Sumitri embraced her son, remembering his devotion to Râma’s feet.
Kaikeyi too embraced Râma, but with a heart sadly ill at ease.
Lakshman embraced the royal dames one and all and with joy received their blessing; but though he embraced Kaikeyi again and again, her anguish of soul still continued.
Sita saluted each of her mothers-in-law and rejoiced greatly to kiss their feet.
They asked of her welfare and invoked upon her the blessing: “May Your happy wedded life last for ever.”
All gazed on Raghupati’s lotus face and out of regard for the auspiciousness of the day checked the tears that rose in their eyes.
They waved above his head their golden salvers and sacrificial lamps and again and again contemplated his divine person.
They scattered all round about him every kind of offering, their hearts full of supreme felicity.
Time after time Kausalya fixed her gaze on Râma, so pitiful and so valiant, and kept pondering within herself: “How can He have killed the king of Lankâ? My two boys are so daintily delicate; is it possible they can have slain the demon’s doughtiest champions?”
Dohâ 8.
Her maternal heart was overwhelmed with felicity as she looked upon the Lord, Lakshman and Sita, and every limb quivered with emotion.
Chaupai
Vibhishan, Sugriva, Nala and Nila, Jambavan and the generous Angad, with Hanuman and all the other monkey chiefs, assumed beautiful human forms. With most reverent devotion, every one told the tale of Bharat's loving disposition, his penance and vow. When they saw the citizens' mode of life, they extolled them also for their attachment to their Lord's feet. Then Rama summoned all his comrades and bade them kiss the feet of the saint. “The guru Vasishtha is highly to be reverenced by all my race; it is by his favour that we slew the demons in the battle. But hearken, holy Sir, all these my comrades were the raft that bore me safely out of the waves of the battle. For my sake they lost their lives and they are more dear to me even than Bharat.” On hearing the Lord's words, all were greatly overcome. Every moment gave birth to some new rapture.
Kaikeyi too embraced Râma, but with a heart sadly ill at ease.
Lakshman embraced the royal dames one and all and with joy received their blessing; but though he embraced Kaikeyi again and again, her anguish of soul still continued.
Sita saluted each of her mothers-in-law and rejoiced greatly to kiss their feet.
They asked of her welfare and invoked upon her the blessing: “May Your happy wedded life last for ever.”
All gazed on Raghupati’s lotus face and out of regard for the auspiciousness of the day checked the tears that rose in their eyes.
They waved above his head their golden salvers and sacrificial lamps and again and again contemplated his divine person.
They scattered all round about him every kind of offering, their hearts full of supreme felicity.
Time after time Kausalya fixed her gaze on Râma, so pitiful and so valiant, and kept pondering within herself: “How can He have killed the king of Lankâ? My two boys are so daintily delicate; is it possible they can have slain the demon’s doughtiest champions?”
Dohâ 8.
Her maternal heart was overwhelmed with felicity as she looked upon the Lord, Lakshman and Sita, and every limb quivered with emotion.
Chaupai
Vibhishan, Sugriva, Nala and Nila, Jambavan and the generous Angad, with Hanuman and all the other monkey chiefs, assumed beautiful human forms. With most reverent devotion, every one told the tale of Bharat's loving disposition, his penance and vow. When they saw the citizens' mode of life, they extolled them also for their attachment to their Lord's feet. Then Rama summoned all his comrades and bade them kiss the feet of the saint. “The guru Vasishtha is highly to be reverenced by all my race; it is by his favour that we slew the demons in the battle. But hearken, holy Sir, all these my comrades were the raft that bore me safely out of the waves of the battle. For my sake they lost their lives and they are more dear to me even than Bharat.” On hearing the Lord's words, all were greatly overcome. Every moment gave birth to some new rapture.
Then they bowed the head at Kausalya's feet, who rejoiced to give them her blessing, saying, “You are as dear to me as Rama.” The heaven was obscured with the showers of flowers as the Root of joy took his way to the palace, while all the fairest ladies in the city mounted the tops of the houses to see him.
Chaupai
They made ready all kinds of golden bowls, which they took and set every one at her own door. They busied themselves with wreaths of flowers, flags and banners, all to make a glad show. The roads were all watered with perfumes, and innumerable mystic squares were drawn and filled in with the finest pearls. Every kind of festive preparation was taken in hand; the city was en fête and all sorts of music were heard. In different places women scattered their offerings on his path, invoking blessings upon him with their hearts full of joy. Girls wave over his head their golden salvers and sacrificial lamps, singing sweetly the while, salvers for him the salve of every ill, the Sun of the lotus growth of Raghu's line. The beauty, the wealth, the magnificence of the city would be a theme for the Vedas, or Sesh-nag, or Sarada; but the spectacle was too much even for them; how then can any man, Uma, be able to describe its glory?
