गते रामे प्रशान्तात्मा रामो दाशरथिर्धनुः। वरुणायाप्रमेयाय ददौ हस्ते महायशाः॥
When Rāma had departed, Dasaratha's son the illustrious Rāma, of serene soul, made over the bow to the hands of Varuna of immeasurable strength.
अभिवाद्य ततो रामो वसिष्ठप्रमुखानृषीन्। पितरं विकलं दृष्ट्वा प्रोवाच रघुनन्दनः॥
Then saluting the saints headed by Vasiștha, Rāma, the descendant of Raghu, seeing his son stupefied, addressed him, saying,
जामदग्न्यो गतो रामः प्रयातु चतुरङ्गिणी। अयोध्याभिमुखी सेना त्वया नाथेन पालिता॥
Now that Jamadagni's son has gone away, let the fourfold forces maintained by you as their lord, march in the direction of Ayodhyā.
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दशरथः सुतम्। बाहुभ्यां सम्परिष्वज्य मूर्युपाघ्राय राघवम्॥ गतो राम इति श्रुत्वा हृष्टः प्रमुदितो नृपः। पुनर्जातं तदा मेने पुत्रमात्मानमेव च॥
Hearing Rama's words, king Dasaratha embraced his son with his arms, and smelt Rāghava's crown; and hearing that Rāma had gone, the monarch became exceedingly delighted, and considered himself and his son as having attained a second birth.
चोदयामास तां सेनां जगामाशु ततः पुरीम्। पताकाध्वजिनीं रम्यां तूर्योद्घष्टनिनादिताम्॥ सिक्तराजपथारम्यां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्। राजप्रवेशसुमुखैः पौरैर्मङ्गलपाणिभिः॥ सम्पूर्णां प्राविशद् राजा जनौघैः समलंकृताम्। घौरैः प्रत्युद्गतो दूरं द्विजैश्च पुरवासिभिः॥ पुत्रैरनुगतः श्रीमाञ्श्रीमद्भिश्च महायशाः। प्रविवेश गृहं राजा हिमवत्सदृशं प्रियम्॥
He urged on his army, and speedily arrived at the city, graced round with standards bearing pennons, and lovely to behold, and resounding with the sounds of trumpets, with its high-ways watered, and beauteous, and sprinkled around with flowers, crowded with citizens looking cheerful on account of the king's approach, bearing auspicious articles in their hands, and beautified with the vast concourse of people. And received by the citizens as well as the regenerate ones inhabiting the city coming forward a long way, and followed by his graceful son, the handsome Majesty of illustrious name entered his own dear residence, like to the Himavat.
ननन्द स्वजनै राजा गृहे रामैः सुपूजितः। कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च कैकेयी च सुमध्यमा॥ वधूप्रतिग्रहे युक्ता याश्चान्या राजयोषितः।
And entertained by his own relatives with all objects of enjoyment, the monarch rejoiced exceedingly. And Kausalya and Sumitră and the slender waisted Kaikeyi, together with other wives of the king, were busy, receiving the brides, with the necessary ceremonies.
ततः सीतां महाभागामूर्मिलां च यशस्विनीम्॥ कुशध्वजसुते चोभे जगृहुर्नुपयोषितः। मङ्गलालापन)मैः शोभिताः क्षौमवाससः॥ देवतायतनान्याशु सर्वास्ताः प्रत्यपूजयन्। अभिवाद्याभिवाद्यांश्च सर्वा राजसुतास्तदा॥ रेमिरे मुदिताः सर्वा भर्तृभिर्मुदिता रहः।
And the royal spouses received the exalted Sītā and the famous Urmilā and both the daughters of Kusadhvaya, graced with silken apparel, with homas performed and blessings invoked, on their behalf. And having paid reverence at the abodes of the gods, and rendered homage to those that deserved the same, the daughters of the kings, well pleased, in private, took joy with all the brothers.
