Sloka & Translation

[Rama and Sita observe the prescribed rites--rejoiced citizens of Ayodhya express their gratitude to the king--people from villages arrive in multitudes.]

gatē purōhitē rāmaḥ snātō niyatamānasaḥ.

saha patnyā viśālākṣyā nārāyaṇamupāgamat৷৷2.6.1৷৷


purōhitē the family priest, gatē (sati) having gone, rāmaḥ Rama, snātaḥ bathed, niyatamānasaḥ with mind under control, viśālākṣyā large-eyed (large eyes are marks of beauty), patnyā saha with (his) wife, nārāyaṇam to (lord) Narayana, upāgamat approached.

With the family priest (Vasistha) gone, Rama had his bath, and with his mind under control came to Lord Narayana along with his large-eyed consort, Sita. (with an intention to worship him)
pragṛhya śirasā pātrīṅ haviṣō vidhivattadā.

mahatē daivatāyājyaṅ juhāva jvalitē.nalē৷৷2.6.2৷৷


tadā then, haviṣaḥ of havis (clarified butter and other oblations), pātrīm a small vessel where in offerings are put, vidhivat in accordance with ritual practices, śirasā on the head, pragṛhya having held, jvalitēnalē in flaming (sacred) fire, mahatē great, daivatāya for great
divinity (Visnu), ājyam clarified butter, juhāva offered oblations.

Then holding the vessel containing havis on his head, he offered the oblations of clarified butter into the sacred fire for Visnu in accordance with ritual practices.
śēṣaṅ ca haviṣastasya prāśyāśāsyātmanaḥ priyam.

dhyāyannārāyaṇaṅ dēvaṅ svāstīrṇē kuśasaṅstarē৷৷2.6.3৷৷

vāgyata ssaha vaidēhyā bhūtvā niyatamānasaḥ.

śrīmatyāyatanē viṣṇō śśiśyē naravarātmajaḥ৷৷2.6.4৷৷


naravarātmajaḥ son of the king (Rama), ātmanaḥ of his own, priyam welfare, āśāsya seeking, tasya haviṣaḥ of that havis, śēṣaṅ the remainder, prāśya ca having partaken, dēvam nārāyaṇam God Narayana, dhyāyan meditating upon, vāgyataḥ bhūtvā adopting silence, niyatamānasaḥ with restrained mind, viṣṇōḥ Visnu's, śrīmati (at the) auspicious, āyatanē in the temple, svāstīrṇē with well-spread, kuśasaṅstarē in the bed of kusha grass, vaidēhyā saha along with Vaidehi (Sita), śiśyē slept.

The son of the king (Rama) partook the remainder of the havis seeking his own welfare. With a restrained mind and a vow of silence, he meditated upon Lord Narayana and slept along with Vaidehi on a well-spread bed of kusha grass in the auspicious temple of lord Visnu.
ēkayāmāvaśiṣṭāyāṅ rātryāṅ prativibuddhya saḥ.

alaṅkāravidhiṅ kṛtsnaṅ kārayāmāsa vēśmanaḥ৷৷2.6.5৷৷


saḥ he, rātryām at night, ēkayāmāvaśiṣṭāyām with one yama (measure of time equivalent to four hours) left, prativibuddhya having awakened, vēśmanaḥ dwelling's, kṛtsnam entire, alaṅkāravidhim decoration, kārayāmāsa got it done.

He got up (Rama) with one yama (three hours) of the night still left, and had his entire residence decorated.
tatra śrṛṇvansukhā vāca ssūtamāgadhavandinām.

pūrvāṅ sadhyāmupāsīnō jajāpa yatamānasaḥ৷৷2.6.6৷৷


tatra there (in the last watch of the night), sūtamāgadhavandinām of bards and panegyrists, sukhāḥ pleasant, vācaḥ words, śrṛṇvan listening, pūrvāṅ sandhyām early morning rites, upāsīnaḥ had attended, yatamānasaḥ with controlled mind, jajāpa chanted (Gayatri).

Then (in the last watch of the night) hearing the pleasant words of bards and panegyrists he attended to early morning rites and intoned Gayatri with a
concentrated mind.
tuṣṭāva praṇataścaiva śirasā madhusūdanam.

vimalakṣaumasaṅvītō vācayāmāsa sa dvijān৷৷2.6.7৷৷


śirasā with head, praṇata: bowed low, madhusūdanam Lord Visnu, tuṣṭāva extoled, vimalakṣaumasaṅvītaḥ dressed in spotless silk garments, dvijān to brahmins, vācayāmāsa got the purificatory mantras recited.

