Click on the book for word by word meaning from IITK website
Click on the bow to listen to the audio by SrIrAma ghanApATi
Hari Om.
Let us begin the third sarga of the ayOdhyakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The first two sargas provide an elaborate description of the personality of rAma, his abilities, assured nature, peerless valor, magnanimity, majesty, compassion, values, forbearance, social interaction style and everything that is expected of a ideal person. These attributes were first elaborated by vAlmIki and then the very same sentiments were expressed by the tributary kings and eminent citizens who arrived from various parts of the kingdom. In short, it beautifully captures the enormous mark that rAma had made in the few preceding years in which he helped his father in the matters of administration, endearing himself to his populace even more than his father who was ruling very justly himself! Now the stage is set for crowning rAma as the prince regent. Onwards…
After elaborately touching upon the virtues of rAma [ 2.2. rAma reigns in the hearts of people!] the existence of which in entirety are rare in a human being, the tributary kings and eminent citizens from all over the kingdom, held out their hands prayerfully at the king requesting that rAma be crowned as prince regent. King daSaratha was mighty pleased that his thoughts echoed from the populace with even greater intensity! Accepting their request, and honoring them appropriately, he turned to the preceptors vasisTha and vAmadEva and said – “here is the sacred chaitra month that fills the gardens and forests with floral blossoms. May the arrangements be immediately made for the crowning of rAma as the prince regent”. As soon as the king just said this, there was long and thunderous applause in the assembly. Then as the tumultuous applause subsided gradually, the king addressed sage vasisTha and requested him to make necessary procurements and arrangements for the coronation of rAma.
The lion among sages, vasisTha stood up with folded hands and addressed the king’s men who are key for the arrangements. He gave a detailed description of the requirements for the ceremony which included golden and other jewelry and gems, sacrificial offerings, herbs, garlands of white flowers, rice flakes and parched rice, honey, ghee (clarified butter). And then fresh clothes, chariot carrying all the weaponry followed by the four bands of army including an elephant representing auspiciousness. A hand fan made of feathers, royal mast, royal white parasol, a bull with its horns decorated with gold covering, tiger skin, a hundred glowing golden pots and any other item that is necessary for the conduct of the ceremony are to be arranged at the venue by the morning, said vasisTha.
He further instructed the king’s men that the arches of the inner apartments of the royal palace need to be decorated tastefully and coated with sandalwood paste and lighting of incense sticks emitting fragrance. Let a hundred thousand brahmins be fed rice well cooked with ghee and curds to their heart’s content. The best of brAhmins be offered all the paraphernalia necessary for conduct of yajna the next morning. At the stroke of the dawn tomorrow, the benedictory utterances will commence. By then beautifully dressed dames be assembled in the second chamber of the inner apartments, well dressed and vigilant warriors with long swords take positions in the royal courtyard. Let all the temples be decked up.
Thus, the extremely disciplined sages vasisTha and vAmadEva oversaw every little aspect of the crowning ceremony and ensured that it was done and reported the readiness to the king.
The king then instructed the illustrious and trusted sumantra to bring the self-sure rAma along. The best among charioteers sumantra obliged and immediately left to fetch rAma to the royal court where the king surrounded by tributary and other kings of kingdoms in all directions, was glowing like the lord of gods – indra with the other kings attending up on him. Seated majestically thus, the lord of the earth, sagely daSaratha beheld his beloved son rAma approaching the royal court seated in the chariot.
rAma appeared handsome as the king of the celestial demi-gods the gandharvas and was renowned for his courage. daSaratha beheld the mighty, majestic with the gracious gait of an elephant, countenance pleasing like that of the moon and visual delight that was rAma. He appeared like the rain bearing clouds ready to give respite to people scorched by heat. King daSaratha was not satiated by that mere vision of rAma.
Having reached the majestic court resembling the peaks of the kailAsa mountain, rAma was helped by sumantra to alight from the chariot and graciously walked to his father, bowed down, touched his feet while introducing himself by pronouncing his name.
[it is a custom followed even today to greet elders by uttering pravara which gives information on the lineage, the branch of the vEda one is a student of and finally the name by which one is identified].
King daSaratha immediately lifted his dear son rAma and holding his folded palms in his own, embraced him delightfully. Then the king offered a golden high seat to rAma studded with gems and diamonds. rAma seated on that glorious high seat brought glory to it just like the bright rising sun illumines the mount mEru! That royal assembly appeared like a clear autumnal sky presided over by the moon (rAmachandra!) with twinkling stars and glowing planets.
The king was in bliss seeing rAma seated on the high throne and bringing such glory to the royal assembly and felt he was beholding his own being in a mirror! He then with a delightful smile addressed rAma just like the great kASyapa was addressing lord indra, and said “O rAma, my worthy son born of my worthy wife, you have greatly endeared yourself to me by your virtues. The eminent citizens and tributary kings present here representing every part of our kingdom are also thrilled by your endearing virtues. Therefore, tomorrow, when the star pushya is in conjunction with the moon, you shall assume the responsibility of prince regent of this kingdom”.
And then king daSaratha offered wise counsel to rAma out of his affection even though his son was virtuous. He said – “let humility be your hallmark, be self-controlled, be aware of dangers arising out of lust and greed and stay away from those, may your direct and indirect conduct bring joy to the ministers and the citizens. Ensure that you fill the granaries and the royal exchequer by keeping people happy, loyal and contented. Only such a king brings joy to the citizens, just like the nectar brings joy to the gods. Hence O rAma, conduct yourself with great self restraint and by having your senses under control”.
Hearing these delightful words in the royal assembly, the well wishers of rAma immediately informed the queen kausalya of the glad tidings of the coronation of rAma. That happy mother immediately gave away gold, cows and various gems to the harbingers of this great news about the coronation of rAma.
rAma, after receving advice appropriate to the occasion, bowed down to the king and left for his own abode in his splendid chariot surrounded by celebratory citizens offering him great worship. the citizens felt immensely joyous on this announcement of the coronation of rAma and felt that they have indeed been benefitted by this decision of the king. They all took leave of the king and hastened home in order pay their gratitude to the gods in form of worship for conferring this great gift.
Here we conclude the third sarga of the ayOdhya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
Next: 2.4. How do the parents feel about the crowning?
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 