This chapter further describes journey towards the royal palace. On the way Rama hears blessings and well meaning words of his friends and various people gathered there.
sa rāmaḥ ratham āsthāya samprahRṣṭa suhRj janaḥ |
patākādhvajasaṃpannaṃ mahārhagurudhūpitam || 2-17-1
apaśyan nagaram śrīmān nānā jana samākulam |
1. raamaH = Rama; sriimaan the glourious man; samprahR^ishhTa suhR^ijjanaH = having joyful friends; aasthaaya = ascended ; ratham = the chariot; apashyat = saw; nagaram = the city; pataakaadhavaja sampannam = rich with flags and banners; mahaarhaguru dhuupitam = perfumed with excellent befitting wood; naanaajanasamanvitam = endowed with varied types of people.
Rama the glorious man, who was with his joyful friends, ascended the chariot and saw the city which was decorated with flags and banners, which was perfumed all around by burning excellent aloe wood and which was endowed with varied types of people.
sa gRhaiḥ abhra samkāśaiḥ pāṇḍuraiḥ upaśobhitam || 2-17-2
rāja mārgam yayau rāmaḥ madhyena agaru dhūpitam |
2. saH raamaH = that Rama; yayau = went; raajamaargam madhyena = through; middle of royal = passage; agarudhuupitam = which was incensed with aloe wood; upashobhitam = splendid; paN^duraiH grihaiH = with white houses; abhrasaN^kaashaiH = resembling like clouds.
That Rama went through the royal passage which was incensed with aloe wood. That royal street was splendid with white houses resembling clouds.
candanānām ca mukhyānāmagurūṇām ca saṃcayaiḥ || 2-17-3
uttamānām ca gandhānāṃ kṣaumakauśāmbarasya ca |
aviddhābhiśca muktābhiruttamaiḥ sphāṭikairapi || 2-17-4
śobhamānam asambādham tam rāja patham uttamam |
samvRtam vividhaiḥ paṇyaiḥ bhakṣyaiḥ ucca avacaiḥ api || 2-17-5
3;4;5. tam = that; uttamam = excellent; raajapatham = royal route; samvritam = filled with; chandanaanaam = sandal; mukhyaanaam = superior; aguruuNaam = aloe-wood; uttamaanaam = excellent; gandhaanaam = perfumes; kshhoumakaushaam barashya cha = silk and linen cloth; sanchayaiH = heeps of them; aviddhaabhiH = unpiereced; muktaabhiH = unpiereced; muktaabhiH = pearls; uttamaiH = excellent; sphatikairapi = things made of crystal; shobhamaanam = splendid with; vividhaiH = various kinds of; pusshpaiH = flowers; uchaavachaiH = various kinds of; bhakshhaiH = eatables.
Rama entered that excellent royal route, which was filled with sandal, superior aloe-wood, excellent perfumes, silk and linen cloth, heaps of them, unpierced pearls, excellent things made of crystal, splendid with various kinds of flowers and eatables and which was not congested.
dadarśa taṃ rājapathaṃ divi devapatham yathā |
dadhyakṣatahavirlājairdhūpairagurucaṃdanaiḥ || 2-17-6
nānāmālyopagaṃdhaiśca sadābhyarcitacatvaram |
6. dadarsha = (Rama) saw; tam raajapatham = that royal passage; devapatham yathaa = like divine passage; divi = in heaven; abhyarahita chatvaram = whose road junctions were worshipped; sadaa = perpetually; dadhyakshhata havirlaajaiH = with yoghurt; unbroken rice; clarified butter; fried grain; dhuupaiH = incense; aguruchandanaiH = aloe and sandal wood; naanaa maalyopagandhaishcha = and all types of garlands and perfumes.
Rama saw that royal route like divine passage in heaven. All the road junctions there were regularly worshipped with yoghurt, unbroken rice, clarified butter, fried grain, incense, aloe and sandal and all types of garlands and perfumes.
āśīr vādān bahūn śRṇvan suhRdbhiḥ samudīritān || 2-17-7
yathā arham ca api sampūjya sarvān eva narān yayau |
7. shR^iNvan = hearing; bahuun = various; aashiirvaadaan = blessings; samudiiritaan = spoken; suhR^idbhiH = by friends; yayau = (he) went; sampuujyacha = acknowledging; sarvaanena = all; naraan = people; yathaarham = according to merit.
