Rāmāyana | Ayodhyā Kaṇḍa | Chapter 1

Section: II
Ayodhyā Kāṇda [Ayodhyā Section]

[This book starts with proposal for coronation of Rāma as Yuvarāja by Daśaratha. On the advice of Mandāra, Kaikeyi asks Daśaratha two boons - one to crown Bhārata and the other to banish Rāma to the forest. Rāma accordingly goes to forest and settles down in Chitrakūṭa Mountain. Daśaratha dies due to sorrow of parting with his son. Bhārata who is summoned refuses to become the king. He goes to Chitrakūṭa to bring Rāma back. Rāma refuses. Bhārata returns with Sandal of Rāma and makes it a king and rules as its representative from a place called Nandī Grāma. Rāma leaves Chitrakūṭa due to impending trouble from Rākṣasas.]

1. Daśaratha’s Yuvarāja Proposal

[Bhārata leaves to his uncle's place. Due to many good qualities, Rāma becomes the darling of his people. Daśaratha wants to crown him as Yuvarāja and he calls a meeting of the people.]

When Bhārata set out to his uncle's house, he took with him the sinless Śatrughna, the killer of foes. 1.1

Bhārata was honoured and fondled by his uncle who was the lord of the horses and stayed with his brother for a long time. 1.2

While those heroic brothers, though were living life of satisfaction were worried about their old valorous father. 1.3

That great lustrous king also was thinking about his sons Bhārata and Śatrughna, who were far away and who were like Indra and Varuṇa. 1.4

Daśaratha loved equally all his four sons, who originated from his own body. 1.5

Even among them, the lustrous Rāma was liked by his father most and possessing many virtues like The Lord Brahma, who was created by himself. 1.6

Requested by devas, that God desirous of slaying the haughty Ravana, was born indeed in this world of humans. 1.7

Kausalya looked great with her son who had exceedingly great lustre, similar to Āditi along with her son Indra having the Vajra. 1.8

Rāma was endowed with beauty and valour and was free from envy. In virtues he was equal to Daśaratha and was indeed an incomparable son. 1.9

He was daily endowed with peace and spoke in a sweet voice, and though addressed by using harsh words, he would never reply using harsh words. 1.10

Rāma with great self-restraint always remembered the one act of kindness done to him some time or other and forgot even hundred offences done to him. 1.11

Even during intervals when he is not practicing the use of weapons, he always used to talk with Old people who are experts in knowledge and saintly persons. 1.12

Rāma was wise, one who talks sweetly, one who addresses you first, one who talks desirable words.

One who is valorous and one who is not infatuated with valour. 1.13

He was learned, never told lies, one who worships elders of his own accord, one who was liked by his subjects and one who loved them. 1.14

He was kind, one who has conquered anger, one who worshipped Brahmins of his own accord, one who has pity towards suffering people, an expert in Dharma, One who daily controlled his self, and one who is pure. 1.15

He was one, who thought like his race, one who followed the royal dharma and one who believed that he should obtain fame and attain heaven by his deeds. 1.16

He being learned was not interested in actions not leading to welfare, disinterested in shallow talks, and used to talk like one who had control over his words. 1.17

He was young, free from sickness, expert in conversation, one who knew the time and place to do things, one who could judge people and an unsurpassed sage of the world. 1.18

Endowed with such good qualities, that son of a king became well-liked by his people, to whom he appeared as their own soul walking outside their body. 1.19

Thoroughly learning all branches of knowledge, in accordance with tradition, he knew Veda and its branches and that elder brother of Bhārata was a better expert than his father in archery. 1.20

Blessed with auspiciousness, he was obedient to sages, one who spoke only truth, one who is frank, and one who considers himself controllable by Brahmins who were experts in Dharma and Artha. 1.21

An expert in the implications of Dharma, Artha and Kama, he was very intelligent and had excellent memory. He possessed worldly wisdom and was an expert in Vedic rituals. 1.22

He was modest, did not show out his feelings and one who could keep things secret and he had many friends to help him. His anger and joy were never in vain and he knew when to sacrifice and when to show restraint. 1.23

He had firm devotion, controlled emotions and did not accept anything bad. He never spoke bad words, was never lazy, always vigilant and knew his own weaknesses as well as that of others. 1.24

He was an expert in Śastras, was always grateful, a great judge of men, and was skilled in favouring or giving punishment according to law. 1.25

He was an expert in identifying the right people and encouraging them and could identify those who should be punished. He knew the right means to raise revenue and correctly spend the money so raised. 1.26

He had mastery over scriptures as well as those branches of knowledge that were inter connected and sought pleasure only after following Dharma and principles of Artha He never spent his time unnecessarily. 1.27

He was learned in arts and crafts as a means of entertainment and knew how to spend wealth. He was an expert in riding elephants and controlling horses. 1.28

He was an expert archer and was well recognized in driving and control chariots. He knew how to control his army and how to march against his enemies. 1.29

In the battlefield even angry devas and asuras could not rile or upset him, He was never jealous and had a great control over his anger. He was neither proud nor malicious, never insulted a living being and never bowed to others due to pressure. 1.30

Thus endowed with great virtues that prince was a darling of his subjects and was held in great esteem in all the three worlds and in intelligence he was equal to Brihaspati and in Valour Devendra. 1.31

That darling of all his subjects was a source of joy to his father and That Rāma due to his virtues was shining like a sun. 1.32

He who was full of penances was one with undefeatable prowess and was equal to the guardians of earth and was desired by the earth as her king. 1.33

Seeing his son blessed with varied virtues, the king Daśaratha, the destroyer of his enemies started thinking. 1.34

Then that aged king who had a very long life thought "How can Rāma become a king while I am alive? How can I get the pleasure of seeing that?" 1.35

The thought that how he can see his darling son being crowned arose in the mind of the king very often. 1.36

"Rāma has got great desire to increase the welfare of this world and he shows compassion to all people like the rain god and he is dearer than me to my people." 1.37

"He is equal in valour to Indra and Yama, equal in wisdom to Brihaspati, equal in firmness to the mountain and he has more virtues than me." 1.38

"If I am able to see now my son ruling all over the earth, I would be attaining the joy of attaining heaven in this earth." 1.39

King Daśaratha then evaluated Rāma along with his ministers and found many matchless good qualities not found in any king and finding that these qualities are praiseworthy, he decided to crown him as junior king [Prince Reagent]. 1.40-1.41

Then King Daśaratha then told his minister about the bad omens seen in heaven, earth and the sky and thought that old age has conquered his body. 1.42

Then thinking about Rāma with a face like full moon and who was a remover of sorrows and a darling of the people, he thought that if he is crowned his sorrow will come to an end. 1.43

That king, the soul of Dharma, for protecting his as well as his subjects' welfare, realizing that a proper time has come, with great love hastened to perform the coronation of Śrī Rāma. 1.44

The king sent invitations to the people residing in various cities as well as the villagers of the earth including their chiefs as well as various kings. 1.45

The king did not invite the king of Kekaya and Janaka, with a view that they are far away and could hear the joyous news later. 1.46

King Daśaratha adorned himself properly received them respectfully presented them with ornaments and houses and people felt that they were seeing Lord Brahma. 1.47

When Daśaratha, the tormentor of enemies occupied his seat, all other kings who were loved by their subjects entered. 1.48

All those kings occupied their various seats facing king Daśaratha following the royal tradition. 1.49

The king was surrounded by feudatory kings endowed with modesty were well received and residents of cities and villages surrounded and respected the king like devas respect Lord Indra with one thousand eyes. 1.50

This is the end of First Sarga of Ayodhyā Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.