अयोध्या-काण्ड > राम का अयोध्या नगरी से होते हुए महल की ओर गमन



In this chapter, Sumantra arrives at Rama's palace to fetch him to royal court. Rama starts to the royal court to meet his father. On the way Rama observes the jubiliant city.
स तत् अन्तः पुर द्वारम् समतीत्य जन आकुलम् |
प्रविविक्ताम् ततः कक्ष्याम् आससाद पुराणवित् || २-१६-१
प्रास कार्मुक बिभ्रद्भिर् युवभिर् मृष्ट कुण्डलैः |
अप्रमादिभिर् एक अग्रैः स्वनुरक्तैः अधिष्ठिताम् || २-१६-२
That Sumantra, who knew the ancient sacred works, passed over the crowded entrance of the palace and reached the secluded inner apartment. In that area of the inner apartment, some youths , wearing darts and bows, were on security-duty with due vigilance and attention. They were all greatly devoted to the king and were wearing polished ear-rings.
तत्र काषायिणो वृद्धान् वेत्र पाणीन् स्वलम्कृतान् |
ददर्श विष्ठितान् द्वारि स्त्र्य् अध्यक्षान् सुसमाहितान् || २-१६-३
There he saw aged palace-supervisors wearing orange coloured clothes, adorning themselves well, having canes in their hands, well composed and being posted at door-ways.
ते समीक्ष्य समायान्तम् राम प्रिय चिकीर्षवः |
सह भार्याय रामाय क्षिप्रम् एव आचचक्षिरे || २-१६-४
All of them, the well-wishers of Rama, saw that Sumantra arriving and raised from their seats hurriedly at once.
प्रतिवेदितम् आज्ञाय सूतम् अभ्यन्तरम् पितुः |
तत्र एव आनाययाम् आस राघवः प्रिय काम्यया || २-१६-५
That humble-minded Sumantra spoke to them thus, "Tell Rama immediately that Sumantra is waiting with reverence at the entrance"
ते राममुपसम्गम्य भर्तुः प्रियचिकीर्षवः |
सहभार्याय रामाय क्षिप्रमेवाचचक्षिरे || २-१६-६
They, the well-wishers of their master, approached Rama who was with his wife and immediately informed him.
प्रतिवेदितमाज्ञाय सूतमभ्यम्तरम् पितुः |
तत्रैवानाययामास राघवः पियकाम्यया || २-१६-७
Knowing that Sumantra, who was intimate to his father, came, Rama who desired to show kindness, called him in there.
तम् वैश्रवण सम्काशम् उपविष्टम् स्वलम्कृतम् |
दादर्श सूतः पर्यन्के सौवणो स उत्तरच् चदे || २-१६-८
वराह रुधिर आभेण शुचिना च सुगन्धिना |
अनुलिप्तम् पर अर्ध्येन चन्दनेन परम् तपम् || २-१२-९
स्थितया पार्श्वतः च अपि वाल व्यजन हस्तया |
उपेतम् सीतया भूयः चित्रया शशिनम् यथा || २-१६-१०
That Sumantra saw Rama sitting like Kubera on a golden couch with the best cloth-covering. He adorned himself well and had the body anointed with sandal perfume, purely smelling like blood of a boar. With Sita, standing on his side with chowrie in her hand, Rama was shining like moon with chitra star.
तम् तपन्तम् इव आदित्यम् उपपन्नम् स्व तेजसा |
ववन्दे वरदम् बन्दी नियमज्ञो विनीतवत् || २-१६-११
Sumantra, who knew polite conduct, offered salutation to Rama, who was refined with his own brilliance, shining like the sun and the fulfiller of desires.
प्रान्जलिस् तु सुखम् पृष्ट्वा विहार शयन आसने |
राज पुत्रम् उवाच इदम् सुमन्त्रः राज सत्कृतः || २-१६-१२
Sumantra, who was treated with respect by Rama spoke thus with folded hands to that prince with beautiful face and who was seated on a swinging sofa.
