> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 9
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *****

> > Canto 9: 'Liberation'

> > *****

> > Chapter Eleven: Lord Râmacandra Rules the World

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > bhagavân âtmanâtmânam

> > râma uttama-kalpakaih

> > sarva-devamayam devam

> > îje 'thâcâryavân makhaih

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; âtmanâ--by Himself; âtmânam--Himself; râmah--Lord Râmacandra; uttama-kalpakaih--with very opulent paraphernalia; sarva-deva-mayam--the heart and soul of all the demigods; devam--the Supreme Lord Himself; îje--worshiped; atha--thus; âcâryavân--under the guidance of an âcârya; makhaih--by performing sacrifices.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thereafter, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Ramacandra, accepted an acarya and performed sacrifices [yajnas] with opulent paraphernalia. Thus He Himself worshiped Himself, for He is the Supreme Lord of all demigods.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > hotre 'dadâd disam prâcîm

> > brahmane daksinâm prabhuh

> > adhvaryave pratîcîm vâ

> > uttarâm sâmagâya sah

> > hotre--unto the hotâ priest, who offers oblations; adadât--gave; disam--direction; prâcîm--the whole eastern side; brahmane--unto the brahmâ priest, who supervises what is done in the sacrificial arena; daksinâm--the southern side; prabhuh--Lord Râmacandra; adhvaryave--unto the adhvaryu priest; pratîcîm--the whole western side; vâ--also; uttarâm--the northern side; sâma-gâya--unto the udgâtâ priest, who sings the Sâma Veda; sah--He (Lord Râmacandra).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Ramacandra gave the entire east to the hota priest, the entire south to the brahma priest, the west to the adhvaryu priest, and the north to the udgata priest, the reciter of the Sama Veda. In this way, He donated His kingdom.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > âcâryâya dadau sesâm

> > yâvatî bhûs tad-antarâ

> > manyamâna idam krtsnam

> > brâhmano 'rhati nihsprhah

> > âcâryâya--unto the âcârya, the spiritual master; dadau--gave; sesâm--the balance; yâvatî--whatever; bhûh-land; tat-antarâ--existing between the east, west, north and south; manyamânah--thinking; idam--all this; krtsnam--wholly; brâhmanah--the brâhmanas; arhati--deserve to possess; nihsprhah--having no desire.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, thinking that because the brahmanas have no material desires they should possess the entire world, Lord Ramacandra delivered the land between the east, west, north and south to the acarya.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > ity ayam tad-alankâra-

> > vâsobhyâm avasesitah

> > tathâ râjny api vaidehî

> > saumangalyâvasesitâ

> > iti--in this way (after giving everything to the brâhmanas); ayam--Lord Râmacandra; tat--His; alankâra-vâsobhyâm--with personal ornaments and garments; avasesitah--remained; tathâ--as well as; râjnî--the Queen (mother Sîtâ); api--also; vaidehî--the daughter of the King of Videha; saumangalyâ--with only the nose ring; avasesitâ--remained.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After thus giving everything in charity to the brahmanas, Lord Ramacandra retained only His personal garments and ornaments, and similarly the Queen, mother Sita, was left with only her nose ring, and nothing else.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > te tu brâhmana-devasya

> > vâtsalyam vîksya samstutam

> > prîtâh klinna-dhiyas tasmai

> > pratyarpyedam babhâsire

> > te--the hotâ, brahmâ and other priests; tu--but; brâhmana-devasya--of Lord Râmacandra, who loved the brâhmanas so much; vâtsalyam--the paternal affection; vîksya--after seeing; samstutam--worshiped with prayers; prîtâh--being very pleased; klinna-dhiyah--with melted hearts; tasmai--unto Him (Lord Râmacandra); pratyarpya--returning; idam--this (all the land given to them); babhâsire--spoke.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All the brahmanas who were engaged in the various activities of the sacrifice were very pleased with Lord Ramacandra, who was greatly affectionate and favorable to the brahmanas. Thus with melted hearts they returned all the property received from Him and spoke as follows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > aprattam nas tvayâ kim nu

