🌿 Aranya Kanda

Sarga 10

23 shlokas

AK-10-1Aranya Kanda 10.1

वाक्यमेतत्तु वैदेह्या व्याहृतं भर्तृभक्तया। श्रुत्वा धर्मे स्थितो रामः प्रत्युवाचाथ मैथिलीम्।।3.10.1।।

vākyametattu vaidehyā vyāhṛtṃ bhartṛbhaktayā| śrutvā dharme sthito rāmḥ pratyuvācātha maithilīm||3.10.1||

Translation

भर्तृभक्तया out of devotion to her husband, वैदेह्या by Sita, व्याहृतम् spoken, एतत् this, वाक्यम् word, श्रुत्वा on hearing, धर्मे in righteousness, स्थितः steadfast, रामः Rama, अथ thereafter, मैथिलीम् to Sita, प्रत्युवाच replied.

Meaning

Having heard these words spoken by Sita who was devoted to her husband, replied Rama who was firm in righteousness.

AK-10-2Aranya Kanda 10.2

हितमुक्तं त्वया देवि स्निग्धया सदृशं वचः। कुलं व्यपदिशन्त्या च धर्मज्ञे जनकात्मजे।।3.10.2।।

hitamuktṃ tvayā devi snigdhayā sadṛśṃ vacḥ| kulṃ vyapadiśantyā ca dharmajñe janakātmaje||3.10.2||

Translation

देवि O Devi, धर्मज्ञे O one who knows righteousness जनकात्मजे O daughter of Janaka, कुलम् race, व्यपदिशन्त्या by admonishing, स्निग्धया affectionately, त्वया by you, हितम् good, सदृशम् suitable, वचः words, उक्तम् is stated.

Meaning

O daughter of Janaka, you are conversant with dharma. Whatever you have admonished out of affection for me is befitting your race.

AK-10-3Aranya Kanda 10.3

किन्तु वक्ष्याम्यहं देवि त्वयैवोक्तमिदं वचः। क्षत्रियैर्धार्यते चापो नार्तशब्दो भवेदिति।।3.10.3।।

kintu vakṣyāmyahṃ devi tvayaivoktamidṃ vacḥ| kṣatriyairdhāryate cāpo nārtaśabdo bhavediti||3.10.3||

Translation

देवि O Devi, अहम् I, किन्तु but, वक्ष्यामि I speak, आर्तशब्दः cry of distress न भवेदिति not to arise, क्षत्रियैः by kshatriyas, चापः bow, धार्यते is held, इदम् this way, वचः declaration, त्वयैव by yourself, उक्तम् is spoken.

Meaning

But permit me, Devi, you have already stated, when a kshatriya holds a bow there will be no cry of distress. (it means you approve of my holding a bow)

AK-10-4Aranya Kanda 10.4

ते चार्ता दण्डकारण्ये मुनयस्संशितव्रताः। मां सीते स्वयमागम्य शरण्याश्शरणं गताः।।3.10.4।।

te cārtā daṇḍakāraṇye munayassṃśitavratāḥ| māṃ sīte svayamāgamya śaraṇyāśśaraṇṃ gatāḥ||3.10.4||

Translation

सीते Sita, संशितव्रता: practising rigorous austerities, शरण्या worthy of giving refuge, दण्डकारण्ये in Dandaka forest, ते मुनयः those sages, आर्ताः in distress, स्वयम् personally, आगम्य after coming to me, माम् myself, शरणं गताः sought refuge.

Meaning

O Sita, the sages who perform rigorous penance in Dandaka forest came to me personally, seeking shelter although they can be their own protection.

AK-10-5Aranya Kanda 10.5

वसन्तो धर्मनिरता वने मूलफलाशनाः। न लभन्ते सुखं भीता राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः।।3.10.5।।

vasanto dharmaniratā vane mūlaphalāśanāḥ| na labhante sukhṃ bhītā rākṣasaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ||3.10.5||

Translation

मूलफलाशनाः living on roots and fruits, धर्मनिरताः engaged in righteous activition वने in the forest, वसन्तः residing, क्रूरकर्मभिः by cruel activities, राक्षसैः by demons, भीताः are afraid, सुखम् happiness, न लभन्ते do not get.

