{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry084.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry084.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry084.htm","text":"Then R\u00e1ma bathed in order due,\n His mind from worldly thoughts withdrew,\n And with big large-eyed wife besought\n N\u00e1r\u00e1yan, as a votary ought.\n Upon his head the brimming cup\n Of holy oil he lifted up,\n Then placed within the kindled fire\n The offering to that heavenly Sire,\n And as he sipped the remnant prayed\n To Him for blessing and for aid.\n Then with still lips and tranquil mind\n With his Videhan he reclined,\n In Vishnu's chapel, on a bed\n Where holy grass was duly spread,\n While still the prince's every thought\n Tbe God supreme, N\u00e1r\u00e1yan, sought.\n One watch remained the night to close\n When R\u00e1ma from his couch arose,\n And bade the men and maids adorn\n His palace for the solemn morn.\n He heard the bards and heralds raise\n Auspicious strains of joy and praise;\n And breathed devout, with voice restrained,\n The hymn for morning rites ordained;\n Then, with his head in reverence bowed,\n Praised Madhu's conquering foe aloud.\n And, in pure linen robes arrayed,\n The priests to raise their voices prayed.\n Obedient to the summons they\n Proclaimed to all the festal day.\n The Br\u00e1hmans' voices, deep and sweet,\n Resounded through the crowded street,\n And echoed through Ayodhy\u00e1 went\n By many a loud-toned instrument.\n Then all the people joyed to hear\n That R\u00e1ma with his consort dear\n Had fasted till the morning light\n In preparation for the rite.\n Swiftly the joyful tidings through\n Ayodhy\u00e1's crowded city flew,\n And soon as dawn appeared, each man\n To decorate the town began.\n \n \n In all the temples bright and fair\n As white clouds towering in the air,\n In streets, and where the cross-ways met,\n Where holy fig-trees had been set,\n In open square, in sacred shade,\n Where merchants' shops their wealth displayed,\n On all the mansions of the great,\n And householders of wealth and state,\n Where'er the people loved to meet,\n Where'er a tree adorned the street,\n Gay banners floated to the wind,\n And ribands round the staves were twined.\n Then clear the singers' voices rang,\n As, charming mind and ear, they sang.\n Here players shone in bright attire,\n There dancing women swelled the quire.\n Each with his friend had much to say\n Of R\u00e1ma's consecration-day:\n Yea, even children, as they played\n At cottage doors beneath the shade.\n The royal street with flowers was strown\n Which loving hands in heaps had thrown,\n And here and there rich incense lent\n Its fragrance to the garland's scent;\n And all was fresh and fair and bright\n In honour of the coming rite.\n With careful foresight to illume\n With borrowed blaze the midnight gloom,\n The crowds erected here and there\n Trees in each street gay lamps to bear.\n The city thus from side to side\n In festal guise was beautified.\n The people of the town who longed\n To view the rite together thronged,\n And filling every court and square\n Praised the good king in converse there:\n 'Our high-souled king! He throws a grace\n On old Ikshv\u00e1ku's royal race.\n He feels his years' increasing weight,\n And makes his son associate.\n Great joy to us the choice will bring\n Of R\u00e1ma for our lord and king.\n The good and bad to him are known,\n And long will he protect his own.\n No pride his prudent breast may swell,\n Most just, he loves his brothers well,\n And to us all that love extends,\n Cherished as brothers and as friends.\n Long may our lord in life remain,\n Good Das'aratha, free from stain,\n By whose most gracious favour we\n R\u00e1ma anointed king shall see.'\n \n \n Such were the words the townsmen spoke\n Heard by the gathering countryfolk,\n Who from the south, north, east, and west,\n Stirred by the joyful tidings, pressed.\n For by their eager longing led\n To R\u00e1ma's consecration sped\n The villagers from every side,\n And filled Ayodhy\u00e1's city wide.\n This way and that way strayed the crowd,\n While rose a murmur long and loud,\n As when the full moon floods the skies\n And Ocean's waves with thunder rise.\n \u00a0\u00a0 That town, like Indra's city fair,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 While peasants thronged her ways.\n \u00a0\u00a0 Tumultuous roared like Ocean, where\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Each flood-born monster plays.","title":"Book II: Canto VI.: The City Decorated.","type":"page"}