Clad in spotless silk garments, he extoled Lord Madhusudana (Visnu) with his head bowed low. He listened to the purificatory mantras recited by brahmins.
tēṣāṅ puṇyāhaghōṣō.tha gambhīramadhurastadā.

ayōdhyāṅ pūrayāmāsa tūryaghōṣānunāditaḥ৷৷2.6.8৷৷


atha then, tēṣām their, gambhīramadhuraḥ deep and sweet, puṇyāhaghōṣaḥ proclamations of 'this is an auspicious day', tūryaghōṣānunāditaḥ reverberating with the sounds of trumpets, tadā then, ayōdhyām (the city of) Ayodhya, pūrayāmāsa filled.

And then the deep and sweet proclamations of 'This is an auspicious day' mingled with the sounds of trumpets reverberated (the city of) Ayodhya.
kṛtōpavāsaṅ tu tadā vaidēhyā saha rāghavam.

ayōdhyānilayaśśrutvā sarvaḥ pramuditō janaḥ৷৷2.6.9৷৷


tadā then, rāghavam to the scion of the Raghus (Rama), vaidēhyā saha along with the princess of Videha, (Sita), kṛtōpavāsam had undertaken the fast, śrutvā having heard, ayōdhyānilayaḥ residents of Ayodhya, sarvaḥ all, janaḥ men, pramuditaḥ rejoiced.

The residents of Ayodhya were happy to hear that the scion of the Raghus (Rama) along with princess of Videha (Sita) had undertaken the fast.
tataḥ paurajanassarvaśśrutvā rāmābhiṣēcanam.

prabhātāṅ rajanīṅ dṛṣṭvā cakrē śōbhayituṅ purīm৷৷2.6.10৷৷


tataḥ afterwards, sarvaḥ all, paurajanaḥ citizens, rāmābhiṣēcanam consecration of Rama, śrutvā having heard, rajanīm the night, prabhātām brightened into dawn, dṛṣṭvā having seen, purīm the city, śōbhayitum to decorate, cakrē made (commenced).

Having heard about the coronation of Rama, all the citizens began to decorate the city soon after daybreak.
sitābhraśikharābhēṣu dēvatāyatanēṣu ca.

catuṣpathēṣu rathyāsu caityēṣvaṭṭālakēṣu ca৷৷2.6.11৷৷

nānāpaṇyasamṛddhēṣu vaṇijāmāpaṇēṣu ca.

kuṭumbināṅ samṛddhēṣu śrīmatsu bhavanēṣu ca৷৷2.6.12৷৷

sabhāsu caiva sarvāsu vṛkṣēṣvālakṣitēṣu ca.

dhvajā ssamucchritāścitrāḥ patākāścābhavaṅstadā৷৷2.6.13৷৷


sitābhraśikharābhēṣu among those bright peaks wreathed by a mass of white clouds,
dēvatāyatanēṣu in the temples, catuṣpathēṣu at the cross-roads, rathyāsu on the thoroughfares, caityēṣu on the tall trees dotting the avenues, aṭṭālakēṣu ca on the towers too, nānāpaṇyasamṛddhēṣu abounding in various kinds of merchandise, vaṇijām of merchants, āpaṇēṣu ca in the stalls also, kuṭumbinām of householders, samṛddhēṣu in prosperous (places), śrīmatsu in graceful, bhavanēṣu ca in the houses, sarvāsu in all, sabhāsu public halls, ālakṣitēṣu seen from distances, vṛkṣēṣu on the trees, tadā then, dhvajāḥ banners, citrāḥ varying colours, patākāḥ ca flags, too, samucchricitāḥ were erected abhavan became.

Banners of varying colours and flags were raised on the temples looking resplendent like peaks wreathed by a mass of white clouds, at the cross-roads, on the thoroughfares, on the trees standing on avenues, on the towers and stalls of the merchants abounding in various kinds of merchandise, on prosperous and graceful
houses of house-holders, in all public halls and on trees looking tall from a distance.
naṭanartakasaṅghānāṅ gāyakānāṅ ca gāyatām.

manaḥ karṇasukhā vāca śśuśṛvuśca tatastataḥ৷৷2.6.14৷৷


tatastataḥ here and there, naṭanartakasaṅghānām of troupes of actors and dancers, gāyatām of singers, gāyakānāṅ ca also of songsters, manaḥ karṇasukhāḥ pleasing to the mind and ears, vācaḥ words, śuśruvuḥ heard.

