Yudha Kandam 128- Sri Rama Pattabhishekam

Yudha Kanda  (contd)

128.Sri Rama Pattabhishekam  (Crowning of Rama)

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

Bharata , who increased the happiness of Kaikeyi  , saluting by  raising his hands above his head and  joining them together,   spoke   to Rama who was his elder brother   and  who was truly brave man .

                                                                                                                                                                         128.1

“You honouring the words of my mother gave this kingdom to me   and now similarly I am giving it back   similar to how you gave it to me.”                                                                                                            128.2

“Unlike a strong bull which can carry it for a long distance, I who am like a young bull   cannot carry this burden anymore.”                                                                                                                                        128.3

“I think that that cracks occurring in a kingdom are as difficult to control as   a breached   badly constructed dam   trying to stop a very big stream of water.”                                                             128.4

“Oh valorous killer of enemies  I am not able to follow the path shown by any more  like  a donkey  cannot follow   the gallop of the horse  a crow   trying to take   the chase of wild geese.”           128.5

“Oh great one ,  Oh king of men,   similar  to a tree planted in the  backyard of one’s house  ,  after   it grows well  with a huge trunk  and large branches  and is difficult to climb  but  does not yield   any fruit   and dries up after  flowering  and   thus not permitting   the one who planted it to enjoy its fruit would be an analogy   to you, if you do not rule over us ,  who are your servants. I hope you   understand the implication.”                                                                                                                                         128.6-128.8

“Oh  Raghava   , today  let  the world see   you, who is like  the lustrous sun   shining at noon,   being crowned  .”                                                                                                                                                       128.9

May you relax and wake up too, to the sounds of an ensemble of musical instruments, the tinkling of ornaments strung with tiny bells and worn around the waist and anklets as well as sweet recital of songs.                                                                                                                                                            128.10

“You be the  king of  all the  world    as long as   this world revolves   and as long as   this earth exists.”

                                                                                                                                                                        128.11

After Rama , the one who conquered enemy cities,  heard   the words of Bharata  he  accepted   it saying , “So be it”   and sat on that auspicious seat.                                                                                           128.12

Then as per the words of Shatrugna  expert barbers  with   gentle hands   who can do their work in great speed   surrounded   Rama.                                                                                                                       128.13

First Bharata  took bath  , then the very  strong  Lakshmana  ,  Sugreeva  the king of monkeys   and Vibheeshana   the king of Rakshasas also took their bath. Rama’s matted hair   was disentangled  and then he took bath and stood there  shining  with splendour   and adorned   with variety of garlands  and applied        with  sandal paste  and clothed in very   costly apparels.                                 128.14-128.15

That valorous and charming  one (Shatrugna) ., the one  who increased the happimess Ikshuvaku clan  made arrangements for personal   adornment of Rama and Lakshmana.                                               128.16

Then all the noble minded  wives of Dasaratha    decorated themselves personally    the very pretty Sita. 

                                                                                                                                                                   128.17

Afterwards the  very joyful Kausalya   who loved her sons   made  auspicious decoration of  the wives of all monkeys  with   great effort.                                                                                                          128.18

Then as per the orders of Shatrugna, the charioteer called Sumantra   came after yoking   to the chariot , horses which were auspicious in all limbs.                                                                                       128.19

Seeing that  divine chariot which was shining  like Sun   standing before him,   the great Rama who was truly valorous  climbed in to it .                                                                                                         128.20

Sugreeva and Hanuman    who both had luster like Indra  , after taking bath   started wearing   beautiful dresses   and ear rings.                                                                                                                             128.21

Wearing all types of ornaments    and wearing auspicious ear rings   , the wives of Sugreeva    along with Sita   moved out to see    the Town of Ayodhya.                                                                                128.22

In the city of Ayodhya   , the ministers of king Dasaratha   , keeping the priest in their front    discussed   all important aspects  meaningfully .                                                                                                   128.23

