अयोध्या-काण्ड > वशिष्ठ द्वारा सीता राम जी को उपवास की दीक्षा देना
On the wish of King Dasaratha, Vasishta goes to Rama's palace and asks him to
perform fast that night along with Seetha. Vasishta returns to Dasaratha's palace and informs him
about this. On the way to the king's palace Vasishta observes the festive atmosphere in Ayodhya
anticipating Rama's coronation the next day.
सन्दिश्य रामं नृपतिः श्वोभाविन्यभिषेचने |
पुरोहितं समाहूय वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत् || २-५-१
पुरोहितं समाहूय वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत् || २-५-१
After Rama left, king Dasaratha called for his family priest Vasishta and spoke to
him as follows about the ensuing anointment ceremony of the next day.
गच्छोपवासं काकुत्थ्सं कारयाद्य तपोधन |
श्रीयशोराज्यलाभाय वध्वा सह यतव्रतम् || २-५-२
श्रीयशोराज्यलाभाय वध्वा सह यतव्रतम् || २-५-२
"O, great sage Vasishta! Please go to the avowed Rama and Seetha today to make them
perform fasting for obtaining prosperity, glory and sovereignty."
तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः |
स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान् ययौ रामनिवेशनम् || २-५-३
उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः |
ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृधव्रतः || २-५-४
स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान् ययौ रामनिवेशनम् || २-५-३
उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः |
ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृधव्रतः || २-५-४
Vasista, who is the best of knowers of Veda, who is expert in mantras, who is firm
in austerities and who is divine, said to Dasaratha : "I agree to it" and personally went to Rama's
house on a chariot which was ready and quite suitable for a Brahman; so as to advise Rama to
undertake a fast (with mantras) performed by Rama, a knower of mantras.
स रामभवनं प्रप्य पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्रभम् |
तिस्रः कक्ष्या र्थेनैव विवेश मुनिसत्तमः || २-५-५
तिस्रः कक्ष्या र्थेनैव विवेश मुनिसत्तमः || २-५-५
That great sage reached Rama's house, which was radiant like a dense white cloud and
entered the three gateways of the house by the chariot itself.
तमागतमृषिं रामस्त्वरन्निव ससंभ्रमः |
मानयिष्यन् स मानार्हं निश्चक्राम निवेशनात् || २-५-६
मानयिष्यन् स मानार्हं निश्चक्राम निवेशनात् || २-५-६
To respect the honorable sage, who arrived, Rama came quickly and hurriedly out of
the house.
अभ्येत्य त्वरमाणश्च रथाभ्याशं मनीषिणः |
ततोऽवतारयामास परिगृह्य रथात्स्वयम् || २-५-७
ततोऽवतारयामास परिगृह्य रथात्स्वयम् || २-५-७
Rama quickly got nearer to Vasishta's chariot and personally helped him to alight
from the chariot.
सचैनं प्रश्रितं दृष्ट्वा सं भाष्याभिप्रसाद्य च |
प्रियार्हं हर्षयन् राममित्युवाच पुरोहितः || २-५-८
प्रियार्हं हर्षयन् राममित्युवाच पुरोहितः || २-५-८
That family priest Vasishta seeing that lovable and humble Rama, spoke the following
words, bringing cheerfulness and happiness to him:
प्रसन्नस्ते पिता राम यौवराज्यमवाप्स्यसि |
उपवासं भवानद्य करोतु सह सीतया || २-५-९
उपवासं भवानद्य करोतु सह सीतया || २-५-९
"O, Rama! Your father is delighted with you. You will be getting the princely
kingdom. Hence, you and Seetha perform fasting today."
प्रातस्त्वामभिषेक्ता हि यौवराज्ये नराधिपः |
पिता दशरथः प्रीत्या ययातिं नहुषो यथा || २-५-१०
पिता दशरथः प्रीत्या ययातिं नहुषो यथा || २-५-१०
"Your father; King Dasaratha is anointing you affectionately for the princely
kingdom tomorrow at dawn; even as king Nahusha has done to Yayati".
इत्युक्त्वा स तदा राम मुपवासं यतव्रतम् |
मन्त्रवत् कारयामास वैदेह्या सहितं मुनिः || २-५-११
मन्त्रवत् कारयामास वैदेह्या सहितं मुनिः || २-५-११
Vasistha thus spoke to Rama and enjoined him to undertake a vow of fasting together
with Seetha, in the accompaniment of mantras.
ततो यथावद्रामेण स राज्ञो गुरुरर्चितः |
अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य काकुत्थ्सं ययौ रामनिवेशनात् || २-५-१२
अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य काकुत्थ्सं ययौ रामनिवेशनात् || २-५-१२
Thereafter, Rama worshipped the royal priest Vasistha suitably. Vasistha then got
Rama's permission and left his house.
सुहृद्भिस्तत्र रामोऽपि सहासीनः प्रियंवदैः |
सभाजितो विवेशाथ ताननुज्ञाप्य सर्वशः || २-५-१३
सभाजितो विवेशाथ ताननुज्ञाप्य सर्वशः || २-५-१३
Rama spent some time by delightedly talking with friends and having been
congratulated by them in various ways went into his palace after taking leave of them.
हृष्टनारीनरयुतं रामवेश्म तदा बबौ |
यथा मत्तद्विजगणं प्रपुल्लनलिनं सरः || २-५-१४
यथा मत्तद्विजगणं प्रपुल्लनलिनं सरः || २-५-१४
Then, Rama's house was shining, as brilliantly with delighted men and women, as a
lake filled with opened lotuses and visited by innumerable happy birds.