Hearing the various blessing words spoken by his friends, he went acknowledging all those people suitably.
pitāmahaiḥ ācaritam tathaiva prapitāmahaiḥ || 2-17-8
adya upādāya tam mārgam abhiṣiktaḥ anupālaya |
8. abhishhiktaH = get coronated; adya = today; upaadaaya = take; tam maargam = that path; aacharitam = followed pitaamahaiH = by grandfathers; tathaiva = and likewise; prapitaamahaiH = by greatgrandfathers; ampaalaya = and preserve(kingdom).
"Get coronated today, take the path followed by your grandfathers and great grandfathers and rule the kingdom."
yathā sma lālitāḥ pitrā yathā pūrvaiḥ pitāmahaiḥ ||2-17-9
tataḥ sukhataram sarve rāme vatsyāma rājani |
9. raame = Rama; raajanisati = being king; vatsyaamaH = (we shall) dwell; sukhataram = happily further; tataH = than that; pitraa = by father; yathaa = in which way; poshhitaasma = we were ruled; yathaa = by which way; sarvaiH = by all; pitaamahaiH = grandfathers.
"If Rama becomes king, we shall be more happy than when his father ruled and also when his grandfathers ruled.
alamadya hi bhuktena parama arthaiḥ alam ca naḥ || 2-17-10
yathā paśyāma niryāntam rāmam rājye pratiṣṭhitam |
10. pashyaamayadi = if we can see; raamam = Rama; niryaantam = going forth in city; pratisThitam = being established; raajye = in kingdom; adya = today; alam = it is enough; bhuktena = of eating; alam = it is enough; paramaarthaiH = of other concerns.
"If we can see Rama going forth in the city after getting coronated today, it is enough of eating or other activities."
tataḥ hi na priyataram na anyat kiṃcit bhaviṣyati || 2-17-11
yathā abhiṣeko rāmasya rājyena amita tejasaḥ |
11. kimchit = "which anyat = other thing; nabhavishhyati = is not about to be; priyataram = dearer; natt = to us; yathaa = as; abhishhekaH = coronation; raajyena = in kingdom; raamasya = of Rama; annitachetasaH = of unbounded spleadour.
"There is no other dearer thing to us than coronation of Rama of unbounded splendour".
etāḥ ca anyāḥ ca suhRdām udāsīnaḥ kathāḥ śubhāḥ || 2-17-12
ātma sampūjanīḥ śRṇvan yayau rāmaḥ mahā patham |
12. raamaH = Rama; shriNvan = hearing; etaaH = these; anyaashcha = other; shubhaaH = good; kathaaH = tales ; suhR^idaam = from friends; aatma sampuujaniiH = adoring oneself; udaasiinaH = was passive; yayau = went; mahaapatham = in royal route.
Rama, though hearing of these good, words spoken by his friends about himself was passive and went in royal route.
na hi tasmān manaḥ kaścic cakṣuṣī vā nara uttamāt || 2-17-13
naraḥ śaknoti apākraṣṭum atikrānte api rāghave |
13. raaghave atikraante api = though Rama has gone distantly; kashchit naraH = which man; na shaknotihi = was not able; apaakrashhTum = to turn back; chakshhushhii = eyes; manaH = mind; tasmaat = that; narottamaat = best of men.
Though Rama became distant, no one could turn back one's eyes and mind from him, the best of men.
yaśca rāmaṃ na paśyettu yaṃ ca rāmo na paśyati || 2-17-14
nindataḥ sarvalokeṣu svātmāpyenam vigarhate |
14. yashcha = who; napashyethu = did not see; raamam = Rama; yamcha = and to whom; raamaH = Rama; napashyati = did not see; ninditaH = was blamed; sarvalokeshhu = among all people; svaatmaapi = one's mind also; vigarhate = yould blame; enam = oneself.
All the people blamed the one who did not see Rama and the one who was not seen by Rama. Such a person would blame himself of it.
sarveṣām sa hi dharma ātmā varṇānām kurute dayām || 2-17-15
caturṇām hi vayahsthānām tena te tam anuvratāḥ |
15. saH = that Rama; dharmaatmaa = the virtuous; kurute dayaa = took pity on; sarveshhu = all men; chaturNaami = of four; varNaanaam = classes; vayasthaanam = towards the aged; tena = hence; te = they; anuvartaaH = were devoted; tam = to him.