Asoka, Vijaya     and Siddhartha   with complete attention   discussed   Rama’s advancement to the post  as well as prosperity   of the city.                                                                                                        128.24

“We have to do all that is necessary   to the  proper  and auspicious  completion of anointing of  the great Rama.”                                                                                                                                           128.25

After passing on their decision to the priests   , they started   out of the city   with great interest to see Rama.                                                                                                                                                        128.26

That faultless Rama   mounted the chariot ,like the thousand eyed Indra mounted his chariot drawn by green horses  and  started  on his journey to the city.                                                                    128.27

Bharata took up the reins of the horses . Shatrugna held the decorative umbrella  on Rama's head. Lakshmana winnowed a fan. Vibheeshana, the king of Rakshasas  who was  standing nearby, held a white fan, shining brilliantly like the moon.                                                                         128.28-128.29

Groups of great sages  , Devas    and  the troops of Maruths  who were in the  sky   started praising Rama and a sweet sound was heard.                                                                                                           128.30

Sugreeva , the king of monkeys   with great luster   rode on a mountain like elephant called  Satrunjaya.

                                                                                                                                                                  128.31

Monkeys  who had assumed   human form   adorned with several type of ornaments   mounted on nine thousand elephants  rode along.                                                                                                       128.32

With  blowing of conches piercing the   ears and   with playing of kettle drums   , Rama , the foremost   among men    proceeded to the city of   Ayodhya   which had several great palaces.           128.33

Then the people saw   the pretty form of  the great  expert in chariot war   who was  pretty   riding on a chariot  with attendants walking in front.                                                                                    128.34

Felicitating Rama , greeted  with joy  by him in return all the people  followed  the great Rama    who was surrounded  by his brothers.                                                                                                          128.35

Surrounded by ministers , Brahmins   and other   citizens  , Rama   shined   brilliantly   , like the moon among stars.                                                                                                                                   128.36

Then That Rama  drove surrounded  by musicians   who were  walking in front  playing  musical instruments  , with cymbals and swastika instruments in their hands   and singing auspicious songs.

                                                                                                                                                         128.37

Men with golden coloured rice,  cows , maidens   along with  Brahmins   carrying Modhakas  (ball like sweets)  in their hands   walked in front of Rama.                                                                128.38

Then Rama told  his ministers  about his friendship of  Sugreeva, the great power of Hanuman  the son of wind God    and the other great adventures  of monkeys.                                            128.39

Hearing about the great job done by the monkeys   and about the strength   of Rakshasas, the citizens of the city of Ayodhya     were astonished.                                                                              128.40

Then he told his ministers   about his meeting with Vibheeshana   and after telling that , the greatly lustrous   Rama entered the   city of Ayodhya  , which  was full of joyful   and happy people     and also monkeys.                                                                                                                                    128.41

The citizens erected flags from house to house  on every house    and Rama reached  the pretty palace of his father which had been occupied   by the Ikshuvaku kings.                                        128.42

That great one after reaching the home of his father entered in to it   and  offered salutations to Kausalya  , Sumithra and Kaikeyi .   and then  that son of Raghu clan   told the prince Bharata   who was a great follower of Dharma  these meaningful and sweet words.                            128.43-128.44

“Give   this   very great house of mine   which has a great Asoka garden   and which is decorated by pearls and  Vaidoorya   to Sugreeva to stay.”                                                                           128.45

Bharata the truly valorous one hearing   those words  , took hold of the hands of Sugreeva   and entered   in to that  house  .                                                                                                                    128.46

Here   some men who were directed by Shatrugna     quickly    brought    oil lamps  , beds and mats and placed in that house.                                                                                                              128.47

The greatly lustrous Bharata    told Sugreeva as follows, “Oh Lord  , please  order the messengers   to arrange for the coronation of Rama.”                                                                               128.48