> > bhagavan bhuvanesvara

> > yan no 'ntar-hrdayam visya

> > tamo hamsi sva-rocisâ

> > aprattam--not given; nah--unto us; tvayâ--by Your Lordship; kim--what; nu--indeed; bhagavan--O Supreme Lord; bhuvana-îvara--O master of the whole universe; yat--because; nah--our; antah-hrdayam--within the core of the heart; visya--entering; tamah--the darkness of ignorance; hamsi--You annihilate; sva-rocisâ--by Your own effulgence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Lord, You are the master of the entire universe. What have You not given to us? You have entered the core of our hearts and dissipated the darkness of our ignorance by Your effulgence. This is the supreme gift. We do not need a material donation.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > namo brahmanya-devâya

> > râmâyâkuntha-medhase

> > uttamasloka-dhuryâya

> > nyasta-dandârpitânghraye

> > namah--we offer our respectful obeisances; brahmanya-devâya--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who accepts the brâhmanas as His worshipable deity; râmâya--unto Lord Râmacandra; akuntha-medhase--whose memory and knowledge are never disturbed by anxiety; uttamasloka-dhuryâya--the best of very famous persons; nyasta-danda-arpita-anghraye--whose lotus feet are worshiped by sages beyond the jurisdiction of punishment.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Lord, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who have accepted the brahmanas as Your worshipable deity. Your knowledge and memory are never disturbed by anxiety. You are the chief of all famous persons within this world, and Your lotus feet are worshiped by sages who are beyond the jurisdiction of punishment. O Lord Ramacandra, let us offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > kadâcil loka-jijnâsur

> > gûho râtryâm alaksitah

> > caran vâco 'srnod râmo

> > bhâryâm uddisya kasyacit

> > kadâcit--once upon a time; loka-jijnâsuh--desiring to know about the public; gûhah--hiding Himself by a disguise; râtryâm--at night; alaksitah--without being identified by anyone else; caran--walking; vâcah--speaking; asrnot--heard; râmah--Lord Râmacandra; bhâryâm--unto His wife; uddisya--indicating; kasyacit--of someone.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Once while Lord Ramacandra was walking at night incognito, hiding Himself by a disguise to find out the people's opinion of Himself, He heard a man speaking unfavorably about His wife, Sitadevi.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > nâham bibharmi tvâm dustâm

> > asatîm para-vesma-gâm

> > straino hi bibhryât sîtâm

> > râmo nâham bhaje punah

> > na--not; aham--I; bibharmi--can maintain; tvâm--you; dustâm--because you are polluted; asatîm--unchaste; para-vesma-gâm--one who has gone to another man's house and committed adultery; strainah--a person who is henpecked; hi--indeed; bibhryât--can accept; sîtâm--even Sîtâ; râmah--like Lord Râmacandra; na--not; aham--I; bhaje--shall accept; punah--again.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [Speaking to his unchaste wife, the man said] You go to another man's house, and therefore you are unchaste and polluted. I shall not maintain you any more. A henpecked husband like Lord Rama may accept a wife like Sita, who went to another man's house, but I am not henpecked like Him, and therefore I shall not accept you again.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > iti lokâd bahu-mukhâd

> > durârâdhyâd asamvidah

> > patyâ bhîtena sâ tyaktâ

> > prâptâ prâcetasâsramam

> > iti--thus; lokât--from persons; bahu-mukhât--who can talk nonsensically in various ways; durârâdhyât--whom it is very difficult to stop; asamvidah--who are without full knowledge; patyâ--by the husband; bhîtena--being afraid; sâ--mother Sîtâ; tyaktâ--was abandoned; prâptâ--went; prâcetasa-âsramam--to the hermitage of Prâcetasa (Vâlmîki Muni).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: Men with a poor fund of knowledge and a heinous character speak nonsensically. Fearing such rascals, Lord Ramacandra abandoned His wife, Sitadevi, although she was pregnant. Thus Sitadevi went to the asrama of Valmiki Muni.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > antarvatny âgate kâle

> > yamau sâ susuve sutau

> > kuso lava iti khyâtau

> > tayos cakre kriyâ munih

> > antarvatnî--the pregnant wife; âgate--arrived; kâle--in due course of time; yamau--twins; sâ--Sîtâdevî; susuve--gave birth to; sutau--two sons; kusah--Kusa; lavah--Lava; iti--thus; khyâtau--celebrated; tayoh--of them; cakre--performed; kriyâh--the ritualistic ceremonies of birth; munih--the great sage Vâlmîki.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the time came, the pregnant mother Sitadevi gave birth to twin sons, later celebrated as Lava and Kusa. The ritualistic ceremonies for their birth were performed by Valmiki Muni.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > angadas citraketus ca