Meaning

The sages living in the forest, eating roots and fruits and ever engaged in righteous activities are afraid of the depredations of the demons, with their happiness gone.

AK-10-6Aranya Kanda 10.6

काले काले च निरता नियमैर्विविधैर्वने। भक्ष्यन्ते राक्षसैर्भीमैर्नरमांसोपजीविभिः।।3.10.6।।

kāle kāle ca niratā niyamairvividhairvane| bhakṣyante rākṣasairbhīmairnaramāṃsopajīvibhiḥ||3.10.6||

Translation

काले काले at all times, विविधैः by different, नियमैः traditions, निरताः totally involved, वने in the forest, नरमांसोपजीविभिः living on human flesh (as cannibals), भीमैः by dreadful, राक्षसैः demons, भक्ष्यन्ते are eaten.

Meaning

The sages engrossed in various austerities in the forest have been victims to the dreadful demons living on human flesh.

AK-10-7Aranya Kanda 10.7

ते भक्ष्यमाणा मुनयो दण्डकारण्यवासिनः। अस्मानभ्यवपद्येति मामूचुर्द्विजसत्तमा।।3.10.7।।

te bhakṣyamāṇā munayo daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinḥ| asmānabhyavapadyeti māmūcurdvijasattamā||3.10.7||

Translation

भक्ष्यमाणाः eaten up like that, दण्डकारण्यवासिनः living in the Dandaka forest, द्विजसत्तमाः best of brahmins, ते मुनयः those sages, अस्मान् to us, अभ्यवपद्य you may come to our rescue, इति like this, माम् me, ऊचु: spoke.

Meaning

The ascetics, the best of brahmins living in Dandaka forest being eaten up like that besought me to come to their rescue.

AK-10-8Aranya Kanda 10.8

मया तु वचनं श्रुत्वा तेषामेवं मुखाच्च्युतम्। कृत्वा चरणशुश्रूषां वाक्यमेतदुदाहृतम्।।3.10.8।।

mayā tu vacanṃ śrutvā teṣāmevṃ mukhāccyutam| kṛtvā caraṇaśuśrūṣāṃ vākyametadudāhṛtam||3.10.8||

Translation

एवम् in that way, तेषाम् their, मुखात् from their mouth, च्युतम् that came out from, वचनम् statement, श्रुत्वा on hearing, मया by me, चरणशुश्रूषाम् bowing at their feet, कृत्वा having done एतत् this way, वाक्यम् words, उदाहृतम् said so.

Meaning

On hearing the words that came from their mouth, I bowed at their feet and said:

AK-10-9Aranya Kanda 10.9

प्रसीदन्तु भवन्तो मे ह्रीरेषा हि ममातुला। यदीदृशैरहं विप्रैरुपस्थेयैरुपस्थितः।।3.10.9।।

prasīdantu bhavanto me hrīreṣā hi mamātulā| yadīdṛśairahṃ viprairupastheyairupasthitḥ||3.10.9||

Translation

भवन्तः you all, मे myself, प्रसीदस्तु be pleased, अहम् I, यत् that, उपस्थेयैः to be approached ईदृशैः by such men, विप्रैः by sages, उपस्थितः is approached, एषा this, मम my, अतुला immeasureable, ह्रीः हि shame in deed.

Meaning

Be pleased That brahmins like you have approached me while I should have come to you has put me to shame immeasurable .

