Tweet
Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 14
In this Sarga, the dialogue between Kaikēyee and Daṡaratha continues for another twenty Ṡlōkas. Daṡaratha, unable to accept the disastrous and preposterous boons demanded by Kaikēyee, haggles in every which way possible to dissuade her, through the course of the night, but in vain.
As the night gives way to dawn, the entire city of Ayōdhyā gets ready for the coronation of Rāma. Maharshi Vasishṭha makes all the arrangements and sends Sumantra to hasten up the King.
Sumantra arrives at the King’s palace and praises the king. But the King, obviously, feels worse upon hearing the extolling and is unable to complete his sentences.
Kaikēyee tells Sumantra that the King wants to see Rāma. Sumantra leaves to bring Rāma to the king’s palace.
2.14.1
புத்ரஸோகார்திதம் பாபா விஸம்ஜ்ஞம் பதிதம் புவி ।
விவேஷ்டமாநமுத்வீக்ஷ்ய ஸைக்ஷ்வாகமிதமப்ரவீத் ॥
putraṡōkārditaṃ pāpā visaṃjñaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi ।
vivēṣṭamānamudvīkṣya saikṣvākamidamabravīt ॥
The wretched woman then spoke
to that descendant of Ikshwāku,
who lay on the floor completely disoriented and tossing around:
2.14.2
பாபம் க்ருத்வேவ கிமிதம் மம ஸம்ஸ்ருத்ய ஸம்ஸ்ரவம் ।
ஸேஷே க்ஷிதிதலே ஸந்ந: ஸ்தித்யாம் ஸ்தாதும் த்வமர்ஹஸி ॥
pāpaṃ kṛtvēva kimidaṃ mama saṃṡrutya saṃṡravam ।
ṡēṣē kṣititalē sannaḥ sthityāṃ sthātuṃ tvamarhasi ॥
Huh! What are you doing, lying on the floor,
on hearing the vows that only you made?
You better maintain some dignity!
2.14.3
ஆஹு ஸ்ஸத்யம் ஹி பரமம் தர்மம் தர்மவிதோ ஜநா: ।
ஸத்யமாஸ்ரித்ய ஹி மயா த்வம் ச தர்மம் ப்ரபோதித: ॥
āhu ssatyaṃ hi paramaṃ dharmaṃ dharmavidō janāḥ ।
satyamāṡritya hi mayā tvaṃ ca dharmaṃ prabōdhitaḥ ॥
People who know Dharma assert that
the ultimate Dharma is to keep one’s word!
I am also asking you to follow the same
Dharma, of adhering to the truth!
2.14.4
ஸம்ஸ்ருத்ய ஸைப்யஸ்ஸ்யேநாய ஸ்வாம் தநும் ஜகதீபதி: ।
ப்ரதாய பக்ஷிணே ராஜந் ஜகாம கதிமுத்தமாம் ॥
saṃṡrutya ṡaibyaṡṡyēnāya svāṃ tanuṃ jagatīpatiḥ ।
pradāya pakṣiṇē rājan jagāma gatimuttamām ॥
O King! Ṡaibya, the lord of lands, attained higher worlds
by fulfilling his vow of giving his own flesh to a hawk!
2.14.5
ததா ஹ்யலர்கஸ்தேஜஸ்வீ ப்ராஹ்மணே வேதபாரகே ।
யாசமாநே ஸ்வகே நேத்ரே உத்த்ருத்யாவிமநா ததௌ ॥
tathā hyalarkastējasvī brāhmaṇē vēdapāragē ।
yācamānē svakē nētrē uddhṛtyāvimanā dadau ॥
Similarly, did the radiant Alarka not pluck his own eyes
and give them away without heSeetātion,
when solicited by a Brāhmaṇa, savant of Vedas!
2.14.6
ஸரிதாம் து பதிஸ்ஸ்வல்பாம் மர்யாதாம் ஸத்யமந்வித: ।
ஸத்யாநுரோதாத்ஸமயே ஸ்வாம் வேலாம் நாதிவர்ததே ॥
saritāṃ tu patissvalpāṃ maryādāṃ satyamanvitaḥ ।
satyānurōdhātsamayē svāṃ vēlāṃ nātivartatē ॥
The truthful lord of rivers (ocean) does not
cross the shore even at the time of high tide,
by being truthful to his words.
2.14.7
ஸத்யமேகபதம் ப்ரஹ்ம ஸத்யே தர்ம: ப்ரதிஷ்டித: ।
ஸத்யமேவாக்ஷயா வேதா ஸத்யேநைவாப்யதே ஸ்பரம் ॥
satyamēkapadaṃ brahma satyē dharmaḥ pratiṣṭitaḥ ।
satyamēvākṣayā vēdā satyēnaivāpyatē sparam ॥
‘Truth’ is a synonym for Brahman!
In truthfulness alone is Dharma established.
Truth is the essence of the imperishable Vēdas.
The ultimate can be attained only by adhering to truth.
Kaikēyee’s invocation of Truth, Brahman and Dharma in this context is certainly interesting.
She is referring to the highest truths and principles of the universe, in support of her preposterous and myopic ends.
Life is, indeed, complicated! One could completely work within the framework of Truth and Dharma and yet could promote unkind, unjust and disastrous ends, driven by selfishness and myopia!
Hence, it is not enough to be right! One should also have broad vision and see the big picture. In other words, it is not enough if one is a Dharmātma, one should also be a Mahātma and vice versa.