कौसल्या सुप्रभा देव पिता त्वम् द्रष्टुम् इच्चति |
महिष्या सह कैकेय्या गम्यताम् तत्र माचिरम् || २-१६-१३
"Oh Rama, the good offspring of Kausalya! Your father and the Queen Kaikeyi want to see you. Go there soon."
एवम् उक्तः तु सम्हृष्टः नर सिम्हो महा द्युतिः |
ततः सम्मानयाम् आस सीताम् इदम् उवाच ह || २-१६-१४
That best of men with great brilliance was pleased to hear those words, then honoured him and spoke thus to Sita.
देवि देवः च देवी च समागम्य मद् अन्तरे |
मन्त्रेयेते ध्रुवम् किंचित् अभिषेचन सम्हितम् || २-१६-१५
"Oh Sita! The king and the queen together are thinking of something about me, relating to coronation. It is certain."
लक्षयित्वा हि अभिप्रायम् प्रिय कामा सुदक्षिणा |
संचोदयति राजानम् मद् अर्थम् मदिर ईक्षणा || २-१६-१६
"Then black-eyed Kaikeyi who is dexterous and friendly disposed, has perceived the king's opinion and is inciting him for my sake"
सा प्रहृष्टा महाराजम् हितकामानुवर्तिनी |
जननी चार्थकामा मे केकयाधिपतेस्सुता || २-१६-१७
"Kaikeyi, my mother is following the king's intentions with great pleasure, desirous of my benefit and prosperity"
दिष्ट्या खलु महाराजो महिष्या प्रियया सह |
सुमम्त्रम् प्राहिणोद्दूत मर्थकामकरम् मम || २-१६-१८
"It is certainly our luck that king and queen have sent Sumantra, who fulfils my desires and wishes, as messenger".
यादृशी परिषत् तत्र तादृशो दूताअगतः |
ध्रुवम् अद्य एव माम् राजा यौवराज्ये अभिषेक्ष्यति || २-१६-१९
"A worthy messenger has come who is truly representing the assembly there. It is certain that today itself the king will anoint me for the right of succession to kingdom".
हन्त शीघ्रम् इतः गत्वा द्रक्ष्यामि च मही पतिः |
सह त्वम् परिवारेण सुखम् आस्स्व रमस्य च || २-१६-२०
"I shall go immediately and see the king. You stay happily with the circle of friends and enjoy yourself."
पति सम्मानिता सीता भर्तारम् असित ईक्षणा |
आद्वारम् अनुवव्राज मन्गलानि अभिदध्युषी || २-१६-२१
Sita, treated with respect by her husband and having black eyes, followed her husband up to the door, thinking of auspicious things in her mind.
राज्यम् द्विजातिभिर्जुष्टम् राजसूयाभिषेचनम् |
कर्तुमर्हति ते राजा वासवस्येव लोककृत् || २-१६-२२
"King Dasaratha will give you kingdom, being served by brahmanas, which will invest you with eligibility to perform the great sacrifice at the coronation ceremony like Brahma to Devendra."
दीक्षितम् व्रतसम्पन्नम् वराजिनधरम् शुचिम् |
कुरङ्गपाणिम् च पश्यन्ती त्वाम् भजाम्यहम् || २-१६-२३
"I shall be delighted to see you, initiated for the perfect religious act of austerity, wearing excellent antelope-hide, being pure and bearing a deer-horn in hand".
पूर्वाम् दिशम् वज्रधरो दक्षिणाम् पातु ते यमः |
वरुणः पश्चिमामाशाम् धनेशस्तूत्तराम् दिशम् || २-१६-२४
"May Indra the god of rain in the east, Yama the god of death in the south, Varuna the regent of the ocean in the west and Kubera the god of riches and treasure in the north, protect you".
