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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 5
In this short Sarga, Daṡaratha asks Vasishṭha to help Rāma with fasting. Vasishṭha goes to Rāma's palace. He initiates Rāma to undertake the fast. He then returns, watching the merry crowds that filled the highways, on his way back. Daṡaratha, after receiving Vasishṭha and ensuring that the fasting was initiated, dismisses the assembly in his court and retires to the inner quarters.
2.5.1 ஸந்திஸ்ய ராமம் ந்ருபதி ஸ்ஸ்வோபாவிந்யபிஷேசநே ।
புரோஹிதம் ஸமாஹூய வஸிஷ்டமிதமப்ரவீத் ॥
sandiṡya rāmaṃ nṛpati ṡṡvōbhāvinyabhiṣēcanē ।
purōhitaṃ samāhūya vasiṣṭhamidamabravīt ॥
Having seen Rāma off thus,
the king invited Vasishṭha, the Purōhita and
spoke regarding the consecration next day:
2.5.2 கச்சோபவாஸம் காகுத்ஸ்தம் காரயாத்ய தபோதந ।
ஸ்ரீயஸோராஜ்யலாபாய வத்வா ஸஹ யதவ்ரதம் ॥
gacchōpavāsaṃ kākutsthaṃ kārayādya tapōdhana ।
ṡrīyaṡōrājyalābhāya vadhvā saha yatavratam ॥
O the one enriched with Tapa! May you go and help
the prince of Kākutstha lineage and my daughter-in-law
who are diligent with observances, with the fasting
for gaining prosperity, reputation and the kingdom!
2.5.3-4 ததேதி ச ஸ ராஜாநமுக்த்வா வேதவிதாம் வர: ।
ஸ்வயம் வஸிஷ்டோ பகவாந்யயௌ ராமநிவேஸநம் ॥
உபவாஸயிதும் ராமம் மந்த்ரவந்மந்த்ரகோவித: ।
ப்ராஹ்மம் ரதவரம் யுக்தமாஸ்தாய ஸுத்ருடவ்ரத: ॥
tathēti ca sa rājānamuktvā vēdavidāṃ varaḥ ।
svayaṃ vasiṣṭhō bhagavānyayau rāmanivēṡanam ॥
upavāsayituṃ rāmaṃ mantravanmantrakōvidaḥ ।
brāhmaṃ rathavaraṃ yuktamāsthāya sudṛḍhavrataḥ ॥
Saying ‘yes!’ to the king, Bhagawān Vasishṭha,
the highly disciplined eminent scholar of Vedas and
savant of Mantras, went to the residence of Rāma,
in person, to help him undertake the fasting with Mantras,
on a noble chariot that is appropriate for Brāhmaṇas. Note the mention of the chariot that is appropriate for Brāhmaṇas. While a king’s chariot is decorated in a regal manner, perhaps with a host of armaments hanging around it, a Brāhmaṇa’s chariot would be simple and just enough to serve the purpose of transportation.
2.5.5 ஸ ராமபவநம் ப்ராப்ய பாண்டுராப்ரகநப்ரபம் ।
திஸ்ர: கக்ஷ்யா ரதேநைவ விவேஸமுநிஸத்தம: ॥
sa rāmabhavanaṃ prāpya pāṇḍurābhraghanaprabham ।
tisraḥ kakṣyā rathēnaiva vivēṡamunisattamaḥ ॥
That distinguished Muni, reached the mansion of Rāma,
which was splendid like a huge white cloud,
and went right through all the three gateways on the chariot. The privilege and regard for Vasishṭha is indicated by his ability to go through all the three gateways on the chariot without being checked or stopped by the gatekeepers.
2.5.6 தமாகதம்ருஷிம் ராமஸ்த்வரந்நிவ ஸஸம்ப்ரம: ।
மாநயிஷ்யந்ஸமாநார்ஹம் நிஸ்சக்ராம நிவேஸநாத் ॥
tamāgatamṛṣiṃ rāmastvaranniva sasambhramaḥ ।
mānayiṣyansamānārhaṃ niṡcakrāma nivēṡanāt ॥
To receive that honorable Ṛshi with due honor
Rāma came out of his residence in all haste and excitement.