In Sarga 54 of Bāla Kāṇḍa, we have seen how Viṡwāmitra who has broader goals in life failed to work within the framework of righteousness in the context of unjustly demanding that Vasishṭha should give him Ṡabala. He was a Mahātma who failed to be a Dharmātma, in that context.
We see the opposite here. Kaikēyee is working within the framework of Dharma, but failing to see the big picture, be a Mahātma.
Think of a someone turning nineteen years old, becoming a legal adult and demanding his share of inheritance, righteously. If he does not have the big picture, he can ruin that inheritance and himself in no time. This is an example of being a Dharmātma, but not a Mahātma. Similarly think of a powerful brother who takes absolute control over the weaker brother, in the name of righteously protecting the family wealth. He is being a Mahātma, but not Dharmātma.
Society gets confused and ambivalent in dealing with Mahātmas who are not Dharmātmas and Dharmātmas who are not Mahātmas. And this weakness of the society has proved to lead to many social disasters in the history of mankind.
Daṡaratha is exactly in that kind of predicament. He is bound by Dharma, and has no choice but to let the pettiness of Kaikēyee win over.
2.14.8
ஸத்யம் ஸமநுவர்தஸ்வ யதி தர்மே த்ருதா மதி: ।
ஸபலஸ்ஸ வரோ மேऽஸ்து வரதோ ஹ்யஸி ஸத்தம ॥
satyaṃ samanuvartasva yadi dharmē dhṛtā matiḥ ।
saphalassa varō mē'stu varadō hyasi sattama ॥
O great man! Follow your word
if your mind is firmly anchored to Dharma!
Fulfill the boons given to me!
After all, you are the one who gave them!
2.14.9
தர்மஸ்யைஹாபிகாமார்தம் மம சைவாபிசோதநாத் ।
ப்ரவ்ராஜய ஸுதம் ராமம் த்ரி:கலு த்வாம் ப்ரவீம்யஹம் ॥
dharmasyaihābhikāmārthaṃ mama caivābhicōdanāt ।
pravrājaya sutaṃ rāmaṃ triḥkhalu tvāṃ bravīmyaham ॥
I am repeating it thrice:
For the sake of Dharma and to fulfill my wish,
may your son Rāma be sent in exile!
2.14.10
ஸமயம் ச மமார்யேமம் யதி த்வம் ந கரிஷ்யஸி ।
அக்ரதஸ்தே பரித்யக்தா பரித்யக்ஷ்யாமி ஜீவிதம் ॥
samayaṃ ca mamāryēmaṃ yadi tvaṃ na kariṣyasi ।
agratastē parityaktā parityakṣyāmi jīvitam ॥
O noble husband! If you disregard me
and do not comply with this agreement,
I shall give up my life, right in front of you!
2.14.11
ஏவம் ப்ரசோதிதோ ராஜா கைகேய்யா நிர்விஸங்கயா ।
நாஸக த்பாஸமுந்மோக்தும் பலிரிந்த்ரக்ருதம் யதா ॥
ēvaṃ pracōditō rājā kaikēyyā nirviṡaṅkayā ।
nāṡaka tpāṡamunmōktuṃ balirindrakṛtaṃ yathā ॥
Exhorted thus by Kaikēyee
without qualms and in no uncertain terms
the King could not find a way out of that bond of Dharma,
like Bali could not when plotted by Indra.
On behalf of Indra, Vishnu took the form of Vāmana and asked Bali, the king of Rākshasas, for three feet measures of space, which Bali grants.
Vāmana then measures the entire earth for the first foot and the entire heavens for the second foot. Since there is no space left any more, Bali, bound by Dharma, offers his own head for the third feet of measure.
That well known story is being alluded here.
2.14.12
உத்ப்ராந்தஹ்ருதயஸ்சாபி விவர்ணவதநோऽபவத் ।
ஸ துர்யோவைபரிஸ்பந்தந்யுகசக்ராந்தரம் யதா ॥
udbhrāntahṛdayaṡcāpi vivarṇavadanō'bhavat ।
sa dhuryōvaiparispandanyugacakrāntaraṃ yathā ॥
With his heart in a whirl and face spread with pallor,
he struggled like a bullock tied to a yoke,
pressed between the yoke and the wheels!
2.14.13
விஹ்வலாப்யாம் ச நேத்ராப்யாமபஸ்யந்நிவ பூபதி: ।
க்ருச்ச்ராத்தைர்யேண ஸம்ஸ்தப்ய கைகேயீமிதமப்ரவீத் ॥
vihvalābhyāṃ ca nētrābhyāmapaṡyanniva bhūpatiḥ ।
kṛcchrāddhairyēṇa saṃstabhya kaikēyīmidamabravīt ॥
Unable to focus his eyes, he felt like a blind man.
With great effort, he gathered himself and spoke to Kaikēyee:
2.14.14
யஸ்தே மந்த்ரக்ருத: பாணிரக்நௌ பாபே! மயா த்ருத: ।
தம் த்யஜாமி ஸ்வஜம் சைவ தவ புத்ரம் த்வயா ஸஹ ॥
yastē mantrakṛtaḥ pāṇiragnau pāpē! mayā dhṛtaḥ ।
taṃ tyajāmi svajaṃ caiva tava putraṃ tvayā saha ॥
That hand of yours, O wretched woman, which I grasped
witnessed by Agni and sanctified by Mantras, I now abjure,
as I do too, that son of yours who was born of me.
