaśaḥ৷৷2.5.13৷৷


rāmō.pi Rama also, priyaṅvadaiḥ talking affectionately, suhṛdbhi: saha in the company of friends, tatra there, āsīnaḥ being seated, atha thereafter, sabhājitaḥ having been honoured, sarvaśaḥ in all ways, tān them, anujñāpya having taken leave, vivēśa entered (his apartment).

Rama also sat for a while in the company of his sweet-tongued friends and duly honoured by them in every way took leave of them and entered his apartment.
hṛṣṭanārīnarayutaṅ rāmavēśma tadā babhau.

yathā mattadvijagaṇaṅ praphullanalinaṅ saraḥ৷৷2.5.14৷৷


tadā then, hṛṣṭanārīnarayutam filled with cheerful men and women, rāmavēśma Rama's residence, mattadvijagaṇam multitude of intoxicated birds, praphullanalinam with full-blown lotuses, saraḥ yathā
like a lake, babhau was splendid.

The residence of Rama, full of cheerful men and women, looked splendid like a lake with full-blown lotuses flocked by multitudes of intoxicated birds.
sa rājabhavanaprakhyāttasmādrāmanivēśānāt.

nirgatya dadṛśē mārgaṅ vasiṣṭhō janasaṅvṛtam৷৷2.5.15৷৷


saḥ vasiṣṭhaḥ that Vasistha, rājabhavanaprakhyāt resembling a royal palace, tasmāt from that, rāmanivēśanāt abode of Rama, nirgatya having emerged, janasaṅvṛtam filled with people, mārgam highway, dadṛśē beheld.

Vasistha thereafter emerged from the abode of Rama resembling a royal palace and beheld the highways filled with people.
bṛndabṛndairayōdhyāyāṅ rājamārgāssamantataḥ.

babhūvurabhisambādhāḥ kutūhalajanairvṛtāḥ৷৷2.5.16৷৷


ayōdhyāyām in the city of Ayodhya, rājamārgāḥ royal highways, samantataḥ on all sides, bṛndabṛndaiḥ crowds of, kutūhalajanaiḥ by curious people, vṛtāḥ surrounded, abhisambādhāḥ babhūvu: were jammed.

The royal highways in the city of Ayodhya were jammed on all sides with groups of curious people.
janabṛndōrmisaṅgharṣaharṣasvanavatastadā.

babhūva rājamārgasya sāgarasyēva nisvanaḥ৷৷2.5.17৷৷


tadā then, janabṛndōrmisaṅgharṣaharṣasvanavataḥ the exultation of the multitudes resembled the roar of the clashing of waves, rājamārgasya of the highways, nisvanaḥ sound, sāgarasyēva like that of the roaring sea, babhūva emerged.

The highways resembled the sea and the exultation of the multitudes, the roar that emanated from the clashing of waves.
siktasammṛṣṭarathyā hi tadaharvanamālinī.

āsīdayōdhyānagarī samucchritagṛhadhvajā৷৷2.5.18৷৷


tadahaḥ on that day, ayōdhyānagarī the city of Ayodhya, siktasammṛṣṭarathyā hi with thoroughfares sprinkled with water and swept, vanamālinī surrounded with gardens, samucchritagṛhadhvajā āsīt banners raised high on the houses.

On that day, the thoroughfares of the city of Ayodhya, surrounded with (pleasure) gardens, were sprinkled with water and swept. The flags (on the top) of the houses were raised high.
tadā hyayōdhyānilaya ssastrībālābalō janaḥ.

rāmābhiṣēkamākāṅkṣannākāṅkṣadudayaṅ ravēḥ৷৷2.5.19৷৷


tadā then, sastrībālābalaḥ with women, children, and weak, old persons, ayōdhyānilayaḥ living
in Ayodhya, janaḥ people, rāmābhiṣēkam coronation of Rama, ākāṅkṣān desiring, ravē: udayam sunrise, ākāṅkṣat eagerly desired.

Then all the people living in Ayodhya including women, children and aged alike wishing to see the coronation of Rama eagerly waited for the sunrise.
prajālaṅkārabhūtaṅ ca janasyānandavardhanam.

utsukō.bhūjjanō draṣṭuṅ tamayōdhyāmahōtsavam৷৷2.5.20৷৷


prajālaṅkārabhūtam like an ornament for people, janasya for men, ānandavardhanam enhancing joy, tam ayōdhyāmahōtsavam that great festival of Ayodhya, draṣṭum to witness, janaḥ men, utsukaḥ abhūt became anxious.