2.5.7 அப்யேத்ய த்வரமாணஸ்ச ரதாப்யாஸம் மநீஷிண: ।
ததோऽவதாரயாமாஸ பரிக்ருஹ்ய ரதாத்ஸ்வயம் ॥
abhyētya tvaramāṇaṡca rathābhyāṡaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ ।
tatō'vatārayāmāsa parigṛhya rathātsvayam ॥
Having reached the chariot instantaneously, he, in person,
helped that great sage to alight from the chariot. Rāma’s gesture is not only being respectful, but also touching. Isn’t it? Vālmeeki never misses an opportunity to bring our attention, the human-human and human-nature interactions and relationships, which is the essence of Indic Civilization.
2.5.8 ஸ சைநம் ப்ரஸ்ரிதம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா ஸம்பாஷ்யாபிப்ரஸாத்ய ச ।
ப்ரியார்ஹம் ஹர்ஷயந்ராமமித்யுவாச புரோஹித: ॥
sa cainaṃ praṡritaṃ dṛṣṭvā sambhāṣyābhiprasādya ca ।
priyārhaṃ harṣayanrāmamityuvāca purōhitaḥ ॥
Seeing that obedient Rāma, who deserves affection,
the Purōhita greeted him,
making him happy and well-disposed and said:
2.5.9 ப்ரஸந்நஸ்தே பிதா ராம யௌவராஜ்யமவாப்ஸ்யஸி ।
உபவாஸம் பவாநத்ய கரோது ஸஹ ஸீதயா ॥
prasannastē pitā rāma yauvarājyamavāpsyasi ।
upavāsaṃ bhavānadya karōtu saha sītayā ॥
O Rāma! Your father is pleased with you.
You will be gaining the office of crown prince.
May you undertake fasting today along with Seetā!
2.5.10 ப்ராதஸ்த்வாமபிஷேக்தா ஹி யௌவராஜ்யே நராதிப: ।
பிதா தஸரத: ப்ரீத்யா யயாதிம் நஹுஷோ யதா ॥
prātastvāmabhiṣēktā hi yauvarājyē narādhipaḥ ।
pitā daṡarathaḥ prītyā yayātiṃ nahuṣō yathā ॥
Your father, King Daṡaratha is pleased to
consecrate you as the crown prince tomorrow morning,
like Nahusha consecrated Yayāti.
2.5.11 இத்யுக்த்வா ஸ ததா ராமமுபவாஸம் யதவ்ரதம் ।
மந்த்ரவத்காரயாமாஸ வைதேஹ்யா ஸஹிதம் முநி: ॥
ityuktvā sa tadā rāmamupavāsaṃ yatavratam ।
mantravatkārayāmāsa vaidēhyā sahitaṃ muniḥ ॥
Saying thus, the Muni helped that
highly disciplined Rāma along with the princess of Vidēha
to undertake the fast with appropriate Mantras.
2.5.12 ததோ யதாவத்ராமேண ஸ ராஜ்ஞோ குருரர்சித: ।
அப்யநுஜ்ஞாப்ய காகுத்ஸ்தம் யயௌ ராமநிவேஸநாத் ॥
tatō yathāvadrāmēṇa sa rājñō gururarcitaḥ ।
abhyanujñāpya kākutsthaṃ yayau rāmanivēṡanāt ॥
After being honored by Rāma in an appropriate manner and
after taking permission from that prince of Kākutstha lineage
that Guru of the king departed from the residence of Rāma.
2.5.13 ஸுஹ்ருத்பிஸ்தத்ர ராமோऽபி ஸஹாஸீந: ப்ரியம்வதை: ।
ஸபாஜிதோ விவேஸாऽத தாநநுஜ்ஞாப்ய ஸர்வஸ: ॥
suhṛdbhistatra rāmō'pi sahāsīnaḥ priyaṃvadaiḥ ।
sabhājitō vivēṡā'tha tānanujñāpya sarvaṡaḥ ॥
Rāma spent some time there with his friends
who were making pleasant conversation,
being respectful to him in every manner.
