रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम् (Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway)
अयोध्याकाण्ड
Sarga 17 presents a civic panorama as Rāma rides in a chariot through Ayodhyā amid rejoicing companions and a populace densely gathered to witness him. The city and royal road are described as ceremonially adorned—banners and pennants, incense and agaru, heaps of sandal and perfumes, silken cloth, pearls and crystal objects, flowers, and food offerings—creating an urban ritual field akin to a divine pathway. Citizens voice aspirations that the mere sight of Rāma enthroned and proceeding in public would surpass even bodily needs, framing kingship as a moral and aesthetic ideal. Rāma hears blessings and praise yet remains composed and inwardly detached, honoring people according to rank while continuing onward. The text emphasizes the magnetic ethical charisma (dharma and compassion) that prevents onlookers from withdrawing eyes or mind from him; it also notes his impartial mercy toward all varṇas and all ages. He proceeds with ritual circumambulation etiquette (keeping sacred junctions, temple-roads, monuments, and shrines to his right), reaches the royal residence whose towers are compared to clouds, Kailāsa peaks, and pale aerial chariots, crosses guarded courtyards, dismisses followers, and enters the private apartments near his father—while the waiting crowd anticipates his reemergence like the ocean awaiting the moonrise.
Verse 2.17.1
स रामो रथमास्थाय सम्प्रहृष्टसुहृज्जनः।पताकाध्वजसम्पन्नं महार्हागरुधूपितम्।।।।अपश्यन्नगरं श्रीमान्नानाजनसमाकुलम्।
“Today, food is enough for us—and even life’s highest aims would feel fulfilled—if only we might see Rama set firm in the kingship and going forth in procession.”
Verse 2.17.2
स गृहैरभ्रसङ्काशैः पाण्डुरैरुपशोभितम्।।।।राजमार्गं ययौ रामो मध्येनागरुधूपितम्।
Rāma proceeded along the royal road, fragrant with agaru-incense, its way adorned by pale-white houses that looked like clouds.
Verse 2.17.3
चन्दनानां च मुख्यानामगरूणां च सञ्चयैः।।।।उत्तमानां च गन्धानां क्षौमकोशाम्बरस्य च।अविद्धाभिश्च मुक्ताभिरुत्तमैस्स्फाटिकैरपि।।।।शोभमानमसंबाधैस्तं राजपथमुत्तमम्।संवृतं विविधैःपुष्पैर्भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैरपि।।।।
The royal highway was splendid and unconfined—heaped with choice sandal and agaru, fine perfumes, and bundles of white silk; it shone with pristine pearls and excellent crystal objects, and was strewn with many kinds of flowers and assorted foods.
Verse 2.17.4
चन्दनानां च मुख्यानामगरूणां च सञ्चयैः।।2.17.3।।उत्तमानां च गन्धानां क्षौमकोशाम्बरस्य च। अविद्धाभिश्च मुक्ताभिरुत्तमैस्स्फाटिकैरपि।।2.17.4।।शोभमानमसंबाधैस्तं राजपथमुत्तमम्। संवृतं विविधैःपुष्पैर्भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैरपि।।2.17.5।।
In this continuous, composite presentation, the royal road is described as adorned with fine sandal and agaru, choice perfumes and white silk, shining with pristine pearls and excellent crystal objects, and strewn with many kinds of flowers and varied foods.
Verse 2.17.5
चन्दनानां च मुख्यानामगरूणां च सञ्चयैः।।2.17.3।।उत्तमानां च गन्धानां क्षौमकोशाम्बरस्य च। अविद्धाभिश्च मुक्ताभिरुत्तमैस्स्फाटिकैरपि।।2.17.4।।शोभमानमसंबाधैस्तं राजपथमुत्तमम्। संवृतं विविधैःपुष्पैर्भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैरपि।।2.17.5।।
This entry repeats the same combined text: the splendid, spacious royal road was covered with perfumes and fine cloth, shone with pearls and crystal, and was strewn with flowers and varied foods.
Verse 2.17.6
ददर्श तं राजपथं दिवि देवपथं यथा।दध्यक्षतहविर्लाजैर्धूपैरगरुचन्दनैः।।।।नानामाल्योपगंधैश्च सदाऽभ्यर्चितचत्वरम्।
He saw that royal road like the gods’ pathway in heaven, where the crossroads were continually worshipped with curd, grains, oblations, puffed rice, incense, agaru and sandalwood, and with many garlands and fragrances.
Verse 2.17.7
अशीर्वादान्बहून् शृण्वन्सुहृद्भिस्समुदीरितान्।।।।यथार्हं चापि सम्पूज्य सर्वानेव नरान्ययौ।
Hearing many blessings spoken by his well-wishers, and honoring every person as was fitting, he went onward.
Verse 2.17.8
पितामहैराचरितं तथैव प्रपितामहैः।।।।अद्योपादाय तं मार्गमभिषिक्तोऽनुपालय।
“Consecrated today, uphold and protect the realm by adopting that very path practiced by your grandfathers and great-grandfathers.”