2.14.15-16a
ப்ரயாதா ரஜநீ தேவி ஸூர்யஸ்யோதயநம்ப்ரதி ।
அபிஷேகம் குருஜநஸ்த்வரயிஷ்யதி மாம் த்ருவம் ।
ராமாபிஷேகஸம்பாரைஸ்ததர்தமுபகல்பிதை: ॥
prayātā rajanī dēvi sūryasyōdayanaṃprati ।
abhiṣēkaṃ gurujanastvarayiṣyati māṃ dhruvam ।
rāmābhiṣēkasaṃbhāraistadarthamupakalpitaiḥ ॥
O queen! The night is moving ahead to meet the dawn!
The Gurus, with all the arrangements
done for the consecration of Rāma,
will surely be coming to hasten me for the consecration now!
2.14.16b-17
ராம: காரயிதவ்யோ மே ம்ருதஸ்ய ஸலிலக்ரியாம் ।
த்வயா ஸபுத்ரயா நைவ கர்தவ்யா ஸலிலக்ரியா ।
வ்யாஹந்தாऽஸ்யஸுபாசாரே! யதி ராமாபிஷேசநம் ॥
rāmaḥ kārayitavyō mē mṛtasya salilakriyām ।
tvayā saputrayā naiva kartavyā salilakriyā ।
vyāhantā'syaṡubhācārē! yadi rāmābhiṣēcanam ॥
O indecent one! If you were to bar the consecration,
may only Rāma perform the water rites to me upon my death!
And may you or your son have no part in it!
2.14.18
ந ச ஸக்தோऽஸ்ம்யஹம் த்ரஷ்டும் த்ருஷ்ட்வா பூர்வம் ததாஸுகம் ।
ஹதஹர்ஷம் நிராநந்தம் புநர்ஜநமவாங்முகம் ॥
na ca ṡaktō'smyahaṃ draṣṭuṃ dṛṣṭvā pūrvaṃ tathāsukham ।
hataharṣaṃ nirānandaṃ punarjanamavāṅmukham ॥
I cannot bear to see the people who are happy thus far,
with their faces hanging down unhappily
and with their jubilation struck down!
2.14.19
தாம் ததா ப்ருவதஸ்தஸ்ய பூமிபஸ்ய மஹாத்மந: ।
ப்ரபாதா ஸர்வரீ புண்யா சந்த்ரநக்ஷத்ரஸாலிநீ ॥
tāṃ tathā bruvatastasya bhūmipasya mahātmanaḥ ।
prabhātā ṡarvarī puṇyā candranakṣatraṡālinī ॥
As that Mahātma, the ruler of the lands,
was talking to her thus, the innocent night,
resplendent with stars and moon, gave way to dawn.
2.14.20
தத: பாபஸமாசாரா கைகேயீ பார்திவம் புந: ।
உவாச பருஷம் வாக்யம் வாக்யஜ்ஞா ரோஷமூர்சிதா ॥
tataḥ pāpasamācārā kaikēyī pārthivaṃ punaḥ ।
uvāca paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ vākyajñā rōṣamūrchitā ॥
And Kaikēyee, who knew how to use words effectively,
spoke again harshly to the King in a paroxysm of anger,
in pursuit of her wicked course:
2.14.21
கிமிதம் பாஷஸே ராஜந்வாக்யம் கரருஜோபமம் ।
ஆநாயயிதுமக்லிஷ்டம் புத்ரம் ராமமிஹார்ஹஸி ॥
kimidaṃ bhāṣasē rājanvākyaṃ gararujōpamam ।
ānāyayitumakliṣṭaṃ putraṃ rāmamihārhasi ॥
O King! Why are you speaking these words
that are like the sting of venom!
Rather, it behooves of you to summon your son Rāma immediately!
2.14.22
ஸ்தாப்ய ராஜ்யே மம ஸுதம் க்ருத்வா ராமம் வநேசரம் ।
நிஸ்ஸபத்நாம் ச மாம் க்ருத்வா க்ருதக்ருத்யோ பவிஷ்யஸி ॥
sthāpya rājyē mama sutaṃ kṛtvā rāmaṃ vanēcaram ।
nissapatnāṃ ca māṃ kṛtvā kṛtakṛtyō bhaviṣyasi ॥
May you fulfill your due by
lodging my son on the throne,
sending Rāma to roam in the Vana and
making me free from rivals!
2.14.23
ஸ நுந்ந இவ தீக்ஷ்ணேந ப்ரதோதேந ஹயோத்தம: ।
ராஜா ப்ரசோதிதோऽபீக்ஷ்ணம் கைகேயீமிதமப்ரவீத் ॥
sa nunna iva tīkṣṇēna pratōdēna hayōttamaḥ ।
rājā pracōditō'bhīkṣṇaṃ kaikēyīmidamabravīt ॥
Like a well-bred horse lashed by a sharp whip,
the king, feeling the sting of exhortation, said to Kaikēyee:
2.14.24
தர்மபந்தேந பத்தோऽஸ்மி நஷ்டா ச மம சேதநா ।
ஜ்யேஷ்டம் புத்ரம் ப்ரியம் ராமம் த்ரஷ்டுமிச்சாமி தார்மிகம் ॥
dharmabandhēna badhdō'smi naṣṭā ca mama cētanā ।
jyēṣṭhaṃ putraṃ priyaṃ rāmaṃ draṣṭumicchāmi dhārmikam ॥
Tied down by the bonds of Dharma, I have lost all my vigor!
