Aranya Kanda, Sarga 8

रामस्तु सहसौमित्रिस्सुतीक्ष्णेनाभिपूजितः। परिणाम्य निशां तत्र प्रभाते प्रत्यबुध्यत।।3.8.1।।

rāmastu sahasaumitrissutīkṣṇenābhipūjitaḥ| pariṇāmya niśāṃ tatra prabhāte pratyabudhyata

Rama, worshipped by Sutikshna and accompanied by Lakshmana, spent the night at the hermitage, and got up early in the morning.

उत्थाय तु यथाकालं राघवस्सहसीतया। उपस्पृश्यसुशितेन जलेनोत्पलगन्धिना।।3.8.2।।

utthāya tu yathākālaṃ rāghavassahasītayā| upaspṛśyasuśitena jalenotpalagandhinā

In the morning Rama and Sita got up in time and took bath in cool, lilyfragrant water.

अथ तेऽग्निं सुरांश्चैव वैदेही रामलक्ष्मणौ। काल्यं विधिवदभ्यर्च्य तपस्विशरणे वने।।3.8.3।। उदयन्तं दिनकरं दृष्ट्वा विगतकल्मषाः। सुतीक्ष्णभिगम्येदं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रुवन्।।3.8.4।।

atha te'gniṃ surāṃścaiva vaidehī rāmalakṣmaṇau| kālyaṃ vidhivadabhyarcya tapasviśaraṇe vane udayantaṃ dinakaraṃ dṛṣṭvā vigatakalmaṣāḥ| sutīkṣṇabhigamyedaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ vacanamabruvan

And as per routine, sinless Sita, Rama and Lakshmana offered prayers to the fire and other gods of the forest which was the refuge of the ascetics. Seeing the rising Sun, they worshipped him, and approaching Sutikshna, said these soothing words:

अथ तेऽग्निं सुरांश्चैव वैदेही रामलक्ष्मणौ। काल्यं विधिवदभ्यर्च्य तपस्विशरणे वने।।3.8.3।। उदयन्तं दिनकरं दृष्ट्वा विगतकल्मषाः। सुतीक्ष्णभिगम्येदं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रुवन्।।3.8.4।।

atha te'gniṃ surāṃścaiva vaidehī rāmalakṣmaṇau| kālyaṃ vidhivadabhyarcya tapasviśaraṇe vane udayantaṃ dinakaraṃ dṛṣṭvā vigatakalmaṣāḥ| sutīkṣṇabhigamyedaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ vacanamabruvan

And as per routine, sinless Sita, Rama and Lakshmana offered prayers to the fire and other gods of the forest which was the refuge of the ascetics. Seeing the rising Sun, they worshipped him, and approaching Sutikshna, said these soothing words:

सुखोषितास्स्मभगवंस्त्वया पूज्येन पूजिताः। आपृच्छामः प्रयास्यामो मुनयस्त्वरयन्ति नः।।3.8.5।।

sukhoṣitāssmabhagavaṃstvayā pūjyena pūjitāḥ| āpṛcchāmaḥ prayāsyāmo munayastvarayanti naḥ

O revered Sutikshna received by one so worshipworthy like you, we spent the night well. We (now)take leave of you. The sages are hastening us.

त्वरामहे वयं द्रष्टुं कृत्स्नमाश्रममण्डलम्। ऋषीणां पुण्यशीलानां दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्।।3.8.6।।

tvarāmahe vayaṃ draṣṭuṃ kṛtsnamāśramamaṇḍalam| ṛṣīṇāṃ puṇyaśīlānāṃ daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinām

We wish to see the entire circle of hermitages of the sages, residing in Dandaka forest. So we are in a hurry.

अभ्यनुज्ञातुमिच्छामस्सहैभिर्मुनिपुङ्गवैः। धर्मनित्यैस्तपोदान्तैर्विशिखैरिव पावकैः।।3.8.7।।

abhyanujñātumicchāmassahaibhirmunipuṅgavaiḥ| dharmanityaistapodāntairviśikhairiva pāvakaiḥ

We seek your permission to go with the great sages, who are ever engaged in righteousness, selfcontrolled by virtue of their penance, and are like flameless fire.