> > laksmanasyâtmajau smrtau

> > taksah puskala ity âstâm

> > bharatasya mahîpate

> > angadah--Angada; citraketuh--Citraketu; ca--also; laksmanasya--of Lord Laksmana; âtmajau--two sons; smrtau--were said to be; taksah--Taksa; puskalah--Puskala; iti--thus; âstâm--were; bharatasya--of Lord Bharata; mahîpate--O King Parîksit.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Maharaja Pariksit, Lord Laksmana had two sons, named Angada and Citraketu, and Lord Bharata also had two sons, named Taksa and Puskala.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 13-14

> > subâhuh srutasenas ca

> > satrughnasya babhûvatuh

> > gandharvân kotiso jaghne

> > bharato vijaye disâm

> > tadîyam dhanam ânîya

> > sarvam râjne nyavedayat

> > satrughnas ca madhoh putram

> > lavanam nâma râksasam

> > hatvâ madhuvane cakre

> > mathurâm nâma vai purîm

> > subâhuh--Subâhu; srutasenah--Srutasena; ca--also; satrughnasya--of Lord Satrughna; babhûvatuh--were born; gandharvân--persons related with the Gandharvas, who are mostly pretenders; kotisah--by the tens of millions; jaghne--killed; bharatah--Lord Bharata; vijaye--while conquering; disâm--all directions; tadîyam--of the Gandharvas; dhanam--riches; ânîya--bringing;

> > sarvam--everything; râjne--unto the King (Lord Râmacandra); nyavedayat--offered; satrughnah--Satrughna; ca--and; madhoh--of Madhu; putram--the son; lavanam--Lavana; nâma--by the name; râksasam--a man-eater; hatvâ--by killing; madhuvane--in the great forest known as Madhuvana; cakre--constructed; mathurâm--Mathurâ; nâma--by the name; vai--indeed; purîm--a great town.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Satrughna had two sons, named Subahu and Srutasena. When Lord Bharata went to conquer all directions, He had to kill many millions of Gandharvas, who are generally pretenders. Taking all their wealth, He offered it to Lord Ramacandra. Satrughna also killed a Raksasa named Lavana, who was the son of Madhu Raksasa. Thus He established in the great forest known as Madhuvana the town known as Mathura.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > munau niksipya tanayau

> > sîtâ bhartrâ vivâsitâ

> > dhyâyantî râma-caranau

> > vivaram pravivesa ha

> > munau--unto the great sage Vâlmîki; niksipya--giving in charge; tanayau--the two sons Lava and Kusa; sîtâ--mother Sîtâdevî; bhartrâ--by her husband; vivâsitâ--banished; dhyâyantî--meditating upon; râma-caranau--the lotus feet of Lord Râmacandra; vivaram--within the earth; pravivesa--she entered; ha--indeed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Being forsaken by her husband, Sitadevi entrusted her two sons to the care of Valmiki Muni. Then, meditating upon the lotus feet of Lord Ramacandra, she entered into the earth.

> > PURPORT

> > It was impossible for Sitadevi to live in separation from Lord Ramacandra. Therefore, after entrusting her two sons to the care of Valmiki Muni, she entered into the earth.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > tac chrutvâ bhagavân râmo

> > rundhann api dhiyâ sucah

> > smarams tasyâ gunâms tâms tân

> > nâsaknod roddhum îsvarah

> > tat--this (the news of Sîtâdevî's entering the earth); srutvâ--hearing; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; râmah--Lord Râmacandra; rundhan--trying to reject; api--although; dhiyâ--by intelligence; sucah--grief; smaran--remembering; tasyâh--of her; gunân--qualities; tân tân--under different circumstances; na--not; asaknot--was able; roddhum--to check; îsvarah--although the supreme controller.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After hearing the news of mother Sita's entering the earth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was certainly aggrieved. Although He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, upon remembering the exalted qualities of mother Sita, He could not check His grief in transcendental love.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > strî-pum-prasanga etâdrk

