Ayodhya Kanda

Chapter 2: Dasharatha sees white hair and decides

5 verses · 2 of 326

What happens in this chapter

Dasharatha sees white hair and decides

One day Dasharatha sits in his royal court with all his people. He is merit in bodily form, and hearing Rama praised fills him with delight. Kings seek his favour and the guardians of the worlds keep his goodwill; in all three worlds and three times none has been so fortunate, for Rama, root of every blessing, is his son. Quite casually he takes up a mirror, looks at his face and sets his crown straight. He sees the hair beside his ears turned white, as if old age were advising him: make Rama yuvaraja and take the reward of your life. With this resolve, on a good day, his body thrilling with love, he goes to tell his guru.

2.1

एक समय सब सहित समाजा । राजसभाँ रघुराज बिराजा ॥
सकल सुकृत मूरति नरनाहू । राम-सुजस सुनि अतिहि उछाहू ॥

eka samaya saba sahita samājā | rājasabhām̐ raghurāja birājā ||
sakala sukṛta mūrati naranāhū | rāma-sujasa suni atihi uchāhū ||

2.2

नृप सब रहहिँ कृपा अभिलाखे । लोकप करहिँ प्रीति रुख राखें ॥
तिभुवन तीनि काल जग माहीँ । भूरि-भाग दसरथ सम नाहीँ ॥

nṛpa saba rahahim̐ kṛpā abhilākhe | lokapa karahim̐ prīti rukha rākheṃ ||
tibhuvana tīni kāla jaga māhīm̐ | bhūri-bhāga dasaratha sama nāhīm̐ ||

2.3

मङ्गल-मूल राम सुत जासू । जो कछु कहिय थोर सब तासू ॥
रायँ सुभायँ मुकुर कर लीन्हा । बदन बिलोकि मुकुट सम कीन्हा ॥

maṅgala-mūla rāma suta jāsū | jo kachu kahiya thora saba tāsū ||
rāyam̐ subhāyam̐ mukura kara līnhā | badana biloki mukuṭa sama kīnhā ||

2.4

स्रवन समीप भये सित केसा । मनहुँ जरठ-पन अस उपदेसा ॥
नृप जुबराज राम कहँ देहू । जीवन जनम लाहु किन लेहू ॥

sravana samīpa bhaye sita kesā | manahum̐ jaraṭha-pana asa upadesā ||
nṛpa jubarāja rāma kaham̐ dehū | jīvana janama lāhu kina lehū ||

दो॰ 2Doha

यह बिचार उर आनि नृप, सुदिन सुअवसर पाइ ।
प्रेम-पुलकि-तन मुदित मन, गुरहि सुनायउ जाइ ॥

yaha bicāra ura āni nṛpa, sudina suavasara pāi |
prema-pulaki-tana mudita mana, gurahi sunāyau jāi ||

Text source: Wikisource · Public domain (Tulsidas, 16th c.; 1925 edition, Wikisource PD-1996 tag); transcription CC BY-SA 4.0