अथ सीतामनुज्ञाप्य कृतकौतुकमगळः |
निश्चक्राम सुमन्त्रेण सह रामो निवेशनात् || २-१६-२५
Rama, adorned as in an auspicious festivity, took permission from Sita and started from house along with Sumantra.
पर्वतादिव निष्क्रम्य सिम्हो गिरिगुहाशयः |
लक्ष्मणम् द्वारिसोऽपश्यत् प्रह्वञ्जलिपुटम् स्थितम् || २-१६-२६
That Rama who came out, like a lion residing in a mountain cave from out of the mountain, saw Lakshmana standing at the door, bowing with palms of the hand joined and put to the forehead as a mark of respect.
अथ मध्यमकक्ष्यायाम् समागच्छत् सुहृज्जनैः |
स सर्वान् अर्थिनो दृष्ट्वा समेत्य प्रतिनन्द्य च || २-१६-२७
ततः पावक सम्काशम् आरुरोह रथ उत्तमम् |
वैयाघ्रम् पुरुष्व्या घो राजितम् राजनंदनः || २-१६-२८
Then, that prince the best of men, met his friends in the middle chamber. He saw all the people who came there to behold him, approached nearer to them, greeted them and mounted the excellent chariot, which was resplendent like fire and covered with tiger's skin.
मेघनादमसम्बाधम् मणिहेमविभूशितम् |
मुष्णन्तम् इव चक्षूम्षि प्रभया हेम वर्चसम् || २-१६-२९
करेणु शिशु कल्पैः च युक्तम् परम वाजिभिः |
हरि युक्तम् सहस्र अक्षो रथम् इन्द्रैव आशुगम् || २-१६-३०
प्रययौ तूर्णम् आस्थाय राघवो ज्वलितः श्रिया |
That chariot was sounding like thunder. It was not congested. It was decorated with gold and jewels. Its splendour was like that of Meru mountain, stealing the eyes. Excellent horses looking like infantine elephants were tied to the chariot, which was moving quickly. That Rama shining with splendour like Indra, the lord of sky, mounted such a chariot and went forth quickly.
स पर्जन्यैव आकाशे स्वनवान् अभिनादयन् || २-१६-३१
निकेतान् निर्ययौ श्रीमान् महा अभ्रात् इव चन्द्रमाः |
That splendid chariot, sounding like rain-cloud in the sky, came out of the house like moon coming out of a mighty cloud.
चत्र चामर पाणिस् तु लक्ष्मणो राघव अनुजः ||२-१६-३२
जुगोप भ्रातरम् भ्राता रथम् आस्थाय पृष्ठतः |
Lakshmana, Rama's younger brother mounted the chariot in the back-side and protected Rama with umbrella and chamara fan.
ततः हल हला शब्दः तुमुलः समजायत ||२-१६-३३
तस्य निष्क्रममाणस्य जन ओघस्य समन्ततः |
Then, the crowds started dispersing from all sides generating tumultuous hallowing sound.
ततो हयवरा मुख्या नागाश्च गिरिसन्निभाः || २-१६-३४
अनुजग्मुस्तदा रामम् शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः |
Thereupon, hundreds and thousands of important people mounted on excellent horses and soldiers mounted on elephants, then followed Rama.
अग्रतश्चास्य सन्नद्धाश्चन्दनागुरुभूषिताः || २-१६-३५
खड्गचापधराः शूरा जग्मुराशंसवो जनाः |
Valiant persons, dressed in armour adorned with sandal and aloe perfumes, wearing swords and bows, declaring the arrival of Rama, went in front of Rama to receive him.
ततो वादित्रशब्दाश्च स्तुतिशब्दाश्च वन्दिनाम् ||२-१६-३६
सिम्हनादाश्च शूराणाम् तदा शुश्रुविरे पथि |
At that time, sounds of musical instruments, sounds of praising hymns of panagyrists and lion-like roars of valiant persons were heard on the way.