> > sarvatra trâsam-âvahah

> > apîsvarânâm kim uta

> > grâmyasya grha-cetasah

> > strî-pum-prasangah--attraction between husband and wife, or man and woman; etâdrk--like this; sarvatra--everywhere; trâsam-âvahah--the cause of fear; api--even; îsvarânâm--of controllers; kim uta--and what to speak of; grâmyasya--of ordinary men of this material world; grha-cetasah--who are attached to materialistic household life.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The attraction between man and woman, or male and female, always exists everywhere, making everyone always fearful. Such feelings are present even among the controllers like Brahma and Lord Siva and is the cause of fear for them, what to speak of others who are attached to household life in this material world.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > tata ûrdhvam brahmacaryam

> > dhâryann ajuhot prabhuh

> > trayodasâbda-sâhasram

> > agnihotram akhanditam

> > tatah--thereafter; ûrdhvam--after mother Sîtâ's going into the earth; brahmacaryam--complete celibacy; dhârayan--observing; ajuhot--performed a ritualistic ceremony and sacrifice; prabhuh--Lord Râmacandra; trayodasa-abda-sâhasram--for thirteen thousand years; agnihotram--the sacrifice known as Agnihotra-yajna; akhanditam--without ceasing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After mother Sita entered the earth, Lord Ramacandra observed complete celibacy and performed an uninterrupted Agnihotra-yajna for thirteen thousand years.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > smaratâm hrdi vinyasya

> > viddham dandaka-kantakaih

> > sva-pâda-pallavam râma

> > âtma-jyotir agât tatah

> > smaratâm--of persons who always think of Him; hrdi--in the core of the heart; vinyasya--placing; viddham--pierced; dandaka-kantakaih--by thorns in the forest of Dandakâranya (while Lord Râmacandra was living there); sva-pâda-pallavam--the petals of His lotus feet; râmah--Lord Râmacandra; âtma-jyotih--the rays of His bodily luster, known as the brahmajyoti; agât--entered; tatah--beyond the brahmajyoti, or in His own Vaikuntha planet.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After completing the sacrifice, Lord Ramacandra, whose lotus feet were sometimes pierced by thorns when He lived in Dandakaranya, placed those lotus feet in the hearts of those who always think of Him. Then He entered His own abode, the Vaikuntha planet beyond the brahmajyoti.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > nedam yaso raghupateh sura-yâcnayâtta-

> > lîlâ-tanor adhika-sâmya-vimukta-dhâmnah

> > rakso-vadho jaladhi-bandhanam astra-pûgaih

> > kim tasya satru-hanane kapayah sahâyâh

> > na--not; idam--all these; yasah--fame; raghu-pateh--of Lord Râmacandra; sura-yâcnayâ--by the prayers of the demigods; âtta-lîlâ-tanoh--whose spiritual body is always engaged in various pastimes; adhika-sâmya-vimukta-dhâmnah--no one is greater than or equal to Him; raksah-vadhah--killing the Râksasa (Râvana); jaladhi-bandhanam--bridging the ocean; astra-pûgaih--with bow and arrows; kim--whether; tasya--His; satru-hanane--in killing the enemies; kapayah--the monkeys; sahâyâh--assistants.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Ramacandra's reputation for having killed Ravana with showers of arrows at the request of the demigods and for having built a bridge over the ocean does not constitute the factual glory of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Ramacandra, whose spiritual body is always engaged in various pastimes. Lord Ramacandra has no equal or superior, and therefore He had no need to take help from the monkeys to gain victory over Ravana.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > yasyâmalam nrpa-sadahsu yaso 'dhunâpi

> > gâyanty agha-ghnam rsayo dig-ibhendra-pattam

> > tam nâkapâla-vasupâla-kirîta-justa-

> > pâdâmbujam raghupatim saranam prapadye

> > yasya--whose (Lord Râmacandra's); amalam--spotless, free from material qualities; nrpa-sadahsu--in the assembly of great emperors like Mahârâja Yudhisthira; yasah--famous glories; adhunâ api--even today; gâyanti--glorify; agha-ghnam--which vanquish all sinful reactions; rsayah--great saintly persons like Mârkandeya; dik-ibha-indra-pattam--as the ornamental cloth covering the elephant that conquers the directions; tam--that; nâka-pâla--of heavenly demigods; vasu-pâla--of earthly kings; kirîta--by the helmets; justa--are worshiped; pâda-ambujam--whose lotus feet; raghu-patim--unto Lord Râmacandra; saranam--surrender; prapadye--I offer.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Ramacandra's spotless name and fame, which vanquish all sinful reactions, are celebrated in all directions, like the ornamental cloth of the victorious elephant that conquers all directions. Great saintly persons like Markandeya Rsi still glorify His characteristics in the assemblies of great emperors like Maharaja Yudhisthira. Similarly, all the saintly kings and all the demigods, including Lord Siva and Lord Brahma, worship the Lord by bowing down with their helmets. Let me offer my obeisances unto His lotus feet.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > sa yaih sprsto 'bhidrsto vâ