अविषह्यातपो यावत्सूर्यो नातिविराजते। अमार्गेणागतां लक्ष्मीं प्राप्येवान्वयवर्जितः।।3.8.8।। तावदिच्छामहे गन्तुमित्युक्त्वा चरणौ मुनेः। ववन्दे सहसौमित्रिस्सीतया सह राघवः।। 3.8.9।।

aviṣahyātapo yāvatsūryo nātivirājate| amārgeṇāgatāṃ lakṣmīṃ prāpyevānvayavarjitaḥ tāvadicchāmahe gantumityuktvā caraṇau muneḥ| vavande sahasaumitrissītayā saha rāghavaḥ

We wish to depart before the Sun grows unbearably hot like the man devoid of good lineage who acquires wealth through unlawful means (becomes arrogant). Thereafter Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana offered worship at the feet of the venerable sage.

अविषह्यातपो यावत्सूर्यो नातिविराजते। अमार्गेणागतां लक्ष्मीं प्राप्येवान्वयवर्जितः।।3.8.8।। तावदिच्छामहे गन्तुमित्युक्त्वा चरणौ मुनेः। ववन्दे सहसौमित्रिस्सीतया सह राघवः।। 3.8.9।।

aviṣahyātapo yāvatsūryo nātivirājate| amārgeṇāgatāṃ lakṣmīṃ prāpyevānvayavarjitaḥ tāvadicchāmahe gantumityuktvā caraṇau muneḥ| vavande sahasaumitrissītayā saha rāghavaḥ

We wish to depart before the Sun grows unbearably hot like the man devoid of good lineage who acquires wealth through unlawful means (becomes arrogant). Thereafter Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana offered worship at the feet of the venerable sage.

तौ संस्पृशन्तौ चरणावुत्थाप्य मुनिपुङ्गवः। गाढमालिङ्ग्य सस्नेहमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।3.8.10।।

tau saṃspṛśantau caraṇāvutthāpya munipuṅgavaḥ| gāḍhamāliṅgya sasnehamidaṃ vacanamabravīt

When both Rama and Lakshmana touched the feet of Sutikshna, the best of the sages, he lifted them up, hugged them tightly, and said affectionately:

अरिष्टं गच्छ पन्थानं राम सौमित्रिणा सह। सीतया चानया सार्धं छाययेवानुवृत्तया।।3.8.11।।

ariṣṭaṃ gaccha panthānaṃ rāma saumitriṇā saha| sītayā cānayā sārdhaṃ chāyayevānuvṛttayā

You may safely tread, O Rama, this path along with Lakshmana and Sita who is following you like a shadow.

पश्याश्रमपदं रम्यं दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्। एषां तपस्विनां वीर तपसा भावितात्मनाम्।।3.8.12।।

paśyāśramapadaṃ ramyaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinām| eṣāṃ tapasvināṃ vīra tapasā bhāvitātmanām

O valient Rama the sages, living in the Dandaka forest, are self realised souls. See how delightful is the location of their hermitages.

सप्राज्यफलमूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च। प्रशस्तमृगयूथानि शान्तपक्षिगणानि च।। 3.8.13।। फुल्लपङ्कजषण्डानि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च। कारण्डवविकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च।।3.8.14।। द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टिरम्याणि गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च। रमणीयान्यरण्यानि मयूराभिरुतानि च।।3.8.15।।

saprājyaphalamūlāni puṣpitāni vanāni ca| praśastamṛgayūthāni śāntapakṣigaṇāni ca phullapaṅkajaṣaṇḍāni prasannasalilāni ca| kāraṇḍavavikīrṇāni taṭākāni sarāṃsi ca drakṣyase dṛṣṭiramyāṇi giriprasravaṇāni ca| ramaṇīyānyaraṇyāni mayūrābhirutāni ca

You will see the beautiful forestareas with abundant fruits and roots, flowers in full bloom, herds of animals, flocks of quiet birds tanks and lakes filled with clean waters and shining with fully blossomed lotuses, resounding with waterducks and peacocks and waterfalls coming down the hills. Thus you will enjoy a delightful sylvan sight.