Then, after taking proper leave from them
he left for his inner quarters.
2.5.14 ஹ்ருஷ்டநாரீநரயுதம் ராமவேஸ்ம ததா பபௌ ।
யதா மத்தத்விஜகணம் ப்ரபுல்லநலிநம் ஸர: ॥
hṛṣṭanārīnarayutaṃ rāmavēṡma tadā babhau ।
yathā mattadvijagaṇaṃ praphullanalinaṃ saraḥ ॥
With every woman and man being happy, Rāma’s residence
was shining like a lake full of lotuses in full bloom
and flocks of intoxicated birds.
2.5.15 ஸ ராஜபவநப்ரக்யாத்தஸ்மாத்ராமநிவேஸாநாத் ।
நிர்கத்ய தத்ருஸே மார்கம் வஸிஷ்டோ ஜநஸம்வ்ருதம் ॥
sa rājabhavanaprakhyāttasmādrāmanivēṡānāt ।
nirgatya dadṛṡē mārgaṃ vasiṣṭhō janasaṃvṛtam ॥
After leaving Rāma’s house that vied with the royal palace,
Vasishṭha saw the roads full of crowds. Vālmeeki is using Vasishṭha’s commute back to the royal palace through the royal pathways as an opportunity to give a picture of the jubilation among the people of the city.
2.5.16 ப்ருந்தப்ருந்தைரயோத்யாயாம் ராஜமார்காஸ்ஸமந்தத: ।
பபூவுரபிஸம்பாதா: குதூஹலஜநைர்வ்ருதா: ॥
bṛndabṛndairayōdhyāyāṃ rājamārgāssamantataḥ ।
babhūvurabhisambādhāḥ kutūhalajanairvṛtāḥ ॥
All the highways of Ayōdhyā became narrow filled with
crowds of people gathered there in a festive mood.
2.5.17 ஜநப்ருந்தோர்மிஸம்கர்ஷஹர்ஷஸ்வநவதஸ்ததா ।
பபூவ ராஜமார்கஸ்ய ஸாகரஸ்யேவ நிஸ்வந: ॥
janabṛndōrmisaṃgharṣaharṣasvanavatastadā ।
babhūva rājamārgasya sāgarasyēva nisvanaḥ ॥
The noise of those highways with those
stampeding and merry making crowds
resembled the roar of the ocean. One of my first memories in USA, circa 1990, was the noise of the highways, which did remind me of the roar of the ocean.
Perhaps in the near-zero-noise-pollution days of Rāmāyaṇa, even the noises made by crowds must have reminded the roar of the ocean.
2.5.18 ஸிக்தஸம்ம்ருஷ்டரத்யா ஹி ததஹர்வநமாலிநீ ।
ஆஸீதயோத்யாநகரீ ஸமுச்ச்ரிதக்ருஹத்வஜா ॥
siktasammṛṣṭarathyā hi tadaharvanamālinī ।
āsīdayōdhyānagarī samucchritagṛhadhvajā ॥
On that day, the streets of Ayōdhyā were swept and washed.
It was festooned with garlands everywhere.
Flags were flying high on the flag posts of every house.
2.5.19 ததா ஹ்யயோத்யாநிலய ஸ்ஸஸ்த்ரீபாலாபலோ ஜந: ।
ராமாபிஷேகமாகாங்க்ஷந்நாகாங்க்ஷதுதயம் ரவே: ॥
tadā hyayōdhyānilaya ssastrībālābalō janaḥ ।
rāmābhiṣēkamākāṅkṣannākāṅkṣadudayaṃ ravēḥ ॥
On that day, all the people of Ayōdhyā,
women, children and the infirm alike
looked forward to the next morning,
looking forward to Rāma’s consecration.
2.5.20 ப்ரஜாலங்காரபூதம் ச ஜநஸ்யாநந்தவர்தநம் ।
உத்ஸுகோऽபூஜ்ஜநோ த்ரஷ்டும் தமயோத்யாமஹோத்ஸவம் ॥
prajālaṅkārabhūtaṃ ca janasyānandavardhanam ।
utsukō'bhūjjanō draṣṭuṃ tamayōdhyāmahōtsavam ॥
People were eager to witness that great celebration in Ayōdhyā,
which would be a source of enhanced felicity and
an occasion to put on their best clothes.
