The Ramayana: The Book of Ayodhya

...his inner apartment like a lion entering his den. Even as the moon illuminates the sky when it is crowded with stars, the handsome king King Dasharatha, Rāma's father. entered his mansion—which was like the abode of the mighty Indra The king of the gods in Hindu mythology. and filled with elegantly dressed women—gracing it by his presence.

SECTION VI.

WHEN the priest The sage Vasistha. had gone away, Rāma, having bathed and with a focused mind, began to adore Nārāyana A name for the supreme deity, often identified with Vishnu., in the company of his wife Vaidehi A title for Sītā, meaning "Princess of Videha.", who has expansive eyes. Then, raising a vessel of clarified butter Ghee, which is used in sacred offerings. to his head as a sign of reverence, he began to offer oblations into the flaming fire on behalf of that mighty deity, in accordance with the sacred laws. Having consumed the remaining portion of the clarified butter, Rāma prayed for his own welfare and meditated on the god Nārāyana. Then, the son of the best of men, with a collected mind and maintaining a vow of silence, lay down on a bed of kusa grass A sacred grass used in Hindu rituals for purification and as a seating/bedding material. alongside Vaidehi within the beautiful temple of Vishnu.

When only one watch A "watch" or yama is a three-hour period; this refers to the final three hours before dawn. remained of the night, Rāma awoke and saw that his residence was well-decorated. Hearing the melodious chants of the genealogists, court poets, and Brāhmanas The priestly and scholarly class. who were experts in the Purānas Ancient texts containing mythology, history, and tradition., Rāma finished his devotions for the pre-dawn twilight and, with a concentrated mind, began to recite the Sāvitri original: "Sāvatri"; The Gayatri Mantra, a highly sacred hymn to the sun from the Vedas.. Dressed in clean silk garments, he bowed his head and sang hymns to the destroyer of Madhu An epithet for Vishnu, referring to his victory over the demon Madhu., and he had the twice-born A term for those initiated into Vedic study, usually referring to the Brāhmanas here. perform the Swastivāchana A ritual involving the chanting of hymns to invoke auspiciousness and blessings. ceremony. Already echoing with the blaring of trumpets, the city of Ayodhyā became filled with...

The celebrated hymn to the sun, the most sacred thing in all the Vedas.—Translator's note.