स राजभवनप्रख्यात्तस्माद्रामनिवेशनात् |
निर्गत्य ददृशे मार्गं वसिष्ठो जनसंवृतम् || २-५-१५
निर्गत्य ददृशे मार्गं वसिष्ठो जनसंवृतम् || २-५-१५
Vasishta, leaving Rama's house, which seemed like the royal palace, saw the way
filled with people.
बृन्दबृन्दैरयोध्यायां राजमार्गाः समन्ततः |
बभूवुरभिसंबाधाः कुतूहलजनैर्वृताः || २-५-१६
बभूवुरभिसंबाधाः कुतूहलजनैर्वृताः || २-५-१६
All the royal highways in the city of Ayodhya were filled with groups and groups of
delighted people and became congested.
जनबृन्दोर्मिसंघर्षहर्षस्वनवतस्तदा |
बभूव राजमार्गस्य सागरस्येव निस्वनः || २-५-१७
बभूव राजमार्गस्य सागरस्येव निस्वनः || २-५-१७
Then, on the royal road, the resonance created by the rush of the people, moving
hither and thither like waves, combined with their rejoicing, resounded like the roar of an
ocean.
सिक्तसंमृष्टरथ्या हि तदहर्वनमालिनी |
आसीदयोध्या नगरी समुच्छ्रितगृहध्वजा || २-५-१८
आसीदयोध्या नगरी समुच्छ्रितगृहध्वजा || २-५-१८
On that day, in the city of Ayodhya, all the roads were cleaned and sprinkled with
water. There were rows of trees on both sides of the roads and flags hoisted on houses.
तदा ह्ययोध्यानिलयः सस्त्रीबालाबलो जनः |
रामाभिषेकमाकाञ्क्षन्नाकाण्क्षदुदयं रवेः | २-५-१९
रामाभिषेकमाकाञ्क्षन्नाकाण्क्षदुदयं रवेः | २-५-१९
Then, the people of Ayodhya including children, women and the old-aged were waiting
for sunrise, wishing the anointment ceremony of Rama to happen.
प्रजालङ्कारभूतं च जनस्यानन्दवर्धनम् |
उत्सुकोऽभूज्जनो द्रष्टुं तमयोध्यामहोत्सवम् || २-५-२०
उत्सुकोऽभूज्जनो द्रष्टुं तमयोध्यामहोत्सवम् || २-५-२०
In Ayodhya, people were enthusiastic to see the great public function, which was
decorative to the community and which would bring forward an increased joy.
एवं तं जनसंबाधं राजमार्गं पुरोहितः |
व्यूहन्निव जनौघं तं शनैराजकुलं ययौ || २-५-२१
व्यूहन्निव जनौघं तं शनैराजकुलं ययौ || २-५-२१
Vasishta, thus seeing the king's way being overcrowded with people, reached the
royal palace slowly by forcing a passage through that crowd.
सिताभ्रशिखरप्रख्यं प्रासादमधिरुह्य सः |
समीयाय नरेन्द्रेण शक्रेणेव बृहस्पतिः || २-५-२२
समीयाय नरेन्द्रेण शक्रेणेव बृहस्पतिः || २-५-२२
He walked up the royal palace, which was akin to the top of a mountain enclosed by a
white cloud and met king Dasaratha in the manner Brihaspati met Devendra.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य हित्वा राजासनं नृपः |
पप्रच्छ स च तस्मै तत्कृतमित्यभ्यवेदयत् || २-५-२३
पप्रच्छ स च तस्मै तत्कृतमित्यभ्यवेदयत् || २-५-२३
Seeing Vasistha had returned, King Dasaratha alighted from his throne and asked him
with regard to his mission. Vasistha informed him that it was accomplished.
तेन चैव तदा तुल्यं सहासीनाः सभासदः |
आसनेभ्यः समुत्तस्थुः पूजयन्तः पुरोहितम् || २-५-२४
आसनेभ्यः समुत्तस्थुः पूजयन्तः पुरोहितम् || २-५-२४
The members of assembly who were sitting along with the king till then, raised in
obeisance to Vasishta from their seats, following the example of the king.
गुरुणा त्वभ्यनुज्ञातो मनिजौघं विसृज्य तम् |
विवेशान्तःपुरं राजा सिंहो गिरिगुहामिव || २-५-२५
विवेशान्तःपुरं राजा सिंहो गिरिगुहामिव || २-५-२५
King Dasaratha, after obtaining permission from Vasishta, left that assembly of men
and entered his palace as a lion enters a mountain cave.
तमग्र्यवेष्प्रमदाजनाकुलं |
महेन्द्रवेश्मप्रतिमं निवेशनम् |
विदीपयंश्चारु विवेश पार्थिवः |
शशीव तारागणसंकुलं नभः || २-५-२६
महेन्द्रवेश्मप्रतिमं निवेशनम् |
विदीपयंश्चारु विवेश पार्थिवः |
शशीव तारागणसंकुलं नभः || २-५-२६
That palace with women in top dress and form was like the palace of Devendra. By the
entering of King Dasaratha, the palace became more radiant, just as the moon radiates a beautiful
sky with its stars.
|| इत्यार्शे स्रीमद्रामायने आदिकाव्ये अयोध्यकान्दे पन्चम सर्गः ||