I want to see my beloved eldest son Rāma, the Dhārmika!
2.14.25-29a
தத: ப்ரபாதாம் ரஜநீமுதிதே ச திவாகரே ।
புண்யே நக்ஷத்ரயோகே ச முஹூர்தே ச ஸமாஹிதே ।
வஸிஷ்டோ குணஸம்பந்ந ஸ்ஸிஷ்யை பரிவ்ருதஸ்ததா ।
உபக்ருஹ்யாஸு ஸம்பாராந்ப்ரவிவேஸ புரோத்தமம் ।
ஸிக்தஸம்மார்ஜிதபதாம் பதாகோத்தம பூஷிதாம் ।
விசித்ரகுஸுமாகீர்ணாம் நாநாஸ்ரக்பிர்விராஜிதாம் ।
ஸம்ஹ்ருஷ்டமநுஜோபேதாம் ஸம்ருத்தவிபணாபணாம் ।
மஹோத்ஸவஸமாகீர்ணாம் ராகவார்தே ஸமுத்ஸுகாம் ।
சந்தநாகருதூபைஸ்ச ஸர்வத: ப்ரதிதூபிதாம் ॥
tataḥ prabhātāṃ rajanīmuditē ca divākarē ।
puṇyē nakṣatrayōgē ca muhūrtē ca samāhitē ।
vasiṣṭhō guṇasampanna ṡṡiṣyai parivṛtastadā ।
upagṛhyāṡu sambhārānpravivēṡa purōttamam ।
siktasammārjitapathāṃ patākōttama bhūṣitām ।
vicitrakusumākīrṇāṃ nānāsragbhirvirājitām ।
saṃhṛṣṭamanujōpētāṃ samṛddhavipaṇāpaṇām ।
mahōtsavasamākīrṇāṃ rāghavārthē samutsukām ।
candanāgarudhūpaiṡca sarvataḥ pratidhūpitām ॥
The night was succeeded by dawn, the sun rose, and
the auspicious moment under the confluence
of auspicious stars was approaching.
The virtuous Vasishṭha, surrounded by his Ṡishyas,
securing all the required articles for the ceremony,
entered the great city.
Its streets were swept and washed.
It was resplendent with banners and
a variety of flowers and festoons.
Sandalwood paste and incense filled it with fragrance.
It was full of happy people and plentiful markets and shops.
It was full of festivities eagerly waiting for Rāghava.
We have seen similar glorious descriptions of Ayōdhyā a few times already. It may feel repetitive. But it is part of Vālmeeki’s screenplay. He enlivens the inanimate with his descriptions again and again.
2.14.29b-31a
தாம் புரீம் ஸமதிக்ரம்ய புரந்தரபுரோபமாம் ।
ததர்ஸாந்த:புரஸ்ரேஷ்டம் நாநாத்விஜகணாயுதம் ।
பௌரஜாநபதாகீர்ணம் ப்ராஹ்மணைருபஸோபிதம் ।
யஜ்ஞவித்பி ஸ்ஸுஸம்பூர்ணம் ஸதஸ்யை: பரமத்விஜை: ॥
tāṃ purīṃ samatikramya purandarapurōpamām ।
dadarṡāntaḥpuraṡrēṣṭhaṃ nānādvijagaṇāyutam ।
paurajānapadākīrṇaṃ brāhmaṇairupaṡōbhitam ।
yajñavidbhi ssusampūrṇaṃ sadasyaiḥ paramadvijaiḥ ॥
After passing through the city that rivalled the city of Purandara,
he saw the inner quarters of the city,
which was filled with many groups of Brāhmaṇas,
urban and rural folk alike,
and graced by Brāhmaṇas who were knowledgeable about Yajñas
and by the best of Brāhmaṇas that
would complement a great assembly.
Purandara is another name for Indra.
City of Purandara means the city of Amarāvati, the capital of heaven.
2.14.31b-32a
ததந்த:புரமாஸாத்ய வ்யதிசக்ராம தம் ஜநம் ।
வஸிஷ்ட: பரமப்ரீத: பரமர்ஷிர்விவேஸ ச ॥
tadantaḥpuramāsādya vyaticakrāma taṃ janam ।
vasiṣṭhaḥ paramaprītaḥ paramarṣirvivēṡa ca ॥
Vasishṭha, the eminent Ṛshi,
reached the inner quarters and was pleased.
He passed through all those people
and entered the inner quarters.
2.14.32b-33a
ஸத்வபஸ்யத்விநிஷ்க்ராந்தம் ஸுமந்த்ரம் நாம ஸாரதிம் ।
த்வாரே மநுஜஸிம்ஹஸ்ய ஸசிவம் ப்ரியதர்ஸநம் ।
satvapaṡyadviniṣkrāntaṃ sumantraṃ nāma sārathim ।
dvārē manujasiṃhasya sacivaṃ priyadarṡanam ।
At the entrance, he saw the pleasing
minister and chauffer of the lion among men (Daṡaratha),
by name Sumantra, who was just coming out.
2.14.33b-34a
தமுவாச மஹாதேஜா ஸ்ஸூதபுத்ரம் விஸாரதம் ।
வஸிஷ்ட: க்ஷிப்ரமாசக்ஷ்வ ந்ருபதேர்மாமிஹாகதம் ।
tamuvāca mahātējā ssūtaputraṃ viṡāradam ।
vasiṣṭhaḥ kṣipramācakṣva nṛpatērmāmihāgatam ।
That supremely radiant Vasishṭha
asked that wise son of the charioteer
to inform the King about his arrival immediately.
