Rāmāyana |Ayodhyā Kaṇḍa| Chapter 2
2. Daśaratha's Proposal of Rāma as Yuvarāja
[Daśaratha organizes a meeting of his citizens, ministers, Brahmins as well as kings. He proposes that Rāma should be made Yuvarāja. Not only people approve but defend that decision.]
After that the king of the earth after inviting all the invited people and spoke these nectar like words aimed at their welfare. 2.1
The king who was the lord of men, with a deep, loud, attractive, rumbling and incomparable voice which was like the sound of a drum and rumbling of a cloud addressed the kings and said. 2.2-2.3
"It is well known to you, that this kingdom of mine has been ruled by my predecessors who were great kings and that they looked after their subjects as if they were their children." 2.4
"I, who belong to the Ikshvāku clan whose great kings ruled this earth, want to accomplish complete welfare of all the people of this entire world." 2.5
"While following the path trodden by my ancestors, I also have protected my people by being ever vigilant." 2.6
"Looking after the welfare of all the people under the shadow white flag, my body has become old." 2.7
"Having spent thousands of years of my life, this body has decayed and so I am desirous of taking rest." 2.8
"I have become greatly exhausted by carrying the burden of the rule of dharma with great might and courage, which cannot be done by those who have not won over their sense organs." 2.9
"So I wish, after convincing all those who have assembled here including the learned Brahmins, to consecrate my son to look after the welfare of the people and then take rest." 2.10
"My eldest son Rāma, the conqueror of enemy cities, who is equal to Indra in prowess, has indeed inherited all my virtues." 2.11
"I am pleased to install the upholder of Dharma and the greatest among men Rāma, who resembles the moon, as my Yuvarāja [Heir apparent / prince in waiting] on the day whose star is Pushyam [Poosam]." 2.12
"If that elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa who has a great lustre is made the king, all the three worlds would get a better king." 2.13
"When such a son like Rāma is entrusted the welfare of the three worlds without any delay, I would become relieved of all my worries." 2.14
"This well thought out decision, though it is favourable to my thoughts, you all should give your consent, as to what decision I should take?" 2.15
"Though this decision is one which I like, please think over and tell me any other method that would bring prosperity to our country, as an open discussion will bring prosperity." 2.16
Hearing these words from the king, the other kings became happy and like a peacock producing pleasing sound on seeing a thick cloud, welcomed the decision. 2.17
The affectionate sounds of joy filled cries of the multitude of people which came from that hall seemed to shake that place. 2.18
Hearing the opinion of Daśaratha who was expert in Dharma Śastras, all Brahmins, chiefs of people and other citizens, deliberated jointly and knowing each other's mind came to an unanimous conclusion and addressed king Daśaratha as follows. 2.19-2.20
"Oh king you are our old ruler who is thousands of year old and so consecrate Rāma as our Yuvarāja of this kingdom." 2.21
"We desire that the great hero, who is a well-armed valorous one of Raghu clan, should ride on the elephant with his shadow falling on the royal flag." 2.22
Hearing these words from them, pretending that he was not aware of the wish of their mind, Daśaratha asked them. 2.23
"Oh kings, as soon as you all heard my words, you have expressed your desire to make Rāma the king, and this creates a doubt in my mind, whether you have said it in the present context." 2.24
"When I am ruling this earth following Dharma, why are you desiring to make my son as Yuvarāja, Please explain." 2.25
All the great people there as well as the citizens said, "Your son has several auspicious qualities which will make him a great king." 2.26
"Oh king, please listen, we shall now speak about the good virtues Rāma who is blessed with good qualities, who is brave and who is like devas and who has happiness to others." 2.27
"Oh king, Rāma by his divine virtues is equal to Indra, truly valorous one and is greatly distinguished among the members of Ikshvāku clan." 2.28
"Rāma is a good man of the world, one who follows Dharma with sincerity, and even Dharma attains fulfilment in him along with prosperity." 2.29
"As far as welfare of people is concerned he is like the moon, in patience he is like earth, in wisdom he is equal to Brihaspati and in valour, he is equal to Indra." 2.30
"He is a follower of Dharma, a votary of truth, a man with good conduct who is free from envy, one with patience, one who consoles others, gentle, grateful, and one who has control over his sense organs." 2.31
"Rāma is soft, stable in thoughts, always humble, envy less, sweet conversationalist with human beings, votary of truth, one having great knowledge of Śāstras, one who serves Brahmins and elderly people, one with matchless fame and one with growing lustre in this world." 2.32-2.33
"He is most competent in using weapons among all devas, asuras and one who has properly learned all knowledge like penance and a learned one in shastras, Vedas and all their branches." 2.34
"That elder brother of Bhārata is the greatest expert in music in this world and he is pious, one of noble descent, one whose mind is free from meanness and a very intelligent one." 2.35
"He is an expert in Dharma and Artha, has been well instructed in all matters by best of Brahmins and whenever he and Lakṣmaṇa participate in war for a village or town, they never return without victory." 2.36
"When returns from the battle field either on an elephant or on a chariot, always he enquires about the welfare like his own relative and he also enquires about their son, sacred fire, wives, servants and disciples in great detail according to the protocol." 2.37-2.38
"That tiger among men Rāma always asks us whether our disciples obey us and also whether they are doing their job properly." 2.39
'Rāma becomes very sad at the misfortunes of people and becomes happy like our own father on happy occasions." 2.40
"He is an votary of truth, a great archer, one who serves senior citizens, one who has won over his sense organs, one who speaks with a smiling face and one who sincerely follows Dharma." 2.41
"He brings about unity of people and not interested in creating clashes of opinions and is as eloquent as Brihaspati in debates." 2.42
"Rāma who attracts the entire world, has charming eye brows and copper coloured eyes and blessed with Valour, courage and heroism and looks like Lord Vishnu to us." 2.43
"He is learned in the principles of administration of peoples, and passion does not over power his senses and he is capable of ruling all the three worlds and so of ruling only earth?" 2.44
"His emotions like anger or love do not go waste and he puts to death those who deserve to doe according to justice and does not get upset over those who deserve mercy." 2.45
"Whenever a person makes him happy, he makes him wealthy and Like the Lord Sun with his great lustre, Rāma also shines and he is serene, the lord of all people and one who causes happiness to the good people." 2.46-2.47
"Rāma is full of all good qualities, truly valorous, incomparable ruler and will not the earth thirst for such a ruler?" 2.48
"Oh king Daśaratha, due to your great fortune you got a son like him and he looks like the great son Kaśyapa born to Mārīcha." 2.49
"Gandharvas, devas, asuras human beings, Uragas along with all the people living in cities as well as villages and people who are living in neighbouring countries wish Rāma with strength, health and long life." 2.50-2.51
"Women, old people, young girls without fail during morning and evening are saluting all devas for the sake of the very famous Rāma." 2.52
"Oh god like king, Let their prayer be fulfilled, because of your effort in this direction. We all would like to see the son of a great king like you, with a black colour of a blue lotus, who punishes all his enemies as our Yuvarāja." 2.53
"Oh king who fulfils our wishes, you should with a joyful heart install your son who is equal to the god of gods [Vishnu] who is interested in the welfare of the entire world and one who welcomes nobility as your heir for the welfare of all of us without delay." 2.54
This is the end of Second Sarga of Ayodhyā Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.