And when they had raised unto their heads their clasped hands resembling
lotuses, the king responding unto them addressed them in welcome words
fraught with their good; "Exceedingly pleased am I, and incomparable
also is my influence,--because ye wish to behold my dear first born
installed as heir-apparent." Having greeted them thus, the king in their
hearing spoke unto Vasishtha, Vamadeva, and other Brahmanas
saying,--"This is the holy month of Chaitra; and the groves look
beautiful with blossoms. Do ye now prepare for the installation of
Rama." When the king paused, there arose a mighty tumult from the
multitude. And when it subsided, that lord of men, the king, addressed
that foremost of ascetics, Vasishtha saying,--"It behovcth thee, O
worshipful Sir, to order for things, necessary for the installation of
Rama." Hearing those words of the monarch, Vasishtha--chief of
anchorets--ordered the counsellors staying before the king with clasped
hands, saying,--"Do ye early in the morning in the Agnihautric ball of
the monarch provide and store up- gold, and gems, and articles for
worship, and _Sarvaushadhi_[109] and white garlands, and fried paddy,
and honey and clarified butter in separate vessels, and cloths fresh
from the loom, and a car, every kind of weapons, and the fourfold
forces, and an elephant with auspicious marks, and a couple of chowris,
and a sceptre and an umbrella, pale colored, and an hundred furnished
golden pitchers of water, and a bull with horns plated in gold, and an
entire tiger-skin, together with all othet necessary articles. And do ye
embellish all the door-ways of the inner apartment as well as those of
the entire city with garlands, with sandal paste and fragrant _Dhupa_.
Do ye on the morning of the morrow bestow upon the principal Brahmanas
goodly and refined rice mixed with curds and milk.--so that hundreds of
thousands may be fed, and gratified, bestowing on them at the same time
clarified butter and curds, and fried paddy, and moire than sufficient
_Dakshinas_. To-morrow as soon as the sun will rise, the
_Swastivachana_[110] will be finished. Do ye invite the Brahmanas, and
prepare seats (for them). And do ye set up flags, and water the high
ways, and let courtezans whose profession is music, adorning themselves
stay in the second apartment of the king's residence. In the abodes of
the gods and under the Chaitya[111] trees, should be separately placed
fragrant blossoms, together with boiled rice and other edibles, and with
_Dakshinas_. And let the warriors properly arrayed, enter the courtyard
of the monarch which is welling up with festal glee mailed, and
accoutred with leather fences and long swords." Having issued these
orders, those two Vipras entered upon their work (as priests;) and did
what remained to be done after making that known unto the lord of the
earth. When everything had been got ready those foremost of the twice-
born ones gladly and well-pleased presented themselves before the master
of the earth, and said unto him, "Everything as ordered has been done."
Then unto Sumantra, the effulgent monarch spake, saying,--"Do thou
speedily bring the virtuous Rama hither." Thereupon saying, "so be it,"
Sumantra at the mandate of the king brought thither in a car Rama the
foremost of car-warriors. The kings of the North, and the South and the
East and the West, together with the _Mlechas_ and the Arya princes,
with those inhabiting mountains and forests were then paying homage unto
him (Dacaratha) even as the celestials do unto Vasava. Stationed in his
palace, the royal saint Dacaratha in the midst of those princes, like
Vasava in the midst of the Maruts, saw his son, resembling the king of
the Gandharvas, approach, gladdening the subjects like a shower, when
they were oppressed with the heat of summer--even Rama of redoubtable
prowess among men, long armed, and of mighty strength, and bearing the
gait of a mad elephant, "with a countenance fair as the moon, of
presence prepossessing to a degree, and captivating men's sight and
hearts by reason of his beauty generosity and other qualities. And as he
was approaching, the lord of men eyed him steadily, without experiencing
satiety.
Making Raghava descend from that excellent car, Sumantra followed him
with clasped hands as he proceeded to the presence of his father.
Accompanied with Sumantra, Raghava, the descendant of the Raghus, for
the purpose of beholding the monarch, began with rapid steps, to ascend
the palace resembling a peak of the Kailasa hill. Rama humbly
approaching his father with clasped hands, and announcing his name bowed
low and worshipped his father's feet. Thereupon seeing Rama at his side
with clasped hands, and in lowly guise, the king took hold of Rama's
clasped hands, and drawing his beloved son, embraced the latter. Then
the king desired Rama to sit upon a seat prepared expressly for him,
excellent, and flaming and garnished with gold and gems. Raghava shed
lustre on that noble seat, as the unclouded sun at his rising lighteth
up the _Sumeru_ hill with his rays. That entire assembly looked
beautiful in his presence, like the cloudless, autumnal sky crested with
stars and planets, in the presence of the moon. The king experienced
delight, beholding his dearly beloved son, like unto his own image,
richly adorned, reflected on mirror. And even as Kacyapa addresseth
Indra of the celestials, the king--the best of those possessing sons--
addressed his son, well seated, in these words, saying. "Born of my
eldest wife worthy of myself, thou crowned with the best qualities, art
my worthy son, O Rama dear unto me. Thou hast by thy virtues drawn unto
thyself the hearts of the people, therefore do thou during the
conjunction of the moon with the Pushya constellation, receive the
office of heir-apparent. Thou art by nature crowned with virtues.
Notwithstanding thy great virtues, I will, 0 son, from affection tell
thee what is for thy profit. Practicing greater humility, do thou
constantly restrain thy senses. Do thou renounce the ills that come
through anger and lust. Replenishing thy exchequer and arsenal do thou,
acquainting thyself with the state of things personally and otherwise,
administer justice and thereby enlist the affection of the courtiers and
other subjects; for the friends of him that swayeth the earth, pleasing
the people to his satisfaction, rejoice even as did the immortals on
obtaining ambrosia. Therefore, do thou, O son, disciplining thyself thus
address thee to thy task." Hearing this, Rama's well wishers, ever doing
his pleasure, speedily going out, acquainted Kaucalya with everything.
Thereupon that foremost of her sex Kaucalya ordered gold and kine and
various kinds of gems to be given to the tellers of the glad tidings.
Then Raghava, having been honored by the multitude and saluted the
sovereign, ascended a car, and repaired unto his shining residence. And
the citizens, hearing those words of the monarch, as if fraught with
some speedy good fortune unto them, made their obeisance unto that lord
of men, and repairing to their homes, with delighted minds, worshipped
the gods.
[109] Consists of Mura Valerian and such like drugs.--T.
[110] A religious rite, preparatory to any important ceremony, in which
the Brahmanas strew boiled rice on the ground, and invoke the
blessings of the gods on the rites about to commence.--T.
[111] The religious fig.--T.