Verse 2.17.9
यथास्म पोषिताः पित्रा यथा सर्वैः पितामहैः।।।।ततस्सुखतरं रामे वत्स्यामस्सति राजनि।
“Just as we were cared for under your father and under all your forefathers, so too—when Rāma becomes king—we shall live with even greater happiness.”
Verse 2.17.10
अलमद्य हि भुक्तेन परमार्थैरलं च नः।।।।यदि पश्याम निर्यान्तं रामं राज्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्।
“For us, nothing will ever be dearer than Rama’s consecration to kingship—Rama of unmeasured brilliance.”
Verse 2.17.11
अतो हि नः प्रियतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिद्भविष्यति।।।।यथाऽभिषेको रामस्य राज्येनामिततेजसः।
Therefore, for us nothing will be dearer than the sacred consecration (abhisheka) of Rama—of undimmed splendor—into kingship.
Verse 2.17.12
एताश्चान्याश्च सुहृदामुदासीनः कथाश्शुभाः।।।।आत्मसम्पूजनीश्शृण्वन्ययौ रामो महापथम्।
Hearing these and other auspicious words spoken by his well-wishers—words that praised him—Rama remained detached and continued along the great road.
Verse 2.17.13
न हि तस्मान्मनः कश्चिच्चक्षुषी वा नरोत्तमात्।।।।नर श्शक्नोत्यपाक्रष्टुमतिक्रान्तेऽपि राघवे।
Even after Rāghava had passed on, no man could draw back his mind—or even his eyes—from that best of men.
Verse 2.17.14
यश्च रामं न पश्येत्तु यं च रामो न पश्यति।।।।निन्दित स्सर्वल्लोकेषु स्वात्माऽप्येनं विगर्हते।
Whoever does not behold Rāma—or whom Rāma does not behold—becomes censured in all worlds; even his own conscience condemns him.
Verse 2.17.15
सर्वेषु हि स धर्मात्मा वर्णानां कुरुते दयाम्।।।।चतुर्णां हि वयः स्थानां तेन ते तमनुव्रताः।
For that righteous-souled one showed compassion to all—across the four varṇa and across the four stages of life; therefore the people were devoted to him.
Verse 2.17.16
चतुष्पथान्देवपथांश्चैत्यान्यायतनानि च।।।।प्रदक्षिणं परिहरन् जगाम नृपते स्सुतः।
The king’s son went on, passing reverently with them to his right—crossroads, deva-roads, sacred monuments, and shrines.
Verse 2.17.17
स राजकुलमासाद्य मेघसङ्घोपमै श्शुभैः।।।।प्रासादशृङ्गैर्विविधैःकैलास शिखरोपमैः।आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः।।।।वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः।तत्पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्।।।।राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्।
Reaching the royal residence, the prince entered his father’s palace, radiant with splendor—an excellent mansion on earth like Indra’s abode. Its many palace-towers, auspicious and pale-white, seemed like masses of clouds, like the peaks of Kailāsa, and like bright vimānas, as though covering the sky; and its ever-expanding halls, adorned with lattices of gems, appeared to canopy the heavens.
Verse 2.17.18
स राजकुलमासाद्य मेघसङ्घोपमै श्शुभैः।।2.17.17।।प्रासादशृङ्गैर्विविधैःकैलास शिखरोपमैः। आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः।।2.17.18।।वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः। तत्पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्।।2.17.19।।राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्।
Rāma reached the royal residence: its many pale-white palace-towers, like masses of clouds and the peaks of Kailāsa, seemed like bright vimānas veiling the sky; its halls, ever expanding, were adorned with nets of gems. That finest mansion on earth was like Mahendra’s abode, and the prince entered his father’s palace, blazing with splendor.
Verse 2.17.19
स राजकुलमासाद्य मेघसङ्घोपमै श्शुभैः।।2.17.17।।प्रासादशृङ्गैर्विविधैःकैलास शिखरोपमैः। आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः।।2.17.18।।वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः। तत्पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्।।2.17.19।।राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्।
That palace on earth was like Mahendra’s dwelling, and the prince entered his father’s palace, shining with splendor.
Verse 2.17.20
स कक्ष्या धन्विभिर्गुप्तास्तिस्रोऽतिक्रम्य वाजिभिः।।।।पदातिरपरे कक्ष्ये द्वे जगाम नरोत्तमः।
Mounted, the best of men crossed three courtyards guarded by bowmen; then, dismounting, he proceeded on foot through the remaining two courtyards.
Verse 2.17.21
स सर्वा स्समतिक्रम्य कक्ष्या दशरथात्मजः।सन्निवर्त्य जनं सर्वं शुद्धान्तः पुरमभ्यगात्।।।।
Crossing all the palace enclosures, Rāma—son of Daśaratha—sent all his attendants back and entered the inner apartments, the secluded private quarters of the palace.
Verse 2.17.22
तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे पितुरन्तिकं तदा जन स्स सर्वो मुदितो नृपात्मजे।प्रतीक्षते तस्य पुनः स्म निर्गमं यथोदयं चन्द्रमसस्सरित्पतिः।।।।
When the king’s son entered his father’s presence, all the people rejoiced; and they waited for his reappearance—like the ocean awaiting the moon’s rise.