Sarga 1

गच्छता मातुलकुलं भरतेन तदाऽनघ। शत्रुघ्नो नित्यशत्रुघ्नो नीतः प्रीतिपुरस्कृतः।।2.1.1।।

Bharata set out for his maternal uncle's house. He took with him the sinless Satrughna who is always...

तत्र न्यवसद्भ्रात्रा सह सत्कारसत्कृतः। मातुलेनाश्वपतिना पुत्रस्नेहेन लालितः।।2.1.2।।

Treated with warm hospitality and fatherly affection by his maternal uncle Aswapati, Bharata stayed ...

तत्रापि निवसन्तौ तौ तर्प्यमाणौ च कामतः। भ्रातरौ स्मरतां वीरौ वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम्।।2.1.3।।

Though both the heroic brothers stayed there satisfied on their own they constantly remembered their...

राजाऽपि तौ महातेजा स्सस्मार प्रोषितौ सुतौ। उभौ भरतशत्रुघ्नौ महेन्द्रवरुणोपमौ।।2.1.4।।

The glorious king Dasaratha also remembered his sons, Bharata and Satrughna, who were like the grea...

सर्व एव तु तस्येष्टा श्चत्वारः पुरुषर्षभाः। स्वशरीराद्विनिर्वृत्ताश्चत्वार इव बाहवः।।2.1.5।।

Dasaratha, a bull among men, loved all his four sons equally just as the arms of his own body.

तेषामपि महातेजा रामो रतिकरःपितुः। स्वयम्भूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः।।2.1.6।।

Even among them the brilliant Rama was a source of delight to his father like the Selfborn (Brahma) ...

स हि देवैरुदीर्णस्य रावणस्य वधार्थिभिः। अर्थितो मानुषे लोके जज्ञे विष्णुस्सनातनः।।2.1.7।।

Entreated by the devatas desirous of slaying arrogant Ravana, the eternal Visnu was indeed born in t...

कौशल्या शुशुभे तेन पुत्रेणामिततेजसा। यथा वरेण देवानामदितिर्वज्रपाणिना।।2.1.8।।

Kausalya looked splendid with her son, Rama of boundless energy, as did Aditi with the chief of the ...

स हि रूपोपपन्नश्च वीर्यवाननसूयकः। भूमौवनुपमस्सूनुर्गुणैर्दशरथोपमः।।2.1.9।।

Endowed with beauty and strengh, free from envy, and in virtues equal to Dasaratha, Rama was verily ...

स तु नित्यं प्रशान्तात्मा मृदुपूर्वं च भाषते। उच्यमानोऽपि परुषं नोत्तरं प्रतिपद्यते।।2.1.10।।

With an unfailing serenity of mind, Rama never paid back harshness with harshness.

कथञ्चिदुपकारेण कृतेनैकेन तुष्यति। न स्मरत्यपकाराणां शतमप्यात्मवत्तया।।2.1.11।।

Gifted with selfrestraint, Rama was pleased even with a single benefit done somehow to him, yet did ...

शीलवृद्धैर्ज्ञानवृद्धैर्वयोवृद्धैश्च सज्जनैः। कथयन्नास्त वै नित्यमस्त्रयोग्यान्तरेष्वपि।।2.1.12।।

Even during intervals of his practice of weapons he never failed to interact with saintly persons a...

बुद्धिमान्मधुराभाषी पूर्वभाषी प्रियंवदः। वीर्यवान्न च वीर्येण महता स्वेन विस्मितः।।2.1.13।।

Wise and softspoken, he was the first to speak to others words pleasing to hear. Though mighty, he w...

नचानृतकथो विद्वान् वृद्धानां प्रतिपूजकः। अनुरक्तः प्रजाभिश्च प्रजाश्चाप्यनुरञ्जते।।2.1.14।।

Rama never told lies. He was a learned man. He honoured elders by going forward to them. He loved hi...

सानुक्रोशो जितक्रोधो ब्राह्मणप्रतिपूजकः। दीनानुकम्पी धर्मज्ञो नित्यं प्रग्रहवांश्चुचिः।।2.1.15।।

He was kindhearted and compassionate to the distressed, coolheaded and righteous. A worshipper of br...

कुलोचितमतिः क्षात्रं धर्मं स्वं बहुमन्यते। मन्यते परया कीर्त्या महत्स्वर्गफलं ततः।।2.1.16।।

He entertained thoughts befitting his (great) dynasty and honoured the code of conduct of a kshatriy...

नाऽऽश्रेयसि रतो विद्वान्नविरुद्धकथारुचिः। उत्तरोत्तरयुक्तौ च वक्ता वाचस्पतिर्यथा।।2.1.17।।

A learned man, he evinced no interest in pursuits that did not contribute to one's welfare or had he...

