1) Having instructed Rama, who was to be anointed the next day, King Dasaratha summoned his family priest, Vasishta, and spoke to him as follows:
2) “Please go to Rama’s residence, O ascetic, and persuade Him and His wife to observe a fast so His succession to the throne may be auspicious.”
3) The blessed Vasishta, the supreme scholar of the Veda, having said, “So be it!”, proceeded personally to Lord Rama’s palace.
4) In order to persuade the heroic Raghava– an adept in the use of mantras, to observe a fast, Vasishta, a knower of mantras, mounted a chariot suitable for a brahmana.
5) Upon reaching Rama’s palace, which shone with the splendour of a mass of white clouds, the sage entered by chariot and proceeded through its three courtyards.
6) As he arrived, Lord Rama, who considered the sage to be worthy of honour, came quickly out of His residence.
7) Hastily approaching the chariot, the intelligent Lord helped Vasishta to alight from the vehicle.
8-9) Vasishta greeted Rama, and noted His humility with satisfaction. The sage then addressed Rama, who deserved affection, and increased His joy, saying, “Your father is delighted with You, and thus he will bestow the kingdom upon You. You should observe a fast today together with Sita.
10) In the morning King Dasaratha will anoint You crown-prince with great happiness, just as Nahusha anointed Yayati.”
11) So saying, the pure ascetic counselled Lord Rama to fast together with the princess of Videha [Sita].
12) Thereafter, having been suitably worshipped by Rama, the king’s preceptor took leave of Him and proceeded from His palace.
13) Sitting then with His companions, who ever spoke endearingly, the Lord shortly took leave of them, and receiving their salutations He entered His private quarters.
14) Rama’s palace thronged with blissful men and women, and it had the semblance of a lake decorated with flocks of intoxicated birds and full blown lotuses.
15) Upon leaving Ramachandra’s residence, which resembled a king’s palace, Vasishta beheld the street crowded with people.
16) The royal thoroughfares of Ayodhya thronged with a great multitude of groups of curious men pressed close together, and was thus made impassable.
17) There was a joyous commotion as the waves of citizens glided together, and the king’s road resounded as if with the roar of an ocean.
18) The carriageway was sprinkled with water and strewn with flowers, and the whole of Ayodhya was hung with garlands and with flags that day.
19) Indeed, the crowds of Ayodhyites, along with their womenfolk and children, were so enthusiastic to see the anointment of Lord Rama that they yearned for the rising of the next day’s sun.
20) The people were eager to behold the great festival in Ayodhya, which would beautify their existence and expand their transcendental ecstasy.
21) The king’s highway being obstructed by crowds, the sovereign’s preceptor parted the flood of people as it were, gradually making his way to the royal palace.
22) Ascending the steps to the king’s residence, which resembled a mountain summit surrounded by white clouds, Vasishta met Maharaja Dasaratha, just as Brihaspati meets Indra.
23) Leaving the imperial throne as soon as he descried him, the king asked him to reveal his thoughts, and Vasishta informed him that he had done as bidden.
24) In a like manner, the members of the royal council, who sat with the emperor, rose from their seats to show respect to his family priest.
25) With the consent of his spiritual master, Dasaratha then dismissed the assembly of men, and entered his private apartments like a lion entering a mountain cave.
26) Upon entering that excellent dwelling, which was crowded with youthful women, and which vied with Indra’s abode, King Dasaratha shone like the moon in a star spangled sky.