Troupes of actors and dancers entertained the people with songs pleasing to the mind and ears and their utterances were heard here and there.
rāmābhiṣēkayuktāśca kathāścakrurmithō janāḥ.

rāmābhiṣēkē samprāptē catvarēṣu gṛhēṣu ca৷৷2.6.15৷৷


rāmābhiṣēkē as the coronation of Rama, saṅprāptē approached, janā: the people, catvarēṣu at the public squares, gṛhēṣu ca in the private houses, mithaḥ with one another, rāmābhiṣēkayuktāḥ concerning Rama's coronation, kathāḥ talk, cakruḥ made.

As the time for Rama's coronation was approaching, men in public squares and in private houses talked with one another about the consecration of Rama.
bālā api krīḍamānā gṛhadvārēṣu saṅghaśaḥ.

rāmābhiṣavasaṅyuktāścakrurēvaṅ mithaḥ kathāḥ৷৷2.6.16৷৷


ēvam thus, gṛhadvārēṣu in the doorways, saṅghaśaḥ in groups, krīḍamānāḥ playing, bālāḥ api children also, mithaḥ with each other, rāmābhiṣavasaṅyuktāḥ relating to the coronation of Rama, kathāḥ stories, cakruḥ made.

Similarly children playing in groups in front of the houses also related to each other stories regarding the coronation of Rama.
kṛtapuṣpōpahāraśca dhūpagandhādhivāsitaḥ.

rājamārgaḥ kṛtaḥ śrīmānpaurai rāmābhiṣēcanē৷৷2.6.17৷৷


rāmābhiṣēcanē on the occasion of Rama's coronation, pauraiḥ by citizens, rājamārgaḥ highways, kṛtapuṣpōpahāraśca strewn with flowers , dhūpagandhādhivāsitaḥ fragrant with incense, śrīmān glorious, kṛtaḥ made.

On the occasion of Rama's coronation the highway, strewn with flowers and rendered fragrant with the burning of incense by the citizens looked glorious.
prakāśakaraṇārthaṅ ca niśāgamanaśaṅkayā.

dīpavṛkṣāṅ stathā cakruranu rathyāsu sarvaśaḥ৷৷2.6.18৷৷


tathā so also, anu connected with if, niśāgamanaśaṅkayā lest night should fall, prakāśakaraṇārtham to light it up, rathyāsu in the streets, sarvaśaḥ all over, dīpavṛkṣān lamps in the shape of trees, cakruḥ improvised.

In the same way lest night should fall (by the time the installation ceremony was completed), the streets were provided with lamps in the shape of trees to light them up.
alaṅkāraṅ purasyaivaṅ kṛtvā tatpuravāsinaḥ.

ākāṅkṣamāṇā rāmasya yauvarājyābhiṣēcanam৷৷2.6.19৷৷

samētya saṅghaśassarvē catvarēṣu sabhāsu ca.

kathayantō mithastatra praśaśaṅsurjanādhipam৷৷2.6.20৷৷


tatpuravāsinaḥ inhabitants of the city, sarvē all of them, ēvam thus, purasya city's, alaṅkāram decoration, kṛtvā having made, rāmasya Rama's, yauvarājyābhiṣēcanam coronation as heir-apparent, ākāṅkṣamāṇāḥ eagerly desiring, catvarēṣu at the public squares, sabhāsu ca in the assembly halls, saṅghaśaḥ in groups, samētya having assembled, tatra there, mithaḥ mutually,
kathayantaḥ conversing, janādhipam to the lord of men (Dasaratha), praśaśaṅsuḥ praised.

Thus the residents of Ayodhya decorated the city and eagerly waited for Rama's cornonation as heir-apparent. Gathered in groups at public squares and in the assembly halls they conversed among themselves about the event, praising Dasaratha, the lord among men.
ahō mahātmā rājā.yamikṣvākukulanandanaḥ.

jñātvā yō vṛddhamātmānaṅ rāmaṅ rājyē.bhiṣēkṣyati৷৷2.6.21৷৷


yaḥ that king, ātmānam himself, vṛddham aged, jñātvā having realised, rāmam to Rama, rājyē in the kingdom, abhiṣēkṣyati is going to install, ayam this, ikṣvākukulanandanaḥ causing delight to the Ikshvaku race, rājā king , mahātmā high-souled, ahō oh!.

