Aranya Kanda, Sarga 1

प्रविश्य तु महारण्यं दण्डकारण्यमात्मवान्। ददर्श रामो दुर्धर्षस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम्।।3.1.1।।

praviśya tu mahāraṇyaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyamātmavān| dadarśa rāmo durdharṣastāpasāśramamaṇḍalam

The invincible and selfpossessed Rama entered the great forest of Dandaka and saw there a multitude of hermitages of the ascetics.

कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तं ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या समावृतम्। यथा प्रदीप्तं दुर्दर्शं गगने सूर्यमण्डलम्।।3.1.2।।

kuśacīraparikṣiptaṃ brāhmyā lakṣmyā samāvṛtam| yathā pradīptaṃ durdarśaṃ gagane sūryamaṇḍalam

They (the hermitages) were strewn all over with kusa grass and robes by bark with auspicious sacrificial materials around and hence dazzling like the orb of the sun in the sky difficult to gaze.

शरण्यं सर्वभूतानां सुसम्मृष्टाजिरं सदा। मृगैर्बहुभिराकीर्णं पक्षिसङ्घैस्समावृतम्।।3.1.3।।

śaraṇyaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ susammṛṣṭājiraṃ sadā| mṛgairbahubhirākīrṇaṃ pakṣisaṅghaissamāvṛtam

The courtyards (of the hermitages) were cleanswept, sprinkled with water and decorated. They provided shelter to all kinds of creatures and were filled all over with flocks of birds and antelopes.

पूजितं च प्रनृत्तं च नित्यमप्सरसां गणैः। विशालैरग्निशरणैः स्रुग्भाण्डैरजिनैः कुशैः।।3.1.4।। समिद्भिस्तोयकलशैः फलमूलैश्च शोभितम्। आरण्यैश्च महावृक्षैः पुण्यैस्स्वादुफलैर्वृतम्।।3.1.5।।

pūjitaṃ ca pranṛttaṃ ca nityamapsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ| viśālairagniśaraṇaiḥ srugbhāṇḍairajinaiḥ kuśaiḥ samidbhistoyakalaśaiḥ phalamūlaiśca śobhitam| āraṇyaiśca mahāvṛkṣaiḥ puṇyaissvāduphalairvṛtam

The hermitages looked glorified with dances by celestial damsels. They were adorned with vast fire sanctuaries, ladles for sacrificial ceremonies, deerskins and kusa grass faggots for pots of water, roots and fruits. They looked delightful with huge sacred trees of the forest laden with sweet fruits.

पूजितं च प्रनृत्तं च नित्यमप्सरसां गणैः। विशालैरग्निशरणैः स्रुग्भाण्डैरजिनैः कुशैः।।3.1.4।। समिद्भिस्तोयकलशैः फलमूलैश्च शोभितम्। आरण्यैश्च महावृक्षैः पुण्यैस्स्वादुफलैर्वृतम्।।3.1.5।।

pūjitaṃ ca pranṛttaṃ ca nityamapsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ| viśālairagniśaraṇaiḥ srugbhāṇḍairajinaiḥ kuśaiḥ samidbhistoyakalaśaiḥ phalamūlaiśca śobhitam| āraṇyaiśca mahāvṛkṣaiḥ puṇyaissvāduphalairvṛtam

The hermitages looked glorified with dances by celestial damsels. They were adorned with vast fire sanctuaries, ladles for sacrificial ceremonies, deerskins and kusa grass faggots for pots of water, roots and fruits. They looked delightful with huge sacred trees of the forest laden with sweet fruits.

बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्। पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया।।3.1.6।। फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरैः। सूर्यवैश्वानराभैश्च पुराणैर्मुनिभिर्वुतम्।।3.1.7।।

balihomārcitaṃ puṇyaṃ brahmaghoṣanināditam| puṣpaiścānyaiḥ parikṣiptaṃ padminyā ca sapadmayā phalamūlāśanairdāntaiścīrakṛṣṇājināmbaraiḥ| sūryavaiśvānarābhaiśca purāṇairmunibhirvutam

The hermitages where various sacrificial offerings were made reverberated with Vedic chantings. Flowers were scattered all over. There was a lotuspond with lotuses. There were aged, selfrestrained sages glowing like the Sun or the fire, living on fruits and roots, clothed in bark and dark deerskin.

बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्। पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया।।3.1.6।। फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरैः। सूर्यवैश्वानराभैश्च पुराणैर्मुनिभिर्वुतम्।।3.1.7।।

balihomārcitaṃ puṇyaṃ brahmaghoṣanināditam| puṣpaiścānyaiḥ parikṣiptaṃ padminyā ca sapadmayā phalamūlāśanairdāntaiścīrakṛṣṇājināmbaraiḥ| sūryavaiśvānarābhaiśca purāṇairmunibhirvutam

The hermitages where various sacrificial offerings were made reverberated with Vedic chantings. Flowers were scattered all over. There was a lotuspond with lotuses. There were aged, selfrestrained sages glowing like the Sun or the fire, living on fruits and roots, clothed in bark and dark deerskin.

पुण्यैश्च नियताहारैः शोभितं परमर्षिभिः। तद्ब्रह्मभवनप्रख्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्।।3.1.8।।

puṇyaiśca niyatāhāraiḥ śobhitaṃ paramarṣibhiḥ| tadbrahmabhavanaprakhyaṃ brahmaghoṣanināditam

The hermitages echoing with the sounds of Vedic recitations and resembling the very abode of Brahma were adorned with great, holy sages living on regulated diet.

ब्रह्मविद्भिर्महाभागैर्ब्राह्मणैरुपशोभितम्। तद्दृष्ट्वा राघवः श्रीमांस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम्।।3.1.9।। अभ्यगच्छन्महातेजा विज्यं कृत्वा महद्धनुः।

brahmavidbhirmahābhāgairbrāhmaṇairupaśobhitam| taddṛṣṭvā rāghavaḥ śrīmāṃstāpasāśramamaṇḍalam abhyagacchanmahātejā vijyaṃ kṛtvā mahaddhanuḥ|

The illustrious, effulgent Rama saw groups of hermitages adorned with venerable brahmins, with knowledge of the Supreme Spirit. On seeing them he loosened the string of his great bow and went forward.

दिव्यज्ञानोपपन्नास्ते रामं दृष्ट्वा महर्षयः।।3.1.10।। अभ्यगच्छन्स्तदा प्रीता वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम्।

divyajñānopapannāste rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā maharṣayaḥ abhyagacchanstadā prītā vaidehīṃ ca yaśasvinīm|

On seeing Rama with illustrious Sita, the great sages, richly endowed with divine knowledge, went forward to greet him.

ते तं सोममिवोद्यन्तं दृष्ट्वा वै धर्मचारिणम्।।3.1.11।। लक्ष्मणं चैव दृष्ट्वा तु वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम्। मङ्गलानि प्रयुञ्जानाः प्रत्यगृह्णन्दृढव्रताः।।3.1.12।।

te taṃ somamivodyantaṃ dṛṣṭvā vai dharmacāriṇam lakṣmaṇaṃ caiva dṛṣṭvā tu vaidehīṃ ca yaśasvinīm| maṅgalāni prayuñjānāḥ pratyagṛhṇandṛḍhavratāḥ

The sages, steadfast in their vows, saw Rama who was shining like the rising Moon, Lakshmana and the famed Sita went forward and received them with words of benediction.

ते तं सोममिवोद्यन्तं दृष्ट्वा वै धर्मचारिणम्।।3.1.11।। लक्ष्मणं चैव दृष्ट्वा तु वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम्। मङ्गलानि प्रयुञ्जानाः प्रत्यगृह्णन्दृढव्रताः।।3.1.12।।

te taṃ somamivodyantaṃ dṛṣṭvā vai dharmacāriṇam lakṣmaṇaṃ caiva dṛṣṭvā tu vaidehīṃ ca yaśasvinīm| maṅgalāni prayuñjānāḥ pratyagṛhṇandṛḍhavratāḥ

The sages, steadfast in their vows, saw Rama who was shining like the rising Moon, Lakshmana and the famed Sita went forward and received them with words of benediction.

रूपसंहननं लक्ष्मीं सौकुमार्यं सुवेषताम्। ददृशुर्विस्मिताकारा रामस्य वनवासिनः।।3.1.13।।

rūpasaṃhananaṃ lakṣmīṃ saukumāryaṃ suveṣatām| dadṛśurvismitākārā rāmasya vanavāsinaḥ

Those sages living in the forest were wonderstruck to see the handsome, graceful, delicate and welldressed Rama.