2.5.21 ஏவம் தஜ்ஜநஸம்பாதம் ராஜமார்கம் புரோஹித: ।
வ்யூஹந்நிவ ஜநௌகம் தம் ஸநை ராஜகுலம் யயௌ ॥
ēvaṃ tajjanasambādhaṃ rājamārgaṃ purōhitaḥ ।
vyūhanniva janaughaṃ taṃ ṡanai rājakulaṃ yayau ॥
The Purōhita had to, slowly, cut through such throngs of people
on the royal pathways on his way to reaching the royal mansion.
2.5.22 ஸிதாப்ரஸிகரப்ரக்யம் ப்ராஸாதமதிருஹ்ய ஸ: ।
ஸமீயாய நரேந்த்ரேண ஸக்ரேணேவ ப்ருஹஸ்பதி: ॥
sitābhraṡikharaprakhyaṃ prāsādamadhiruhya saḥ ।
samīyāya narēndrēṇa ṡakrēṇēva bṛhaspatiḥ ॥
Climbing to the top of that mansion,
which resembled a mountain peak covered with a white cloud,
he approached the King, as Bṛhaspati joining Ṡakra.
2.5.23 தமாகதமபிப்ரேக்ஷ்ய ஹித்வா ராஜாஸநம் ந்ருப: ।
பப்ரச்ச ஸ ச தஸ்மை தத்க்ருதமித்யப்யவேதயத் ॥
tamāgatamabhiprēkṣya hitvā rājāsanaṃ nṛpaḥ ।
papraccha sa ca tasmai tatkṛtamityabhyavēdayat ॥
Having seen him coming, the king got up from the royal throne
and asked whether the task was complete,
and got an affirmative answer.
2.5.24 தேந சைவ ததா துல்யம் ஸஹாஸீநாஸ்ஸபாஸத: ।
ஆஸநேப்யஸ்ஸமுத்தஸ்து: பூஜயந்த: புரோஹிதம் ॥
tēna caiva tadā tulyaṃ sahāsīnāssabhāsadaḥ ।
āsanēbhyassamuttasthuḥ pūjayantaḥ purōhitam ॥
People of that assembly, who were seated along with him,
also rose from their seats and paid respects to the Purōhita. This Ṡlōka reminds me a scene from Richard Attenborough’s film Gandhi. In that film, Gandhi arrives in the court to be prosecuted.
And the judge, in deference to him, gets up from his seat. All others also rise from their seats to show respect, following the lead of the judge.
2.5.25 குருணா த்வப்யநுஜ்ஞாதோ மநுஜௌகம் விஸ்ருஜ்ய தம் ।
விவேஸாந்த: புரம் ராஜா ஸிம்ஹோ கிரிகுஹாமிவ ॥
guruṇā tvabhyanujñātō manujaughaṃ visṛjya tam ।
vivēṡāntaḥ puraṃ rājā siṃhō giriguhāmiva ॥
After obtaining permission from the Guru
and after dismissing the assembly, the king retreated
into his inner quarters like a lion retreating into its cave.
2.5.26 ததக்ய்ரவேஷப்ரமதாஜநாகுலம்
மஹேந்த்ரவேஸ்மப்ரதிமம் நிவேஸநம் ।
விதீபயம்ஸ்சாரு விவேஸ பார்திவ:
ஸஸீவ தாராகணஸங்குலம் நப: ॥
tadagyravēṣapramadājanākulaṃ
mahēndravēṡmapratimaṃ nivēṡanam ।
vidīpayaṃṡcāru vivēṡa pārthivaḥ
ṡaṡīva tārāgaṇasaṅkulaṃ nabhaḥ ॥
That ruler of the earth, entered the beautiful inner quarter
which was like the abode of Mahēndra
and was filled with women of exquisite attire,
like the moon brightening the sky filled with stars!
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே பஞ்சமஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcamassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the fifth Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
We completed reading 2466 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.