2.14.34b-42a
இமே கங்கோதககடா ஸ்ஸாகரேப்யஸ்ச காஞ்சநா: ।
ஔதும்பரம் பத்ரபீடமபிஷேகார்தமாகதம் ।
ஸர்வபீஜாநி கந்தாஸ்ச ரத்நாநி விவிதாநி ச ।
க்ஷௌத்ரம் ததி க்ருதம் லாஜா தர்பாஸ்ஸுமநஸ: பய: ।
அஷ்டௌ ச கந்யா ருசிரா மத்தஸ்ச வரவாரண: ।
சதுரஸ்வோ ரதஸ்ஸ்ரீமாந்நிஸ்த்ரிம்ஸோ தநுருத்தமம் ।
வாஹநம் நரஸம்யுக்தம் சத்ரம் ச ஸஸிஸந்நிபம் ।
ஸ்வேதே ச வாலவ்யஜநே ப்ருங்காருஸ்ச ஹிரண்மய: ।
ஹேமதாமபிநத்தஸ்ச ககுத்மாந்பாண்டுரோ வ்ருஷ: ।
கேஸரீ ச சதுர்தம்ஷ்ட்ரோ ஹரிஸ்ரேஷ்டோ மஹாபல: ।
ஸிம்ஹாஸநம் வ்யாக்ரதநு ஸ்ஸமித்தஸ்ச ஹுதாஸந: ।
ஸர்வவாதித்ரஸங்காஸ்ச வேஸ்யாஸ்சாலங்க்ருதா ஸ்ஸ்த்ரய: ।
ஆசார்யா ப்ராஹ்மணா காவ: புண்யாஸ்ச ம்ருகபக்ஷிண: ।
பௌரஜாநபதஸ்ரேஷ்டா நைகமாஸ்ச கணை ஸ்ஸஹ ।
ஏதே சாந்யே ச பஹவோ நீயமாநா: ப்ரியம்வதா: ।
அபிஷேகாய ராமஸ்ய ஸஹ திஷ்டந்தி பார்திவை: ॥
imē gaṅgōdakaghaṭā ssāgarēbhyaṡca kāñcanāḥ ।
audumbaraṃ bhadrapīṭhamabhiṣēkārthamāgatam ।
sarvabījāni gandhāṡca ratnāni vividhāni ca ।
kṣaudraṃ dadhi ghṛtaṃ lājā darbhāssumanasaḥ payaḥ ।
aṣṭau ca kanyā rucirā mattaṡca varavāraṇaḥ ।
caturaṡvō rathaṡṡrīmānnistriṃṡō dhanuruttamam ।
vāhanaṃ narasaṃyuktaṃ chatraṃ ca ṡaṡisannibham ।
ṡvētē ca vālavyajanē bhṛṅgāruṡca hiraṇmayaḥ ।
hēmadāmapinadhdaṡca kakudmānpāṇḍurō vṛṣaḥ ।
kēsarī ca caturdaṃṣṭrō hariṡrēṣṭhō mahābalaḥ ।
siṃhāsanaṃ vyāghratanu ssamiddhaṡca hutāṡanaḥ ।
sarvavāditrasaṅghāṡca vēṡyāṡcālaṅkṛtā sstrayaḥ ।
ācāryā brāhmaṇā gāvaḥ puṇyāṡca mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ ।
paurajānapadaṡrēṣṭhā naigamāṡca gaṇai ssaha ।
ētē cānyē ca bahavō nīyamānāḥ priyaṃvadāḥ ।
abhiṣēkāya rāmasya saha tiṣṭhanti pārthivaiḥ ॥
These golden pots with waters
from river Gaṅga and the oceans,
this chair of state made of Udumbara wood are
brought specially for the crowning.
Besides, here are all varieties of seeds,
perfumes, varieties of gems, honey, curds, Ghee,
puffed grain, Darbha grass, flowers and milk.
Also are here eight beautiful virgins, a splendid elephant in rut,
an auspicious four-horse chariot, a sword, a great bow,
a palanquin carried on the shoulders of men,
an umbrella that is resplendent like the full moon,
two fly-whisks, a golden vase, a high-humped
white bull constrained by ropes of gold,
and a strong horse with a great mane and four big teeth.
Also are here the lion throne, the tiger skin, well lit sacred fire,
and every kind of musical instruments.
And here are well-adorned courtesans and other women,
preceptors and Brāhmaṇas, cows, auspicious animals and birds,
prominent people from cities and countryside,
and traders with their guilds.
All these and many others along with many kings,
speaking pleasantries, are waiting
in a happy mood for Rāma’s crowning.
2.14.42b-43a
த்வரயஸ்வ மஹாராஜம் யதா ஸமுதிதேऽஹநி ।
புஷ்யே நக்ஷத்ரயோகே ச ராமோ ராஜ்யமவாப்நுயாத் ॥
tvarayasva mahārājaṃ yathā samuditē'hani ।
puṣyē nakṣatrayōgē ca rāmō rājyamavāpnuyāt ॥
Go and ask the King to hasten up so that Rāma
may be inducted into office as the day starts,
at the appointed auspicious hour
with the benefic star constellation.