वैदेहीं लक्ष्मणं रामं नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव। आश्चर्यभूतान्ददृशुः सर्वे ते वनचारिणः।।3.1.14।।

vaidehīṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmaṃ netrairanimiṣairiva| āścaryabhūtāndadṛśuḥ sarve te vanacāriṇaḥ

All the foresters looked at the wonderful figures of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana with unblinking eyes.

अत्रैनं हि महाभागा स्सर्वभूतहिते रताः। अतिथिं पर्णशालायां राघवं संन्यवेशयन्।।3.1.15।।

atrainaṃ hi mahābhāgā ssarvabhūtahite ratāḥ| atithiṃ parṇaśālāyāṃ rāghavaṃ saṃnyaveśayan

Ever engaged in the welfare of all beings, the sages made Rama, their guest, sit in their leafy hut.

ततो रामस्य सत्कृत्य विधिना पावकोपमाः। आजह्रुस्ते महाभागाः सलिलं धर्मचारिणः।।3.1.16।।

tato rāmasya satkṛtya vidhinā pāvakopamāḥ| ājahruste mahābhāgāḥ salilaṃ dharmacāriṇaḥ

The great sages comparable to the firegod and followers of righteousness honoured Rama according to tradition by offering water.

पुष्पं मूलं फलं सर्वमाश्रमं च महात्मनः। निवेदयित्वा धर्मज्ञास्ते ततः प्राञ्जलयोऽब्रुवन्।।3.1.17।।

puṣpaṃ mūlaṃ phalaṃ sarvamāśramaṃ ca mahātmanaḥ| nivedayitvā dharmajñāste tataḥ prāñjalayo'bruvan

The sages who were knowers of dharma saluted the noble Rama, offered fruits, roots and flowers available at the hermitage and with folded palms said thus:

धर्मपालो जनस्यास्य शरण्यस्त्वं महायशाः। पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च राजा दण्डधरो गुरुः।।3.1.18।।

dharmapālo janasyāsya śaraṇyastvaṃ mahāyaśāḥ| pūjanīyaśca mānyaśca rājā daṇḍadharo guruḥ

O king of great reputation, you are the refuge of the people, a protector of dharma, a chastiser of wrongdoers, a worshipful and respectable preceptor.

इन्द्रस्येह चतुर्भागः प्रजा रक्षति राघव। राजा तस्माद्वरान्भोगान्रम्यान् भुङक्तेलोकनमस्कृतः।।3.1.19।।

indrasyeha caturbhāgaḥ prajā rakṣati rāghava| rājā tasmādvarānbhogānramyān bhuṅaktelokanamaskṛtaḥ

O Rama, in this world a king is considered the fourth part of Indra as he protects the people. Therefore, he is respected and he enjoys the choicest pleasures of life.

ते वयं भवता रक्ष्या भवद्विषयवासिनः। नगरस्थो वनस्थो वा त्वं नो राजा जनेश्वरः।।3.1.20।।

te vayaṃ bhavatā rakṣyā bhavadviṣayavāsinaḥ| nagarastho vanastho vā tvaṃ no rājā janeśvaraḥ

Since we are the residents of your territory we deserve to be protected by you. Whether you live in the city or in the forest, you are the lord of the people and our king.

न्यस्तदण्डा वयं राजञ्जितक्रोधा जितेन्द्रियाः। रक्षणीयास्त्वया शश्वदगर्भभूतास्तपोधनाः।।3.1.21।।

nyastadaṇḍā vayaṃ rājañjitakrodhā jitendriyāḥ| rakṣaṇīyāstvayā śaśvadagarbhabhūtāstapodhanāḥ

O king, we have conquered our anger and have controlled our senses. We ascetics have cast aside all our authority. We are like your children and need to be protected by you forever

एवमुक्त्वा फलैर्मूलैः पुष्पैर्वन्यैश्च राघवम्। अन्यैश्च विविधाहारैः सलक्ष्मणमपूजयन्।।3.1.22।।

evamuktvā phalairmūlaiḥ puṣpairvanyaiśca rāghavam| anyaiśca vividhāhāraiḥ salakṣmaṇamapūjayan

Having said so, the ascetics offered with reverence fruits, roots, flowers and other forest products to Rama and Lakshmana.