People were anxious to witness that great festival of Ayodhya which was to them
(precious) like an ornament and a source of immense joy.
ēvaṅ tajjanasambādhaṅ rājamārgaṅ purōhitaḥ.

vyūhanniva janaughaṅ taṅ śanai rājakulaṅ yayau৷৷2.5.21৷৷


purōhitaḥ priest (Vasistha), ēvam in this way, janasambādham thronged with men, taṅ rājamārgam that highway, taṅ janaugham crowds of men, vyūhanniva like dividing (into two tracts), śanaiḥ slowly, rājakulam royal palace, yayau went.

The priest (Vasistha), beholding the overcrowded highway forced his passage through the crowds of men dividing them into two tracts and slowly entered the royal palace.
sitābhraśikharaprakhyaṅ prāsādamadhiruhya saḥ.

samīyāya narēndrēṇa śakrēṇēva bṛhaspatiḥ৷৷2.5.22৷৷


saḥ he, sitābhraśikharaprakhyam looking like the peak of a mountain covered with white clouds, prāsādam royal palace, adhiruhya having ascended, bṛhaspatiḥ Brihaspati, śakrēṇēva like Indra,
narēndrēṇa with king, samīyāya met.

Having ascended the royal palace resembling the peak of a mountain covered with white clouds, Vasistha approached the king like Brihaspati meeting Indra.
tamāgatamabhiprēkṣya hitvā rājāsanaṅ nṛpaḥ.

papraccha sa ca tasmai tatkṛtamityabhyavēdayat৷৷2.5.23৷৷


nṛpaḥ king, āgatam who had arrived, tam him, abhiprēkṣya having seen, rājāsanam the throne, hitvā after leaving, papraccha enquired, saḥ ca he also, tat that, kṛtam performed, iti thus, tasmai him, abhyavēdayat informed.

On seeing Vasistha the king descended from the throne and enquired whether he had performed the mission to which the ascetic replied affirmatively.
caiva tadā tulyaṅ sahāsīnāssabhāsadaḥ.

āsanēbhyassamuttasthuḥ pūjayantaḥ purōhitam৷৷2.5.24৷৷


tadā then, saha āsīnāḥ seated with him, sabhāsadaḥ courtiers, tēna tulyam ēva in the same way as he (Dasaratha) did, purōhitam to the priest, pūjayantaḥ to pay obeisance, āsanēbhyaḥ from their seats, samuttasthuḥ rose.

All those present in the assembly with him (the king) also got up from their seats as he (Dasaratha) did and paid their obeisance to Vasistha.
guruṇā tvabhyanujñātō manujaughaṅ visṛjya tam.

vivēśāntaḥ puraṅ rājā siṅhō giriguhāmiva৷৷2.5.25৷৷


rājā the king, guruṇā by the preceptor, abhyanujñātaḥ having been permitted, tam manujaugham that assembly of men, visṛjya having disposed, siṅhaḥ lion, giriguhāmiva like the cave of a mountain, antaḥpuram inner apartment, vivēśa entered.

The king then, dully permitted by the preceptor, disposed the assembly of men and stepped into his inner apartment, like a lion entering the cave of a mountain.
tadagyravēṣapramadājanākulaṅ

mahēndravēśmapratimaṅ nivēśanam.

vidīpayaṅścāru vivēśa pārthiva

śśaśīva tārāgaṇasaṅkulaṅ nabhaḥ৷৷2.5.26৷৷


pārthivaḥ the king, agyravēṣapramadājanākulam thronged with excellently attired women, mahēndravēśmapratimam equal to the palace of Mahendra, taṅ nivēśanam that inner apartment, vidīpayan illumining, cāru beautiful, tārāgaṇasaṅkulam crowded with stars, nabhaḥ sky, śaśīva like Moon, vivēśa entered.

The king entered the inner apartment thronged with excellently attired women which looked like the palace of Mahendra. He resembled the beautiful Moon that illuminates the sky crowded with stars.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fifth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.