 Then that Sugreeva   immediately    gave four   golden pots   which was full of ornaments made of gems   to four chiefs  of monkeys.                                                                                                 128.49

“Oh monkeys get  four water pots filled with waters from  four different oceans   and you await my orders  in the early dawn after getting ready properly.”                                             128.50

When the great one told like this  those monkeys resembling elephants   travelled like eagles    after leaping in to the sky.                                                                                                           128.51

Jambhavan, Hanuman and  monkeys called Vega Darsi  and Rishabha   brought pot filled  with  water  collected from five  hundred   rivers in those jars.                                               128.52-128.53

After that the very energetic   Sushena    brought   a jar   adorned with different types of precious gems  , filled with   water  from the eastern sea  .                                                                        128.54

Rishabha  brought water speedily   in a golden jar from the southern sea  covered with stems  of   red sandalwood tree.                                                                                                                  128.55

Gavaya   who could travel with the speed of the wind   brought   cool water   from the western ocean   in a large jar   studded with gems.                                                                                         128.56

Nala   the follower of Dharma  who competed with Garuda and the wind God for his valour   and who was blessed with all good characters brought water with great speed from the southern sea.  128.57

Then Shatrugna along with his ministers   reported  to the chief priest and his friends  about the fact that water required for anointing if Rama    had been   brought by those foremost  of the monkeys.128.58

Then the very old Vasishta  with great attention   along with other Brahmins by his side   requested Rama  along with Sita to occupy the seat made of precious stones.                                                 128.59

Sages Vasishta, Vamadeva  , Jabali, Kashyapa  , Kathyayana  , Suyajna , Gauthama  and Vijaya  consecrated   that tiger among men   with clear   and sweet smelling   water just as the eight Vasus   consecrated  Lord Indra.”                                                                                                            128.60-128.61

They  all consecrated him first  and then got him consecrated  by Brahmins who were the priests performing Yagna  , then by virgins  , ministers, soldiers,   traders   with all kind of medicinal herbs  . The four  gods who   are the guardians  of the earth   stood in the   air    and all other  gods also assembled there .                                                                                                                                                128,62-128,63

Using that   crown which  was used  long ago by   Manu the emperor was adorned when   he was consecrated and with which, the kings followed in his line were successively adorned while they were crowned  , that crown studded with precious jewels, fashioned by Brahma at the beginning of creation and dazzling with luster , being kept according to practice on a throne adorned with many kinds of precious stones in the council-hall, studded with gold, graced with abundant riches, decorated and shiningly made with most charming jewels of various kinds, and thereafter Rama was duly adorned by that crown as well as jewels by the great-soul  Vasishta and other priests officiating at the coronation-ceremony.                                                                                                                                        128.64-128.67

Shatrugna    held an auspicious and white Umbrella over him , Sugreeva  the king  of monkeys held a white  fan and  Vibheeshana , the king of Rakshasas   held another fan   which was shining like the moon.                     

                                                                                                                                                             128.68-128.69

As suggested by Indra, the wind God presented  to  Raghava   a golden necklace   consisting of  one hundred lotuses   which were shining brilliantly .                                                                                    128.70

Induced by Indra    the wind God  also presented  the king   a chain of pearls    which was decorated by gems    inlaid with all types of precious stones.                                                                                     128.71

During the occasion of the crowning of the great Rama, the well deserving  Gandharwas sang   and groups of Apsara  maidens danced.                                                                                                 128.72

In that festival of the coronation of Raghava , earth was covered by crops , trees yielded fruits     and all flowers   were fragrant.                                                                                                                               128.73

That great  man Rama    gave away to Brahmins   one hundred thousand horses  and cows   and also gave  them a hundred bulls .                                                                                                                    128.74

Rama again gave the Brahmins   thirty crores  of gold coins  and  also   several types of ornaments as well as   cloths which are   costly  .                                                                                                                    128.75

