2.16. rAma rules the hearts

Hari Om.

Let us begin the sixteenth sarga of the ayOdhyakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

The city of ayOdhya was unaware of the treacherous exploitation of her boons by kaikEyi leading to the banishment of rAma and crowning of bharata and the king was bound by his righteous word to honor the same. So the citizens continued to rejoice and were gathering for the crowning ceremony. All the arrangements were done. Sun was up. The preceptors and priests were all there. The time of coronation was well nigh, and yet there was no sign of the king anywhere! The minister sumantra, emperor’s confidant ventured in to the inner chambers and tried to wake the king up. The king had no sleep, but all the same, had no face to meet the minister. The queen kaikEyi instructed sumantra to bring the prince rAma immediately. King’s silence was his concurrence. When sumantra was caught between the questioning populace and the unseen king, the king instructed him explicitly to fetch rAma. The loyal minister left for the majestic mansion of rAma which was tastefully decorated and full of festivities. Onwards…

Minister sumantra entered the magnificent edifice of rAma. He was conversant with history and traditions. He made his way to the inner chambers which was less crowded and guarded by sharp and well shaped young men wielding bows and spears. The chambers of the women were guarded by older men. They all stood up in attention out of respect as soon as they saw minister sumantra. The courteous minister asked them to inform rAma that sumantra is at the door waiting for him. At once, they went inside and informed rAma who was with sItA about the advent of sumantra.

Recognizing that sumantra is a confidant of his father daSaratha rAma ordered that the minister be escorted to his presence. The minister beheld effulgent rAma reclined on a golden couch, beautifully adorned and smeared with red sandalwood paste, with sItA standing by his side and fanning him. The looked as pleasing as the moon in conjunction with the star chitra! The loyal and dutiful minister bowed to the heir apparent exhibiting modesty and with folded palms said – “O delightful son of kausalya, your father along with mother kaikEyi wish to see you. You may please go there without delay”.

Prince rAma was pleased. He immediately turned to sItA and said – “it seems like mother kaikEyi, my well wisher and well aware of the king’s intentions is discussing about my coronation with him. She must be urging the king on my behalf. It is our good fortune that the king with his dear wife is surely having a council. And a befitting messenger has been sent to fetch me matching the stature of the council. I shall go there at once. sItA, you rejoice here with your coterie”.

Honored thus by her husband, sItA came until the entrance to see him off and said – “may the king crown you by the eligible brAhmins just like brahma crowned indra. I am keen to see you dressed in the ceremonial deerskin holding the horns of the antelope, sanctified and ready for the vow of the crowning ceremony. may you be protected by indra from the eastern direction, yama from the southern direction, varuNa from the western direction and kubEra from the northern direction”.

Image result for rama and lakshmana — rAma and lakshmaNa. Pic from here.

rAma took leave of her and exited the abode majestically and gracefully like a lion coming out of its cave. Stepping out from his inner chambers, he saw lakshmaNa waiting for him with folded hands. He met his friends and well wishers and after briefly interacting with everyone, he mounted the glorious chariot to head to the abode of kaikEyi to meet the king. Splendid and swift and powerful horses were yoked to that chariot and it was studded with gold and gems. Mounted on that excellent chariot rAma resembled the lord indra. His brother lakshmaNa accompanied him and was fanning him with a fine fan. The chariot emerged from his abode like moon emerging from the clouds. An elaborate convoy made of well decorated and sharp men wielding swords and mounted on horses and elephants rode in front of the chariot heralding the arrival of rAma. The tumultuous sound that emerged from the chariot attracted the attention of the crowd on both sides of the way and they gathered there to catch a glimpse of their darling prince. Women peeped from the windows of their home, yet other graceful women, well dressed, climbed the top of their terraces, bards sang the glory of rAma, people extolled the virtues of the valiant rAma, the repressor of enemies happily. They stated that kausalya would sure be joyous to see her darling son become the heir apparent to the king daSaratha. sItA, whom the populace considered to be the best among women, would be so delighted to be united with him, the best among men, just like the star rOhiNi united with the moon. She must have surely observed multitude of vows to have secured this great fortune of union with rAma. The women standing on the pyols and terraces sang the praise of the enchanting rAma in no uncertain terms. Prince rAma proceeded on the royal chariot listening to the sincere praise of the women. They further stated that if rAma becomes the king, he will rule for a long time and no one will witness anything inauspicious or unpleasant in his rule.

Thus surrounded by the convoy filled with ordered and armed soldiers, mighty elephants, swift horses, singing bards, rAma proceeded listening to the uninhibited praise of the rejoicing citizens and watching over the splendid highway dotted with market places, fairs, shops dealing with gold and gems and crowded with rejoicing citizens.

Here we conclude the sixteenth sarga of the ayOdhya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!

jAi SrIrAma.