AK-10-10Aranya Kanda 10.10

किं करोमीति च मया व्याहृतं द्विजसन्निधौ। सर्वैरेतैस्समागम्य वागियं समुदाहृता।।3.10.10।।

kiṃ karomīti ca mayā vyāhṛtṃ dvijasannidhau| sarvairetaissamāgamya vāgiyṃ samudāhṛtā||3.10.10||

Translation

किम् what, करोमि can I do, इति this, मया by me, द्विजसन्निधौ in the presence of brahmins, व्याहृतम् was enquired, सर्वैः by all of them, एतैः by these, समागम्य collected together, इयम् this, वाक् voice, समुदाहृता was spoken.

Meaning

I enquired about what I could do for them. And all the brahmins in one voice said:.

AK-10-11Aranya Kanda 10.11

राक्षसैर्दण्डकारण्ये बहुभिः कामरूपिभिः। अर्दितास्स्म दृढं राम भवान्नस्तत्र रक्षतु।।3.10.11।।

rākṣasairdaṇḍakāraṇye bahubhiḥ kāmarūpibhiḥ| arditāssma dṛḍhṃ rāma bhavānnastatra rakṣatu||3.10.11||

Translation

राम O Rama, दण्डकारण्ये in Dandaka forest, बहुभिः by many, कामरूपिभिः assuming forms at will राक्षसैः by demons, दृढम् strongly, (cruelly) अर्दिताः are tormented, स्म we are, भवान् you, तत्र for that reason, नः us, रक्षतु may protect.

Meaning

'O Rama, the demons who can assume any form at their will are mercilessly tormenting us in Dandaka forest. Do protect us from them'.

AK-10-12Aranya Kanda 10.12

होमकालेषु सम्प्राप्ताः पर्वकालेषु चानघ। धर्षयन्ति सुदुर्धर्षा राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।।3.10.12।।

homakāleṣu samprāptāḥ parvakāleṣu cānagha| dharṣayanti sudurdharṣā rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ||3.10.12||

Translation

अनघ O sinless one, सुदुर्धर्षाः quite invincible, पिशिताशनाः flesheaters, राक्षसाः demons, होमकालेषु at the time of sacrifices, पर्वकालेषु at the time of change of lunar conjunction like full moon or no moon days सम्प्राप्ताः are arriving, धर्षयन्ति are attacking.

Meaning

'O sinless one, these cannibals are invincible. They arrive at the time of our sacrificial rituals, on the days of festivities or at the time of lunar conjunctions like no moon or full moon days and attack us.

AK-10-13Aranya Kanda 10.13

राक्षसैर्धर्षितानां च तापसानां तपस्विनाम्। गतिं मृगयमाणानां भवान्नः परमा गतिः।।3.10.13।।

rākṣasairdharṣitānāṃ ca tāpasānāṃ tapasvinām| gatiṃ mṛgayamāṇānāṃ bhavānnḥ paramā gatiḥ||3.10.13||

Translation

राक्षसैः by demons, धर्षितानाम् oppressed, तपस्विनाम् helpless people, तापसानाम् of the sages, गतिम् direction, मृगयमाणानाम् for those who search for, नः for us, भवान् your, परमा supreme, गतिः refuge

Meaning

'You are the supreme refuge for us ascetics, tormented by demons, helpless men in search of shelter.

AK-10-14Aranya Kanda 10.14

कामं तपःप्रभावेन शक्ता हन्तुं निशाचरान्। चिरार्जितं तु नेच्छामस्तपः खण्डयितुं वयम्।।3.10.14।।

kāmṃ tapḥprabhāvena śaktā hantuṃ niśācarān| cirārjitṃ tu necchāmastapḥ khaṇḍayituṃ vayam||3.10.14||

Translation

वयम् we, तपःप्रभावेन by the power of penance, निशाचरान् nightrangers (demons), हन्तुम् to kill, कामं शक्ताः have the power, तु however, चिरार्जितम् earned over a long time, तपः penance, खण्डयितुम् to exhaust them, (वयम्) नेच्छामः we are not willing.