2.14.43b-44a
இதி தஸ்ய வச ஸ்ஸ்ருத்வா ஸூதபுத்ரோ மஹாத்மந: ।
ஸ்துவந்ந்ருபதிஸார்தூலம் ப்ரவிவேஸ நிவேஸநம் ॥
iti tasya vaca ṡṡrutvā sūtaputrō mahātmanaḥ ।
stuvannṛpatiṡārdūlaṃ pravivēṡa nivēṡanam ॥
The son of the charioteer,
hearing those words of that Mahātma,
entered the King’s suite singing praises
of that tiger among the kings.
2.14.44b-45a
தம் து பூர்வோதிதம் வ்ருத்தம் த்வாரஸ்தா ராஜ ஸம்மதம் ।
ந ஸேகுரபிஸம்ரோத்தும் ராஜ்ஞ: ப்ரியசிகீர்ஷவ: ॥
taṃ tu pūrvōditaṃ vṛdhdaṃ dvārasthā rāja sammatam ।
na ṡēkurabhisaṃrōdhduṃ rājñaḥ priyacikīrṣavaḥ ॥
The door-keepers, eager only to please the King,
could not deny entrance to that elderly man,
whose free entrance at all hours,
they had been instructed, not to bar.
2.14.45b-46a
ஸ ஸமீபஸ்திதோ ராஜ்ஞஸ்தாமவஸ்தாமஜஜ்ஞிவாந் ।
வாக்பி: பரமதுஷ்டாபிரபிஷ்டோதும் ப்ரசக்ரமே ॥
sa samīpasthitō rājñastāmavasthāmajajñivān ।
vāgbhiḥ paramatuṣṭābhirabhiṣṭōtuṃ pracakramē ॥
Having approached the king and unaware of his situation,
he started eulogizing him in a joyful tone.
2.14.46b-47a
ததஸ்ஸூதோ யதாகாலம் பார்திவஸ்ய நிவேஸநே ।
ஸுமந்த்ர: ப்ராஞ்ஜலிர்பூத்வா துஷ்டாவ ஜகதீபதிம் ॥
tatassūtō yathākālaṃ pārthivasya nivēṡanē ।
sumantraḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā tuṣṭāva jagatīpatim ॥
The charioteer Sumantra, having entered the
inner apartment of the king, praised the lord of the earth,
appropriate to the hour, with palms joined in reverence.
2.14.47b-48a
யதா நந்ததி தேஜஸ்வீ ஸாகரோ பாஸ்கரோதயே ।
ப்ரீத: ப்ரீதேந மநஸா ததாऽநந்தகந ஸ்ஸ்வத: ॥
yathā nandati tējasvī sāgarō bhāskarōdayē ।
prītaḥ prītēna manasā tathā'nandaghana ssvataḥ ॥
Happy that you always are,
may you rejoice even more at your heart,
as the oceans would at the rise of the sun!
2.14.48b-49a
இந்த்ரமஸ்யாம் து வேலாயாமபிதுஷ்டாவ மாதலி: ।
ஸோऽஜயத்தாநவாந்ஸர்வாம்ஸ்ததா த்வாம் போதயாம்யஹம் ॥
indramasyāṃ tu vēlāyāmabhituṣṭāva mātaliḥ ।
sō'jayaddānavānsarvāṃstathā tvāṃ bōdhayāmyaham ॥
Mātali, once upon a time, extolled Indra at dawn like this.
Then Indra conquered all the Dānavas.
I am awakening you in a similar manner.
Mātali is the charioteer of Indra.
2.14.49b-50a
வேதாஸ்ஸஹாங்கவித்யாஸ்ச யதாஹ்யாத்மபுவம் விபும் ।
ப்ரஹ்மாணம் போதயந்த்யத்ய ததா த்வாம் போதயாம்யஹம் ॥
vēdāssahāṅgavidyāṡca yathāhyātmabhuvaṃ vibhum ।
brahmāṇaṃ bōdhayantyadya tathā tvāṃ bōdhayāmyaham ॥
Just as Vēdas and Vēdāngas invoke the self-born lord Brahma,
I am now invoking you to be awakened.
I hear people, some mischievously and some genuinely, asking: Why do we have to read ‘Suprabhātam’ in the mornings? Why do we have to wake up the Lord? Isn’t he awake all the time? Or does he continue to sleep till we awaken him?, etc.
These two Ṡlōkas explain the spirit of ‘Suprabhātam’.
Vēdas and Vēdāngas contain the script for life. But they cannot come alive by themselves. They need someone who can enliven what is written in them. Hence they are invoking Brahma to give life to them.
Every country would probably have libraries with books on aeronautical engineering. But every country would not be able to build airplanes. It takes a visionary, a leader and a commander who can bring together various skills and institutions (financial, engineering, labor, legal, etc.) to make it happen. Those books are lying in the library waiting and begging for a leader to arise and enliven them.
Sun and moon have energy. Yet they are not capable of producing life. Only Earth can do that. (That is why Earth is consider as mother and symbol of motherhood). Hence Sun and Moon invoke Earth to bear life using their energy.
Similarly, the people of the kingdom have the energy. But they need a leader to enliven that energy into meaningful activities. That is the spirit expressed in these Ṡlōkas .
That is the spirit of Suprabhātam.
2.14.50b-51a
ஆதித்யஸ்ஸஹ சந்த்ரேண யதா பூததராம் ஸுபாம் ।
போதயத்யத்ய ப்ருதிவீம் ததா த்வாம் போதயாம்யஹம் ॥
ādityassaha candrēṇa yathā bhūtadharāṃ ṡubhām ।
bōdhayatyadya pṛthivīṃ tathā tvāṃ bōdhayāmyaham ॥
Just as the Sun along with the Moon awaken
the auspicious earth which supports all beings,
I am now invoking you to be awakened.