> > samvisto 'nugato 'pi vâ

> > kosalâs te yayuh sthânam

> > yatra gacchanti yoginah

> > sah--He, Lord Râmacandra; yaih--by which persons; sprstah--touched; abhidrstah--seen; vâ--either; samvistah--eating together, lying together; anugatah--followed as servants; api vâ--even; kosalâh--all those inhabitants of Kosala; te--they; yayuh--departed; sthânam--to the place; yatra--wherein; gacchanti--they go; yoginah--all the bhakti-yogîs.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Ramacandra returned to His abode, to which bhakti-yogis are promoted. This is the place to which all the inhabitants of Ayodhya went after they served the Lord in His manifest pastimes by offering Him obeisances, touching His lotus feet, fully observing Him as a fatherlike King, sitting or lying down with Him like equals, or even just accompanying Him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > puruso râma-caritam

> > sravanair upadhârayan

> > ânrsamsya-paro râjan

> > karma-bandhair vimucyate

> > purusah--any person; râma-caritam--the narration concerning the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Râmacandra; sravanaih--by aural reception; upadhârayan--simply by this process of hearing; ânrsamsya-parah--becomes completely free from envy; râjan--O King Parîksit; karma-bandhaih--by the bondage of fruitive activities; vimucyate--one becomes liberated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Pariksit, anyone who aurally receives the narrations concerning the characteristics of Lord Ramacandra's pastimes will ultimately be freed from the disease of envy and thus be liberated from the bondage of fruitive activities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > srî-râjovâca

> > katham sa bhagavân râmo

> > bhrâtrn vâ svayam âtmanah

> > tasmin vâ te 'nvavartanta

> > prajâh paurâs ca îsvare

> > srî-râjâ uvâca--Mahârâja Parîksit inquired; katham--how; sah--He, the Lord; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; râmah--Lord Râmacandra; bhrâtrn--unto the brothers (Laksmana, Bharata and Satrughna); vâ--either; svayam--personally; âtmanah--expansions of His person; tasmin--unto the Lord; vâ--either; te--they (all the inhabitants and the brothers); anvavartanta--behaved; prajâh--all the inhabitants; paurâh--the citizens; ca--and; îsvare--unto the Supreme Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maharaja Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: How did the Lord conduct Himself, and how did He behave in relationship with His brothers, who were expansions of His own self? And how did His brothers and the inhabitants of Ayodhya treat Him?

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

> > athâdisad dig-vijaye

> > bhrâtrms tri-bhuvanesvarah

> > âtmânam darsayan svânâm

> > purîm aiksata sânugah

> > srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; atha--hereafter (when the Lord accepted the throne on the request of Bharata); âdisat--ordered; dik-vijaye--to conquer all the world; bhrâtrn--His younger brothers; tri-bhuvana-îsvarah--the Lord of the universe; âtmânam--personally, Himself; darsayan--giving audience; svânâm--to the family members and the citizens; purîm--the city; aiksata--supervised; sa-anugah--with other assistants.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami replied: After accepting the throne of the government by the fervent request of His younger brother Bharata, Lord Ramacandra ordered His younger brothers to go out and conquer the entire world, while He personally remained in the capital to give audience to all the citizens and residents of the palace and supervise the governmental affairs with His other assistants.

> > PURPORT

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead does not allow any of His devotees or assistants to be engaged in sense gratification. The younger brothers of Lord Ramacandra were at home enjoying the personal presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the Lord ordered Them to go out and achieve victory all over the world. It was the custom (and this custom, in some places, is still current) that all other kings would have to accept the supremacy of the emperor. If the king of a small state did not accept the emperor's supremacy, there would be a fight, and the king of the small state would be obliged to accept the emperor as supreme; otherwise, it would not be possible for the emperor to rule the country.