Oh! having realised that he himself has grown old the high-souled king Dasaratha the veritable delight to the Ikshvaku race, is going to coronate Rama in the kingdom.
sarvēpyanugṛhītā smō yannō rāmō mahīpatiḥ.

cirāya bhavitā gōptā dṛṣṭalōkaparāvaraḥ৷৷2.6.22৷৷


yat indeed, dṛṣṭalōkaparāvaraḥ who has seen the world's high and low, rāmaḥ Rama, mahīpatiḥ as king, cirāya for a long time, naḥ for us, gōptā protector, bhavitā shall become, sarvē.pi all of us, anugṛhītāḥ sma are favoured.

All of us are fortunate indeed that Rama who knows the world's high and low shall be our king, protector for a long time.
anuddhatamanāḥ vidvāndharmātmā bhrātṛvatsalaḥ.

yathā ca bhrātṛṣu snigdhastathā.smāsvapi rāghavaḥ৷৷2.6.23৷৷


anuddhatamanāḥ one who is not arrogant, vidvān learned, dharmātmā a pious soul, bhrātṛvatsalaḥ affectionate towards his brothers, rāghavaḥ scion of the Raghus (Rama), bhrātṛṣu in brothers,
yathā like, snigdhaḥ friendly, asmāsvapi even in us, tathā in that manner.

This scion of the Raghus (Rama) is free from arrogance, is learned, righteous and affectionate towards his brothers as much as towards us.
ciraṅ jīvatu dharmātmā rājā daśarathō.naghaḥ.

yatprasādōnabhiṣiktaṅ tu rāmaṅ drakṣyāmahē vayam৷৷2.6.24৷৷


yatprasādēna by whose grace, abhiṣiktam having been coronated, rāmam of Rama, drakṣyāmahē we are beholding, dharmātmā virtuous, anaghaḥ sinless, daśarathaḥ rājā king Dasaratha, ciram for long, jīvatu let live.

May the virtuous and sinless king Dasaratha live long by whose grace we are beholding (going to behold) Rama's coronation.
ēvaṅvidhaṅ kathayatāṅ paurāṇāṅ śuśruvu stadā.

digbhyōpi śrutavṛttāntā: prāptā jānapadā janāḥ৷৷2.6.25৷৷


śrutavṛttāntāḥ having heard the story, digbhyaḥ api from all quarters also, prāptāḥ had arrived, jānapadāḥ janāḥ village folk, tadā then, ēvaṅ vidham in this manner, paurāṇām of citizens, kathayatām while conversing, śuśruvuḥ heard.

Having heard about the coronation of Rama, villagers arrived from all directions and
listened to the citizens conversing in this manner.
tē tu digbhyaḥ purīṅ prāptā draṣṭuṅ rāmābhiṣēcanam.

rāmasya pūrayāmāsuḥ purīṅ jānapadā janāḥ৷৷2.6.26৷৷


rāmābhiṣēcanam coronation of Rama, draṣṭum to behold, digbhyaḥ from different directions, puram the city, prāptāḥ have arrived, tē those, jānapadāḥ villagers, janāḥ men, rāmasya Rama's, purīm city, pūrayāmāsuḥ filled.

The city was filled with villagers coming from different directions to behold Rama's coronation.
janaughaistairvisarpadbhiḥ śuśruvē tatra nisvanaḥ.

parvasūdīrṇavēgasya sāgarasyēva nisvanaḥ৷৷2.6.27৷৷


visarpadbhi: by those moving to and fro, taiḥ janaughaiḥ by those multitudes of men, tatra there, nisvanaḥ noise, parvasu on the full and new moon days, udīrṇavēgasya with violent speed, sāgarasya of the ocean, nisvanaḥ iva like the sound, śuśruvē was heard.

The multitudes of men moving to and fro gave rise to a noise like the roar of the ocean enhanced by the violent speed (of the wind) on the full and new moon days.
tatastadindrakṣayasannibhaṅ puraṅ

didṛkṣubhirjānapadairupāgataiḥ.

samantata ssasvanamākulaṅ babhau

samudrayādōbhirivārṇavōdakam৷৷2.6.28৷৷


didṛkṣubhiḥ wishing to see, upāgataiḥ arrived, jānapadaiḥ villagers, samantataḥ every side, ākulam crowded, sasvanam with sounds, indrakṣayasannibham resembling the abode of Indra, tat that, puram city, samudrayādōbhiḥ with aquatic animals, arṇavōdakam iva like water of the ocean, babhau shone.

The city (of Ayodhya), resembling the abode of Indra, (Amaravati) crowded with villagers from all over wishing to witness it (the coronation of Rama), grew noisy and sparkled like the water of the ocean teeming with aquatic animals.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ṣaṣṭhassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the sixth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.