AK-10-15Aranya Kanda 10.15

बहुविघ्नं तपो नित्यं दुश्चरं चैव राघव। तेन शापं न मुञ्चामो भक्ष्यमाणाश्च राक्षसैः।।3.10.15।।

bahuvighnṃ tapo nityṃ duścarṃ caiva rāghava| tena śāpṃ na muñcāmo bhakṣyamāṇāśca rākṣasaiḥ||3.10.15||

Translation

राघव Rama, तपः penance, नित्यम् always, बहुविघ्नम् is full of obstacles, दुश्चरं चैव but is difficult to pursue, तेन therefore, राक्षसैः by demons, भक्ष्यमाणाः even if they eat us, शापम् curse, न not, मुञ्चामः we do not pronounce.

Meaning

'O Rama it is difficult to perform penance which is ever full of obstacles. Therefore, we do not pronounce curses even if eaten up by demons'.

AK-10-16Aranya Kanda 10.16

तदर्ध्यमानान्रक्षोभिर्दण्डकारण्यवासिभिः। रक्ष नस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा त्वन्नाथा हि वयं वने।।3.10.16।।

tadardhyamānānrakṣobhirdaṇḍakāraṇyavāsibhiḥ| rakṣa nastvṃ saha bhrātrā tvannāthā hi vayṃ vane||3.10.16||

Translation

तत् then, दण्डकारण्यवासिभिः by those who are dwelling in Dandaka forest, रक्षोभिः by demons, अर्ध्यमानान् being tormented by, नः us, सह भ्रात्रा with your brother, त्वम् you,रक्ष protect, वयम् we, वने in the forest, त्वन्नाथाः हि you alone as the Lord.

Meaning

'The demons, dwelling in the Dandaka forest are tormenting us. You alone are our lord in the forest. Do protect us with your brother.'

AK-10-17Aranya Kanda 10.17

मया चैतद्वचश्श्रुत्वा कार्त्स्न्येन परिपालनम्। ऋषीणां दण्डकारण्ये संश्रुतं जनकात्मजे।।3.10.17।।

mayā caitadvacaśśrutvā kārtsnyena paripālanam| ṛṣīṇāṃ daṇḍakāraṇye sṃśrutṃ janakātmaje||3.10.17||

Translation

जनकात्मजे O daughter of Janaka, Sita, च and, एतत् these, वचः words, श्रुत्वा hearing, दण्डकारण्ये ऋषीणाम् of sages of Dandaka forest, कार्त्स्न्येन in the entire, परिपालनम् protection, संश्रुतम् made a promise.

Meaning

O daughter of Janaka, on hearing the words of the sages I promised to undertake the entire protection of sages of the Dandaka forest.

AK-10-18Aranya Kanda 10.18

संश्रुत्य च न शक्ष्यामि जीवमानः प्रतिश्रवम्। मुनीनामन्यथा कर्तुं सत्यमिष्टं हि मे सदा।।3.10.18।।

sṃśrutya ca na śakṣyāmi jīvamānḥ pratiśravam| munīnāmanyathā kartuṃ satyamiṣṭṃ hi me sadā||3.10.18||

Translation

संश्रुत्य having promised, जीवमानः as long as there is life in me, मुनीनाम् of sages, प्रतिश्रवम् promise, अन्यथा otherwise, कर्तुम् to do, न shall not do, शक्ष्यामि I will not be able, सदा always, मे to me, सत्यम् truth, इष्टं हि is dear.

Meaning

Having promised the sages, I cannot do otherwise as long as I have life in me. To me truth is always dear.

AK-10-19Aranya Kanda 10.19

अप्यहं जीवितं जह्यां त्वां वा सीते सलक्ष्मणाम्। न तु प्रतिज्ञां संश्रुत्य ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषतः।।3.10.19।।

apyahṃ jīvitṃ jahyāṃ tvāṃ vā sīte salakṣmaṇām| na tu pratijñāṃ sṃśrutya brāhmaṇebhyo viśeṣatḥ||3.10.19||

Translation

सीते O Sita, अहम् I, जीवितमपि even life, सलक्ष्मणाम् including Lakshmana, त्वां वा or you, जह्याम् I may forsake तु but, प्रतिज्ञाम् the promise, विशेषतः specially, ब्राह्मणेभ्यः to the brahmins, संश्रुत्य after promising, न do not (fail to fulfil).