> > Lord Ramacandra showed His favor to His brothers by ordering Them to go out. Many of the Lord's devotees residing in Vrndavana have taken the vow not to leave Vrndavanato preach Krsna consciousness. But the Lord says that Krsna consciousness should be spread all over the world, in every village and every town. This is the open order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

> > prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama

> > sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

> > A pure devotee, therefore, must execute the order of the Lord and must not gratify his senses by remaining stagnant in one place, falsely proud, thinking that because he does not leave Vrndavana but chants in a solitary place he has become a great devotee.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > âsikta-mârgâm gandhodaih

> > karinâm mada-sîkaraih

> > svâminam prâptam âlokya

> > mattâm vâ sutarâm iva

> > âsikta-mârgâm--the streets were sprinkled; gandha-udaih--with perfumed water; karinâm--of elephants; mada-sîkaraih--with particles of perfumed liquor; svâminam--the master or proprietor; prâptam--present; âlokya--seeing personally; mattâm--very opulent; vâ--either; sutarâm--highly; iva--as if.

> > TRANSLATION

> > During the reign of Lord Ramacandra, the streets of the capital, Ayodhya, were sprinkled with perfumed water and drops of perfumed liquor, thrown about by elephants from their trunks. When the citizens saw the Lord personally supervising the affairs of the city in such opulence, they appreciated this opulence very much.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > prâsâda-gopura-sabhâ-

> > caitya-deva-grhâdisu

> > vinyasta-hema-kalasaih

> > patâkâbhis ca manditâm

> > prâsâda--in palaces; gopura--palace gates; sabhâ--assembly houses; caitya--raised platforms; deva-grha--temples wherein deities are worshiped; âdisu--and so on; vinyasta--placed; hema-kalasaih--with golden waterpots; patâkâbhih--by flags; ca--also; manditâm--bedecked.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The palaces, the palace gates, the assembly houses, the platforms for meeting places, the temples and all such places were decorated with golden waterpots and bedecked with various types of flags.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > pûgaih savrntai rambhâbhih

> > pattikâbhih suvâsasâm

> > âdarsair amsukaih sragbhih

> > krta-kautuka-toranâm

> > pûgaih--by trees of betel nut; sa-vrntaih--with bunches of flowers and fruits; rambhâbhih--with banana trees; pattikâbhih--with flags; su-vâsasâm--decorated with colorful cloth; âdarsaih--with mirrors; amsukaih--with cloths; sragbhih--with garlands; krta-kautuka--made auspicious; toranâm--possessing reception gates.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Wherever Lord Ramacandra visited, auspicious welcome gates were constructed, with banana trees and betel nut trees, full of flowers and fruits. The gates were decorated with various flags made of colorful cloth and with tapestries, mirrors and garlands.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > tam upeyus tatra tatra

> > paurâ arhana-pânayah

> > âsiso yuyujur deva

> > pâhîmâm prâk tvayoddhrtâm

> > tam--unto Him, Lord Râmacandra; upeyuh--approached; tatra tatra--wherever He visited; paurâh--the inhabitants of the neighborhood; arhana-pânayah--carrying paraphernalia to worship the Lord; âsisah--blessings from the Lord; yuyujuh--came down; deva--O my Lord; pâhi--just maintain; imâm--this land; prâk--as before; tvayâ--by You; uddhrtâm--rescued (from the bottom of the sea in Your incarnation as Varâha).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Wherever Lord Ramacandra visited, the people approached Him with paraphernalia of worship and begged the Lord's blessings. "O Lord," they said, "as You rescued the earth from the bottom of the sea in Your incarnation as a boar, may You now maintain it. Thus we beg Your blessings."

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > tatah prajâ vîksya patim cirâgatam

> > didrksayotsrsta-grhâh striyo narâh

> > âruhya harmyâny aravinda-locanam

> > atrpta-netrâh kusumair avâkiran

> > tatah--thereafter; prajâh--the citizens; vîksya--by seeing; patim--the King; cira-âgatam--returned after a long time; didrksayâ--desiring to see; utsrsta-grhâh--vacating their respective residences; striyah--the women; narâh--the men; âruhya--getting on top of; harmyâni--great palaces; aravinda-locanam--Lord Râmacandra, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus; atrpta-netrâh--whose eyes were not fully satisfied; kusumaih--by flowers; avâkiran--showered the Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, not having seen the Lord for a long time, the citizens, both men and women, being very eager to see Him, left their homes and got up on the roofs of the palaces. Being incompletely satiated with seeing the face of the lotus-eyed Lord Ramacandra, they showered flowers upon Him.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 31-34