कृतदाराः कृतास्त्राश्च सधनाः ससुहृज्जनाः॥ शुश्रूषमाणाः पितरं वर्तयन्ति नरर्षभाः।
And having attained brides, and arms, with wealth and friends, those foremost of men, engaged in ministering to their father.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य राजा दशरथः सुतम्॥ भरतं कैकयीपुत्रमब्रवीद् रघुनन्दनः।
And once on a time that descendant of Raghu, king Dasaratha addressed Bharata, saying,
अयं केकयराजस्य पुत्रो वसति पुत्रक॥ त्वां नेतुमागतो वीरो युधाजिन्मातुलस्तव।
O son, this son of the king of the Kekayas your uncle, Yudhājit stay here, that hero, having come to take you over.
श्रुत्वा दशरथस्यैतद् भरतः कैकयीसुतः॥ गमनायाभिचक्राम शत्रुघ्नसहितस्तदा।
Hearing these words of Daśaratha, Kaikeyi's son, Bharata; prepared for the journey, together with Satrughna.
आपृच्छ्य पितरं शूरो रामं चाक्लिष्टकारिणम्॥ मातृश्चापि नरश्रेष्ठः शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ।
Having greeted his father, and Rāma of unflagging energy, and his mother, that foremost of men, the heroic (Bharata) departed with Satrughna.
युधाजित् प्राप्य भरतं सशत्रुघ्नं प्रहर्षितः॥ स्वपुरं प्राविशद् वीरः पिता तस्य तुतोष ह।
And having Bharata as well as ſatrughna, the heroic Yudhājit, with a delighted heart, entered his own city; and his father rejoiced exceedingly.
गते च भरते रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः॥ पितरं देवसंकाशं पूजयामासतुस्तदा।
And on Bharata having departed Rāma and the exceedingly mighty Laksmana, tended their sire resembling a celestial.
पितुराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य पौरकार्याणि सर्वशः॥ चकार रामः सर्वाणि प्रियाणि च हितानि च।
And paying the utmost regard to the command of his father, Rāma discharged all the duties of the city, having for his object the pleasure or welfare (of the citizens).21
मातृभ्यो मातृकार्याणि कृत्वा परमयन्त्रितः॥ गुरूणां गुरुकार्याणि काले कालेऽन्ववैक्षत।
And heedfully rendering every service to his mothers, he on proper occasions observed the duties pertaining to his superiors.
एवं दशरथः प्रीतो ब्राह्मणा नैगमास्तथा॥ रामस्य शीलवृत्तेन सर्वे विषयवासिनः।
Dasaratha was exceedingly delighted; as also the Brahmanas, and the traders, and the inhabitants generally, at the conduct and behaviour of Rāma.
तेषामतियशा लोके रामः सत्यपराक्रमः॥ स्वयंभूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः।
Rāma having truth for prowess, by virtue of his excellence appeared to everyone the most meritorious of (Dasaratha's son) like to the self create Himself to all being.
रामश्च सीतया सार्धं विजहार बहूनृतून्॥ मनस्वी तद्गतमनास्तस्या हृदि समर्पितः।
In the company of Sītā, the wise Rāma, bending his mind to Sītā, with his heart dedicated to her, passed many a season in delight.
प्रिया तु सीता रामस्य दारा पितृकृता इति॥ गुणाद् रूपगुणाच्चापि प्रीतिर्भूयोऽभिवर्धते। तस्याश्च भर्ता द्विगुणं हृदये परिवर्तते॥
Rāma's beloved Sītā, as having been bestowed upon him by his sire, by her loveliness, and her perfections as much as by her loveliness, went on enhancing his joy. And her lord came to exercise a double influence on her heart.
अन्तर्गतमपि व्यक्तमाख्याति हृदयं हृदा। तस्य भूयो विशेषेण मैथिली जनकात्मजा। देवताभिः समा रूपे सीता श्रीरिव रूपिणी॥
And by her own heart, the daughter of Janaka, Mithila's lord, resembling a goddess in grace, and like to Śrī (goddess of wealth) herself in loveliness, completely read his inmost sentiments.
तया स राजर्षिसुतोऽभिकामया समेयिवानुत्तमराजकन्यया। अतीव रामः शुशुभे मुदान्वितो विभुःश्रिया विष्णुरिवामरेश्वरः॥ इति श्रीरामायणे बालकाण्डं समाप्तम्
And experiencing delight, Rama, receiving the Rājarși's daughter, exercising her own will the excellent princess-looked graceful, even like the lord Vişņu the chief of celestials on being joined with Śrī. BĀLAKĀŅDA