हर्म्यवातायनस्थाभिर्भूषिताभिः समन्ततः || २-१६-३७
कीर्यमाणः सुपुष्पौघैर्ययौ स्त्रीभिररिंदमः |
While Rama, the annihilator of enemies, was going, well-adorned women standing in porticoes of palaces, sprinkled flowers on him from all sides.
रामम् सर्वानवद्याण्ग्यो रामपिप्रीषया ततः || २-१६-३८
वचोभिरग्र्यैर्हर्म्यस्थाः क्षितिस्थाश्च ववन्दिरे |
Women of exquisitely beautiful form standing in palaces and on ground were offering salutations to Rama with the best words with a desire to please Rama.
नूनम् नन्धिति ते माता कौसल्या मातृनन्दन || २-१६-३९
पश्यन्ती सिद्धयात्रम् त्वाम् पित्र्यम् राज्यमुपस्थितम् |
"Oh, Rama, who creates happiness to mother! Have successful journey! Your mother Kausalya will be certainly delighted to see you obtaining the paternal kingdom."
सर्वसीमन्तिनीभ्यश्च सीताम् सीमन्तिनीम् वराम् || २-१६-४०
अमन्यन्त हि ता नार्यो रामस्य हृदयप्रियाम् |
Those women thought that Sita, who is dear to Rama's heart, is better woman than all women.
तया सुचरितम् देव्या पुरा नूनम् महत्तपः || २-१६-४१
रोहिणीव शशाङ्केन रामसम्योगमाप या |
"As Rohini star stays together with the moon, Sita having obtained Rama as husband must have certainly performed a great penance in former times."
इति प्रासादशृङ्गेषु प्रमदाभिर्नरोत्तमः || २-१६-४२
शुश्राव राजमार्गस्थः प्रिया वाच उदाहृताः |
While going through the royal road, Rama heard those pleasant words spoken thus by women standing in turrets.
स राघवः तत्र कथा प्रलापम् |
शुश्राव लोकस्य समागतस्य |
आत्म अधिकारा विविधाः च वाचः |
प्रहृष्ट रूपस्य पुरे जनस्य || २-१६-४३
Then, Rama heard the words of people gathered there and also the words variously pertaining to himself, by citizens.
एष श्रियम् गच्चति राघवो अद्य|
राज प्रसादात् विपुलाम् गमिष्यन् |
एते वयम् सर्व समृद्ध कामा|
येषाम् अयम् नो भविता प्रशास्ता || २-१६-४४
"By the king's propitiousness, this Rama today is going to obtain this earth and the wealthy kingdom. All our desires are going to be fulfilled because Rama will become the ruler."
लाभो जनस्य अस्य यद् एष सर्वम् |
प्रपत्स्यते राष्ट्रम् इदम् चिराय |
स घोषवद्भिः च हयैः सनागैः |
पुरह्सरैः स्वस्तिक सूत मागधैः || २-१६-४५
"If Rama rules this state for a long time, it will be a great benefit to the people. If he becomes a king none can see dislike and sorrow at any time."
स घोषवद्भिश्च हयैः सनागैः |
पुरस्सरैः स्वस्तिकसूतमागधैः |
महीयमानः प्रवरैः च वादकैः |
अभिष्टुतः वैश्रवणो यथा ययौ|| २-१६-४६
While bards and panegyrists were moving in front praising with great respect, invoking blessings and eulogised by the most excellent instrumentalists, Rama, like Kubera the god of wealth, went with resounding horses and elephants.
करेणु मातन्ग रथ अश्व सम्कुलम् |
महा जन ओघैः परिपूर्ण चत्वरम् |
पभूतरत्नम् बहुपण्यसंचयम् |
ददर्श रामो विमलम् महापथम् || २-१६-४७
Rama saw the great royal road which was spotlessly clean, having diamonds and various vendible commodities. It was full of male and female elephants, horses and chariots. There was abundance of people gathered at road junctions.
|| इति श्रिमद् ऱमयने षोडश सर्गः ||