Chaupai
They made ready all kinds of golden bowls, which they took and set every one at her own door. They busied themselves with wreaths of flowers, flags and banners, all to make a glad show. The roads were all watered with perfumes, and innumerable mystic squares were drawn and filled in with the finest pearls. Every kind of festive preparation was taken in hand; the city was en fête and all sorts of music were heard. In different places women scattered their offerings on his path, invoking blessings upon him with their hearts full of joy. Girls wave over his head their golden salvers and sacrificial lamps, singing sweetly the while, salvers for him the salve of every ill, the Sun of the lotus growth of Raghu's line. The beauty, the wealth, the magnificence of the city would be a theme for the Vedas, or Sesh-nag, or Sarada; but the spectacle was too much even for them; how then can any man, Uma, be able to describe its glory?
Rama's absence, like the heat of the sun, had withered the lily-like fair in the Avadh lake; at sunset they blossomed again, at the sight of the moon-god Rama. Every conceivable auspicious omen occurred and music resounded in the sky, as the Lord God moved to the palace, a father restored to his people.
Chaupai
The Lord knew Kaikeyi was ashamed and went to her house first, Bhavani. After comforting her and putting her thoroughly at ease, Hari went on to his own apartments. The All-merciful entered the palace, and every man and woman in the city was happy once more. The guru Vasishtha then called the Brahmans. “The day and the hour are now most auspicious; give the glad order, all ye Brahmans, that Ramchandra to-day take his seat upon the throne.” On hearing Vasishtha's gracious address, the Brahmans were all highly pleased, and the multitude of them made seemly response, “Rama's inauguration is the desire of the whole world. Now, best of saints, make no delay, but sign the king with the sign of sovereignty.”
The saint thereupon ordered Sumantra, who no sooner heard than he went with joy and quickly got ready a multitude of chariots, elephants and horses. Then he despatched messengers in every direction to borrow stores of all good things, and lastly came himself with joy and bowed his head at Vasishtha's feet.
Chaupai
The Lord knew Kaikeyi was ashamed and went to her house first, Bhavani. After comforting her and putting her thoroughly at ease, Hari went on to his own apartments. The All-merciful entered the palace, and every man and woman in the city was happy once more. The guru Vasishtha then called the Brahmans. “The day and the hour are now most auspicious; give the glad order, all ye Brahmans, that Ramchandra to-day take his seat upon the throne.” On hearing Vasishtha's gracious address, the Brahmans were all highly pleased, and the multitude of them made seemly response, “Rama's inauguration is the desire of the whole world. Now, best of saints, make no delay, but sign the king with the sign of sovereignty.”
The saint thereupon ordered Sumantra, who no sooner heard than he went with joy and quickly got ready a multitude of chariots, elephants and horses. Then he despatched messengers in every direction to borrow stores of all good things, and lastly came himself with joy and bowed his head at Vasishtha's feet.
Chaupai
When the city of Avadh had been decorated, the gods rained down a continuous shower of flowers. Rama called and directed his servants, “Go first and assist my comrades at their bath.” On receiving this order, his people ran in every direction and quickly bathed Sugriva and the rest. Next the all-merciful Rama summoned Bharat and with his own hands untied his knotted coil of hair; the Lord then proceeded to bathe all his three brothers, even he the gracious Raghu-rai, the cherisher of all pious souls. The blessedness of Bharat, the meekness of the Lord—not a hundred myriads of Sesh-nags would be able to declare. Finally Rama unloosed his own matted hair and, after receiving the guru's permission, himself bathed. After his bath the Lord put on his ornaments; the beauty of his every limb outshining a myriad Loves.
Forthwith Janaki was attended in the bath with all reverence by her mothers-in-law, who attired her in heavenly apparel with rich jewels for every part of her body. As she shone forth on Rama's left side, the Goddess Lakshmi herself, full of beauty and goodness, the royal dames were all overjoyed at the sight and thought their life had been well worth living. Hearken, Garur; upon this occasion Brahma, Siva and all the gods and saints mounted their chariots and came to have a sight of the Blessed One.
When the city of Avadh had been decorated, the gods rained down a continuous shower of flowers. Rama called and directed his servants, “Go first and assist my comrades at their bath.” On receiving this order, his people ran in every direction and quickly bathed Sugriva and the rest. Next the all-merciful Rama summoned Bharat and with his own hands untied his knotted coil of hair; the Lord then proceeded to bathe all his three brothers, even he the gracious Raghu-rai, the cherisher of all pious souls. The blessedness of Bharat, the meekness of the Lord—not a hundred myriads of Sesh-nags would be able to declare. Finally Rama unloosed his own matted hair and, after receiving the guru's permission, himself bathed. After his bath the Lord put on his ornaments; the beauty of his every limb outshining a myriad Loves.
Forthwith Janaki was attended in the bath with all reverence by her mothers-in-law, who attired her in heavenly apparel with rich jewels for every part of her body. As she shone forth on Rama's left side, the Goddess Lakshmi herself, full of beauty and goodness, the royal dames were all overjoyed at the sight and thought their life had been well worth living. Hearken, Garur; upon this occasion Brahma, Siva and all the gods and saints mounted their chariots and came to have a sight of the Blessed One.