सप्राज्यफलमूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च। प्रशस्तमृगयूथानि शान्तपक्षिगणानि च।। 3.8.13।। फुल्लपङ्कजषण्डानि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च। कारण्डवविकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च।।3.8.14।। द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टिरम्याणि गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च। रमणीयान्यरण्यानि मयूराभिरुतानि च।।3.8.15।।

saprājyaphalamūlāni puṣpitāni vanāni ca| praśastamṛgayūthāni śāntapakṣigaṇāni ca phullapaṅkajaṣaṇḍāni prasannasalilāni ca| kāraṇḍavavikīrṇāni taṭākāni sarāṃsi ca drakṣyase dṛṣṭiramyāṇi giriprasravaṇāni ca| ramaṇīyānyaraṇyāni mayūrābhirutāni ca

You will see the beautiful forestareas with abundant fruits and roots, flowers in full bloom, herds of animals, flocks of quiet birds tanks and lakes filled with clean waters and shining with fully blossomed lotuses, resounding with waterducks and peacocks and waterfalls coming down the hills. Thus you will enjoy a delightful sylvan sight.

सप्राज्यफलमूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च। प्रशस्तमृगयूथानि शान्तपक्षिगणानि च।। 3.8.13।। फुल्लपङ्कजषण्डानि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च। कारण्डवविकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च।।3.8.14।। द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टिरम्याणि गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च। रमणीयान्यरण्यानि मयूराभिरुतानि च।।3.8.15।।

saprājyaphalamūlāni puṣpitāni vanāni ca| praśastamṛgayūthāni śāntapakṣigaṇāni ca phullapaṅkajaṣaṇḍāni prasannasalilāni ca| kāraṇḍavavikīrṇāni taṭākāni sarāṃsi ca drakṣyase dṛṣṭiramyāṇi giriprasravaṇāni ca| ramaṇīyānyaraṇyāni mayūrābhirutāni ca

You will see the beautiful forestareas with abundant fruits and roots, flowers in full bloom, herds of animals, flocks of quiet birds tanks and lakes filled with clean waters and shining with fully blossomed lotuses, resounding with waterducks and peacocks and waterfalls coming down the hills. Thus you will enjoy a delightful sylvan sight.

गम्यतां वत्स सौमित्रे भवानपि च गच्छतु। आगन्तव्यं च ते दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाश्रमं मम।।3.8.16।।

gamyatāṃ vatsa saumitre bhavānapi ca gacchatu| āgantavyaṃ ca te dṛṣṭvā punarevāśramaṃ mama

O dear Rama, O Lakshmana you may leave (now), you may have to come back to this hermitage after seeing those places.

एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा काकुत्स्थस्सहलक्ष्मणः। प्रदक्षिणं मुनिं कृत्वा प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे।।3.8.17।।

evamuktastathetyuktvā kākutsthassahalakṣmaṇaḥ| pradakṣiṇaṃ muniṃ kṛtvā prasthātumupacakrame

Thus addressed, Rama, scion of the Kakutsthas along with Lakshmana circumambulated the sage (in reverence) and set forth.

ततश्शुभतरे तूणी धनुषी चायतेक्षणा। ददौ सीता तयोर्भ्रात्रोः खङ्गौ च विमलौ ततः।।3.8.18।।

tataśśubhatare tūṇī dhanuṣī cāyatekṣaṇā| dadau sītā tayorbhrātroḥ khaṅgau ca vimalau tataḥ

Thereafter largeeyed Sita handed the brothers two quivers, two bows as well as two excellent swords.

आबध्य च शुभे तूणी चापे चादाय सुस्वनौ। निष्क्रान्तावाश्रमाद्गन्तुमुभौ तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।3.8.19।।

ābadhya ca śubhe tūṇī cāpe cādāya susvanau| niṣkrāntāvāśramādgantumubhau tau rāmalakṣmaṇau

Both Rama and Lakshmana tied their auspicious quivers, took the two twanging bows and departed from the hermitage.

श्रीमन्तौ रूपसम्पन्नौ दीप्यमानौ स्वतेजसा। प्रस्थितौ धृतचापौ तौ सीतया सह राघवौ।।3.8.20।।

śrīmantau rūpasampannau dīpyamānau svatejasā| prasthitau dhṛtacāpau tau sītayā saha rāghavau

Handsome Rama and Lakshmana, glowing in their radiance held the bows and exited with Sita. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the eighth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.