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Hari Om.
Let us begin the fourth sarga of the ayOdhyakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Having received a consensus approval for anointment of rAma as the heir apparent from the citizens, king daSaratha summoned rAma to the royal assembly and let him know of the decision to be appointed as the prince regent amidst thunderous applause of the assembled premieres. The king then asks sages vasisTha and vAmadEva to make arrangements. The accomplished sages immediately make the arrangements taking every minute need of the ceremony into account. The city is the very picture of delight in anticipation of the morning that will bring crowning glory to ayOdhya through the crowning of rAma. Onwards…
As the tributary kings and the citizens returned, the king huddled with his council and being an expert in decision making, reiterated that the handsome rAma will be crowned as the heir apparent on the morrow when the star pushya is in conjunction with the moon. The king retired to his inner chambers. Then he summoned sumantra and asked him to bring rAma once again. On the orders of the king, sumantra hastened to the chambers of rAma. The guards at the entrance of rAma’s palace, immediately informed rAma of the arrival of sumantra. rAma got a tad apprehensive, received sumantra and enquired the reason behind his coming a second time. Minister sumantra submitted to rAma that the king wanted to see him and he could decide if he wanted to go or not. On hearing this from sumantra, rAma at once left for the palace of daSaratha and was received immediately in the inner chambers of the king.
The king, embraced him warmly, smelling the scent of his hair (a blessing), made him sit on a high seat and began to speak pleasantly. “O rAma, I have grown old. I have led an eventful life – enjoying everything that I desired, soaked in pleasures, performed hundreds of yajnas, given away wealth in charity, studied the vEdas and am blessed with great and peerless progeny. I have redeemed my debt to the ancestors, Rshis, brAhmins and even to myself. O rAma, you excel everyone else in this world. I have no duty left other than crowning you. Your anointment as the prince regent has been approved unequivocally by all the citizens as well.
Moreover, rAma, I see ominous portents in form of inauspicious dreams in which I see the meteros striking the earth producing thunderous sounds. The soothsayers are of the opinion that the pain-causing planets Sun, Mars and rAhu are in conjunction with my birth star and they infer that a calamity in form of death or otherwise is about to befall on the king. Therefore, before my mind turns fickle or feeble I would like to see you appointed as the heir apparent. Today the constellation punarvasu (rAma’s birth star) is in conjunction with moon and tomorrow it will be the turn of the star pushya. I have strong advice from within to anoint you as the heir apparent tomorrow itself. Therefore O rAma, you shall prepare for the crowning. Stay self-restrained, sleep tonight on a bed of kuSa grass along with sIta. Also, bear in mind, this would not be without it’s possible impediments. Hence cultivate your friends and well wishers and stay safe. I also feel, the time is opportune for your coronation when prince bharata is away. Of course, I do not doubt his virtues, compassion or self-control. He is a staunch follower of his elder brother (rAma). But I never discount the fickleness of human mind! Hence rAma, please return to your abode and get ready for the crowning tomorrow”.
rAma left for his residence and from there immediately he left for the inner chambers of his mother kausalya. There dressed up in bright silk, mother kausalaya was at the altar praying to the gods in deep silence. Already sumitra and lakshmaNa had arrived there and sItA heralded too hearing about the glad tidings of the crowning of rAma. They were attending on mother kausalya who was sitting with eyes half closed and meditating on lord janArdana to confer blessings upon rAma on the occasion of his coronation.
rAma approached her diligently and spoke the words which enhanced her joy – “O mother, I have appointed by father to look after the welfare of people. As per his command, the crowning shall take place tomorrow. I have been instructed to fast along with sItA this night by father and the officiating priests. Please instruct me and vaidEhi on the auspicious prerequisites to be done today before the crowning tomorrow”.
kausalya was in tears of joy upon learning about this long desired wish being fulfilled and spoke indistinctly due to being overjoyed. “My child, rAma, live forever. May your enemies be routed. May you bring glory to my kin and those of sumitra as well. Oh, what a joy! You were born to me in an auspicious star. By your virtues, you have delighted your father, daSaratha. Oh, what a joy! All the stringent vows that I performed to satiate the lord vishNu have not gone in vain as the royal fortune of the ikshvAkus shall take refuge in you”!
After being so blessed by his mother, rAma smilingly looked at lakshmaNa sitting humbly with folded palms and said – “O lakshmaNa, you are my second innerself, hence along with me you shall rule this earth. O saumitri, enjoy the the wealth and the earth to your heart’s content. I desire this life and kingdom for your sake only”!
After thus lovingly speaking to lakshmaNa, rAma along with sIta prostrated at the feet of kausalya and sumitra and they both left for their residence.
Here we conclude the fourth sarga of the ayOdhya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
Next: 2.5. ayOdhyA in anticipation
Previous: 2.3. The coronation beckons
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