अरोगस्तरुणो वाग्मी वपुष्मान्देशकालवित्। लोके पुरुषसारज्ञ स्साधुरेको विनिर्मितः।।2.1.18।।

 He was young, eloquent, healthy and free from disease. He was conscious of (right) time and place ...

स तु श्रेष्ठैर्गुणैर्युक्तः प्रजानां पार्थिवात्मजः। बहिश्चर इव प्राणो बभूव गुणतः प्रियः।।2.1.19।।

Bestowed with such excellent qualities, the prince (Rama) became a favourite of his subjects. He wa...

सम्यग्विद्याव्रतस्नातो यथावत्साङ्गवेदवित्। इष्वस्त्रे च पितु श्श्रेष्ठो बभूव भरताग्रजः।।2.1.20।।

With the appropriate sacred ablution marking the completion of the vow relating to the respective br...

कल्याणाभिजन स्साधुरदीन स्सत्यवागृजुः। वृद्धैरभिविनीतश्च द्विजैर्धर्मार्थदर्शिभिः।।2.1.21।।

Born in a family of noble descent, he was saintly. A man without meanness.He was truthful and a man ...

धर्मकामार्थतत्त्वज्ञः स्मृतिमान्प्रतिभानवान्। लौकिके समयाचारे कृतकल्पो विशारदः।।2.1.22।।

He knew the true nature of dharma, artha and kama. With a sharp memory, he was a genius. He was hig...

निभृत स्संवृताकारो गुप्तमन्त्र स्सहायवान्। अमोघक्रोधहर्षश्च त्यागसंयमकालवित्।।2.1.23।।

He (Rama) was modest and did not reveal his inner feelings. He counselled in secrecy and had good fr...

दृढभक्ति स्स्थिरप्रज्ञो नासद्ग्राही न दुर्वचाः। निस्तन्द्रिरप्रमत्तश्च स्वदोषपरदोषवित्।।2.1.24।।

 He was firm in his devotion and steady in intellect. He accepted nothing ignoble nor used bad word...

शास्त्रज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च पुरुषान्तरकोविदः। यः प्रग्रहानुग्रहयोर्यथान्यायं विचक्षणः।।2.1.25।।

He was versed in scriptures. He was grateful (to those who did him some good) and skilled in differe...

सत्सङ्ग्रहप्रग्रहणे स्थानविन्निग्रहस्य च। आयकर्मण्युपायज्ञ स्सन्दृष्टव्ययकर्मवित्।।2.1.26।।

He was skilled in receiving and encouraging the righteous and in punishing (the wicked). He knew w...

श्रैष्ठ्यं शास्त्रसमूहेषु प्राप्तो व्यामिश्रकेषु च। अर्थधमौ च सङ्गृह्य सुखतन्त्रो न चालसः।।2.1.27।।

He obtained proficiency in scriptures and interconnected (mutually contradictory) branches of learni...

वैहारिकाणां शिल्पानां विज्ञाताऽऽर्थविभागवित्। आरोहे विनये चैव युक्तो वारणवाजिनाम्।।2.1.28।।

He had understanding of art and craft useful for entertainment. He knew proper ways of dispensing w...

धनुर्वेदविदां श्रेष्ठो लोकेऽतिरथसम्मतः। अभियाता प्रहर्ता च सेनानयविशारदः।।2.1.29।।

He was the best among those skilled in archery in this world. He was reckoned as a great wielder of ...

अप्रधृष्यश्च सङ्ग्रामे क्रुध्दैरपि सुरासुरैः। अनसूयो जितक्रोधो न दृप्तो न च मत्सरी। न चावमन्ता भूतान...

He was incapable of being repressed even by the enraged devatas or rakshasas in the battle. He was f...

एवं श्रेष्ठगुणैर्युक्तः प्रजानां पार्थिवात्मजः। सम्मतस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वसुधायाः क्षमागुणैः।।2.1.31।। ब...

Thus endowed with such excellent qualities, the subjects in the three worlds held him in high esteem...

तथा सर्वप्रजाकान्तैः प्रीतिसंजननैः पितुः।।2.1.32।। गुणैर्विरुरुचे रामो दीप्तस्सूर्य इवांशुभिः।

Rama whose virtues were cherished by all his subjects was a source of delight to his father and he s...

तमेवं व्रतसम्पन्नमप्रधृष्यपराक्रमम्।।2.1.33।। लोक पालोपमं नाथमकामयत मेदिनी।

The earth desired him as her lord, for he was bestowed with such avowed virtues and with indomitable...

