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54
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Possessed of prosperity and elder to
Lakshmana, he indeed is a fit ruler.
With him as ruler, all the three worlds
will certainly become possessed of the
best of rulers."
 
इति ब्रुवन्तं मुदिताः प्रत्यनन्दन्नृपा नृपम् ।
उचुश्च युवराजानमभिषिञ्चस्व पार्थिवम् ॥
 
With the king who spoke thus, the
kings were delighted and said: "Anoint
the prince Rama as the Yuvaraja.
 
इच्छामो हि महाबाहुं रघुवीरं महाबलम् ।
गजेन महता यान्तं रामं छत्रावृताननम् ॥
 
We do desire Rama, the heroic Raghu,
of great arms and great strength to ride
a great elephant, his face shaded by the
(royal) umbrella.
 
बहवो नृप कल्याणगुणाः पुत्रस्य सन्ति ते ।
इक्ष्वाकुभ्योऽपि सर्वेभ्यो ह्यतिरिक्तो विशाम्पते ॥
 
O king! many auspicious qualities exist
in your son. O, ruler of the earth, he
excels indeed all the Ikshvakus.
 
पौरान् स्वजनवन्नित्यं कुशलं परिपृच्छति ।
व्यसनेषु मनुष्याणां भृशं भवति दुःखितः ॥