Sumantra, well versed in legends, after passing by the gateways crowded
with people, reached the solitary apartment (of Rama), having youthful
warders, carrying darts and bows wearing ear-rings, cautious, attentive
and devoted, and saw (seated at the gate) several old men, commanding
female warders, mindful of duty, wearing red cloths and excellent
ornaments, and having _rattans_ in their hands. They all seeing
Sumantra, ever wishing good unto Rama, approach, rose suddenly up from
their seats with due respect. The bumble-minded charioteer then said to
them:--"Go and speedily communicate unto Rama that Sumantra is waiting
at the gate." At this the warders, desirous of doing good unto their
master, nearing Rama, speedily comunicated these words unto him who was
in the company of his wife. Rama hearing of the arrival of his father's
charioteer, ordered him to enter into the apartment, having his father's
pleasure in view. He (on entering) saw Rama resembling Vaisravana, well
adorned and seated on a gold sofa, with a beautiful coverlet on; having
his body sprinkled with holy and fragrant sandal of the best kind, red
as the blood of a hog; and having by him Sita with a _chowri_ in her
hand, like Moon himself in the company of _Chitra_.
Whereupon Sumantra, acquainted with decorum, humbly saluted him (Rama),
the conferrer of great boons, and resplendent like the mid-day sun; and
he well honored by the king, seeing the king's son seated on the
sleeping sofa with a delighted countenance, spoke these words unto him
with clasped hands:--"Oh, Rama, great son of Kaucalya, thy father and
the queen Kaikeyi want to see thee; so it behoveth thee to go there
without delay." Being pleased with these words the mighty hero of great
effulgence, honored his father's behest and spoke unto Sita thus,-- "Ob,
darling, doubt there is none that my father, going to Kaikeyi, is
parleying with her regarding my installation. Concieving the king's
intention that clever lady, of dark eyes and desirous of doing good unto
the king, that mother, the daughter of the king of Kekaya, pleased and
intent upon king's welfare as well as upon that of mine, is hastening
the monarch for my installation. Fortunately for me, the monarch in the
company of his Queen has despatched Sumantra, intent upon my welfare.
Worthy of the meeting at the inner apartment, the messenger has come,
and I doubt not that the monarch shall install me to-day as the
heir-apparent of his throne. Therefore I shall speedily go hence and see
my father. Do thou remain and enjoy here the company of thy friends."
Regarded by her husband, Sita, of dark eyes and intent upon her
husband's welfare, followed him to the entrance and said:--"May the
great monarch bestow upon thee first the heir-apparentship, and
afterwards the dignity of the Paramount power like Brahma granting
kingdom unto _Vasava_. I shall be ministering unto thee, seeing thee
initiated, engaged in ceremonies, wearing excellent deer skin for cloth
and carrying horns in the hands. May Indra protect thee on the East, may
Yama (Death) protect thee on the South, and Varuna (God of water) on the
West and Kuvera (God of wealth) on the North." Being greeted with
benedictory ceremonies, Rama, bidding farewell to Sita, issued out of
his house like unto a lion, living in the den of a mountain. He saw
Lakshmana standing at the gate with clasped hands, and met all his
friends assembled at the middle apartment. Then that great son of the
king, casting a glance upon them all who were present there to see him
and pleasing them with sweet words ascended, like unto the thousand-eyed
Indra, the splendid chariot, made of silver and coated with tiger-skin,
and bright like the fire itself, making a noise (when going) like the
roaring of clouds; defying all obstacles, adorned with jewels, and gold,
dazzling the eye-sight and bright like the golden peaks of Sumeru. It
had two excellent horses tied to it like unto two young elephants, and
was of quick motion, resembling that of Indra's chariot carried by his
horses. Ascending the car, Raghava, of great effulgence, went speedily
on, making (the space)resounded like unto the muttering cloud on the
sky. He issued out of his abode like the beautiful moon passing through
a huge cloud. And Lakshmana, the younger brother of Raghava, standing
behind him on the car with a splendid _Chowri_ in his hand, began to
guard his body. And there was caused a great tumult by the crowd
gathering around on the issuing out of Rama. Then followed in his train
many hundreds and thousands of beautiful horses and elephants resembling
hills in their appearance; and went before him hundreds of heroes, well
accoutered, and having their bodies sprinkled with sandal and _Aguru_
and holding swords and arms in their hands, and other persons uttering
benedictions. He heard on the way sounds of musical instruments, eulogy
of the panegyrists and lion-like roars of the heroes. Exquisitely
beautiful damsels, adorned with various ornaments and dresses, standing
by the windows began to shower flowers upon the head of the
foe-destroyer Rama, and those spotless beauties with a view to please
Rama,some standing on the buildings and some on the ground began to
praise him:--"Oh thou, delight of thy mother, surely has mother Kaucalya
become exceedingly gratified, on seeing thee of successful journey to
accept the heir- apparentship of the throne." Those ladies thought that
Sita, the captivater of Rama's heart was surely the best of all women
and for certain had she performed some great austerities in her past
life or else she would not have been the companion of Rama, like unto
Rohini, the companion of Moon. That best among men heard these pleasant
words from those ladies standing on the buildings and on high-ways.
Raghava then heard the people coming from different quarters and the
well-pleased citizens, talking amongst themselves regarding him in the
following strain. "This Raghava going shall obtain through the grace of
the king great wealth, and all our desires will be gratified when he
will become our governor. It is a great gain to the subjects that he is
going to get for ever the entire empire at once; he being the lord of
the people, no body shall witness any misfortune or unpleasant thing."
Like unto Vaisravana he began to proceed, being dignified by the horses
and elephants going before sending forth great sound, and eulogised in
various metres by persons singing his glory, by the panegyrists and by
men tracing his noble ancestry. He saw the courtyard thronged with young
and old elephants, horses, chariots, and the high-ways crowded all over
with people, many pearls and various merchandises.