एतैस्तु बहुभिर्युक्तं गुणैरनुपमैस्सुतम्।।2.1.34।। दृष्ट्वा दशरथो राजा चक्रे चिन्तां परन्तपः।

Observing his son endowed with such innumerable and incomparable virtues, king Dasaratha, subduer of...

अथ राज्ञो बभूवैवं वृद्धस्य चिरजीविनः।।2.1.35।। प्रीतिरेषा कथं रामो राजा स्यान्मयि जीवति।

Thereafter, flashed in the mind of that aged king who had (already) lived long this pleasant thought...

एषा ह्यस्य परा प्रीतिर्हृदि संपरिवर्तते।।2.1.36।। कदा नाम सुतं द्रक्ष्याम्यभिषिक्तमहं प्रियम्।

The thought of seeing his dear son coronated repeatedly surfaced his mind so great was his affection...

वृद्धिकामो हि लोकस्य सर्वभूतानुकम्पनः।।2.1.37।। मत्तः प्रियतरो लोके पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान्।

(He said to himself) 'his (Rama's) only desire is to promote the prosperity of this world. He is one...

यमशक्रसमो वीर्ये बृहस्पतिसमो मतौ।।2.1.38।। महीधरसमो धृत्यां मत्तश्च गुणवत्तरः।

'In prowess he is equal to Yama and Indra,in wisdom to Brihaspati and in firmness to a mountain and ...

महीमहमिमां कृत्स्नामधितिष्ठन्तमात्मजम्।।2.1.39।। अनेन वयसा दृष्ट्वा यथास्वर्गमवाप्नुयाम्।

'Seeing my son ruling this entire dominion of the earth, I will experience the bliss of attaining he...

इत्येतैर्विविधैस्तैस्तैरन्यपार्थिवदुर्लभैः।।2.1.40।। शिष्टैरपरिमेयैश्च लोके लोकोत्तरैर्गुणैः। तं समी...

King Dasaratha in consultation with his ministers observed that Rama is endowed with various virtue...

इत्येतैर्विविधैस्तैस्तैरन्यपार्थिवदुर्लभैः।।2.1.40।। शिष्टैरपरिमेयैश्च लोके लोकोत्तरैर्गुणैः। तं समी...

King Dasaratha in consultation with his ministers observed that Rama is endowed with various virtue...

दिव्यन्तरिक्षे भूमौ च घोरमुत्पातजं भयम्।।2.1.42।। स़ञ्चचक्षेऽथ मेधावी शरीरे चात्मनो जराम्।

The sagacious king, too perceived his body ageing and the portentous omens in the heaven, in the sky...

पूर्णचन्द्राननस्याथ शोकापनुदमात्मनः।।2.1.43।। लोके रामस्य बुबुधे सम्प्रियत्वं महात्मनः।

The king realised afterwards that his grief would be dispelled if noble Rama whose countenance resem...

आत्मनश्च प्रजानां च श्रेयसे च प्रियेण च।।2.1.44।। प्राप्तकालेन धर्मात्मा भक्त्या त्वरितवान् नृपः।

Longing for it, the noble king realized that the time was ripe for the acceleration of the process o...

नानानगरवास्तव्यान्पृथग्जानपदानपि।।2.1.45।। समानिनाय मेदिन्याः प्रधानान्पृथिवीपतीन्।

He summoned individually kings and all important citizens residing in various cities and villages of...

न तु केकयराजानं जनकं वा नराधिपः।।2.1.46।। त्वरया चानयामास पश्चात्तौ श्रोष्यतः प्रियम्।

The king did not invite both the kings of Kekaya and Janaka in haste with an intention that they ...

तान्वेश्मनानाभरणैर्यथाऽर्हं प्रतिपूजितान्।।2.1.47।। ददर्शालङ्कृतो राजा प्रजापतिरिव प्रजाः।

The king who received them in a befitting manner and provided them with residence and ornaments look...

अथोपविष्टे नृपतौ तस्मिन्परबलार्दने।।2.1.48।। ततः प्रविविशु श्शेषा राजानो लोकसम्मताः।

After the king (Dasaratha) who was a tormenter of enemy forces was seated, the rest of the kings bel...

अथ राजवितीर्णेषु विविधेष्वासनेषु च।।2.1.49।। राजानमेवाभिमुखाः निषेदुर्नियता नृपाः।

Then the kings (who entered the assembly) took the seats assigned to them facing the king (Dasarath...

सलब्धमानैर्विनयान्वितैर्नृपैः पुरालयैर्जानपदैश्च मानदैः। उपोपविष्टैर्नृपतिर्वृतो बभौ सहस्रचक्षुर्भगव...

Surrounded by those feudatory kings endowed with modesty, and received with due honour and by the re...