Rama, the virtuous, had compassion towards all the four classes of men and towards the aged people. Hence, they were all devoted to him.
catpuṣpathān devapathāṃścaityānyāyatanāni ca || 2-17-16
pradakṣiṇam pariharan jagāma nṛpatessutaḥ |
16. nnapate sutaH = Rama; the prince jagaama = went; pariharam = by crossing; chatushhpathaan = road junctions; devapathaan = god's paths; chaityaan = sacred trees; aayatanaanicha = and temples; pradakshhiNam = keeping his; right side towards them.
Rama went by crossing road junction, god's paths, sacred trees and temples keeping his right side towards them.
sa rāja kulam āsādya mahā indra bhavana upamam || 2-17-17
prāsādaśpaṅgairvividhaiḥ kailāsaśikharopamaiḥ |
āvārayadbhi rganaṃ vimānairiva pāṇḍuraiḥ || 2-17-18
vardhamānagṛhaiścāpi ratna jālapariṣkṛtaiḥ |
tatpṛthivyāṃ gṛhavaraṃ mahendrasadanopamam || 2-17-19
rāja putraḥ pitur veśma praviveśa śriyā jvalan |
17;18;19. raajaputraH = that Rama; aasaadya = approached; raajakulam = royal abode; pravivesha = entered; tat = that; pituH veshma = father's palace; gR^ihavaram = which was the best palace; jvalan = blazing; shriyaa = with radiance; mahendra sadanopamam = like palace of Indra; the king of celestials pR^ithivyaam = on earth; vividhaiH = various types of ; praasaada shR^iN^gaiH = turrets; shubhaiH = which were auspicious; kailaasa shikharo pamaiH = looking like mount Kailasa; maghasamghopamaiH = as group of clouds; paaNduraiH vimaanairiva = as white heavenly cars; aavaarayadbhiH = covering; gaganam = the sky; vardhamaanagR^ihaishchaapi = also with royal houses named vardhamana; ratnajaala parishhkR^itaiH = adorned with a net of jewels.
Rama approached the royal abode and entered his father's palace which was the best palace with blazing radiance like the palace of king of celestials on earth. All around the house, there were various types turrets looking like Mount Kailasa, as group of clouds, as white heavenly cars touching the sky. There were royal houses named vardhamana which were adorned with a net of precious stones.
sa kakṣyā dhanvibhirguptāstisro.atikramya vājibhiḥ || 2-17-20
padātirapare kakṣye dve jagāma narottamaḥ |
20. saH = that Rama; narottamaH = the best of men; atikramya = crossed vaajibhiH = with horses; tinraH kakshhyaaH = three enclosures; guptaaH = guarded; dhanvibhiH = by men armed with bows; jagaama = got; apare = other; dve kakshhye = two enclosures; guptaaH = guarded; dhanvibhiH = by men armed with bows; jagaama = got; apare = other; dve kakshhye = two enclosures; padaatiH = by foot.
Rama the best of men crossed with chariot three enclosures protected by men armed with bows and moved over the other two enclosures by foot.
sa sarvāḥ samatikramya kakṣyā daśaratha ātmajaḥ || 2-17-21
samnivartya janam sarvam śuddha antaḥ puram abhyagāt |
21. saH dasharathaatmajaH = that Rama; samatikramya = crossed; sarvaaH = all; kakshhyaaH = gates; samnivartya = sent back; sarvam janam = all people; abhyagaat = veached; shuddhaantaH puram = the palace.
That Rama passed over all the gates, sent all the people back and entered the palace.
tasmin praviṣṭe pitur antikam tadā |
janaḥ sa sarvo muditaḥ nRpa ātmaje |
pratīkṣate tasya punaḥ sma nirgamam |
yathā udayam candramasaḥ sarit patiḥ || 2-17-22
22. tadaa = then; tasmin = that; nR^ipaatmaje = prince; pravishhTe = went; antikam = nearer; pituH = to father; saH sarvaH = all those; janaH = people; muditaH = wer delighted; pratiikshhatesma = waited; punaH nirgamam = for exit again;chandramasaH udryam yathaa = as of rising of moon saritpatiH = the ocean.
When Rama went nearer to his father, all the people there were delighted waiting for his return as the ocean waits for raising of the moon.
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|| ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe saptadaśaḥ sargaḥ ||
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