Rama gave   Sugreeva  an auspicious   golden  garland to wear over the head studded with lot of gems   which looked like ray of sun light.                                                                                                         128.76

That  lustrous one presented  Angadha, the son of Vali  am armlet   which was studded by different types of Vaidoorya gems   and decorated   with several precious gems.                                      128.77

Rama presented Sita   a matchless   garland of pearls   further studded with various types of  superior gems which was shining like moon  and two pretty apparels   and other lovely ornaments.  128.78

When that daughter of Janaka  looking     towards the monkey Hanuman   and took out the pearl necklace from her neck  she was catching the glimpse of her husband and all the monkeys again and again.                                                                                                                                             128.79-128.80

Rama who was expert in understanding   gestures   looking at her   told the daughter of Janaka  ,”

“Oh auspicious and pretty lady,  , give that pearl garland,   to whomsoever you are happy   with  and in whom you see  luster  , sharpness , firmness  , fame  , dexterity , competence   , modesty , prudence  , masculinity  , valour   and intelligence   are always there.”                                                128.81-128.82

THatr black eyed one then  gave that garland which white and resembled the collection of beam of lights of the moon,  to Hanuman,  the son of wind God  who was a great monkey  and it shined on the monkey like   a white cloud  on a mountain.                                                                                                     128.83

Then  all the  very aged monkeys   and other great monkeys   were honoured suitably with   apparels and ornaments  .                                                                                                                                              128.84

After that that king of the earth   and the tormenter of his enemies   seeing around  presented many objects as per their characteristics   to Mainda, Nila and Dvividha.                                             128.85

Rama who never got tired doing his duties then   suitably honoured  Vibheeshana , Sugreeva , Hanuman, Jambavan  and  all old monkeys  satisfied their desire   presented all of them with suitable gifts    with a very joyful mind   as and when they came.                                                                          128.86-128.87

Then all those great   and excellent monkeys   saluted Rama   and being allowed to go   by Rama    went back to Kishkinda.                                                                                                                                   128.88

The Monkey Lord Sugreeva , after witnessing the coronation ceremony of Rama    and after being honoured by Rama   entered the city of Kishkinda.                                                                         128.89

Also Vibheeshana , the votary of Dharma   along with his army   after receiving the kingdom of his clan     returned back  to Lanka as its king.                                                                                                     128.90 

That greatly renowned Raghava who was  greatly  generous   , after destroying his enemies   enjoyed     the ruling of his entire kingdom   with great  delight  and that lover of Dharma told Lakshmana       who was an expert in Dharma.                                                                                                           128.91-128.92

“Oh expert in Dharma    rule this earth along with me  similar to our forefathers who ruled it  with the help of the army.  Installed a Yuvaraja   you   would  bear this burden very like our forefathers.”

                                                                                                                                                                       128.93

Even though , he was requested in many ways  , the son of Sumithra did not agree to this proposal   for being appointed to the post  of Yuvaraja and so     the great one consecrated  Bharata as Yuvaraja.

                                                                                                                                                                       128.94

Rama the son of the king   satisfied the gods   several times   by performing aswamedha and  Paudarika sacrifices   as   well as Vajapeya and other sacrifices.                                                                             128.95

After having ruled the country for ten thousand years   Raghava   performed one hundred Aswa Medha sacrifices   in which horses were sacrificed     and great gifts were bestowed.                                 128.96

That Rama    whose hands touched his knees   had a broad chest  , great glory   ruled this earth along with Lakshmana  as his companion.                                                                                                         128.97

That Raghava who is the soul of Dharma   after getting that matchless kingdom   performed many type of sacrifices  along with his sons, brothers and relatives.                                                                   128.98

When Rama was      ruling the country , there were no widows   for getting worried, there was no fear from wild animals   and no fear from birth diseases.                                                                           128.99

There were no thieves and robbers in this world, no one felt that he was useless  and no old man performed obsequies  to people younger than him.”                                                                      128.100