The word ‘Bhoota’ in many Indian languages implies a ghost.
In Sanskrit, it has a deep meaning.
It means an organism, anything that exists.
2.14.51b-52a
உத்திஷ்டாஸு மஹாராஜ க்ருதகௌதுகமங்கல: ।
விராஜமாநோ வபுஷா மேரோரிவ திவாகர: ॥
uttiṣṭhāṡu mahārāja kṛtakautukamaṅgalaḥ ।
virājamānō vapuṣā mērōriva divākaraḥ ॥
Get up betimes and come forth, great King,
pleasingly adorned and with splendorous appearance
as the sun does on Mēru mountain!
2.14.52b-53a
ஸோமஸூர்யௌ ச காகுத்ஸ்த! ஸிவவைஸ்ரவணாவபி ।
வருணஸ்சாக்நிரிந்த்ரஸ்ச விஜயம் ப்ரதிஸந்து தே ॥
sōmasūryau ca kākutstha! ṡivavaiṡravaṇāvapi ।
varuṇaṡcāgnirindraṡca vijayaṃ pradiṡantu tē ॥
O descendent of Kākutstha!
May the Moon and Sun, Siva and Kubēra,
Varuna, Agni and Indra bestow success on you, all around!
2.14.53b-54
கதா பகவதீ ராத்ரி: க்ருதம் க்ருத்யமிதம் தவ ।
புத்த்யஸ்வ ந்ருபஸார்தூல! குரு கார்யமநந்தரம் ।
உததிஷ்டத ராமஸ்ய ஸமக்ரமபிஷேசநம் ॥
gatā bhagavatī rātriḥ kṛtaṃ kṛtyamidaṃ tava ।
buddhyasva nṛpaṡārdūla! kuru kāryamanantaram ।
udatiṣṭhata rāmasya samagramabhiṣēcanam ॥
O tiger among kings! The auspicious night has passed.
May you acquaint yourself with all that has been done!
May you perform the task that is to follow!
Everything is made ready for the coronation of Rāma!
2.14.55
பௌரஜாநாபதைஸ்சாபி நைகமைஸ்ச க்ருதாஞ்ஜலி: ।
ஸ்வயம் வஸிஷ்டோ பகவாந்ப்ராஹ்மணை ஸ்ஸஹ திஷ்டதி ॥
paurajānāpadaiṡcāpi naigamaiṡca kṛtāñjaliḥ ।
svayaṃ vaṡiṣṭhō bhagavānbrāhmaṇai ssaha tiṣṭhati ॥
All the people of the towns and countryside and merchants are
waiting with palms cupped in reverence!
Bhagawān Vasishṭha himself, along with
all the Brāhmaṇas, is also waiting.
2.14.56-57
க்ஷிப்ரமாஜ்ஞாப்யதாம் ராஜந்ராகவஸ்யாபிஷேசநம் ।
யதா ஹ்யபாலா: பஸவோ யதா ஸேநா ஹ்யநாயகா ।
யதா சந்த்ரம் விநா ராத்ரிர்யதா காவோ விநா வ்ருஷம் ।
ஏவம் ஹி பவிதா ராஷ்ட்ரம் யத்ர ராஜா ந த்ருஸ்யதே ॥
kṣipramājñāpyatāṃ rājanrāghavasyābhiṣēcanam ।
yathā hyapālāḥ paṡavō yathā sēnā hyanāyakā ।
yathā candraṃ vinā rātriryathā gāvō vinā vṛṣam ।
ēvaṃ hi bhavitā rāṣṭraṃ yatra rājā na dṛṡyatē ॥
O King! May the consecration of Rāma be ordered promptly!
For, a state without a King would be unthinkable,
just as herds without a keeper,
army without a chief, night without a moon,
and cows without a bull are unthinkable!
2.14.58
இதி தஸ்ய வசஸ்ஸ்ருத்வா ஸாந்த்வபூர்வமிவார்தவத் ।
அப்யகீர்யத ஸோகேந பூய ஏவ மஹீபதி:॥
iti tasya vacaṡṡṛtvā sāntvapūrvamivārthavat ।
abhyakīryata ṡōkēna bhūya ēva mahīpatiḥ॥
On hearing those purposeful and gently spoken words,
the ruler of the lands was overwhelmed by even more grief.
2.14.59-60a
தத ஸ்ஸராஜா தம் ஸூதம் ஸந்நஹர்ஷஸ்ஸுதம் ப்ரதி ।
ஸோகரக்தேக்ஷண ஸ்ஸ்ரீமாநுத்வீக்ஷ்யோவாச தார்மிக: ।
வாக்யைஸ்து கலு மர்மாணி மம பூயோ நிக்ருந்தஸி ॥
tata ssarājā taṃ sūtaṃ sannaharṣassutaṃ prati ।
ṡōkaraktēkṣaṇa ṡṡrīmānudvīkṣyōvāca dhārmikaḥ ।
vākyaistu khalu marmāṇi mama bhūyō nikṛntasi ॥
The blessed and Dhārmika king felt no elation
from that extolling by the charioteer.
he looked up at the charioteer with bloodshot eyes and said,
“your words are further wrenching my guts!”
