Ramayana of valmiki and Kmaban

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Dasaratha announces of the coronation of Rama

 

Dasaratha informed the kings and people assembled in his court about his intention to crown Rama.

 

Anuroopah sa vai nATho lakshmeevAn lakshmaNAgrajah

Thrailokyamapi nAThena yena syAth nAThavath tharam (VR. 2-13)

 

Dasaratha told them to choose Rama as their king because he pleases everybody with his excellent qualities and with him all the three worlds will rejoice having him as their king. Moreover he is the abode of Lakshmi and the dear brother of Lakshmana.

 

Anuroopah means fitting. Rama is fitting for the post of the king because,

1.He is lakshmeevAn, abode of Lakshmi. Dasaratha meant it in the general sense to show that Rama is the abode of all auspicious qualities that cause of prosperity to all. But the words are of Valmiki which imply the real identity of rama as Lord Narayana, who is the abode of Lakshmi.

2.The word lakshmeevan is followed by lakshmaNAgrajah , the elder brother of Lakshmana thus enhancing the quality of lakshmeevAn because Lakshmana is referred to as lakshivardhanah, on who makes the wealth grow by Valmki earlie, the wealth being devotion and bliss.

Anuroopa, the epithet applied to Rama also means that (anugatham roopam yasya,) he pleases everyone by his roopa that is beauty in form as well as in his gunas.

He as the Lord Narayana is anuroopa, that is, all pervading as per the upanishadic statement `anena jeevena AthmanA anupraviSya nAmaroope vyAkaroth,'( chan.6..3.3) He entered into the self of everything and b gave them name and form.This function of Brahman is known as anupravesam.

The word vai nAThah , he alone is the king, also could mean the Lord Narayana as he is the natha master of Garuda , the word vi meaning a bird.

(From the commentary of Govindharajar)

 

For these reasons, said Dasaratha , he wanted to make Rama the king. But he presented it to those assembled and asked them to tell him if there is any alternative opinion, thus shp owing the democratic nature of the kings of yore.

 

Hearing the decision of Dasaratha to crown Rama the kings assembled there felt overjoyed like the peacocks which dance on seeing the rain-bearing clouds overhead, `vrshtimntham mahAmeghamnardhanth iva barhiNah.' They said in one voice "Well done," and the sound of the acclamation was so loud, says Valmiki, that it shook the hall of the palace.

 

Vasishta and other wise men who knew dharma together with the people agreed to what Dasaratha said. They welcomed the coronation of Rama saying,' icchAmo hi mahAbAhum raghuveeram mahAbalam gajenamahathA yAntham rAmam cchathrAvrthAnanam, we wish to see Rama coming on the elephant with his face under the shadow of the royal white umbrella,' thus diplomatically expressing their wish to have Ramaastheir king in order not to offend Dasaratha lest he should think that they want him to abdigate.

 

Dasratha was elated to hear their words but asked them as though he did not understand their real intention. He said that while he was reigning the land according to dharma why should they wish Rama to take over and what was the real reason they wanted Rama to become their king.

 

Then they started describing the auspicious qualities of Rama in order to explain why they desired his coronation.

 

Rama was the best among the kings of Ikshvaku clan. He was a sathpurusha, noble man, and was sathyah , truthful and sathya parakramah, of infallible valour. Dharma and prosperity, Sree, were born from him, meaning that he was the origin of dharma and Sree.

He was equal to the Moon towards his subjects, that is, he was pleasing as the Moon. He was like the earth in patience, like Brhaspathi in intelligence and like Indra invalour. He showed concern towards his subjects and respect towards elders and preceptors. Thus they enumerated all the good qualities of Rama and made it clear to Dasaratha that it was the reason for their wish to make Rama the king and not due to any dissatisfaction with the rule of Dasaratha, and compared Dasartha to Kasyapa who had The Lord Narayana as his son due to his penance done in previous life.

 

Dasaratha was overjoyed to hear the praise of Rama from them and told Vasishta and others to start the proceedings for the coronation as it was the month of Chaithra, which he describes as `chaithrah sreemAn ayam mAsahpuNyah pushpithakAnanah,' the auspicious an prosperous month, when the forests are full of flowers. He ordered the town to be decorated and to perform worship at the temples and Sent Sumanthra to call Rama.