Every creature was happy. Even creature followed their Dharma   and seeing only Rama   no creature killed      another creature.                                                                                                                      128.101

When Rama was ruling   the kingdom,   people lived for one thousand years    and had   thousand sons   and were free of sorrow    and sickness.                                                                                             128.102

When Rama was ruling the  talk of the people was centered on Rama, Rama and Rama alone  and the world became the world of Rama.                                                                                                     128.103

The trees were bearing flowers and fruits always   without being affected by pests and diseases , the cloud was raining in time   and the  touch of the wind was pleasant.                                        128.104

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas  and Shudras   were not having greed   , happily performed the duties they were supposed to do   and all people were intent on performing acts of Dharma.                 128.105

All people were with all good characteristics, all people were interested in following Dharma   and like that Rama  ruled for ten thousand years.                                                                                      128.106 

Whichever person of this world   reads or listens    to this  first book  which is endowed with Dharma  

Would  be blessed with fame  and longevity   and it would fetch victory to the kings  and this first book was written by    sage Valmiki.                                                                                           128.107-128.108

Any person hearing   about the crowning of Rama  , if he needs son he will get son  , if he needs wealth  he will get wealth  , the king would win over earth  and would become a  master over his enemies.

                                                                                                                                                              128.109

Like Kausalya having Rama, Sumithra having Lakshmana  , Kaikeyi having Bharata , women would become mothers to long living sons   and they would be always happy  and live with sons and grandsons.  

                                                                                                                                                128.110-128.111

Any one hearing    Ramayana   would get very long life   and one who reads about victory of Rama will never fail in any of his actions.                                                                                                       128.112

He who hears     this epic which    was composed long ago  by sage Valmiki   with attention and with control over anger  would be able to cross over all difficulties with ease.                            128.113

 He who hears   this epic    which was composed long ago   by sage Valmiki   would meet all his relatives after a long journey      and would become happy with their relatives.                                128.114

By the grace of Raghava , all the boons that they pray for would be realized   and all gods   would be pleased     with those who listened to it.                                                                                     128.115

To those living in their home , all  obstacles would be removed  , a king would win over earth   and a man who lives outside his home would become comfortable.                                              128.116

“Menstruating women    hearing this would get  matchless and   excellent sons   and one who worships it and reads it   gets relieved of all sins     and would live long.                                                 128.117

The Kshatriyas with bent head    should salute and listen to it   and the Brahmins    should read it every day regularly   and there is no doubt   that the listener and reader   of the entire Ramayana   will get  immeasurable wealth  and birth of a son.                                                                    128.118-128.119

 Rama is indeed Lord Vishnu who is eternal .  Rama , the chief of Raghu clan  is the primeval God  , the very strong Hari , the lord Narayana   and Lakshmana is Adhisesha  .  Rama  would  always love  you on reading this.                                                                                                                                                    128.120

Please narrate   this great story    which occurred long- long ago  without any fear  . You would be safe.  Let the power of Lord Vishnu increase.                                                                                                    128.121

By   analyzing and listening to this epic  all Devas would become happy with you   and by listening to Ramayana , your manes would get pleased.                                                                                         128.122

To those persons who write  this  collection on Rama written by great sages   with devotion  , residence in heaven is assured.                                                                                                                                 128.123

By listening   to this auspicious work  of literary merit   one   gets  increase in family prosperity  ,  increase in wealth, grains  , superior  women   , great happiness   and acquisition of wealth in this earth.

                                                                                                                                                                   128.124

This great work    should be listened   to by good people seeking wisdom  ,long life  , heath  , fame  , love from brothers , intelligence   , welfare   and splendour.                                                                   128.125

Thus ends the hundred and  twenty  eighth   chapter of the book of war   of Valmiki Ramayana    which is the first  book.

                     Thus ends    the great book of Ramayana composed  by sage Valmiki.