> > atha pravistah sva-grham

> > justam svaih pûrva-râjabhih

> > anantâkhila-kosâdhyam

> > anarghyoruparicchadam

> > vidrumodumbara-dvârair

> > vaidûrya-stambha-panktibhih

> > sthalair mârakataih svacchair

> > bhrâjat-sphatika-bhittibhih

> > citra-sragbhih pattikâbhir

> > vâso-mani-ganâmsukaih

> > muktâ-phalais cid-ullâsaih

> > kânta-kâmopapattibhih

> > dhûpa-dîpaih surabhibhir

> > manditam puspa-mandanaih

> > strî-pumbhih sura-sankâsair

> > justam bhûsana-bhûsanaih

> > atha--thereafter; pravistah--He entered; sva-grham--His own palace; justam--occupied; svaih--by His own family members; pûrva-râjabhih--by the previous members of the royal family; ananta--unlimited; akhila--everywhere; kosa--treasury; âdhyam--prosperous; anarghya--priceless; uru--high; paricchadam--paraphernalia;

> > vidruma--of coral; udumbara-dvâraih--with the two sides of the doors; vaidûrya-stambha--with pillars of vaidûrya-mani; panktibhih--in a line; sthalaih--with floors; mârakataih--made of marakata stone; svacchaih--very cleanly polished; bhrâjat--dazzling; sphatika--marble; bhittibhih--foundations;

> > citra-sragbhih--with varieties of flower garlands; pattikâbhih--with flags; vâsah--clothing; mani-gana-amsukaih--by various effulgent and valuable stones; muktâ-phalaih--with pearls; cit-ullâsaih--increasing celestial pleasure; kânta-kâma--fulfilling one's desires; upapattibhih--by such paraphernalia;

> > dhûpa-dîpaih--with incense and lamps; surabhibhih--very fragrant; manditam--decorated; puspa-mandanaih--by bunches of various flowers; strî-pumbhih--by men and women; sura-sankâsaih--appearing like the demigods; justam--full of; bhûsana-bhûsanaih--whose bodies beautified their ornaments.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, Lord Ramacandra entered the palace of His forefathers. Within the palace were various treasures and valuable wardrobes. The sitting places on the two sides of the entrance door were made of coral, the yards were surrounded by pillars of vaidurya-mani, the floor was made of highly polished marakata-mani, and the foundation was made of marble. The entire palace was decorated with flags and garlands and bedecked with valuable stones, shining with a celestial effulgence. The palace was fully decorated with pearls and surrounded by lamps and incense. The men and women within the palace all resembled demigods and were decorated with various ornaments, which seemed beautiful because of being placed on their bodies.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > tasmin sa bhagavân râmah

> > snigdhayâ priyayestayâ

> > reme svârâma-dhîrânâm

> > rsabhah sîtayâ kila

> > tasmin--in that celestial palace; sah--He; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; râmah--Lord Râmacandra; snigdhayâ--always pleased by her behavior; priyayâ istayâ--with His dearmost wife; reme--enjoyed; sva-ârâma--personal pleasure; dhîrânâm--of the greatest learned persons; rsabhah--the chief; sîtayâ--with mother Sîtâ; kila--indeed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Ramacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, chief of the best learned scholars, resided in that palace with His pleasure potency, mother Sita, and enjoyed complete peace.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > bubhuje ca yathâ-kâlam

> > kâmân dharmam apîdayan

> > varsa-pûgân bahûn nrnâm

> > abhidhyâtânghri-pallavah

> > bubhuje--He enjoyed; ca--also; yathâ-kâlam--as long as required; kâmân--all enjoyment; dharmam--religious principles; apîdayan--without transgressing; varsa-pûgân--duration of years; bahûn--many; nrnâm--of the people in general; abhidhyâta--being meditated upon; anghri-pallavah--His lotus feet.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Without transgressing the religious principles, Lord Ramacandra, whose lotus feet are worshiped by devotees in meditation, enjoyed with all the paraphernalia of transcendental pleasure for as long as needed.

> > Back to the running text