Meaning

O Sita I may forfeit my life forsake, even Lakshmana and you but will not break the promise made specially to the brahmins৷৷

AK-10-20Aranya Kanda 10.20

तदवश्यं मया कार्यमृषीणां परिपालनम्। अनुक्तेनापि वैदेहि प्रतिज्ञाय तु किं पुनः।।3.10.20।।

tadavaśyṃ mayā kāryamṛṣīṇāṃ paripālanam| anuktenāpi vaidehi pratijñāya tu kiṃ punḥ||3.10.20||

Translation

वैदेहि O Sita, तत् that, मया by me, अनुक्तेनापि even if they did not request, ऋषीणाम् of the sages, परिपालनम् protection, कार्यम् should have been done, प्रतिज्ञाय even after making the promise किं पुनः what more?

Meaning

Even before the sages requested me I should have protected them. What to speak of the promise I have already made ?

AK-10-21Aranya Kanda 10.21

मम स्नेहाच्च सौहार्दादिदमुक्तंत्वयाऽनघे। परितुष्टोऽस्म्यहं सीते न ह्यनिष्टोऽनुशिष्यते।।3.10.21।।

mama snehācca sauhārdādidamuktṃtvayā'naghe| parituṣṭo'smyahṃ sīte na hyaniṣṭo'nuśiṣyate||3.10.21||

Translation

अनघे O sinless, मम my, स्नेहाच्च out of love, सौहार्दात् friendly feeling, त्वया by you, इदम् this, उक्तम् is spoken, सीते O Sita, अहम् I, परितुष्टः pleased, अस्मि I am, अनिष्टः undesirable, न अनुशिष्यते हि is not advised.

Meaning

O sinless one all that has been said by you is out of your love and affection for me. I am pleased. What is harmful is never advised.

AK-10-22Aranya Kanda 10.22

सदृशं चानुरूपं च कुलस्य तव चात्मनः। सधर्मचारिणी मे त्वं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी।।3.10.22।।

sadṛśṃ cānurūpṃ ca kulasya tava cātmanḥ| sadharmacāriṇī me tvṃ prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī||3.10.22||

Translation

तव your, कुलस्य of family, आत्मनः च of yourself, सदृशम् befitting अनुकूलं च favourable too, मे to me, सधर्मचारिणी follwer of dharma of husband, त्वम् you, प्राणेभ्योऽपि more than my life, गरीयसी dearer.

Meaning

Your auspicious words are quite befitting your lineage. You are the follower of my dharma and so dearer to me than my life.

AK-10-23Aranya Kanda 10.23

इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं महात्मा सीतां प्रियां मैथिलराजपुत्रीम्। रामो धनुष्मान्सह लक्ष्मणेन जगाम रम्याणि तपोवनानि।।3.10.23।।

ityevamuktvā vacanṃ mahātmā sītāṃ priyāṃ maithilarājaputrīm| rāmo dhanuṣmānsaha lakṣmaṇena jagāma ramyāṇi tapovanāni||3.10.23||

Translation

महात्मा great soul, रामः Rama, प्रियाम् to his beloved, मैथिलराजपुत्रीम् to the daughter of king of Mithila, सीताम् to Sita, इत्येवम् in this way, वचनम् statement, उक्त्वा on having said, धनुष्मान् wielding the bow, सह लक्ष्मणेन with Lakshmana, रम्याणि most delightful, तपोवनानि penance groves, जगाम moved about.

Meaning

Having said this to Sita, the princess of Mithila, Rama along with Lakshmana, bow in hand, moved about the delightful penancegrove. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे दशमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the tenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by the sage Valmiki.

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