2.14.60b-61a
ஸுமந்த்ர: கருணம் ஸ்ருத்வா த்ருஷ்ட்வா தீநம் ச பார்திவம் ।
ப்ரக்ருஹீதாஞ்ஜலி: கிஞ்சித்தஸ்மாத்தேஸாதபாக்ரமத் ॥
sumantraḥ karuṇaṃ ṡrutvā dṛṣṭvā dīnaṃ ca pārthivam ।
pragṛhītāñjaliḥ kiñcittasmāddēṡādapākramat ॥
Hearing those piteous words and seeing the despondent King,
Sumantra, saluting with cupped palms, took a step back.
2.14.61b-62a
யதா வக்தும் ஸ்வயம் தைந்யாந்ந ஸஸாக மஹீபதி: ।
ததா ஸுமந்த்ரம் மந்த்ரஜ்ஞா கைகேயீ ப்ரத்யுவாச ஹ ॥
yadā vaktuṃ svayaṃ dainyānna ṡaṡāka mahīpatiḥ ।
tadā sumantraṃ mantrajñā kaikēyī pratyuvāca ha ॥
Being in the pitiable condition that he was,
the ruler of the lands could not say anything by himself.
Then Kaikēyee, who had everything planned,
responded to Sumantra:
2.14.62b-63a
ஸுமந்த்ர! ராஜா ரஜநீம் ராமஹர்ஷஸமுத்ஸுக: ।
ப்ரஜாகரபரிஸ்ராந்தோ நித்ராயா வஸமுபேயிவாந் ॥
sumantra! rājā rajanīṃ rāmaharṣasamutsukaḥ ।
prajāgarapariṡrāntō nidrāyā vaṡamupēyivān ॥
O Sumantra! Excited with the joy of Rāma’s coronation,
the King was awake all night, and is tired and sleepy now.
2.14.63b-64a
தத்கச்ச த்வரிதம் ஸூத! ராஜபுத்ரம் யஸஸ்விநம் ।
ராமமாநய பத்ரம் தே நாத்ர கார்யா விசாரணா ॥
tadgaccha tvaritaṃ sūta! rājaputraṃ yaṡasvinam ।
rāmamānaya bhadraṃ tē nātra kāryā vicāraṇā ॥
Hence please go immediately, O charioteer,
and bring Rāma, the well regarded son of the King!
May all bode well for you!
Nothing more, there is, to ponder here!
2.14.64b-65a
ஸ மந்யமாந: கல்யாணம் ஹ்ருதயேந நநந்த ச ।
நிர்ஜகாம ச ஸம்ப்ரீத்யா த்வரிதோ ராஜஸாஸநாத் ॥
sa manyamānaḥ kalyāṇaṃ hṛdayēna nananda ca ।
nirjagāma ca samprītyā tvaritō rājaṡāsanāt ॥
Having nothing but auspicious thoughts on his mind,
he felt happy to hear that royal command.
And he left swiftly with joy, to carry it out.
2.14.65b-66a
ஸுமந்த்ரஸ்சிந்தயாமாஸ த்வரிதம் சோதிதஸ்தயா ।
வ்யக்தம் ராமோऽபிஷேகார்தமிஹாயாஸ்யதி தர்மவித் ॥
sumantraṡcintayāmāsa tvaritaṃ cōditastayā ।
vyaktaṃ rāmō'bhiṣēkārthamihāyāsyati dharmavit ॥
Hastened by her in that manner, Sumantra thought that
Rāma, who knew Dharma,
would certainly come here for consecration!
2.14.66b-67a
இதி ஸூதோ மதிம் க்ருத்வா ஹர்ஷேண மஹதா வ்ருத: ।
நிர்ஜகாம மஹாபாஹோ ராகவஸ்ய தித்ருக்ஷயா ॥
iti sūtō matiṃ kṛtvā harṣēṇa mahatā vṛtaḥ ।
nirjagāma mahābāhō rāghavasya didṛkṣayā ॥
Thinking thus in his mind, the charioteer
left to see the mighty armed Rāma, feeling extremely joyous!
2.14.67b-68a
ஸாகரஹ்ரதஸங்காஸாத்ஸுமந்த்ரோऽந்த:புராச்சுபாத் ।
நிஷ்க்ரம்ய ஜநஸம்பாதம் ததர்ஸ த்வாரமக்ரத: ॥
sāgarahradasaṅkāṡātsumantrō'ntaḥpurācchubhāt ।
niṣkramya janasambādhaṃ dadarṡa dvāramagrataḥ ॥
Emerging from those splendid inner apartments
that seem to be tucked deep under the ocean,
he saw the exit that was crowded by people from all around!
2.14.68
தத: புரஸ்தாத்ஸஹஸா விநிர்கதோ
மஹீபதீந்த்வாரகதோ விலோகயந் ।
ததர்ஸ பௌராந்விவிதாந்மஹாதநா
நுபஸ்திதாந்த்வாரமுபேத்ய விஷ்டிதாந் ॥
tataḥ purastātsahasā vinirgatō
mahīpatīndvāragatō vilōkayan ।
dadarṡa paurānvividhānmahādhanā
nupasthitāndvāramupētya viṣṭhitān ॥
Then he quickly reached the exit and
saw many kings, wealthy people and city folks
that were assembled there.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே சதுர்தஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē caturdaṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the fourteenth Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
You have completed reading 2912 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.
Meaning, notes and commentary by: Krishna Sharma.