Aranya Kanda, Sarga 9

सुतीक्ष्णेनाभ्यनुज्ञातं प्रस्थितं रघुनन्दनम्। हृद्यया स्निग्धया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्।।3.9.1।।

sutīkṣṇenābhyanujñātaṃ prasthitaṃ raghunandanam| hṛdyayā snigdhayā vācā bhartāramidamabravīt

While Rama was leaving with the permission of Sutikshna, Sita spoke these warm, affectionate words to her husband:

अयं धर्मस्सुसूक्ष्मेण विधिना प्राप्यते महान्। निवृत्तेन तु शक्योऽयं व्यसनात्कामजादिह।।3.9.2।।

ayaṃ dharmassusūkṣmeṇa vidhinā prāpyate mahān| nivṛttena tu śakyo'yaṃ vyasanātkāmajādiha

This great path of dharma you are following now can be attained only through subtle means by one free from addiction born of passion.

त्रीण्येव व्यसनान्यत्र कामजानि भवन्त्युत। मिथ्यावाक्यं परमकं तस्माद्गुरुतरावुभौ।।3.9.3।। परदाराभिगमनं विना वैरं च रौद्रता।

trīṇyeva vyasanānyatra kāmajāni bhavantyuta| mithyāvākyaṃ paramakaṃ tasmādgurutarāvubhau paradārābhigamanaṃ vinā vairaṃ ca raudratā|

There are three kinds of vices born out of lust. First, speaking untruth, second, having sexual relation with others' wives and third, resorting to violence with no enmity. The later two vices are of serious nature.

मिथ्यावाक्यं न ते भूतं न भविष्यति राघव।।3.9.4।। कुतोऽभिलाषणं स्त्रीणां परेषां धर्मनाशनम्।

mithyāvākyaṃ na te bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati rāghava kuto'bhilāṣaṇaṃ strīṇāṃ pareṣāṃ dharmanāśanam|

O Rama you never spoke untruth in the past nor will you speak in future. How can there be any desire in you to destroy the virtue of others' wives ?

तव नास्ति मनुष्येन्द्र न चाभूत्ते कदाचन।।3.9.5।। मनस्यपि तथा राम न चैतद्विद्यते क्वचित्।

tava nāsti manuṣyendra na cābhūtte kadācana manasyapi tathā rāma na caitadvidyate kvacit|

O Rama, lord among men, you hadn't it (lust for other women) in the past. You havn't it now. Never does it exist even in your mind.

स्वदारनिरतस्त्वं च नित्यमेव नृपात्मज।।3.9.6।। धर्मिष्ठस्सत्यसन्धश्च पितुर्निर्देशकारकः।

svadāraniratastvaṃ ca nityameva nṛpātmaja dharmiṣṭhassatyasandhaśca piturnirdeśakārakaḥ|

O prince, you are always faithful to your wife. You are righteous, truthful and obedient to your father's orders.

सत्यसन्ध महाभाग श्रीमल्लक्ष्मणपूर्वज।।3.9.7।। त्वयि धर्मश्च सत्यं च त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।

satyasandha mahābhāga śrīmallakṣmaṇapūrvaja tvayi dharmaśca satyaṃ ca tvayi sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam|

O Rama, you are truthful, honourable, powerful. O elder brother of Lakshmana, in you is established truth and righteousness.

तच्च सर्वं महाबाहो शक्यं धर्तुं जितेन्द्रियैः।।3.9.8।। तव वश्येन्द्रियत्वं च जानामि शुभदर्शन।

tacca sarvaṃ mahābāho śakyaṃ dhartuṃ jitendriyaiḥ tava vaśyendriyatvaṃ ca jānāmi śubhadarśana|

O longarmed one, to contain all this is only possible for those who have conquered the senses. O handsome one, I know your ability to control the senses.

तृतीयं यदिदं रौद्रं परप्राणाभिहिंसनम्।।3.9.9।। निर्वैरं क्रियते मोहात्तच्च ते समुपस्थितम्।

tṛtīyaṃ yadidaṃ raudraṃ paraprāṇābhihiṃsanam nirvairaṃ kriyate mohāttacca te samupasthitam|

(But) you are a victim to the third (vice born of lust) i.e. showing violence without cause for enmity

प्रतिज्ञातस्त्वया वीर दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्।।3.9.10।। ऋषीणां रक्षणार्थाय वधस्संयति रक्षसाम्।

pratijñātastvayā vīra daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinām ṛṣīṇāṃ rakṣaṇārthāya vadhassaṃyati rakṣasām|

O valiant one, you have promised to kill the demons in the battle, in order to protect the sages residing in the Dandaka forest.

एतन्निमित्तं च वनं दण्डका इति विश्रुतम्।।3.9.11।। प्रस्थितस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा धृतबाणशरासनः।

etannimittaṃ ca vanaṃ daṇḍakā iti viśrutam prasthitastvaṃ saha bhrātrā dhṛtabāṇaśarāsanaḥ|

It is only on account of this that you entered the wellknown Dandaka forest with your brother wielding bow and arrows.

ततस्त्वां प्रस्थितं दृष्ट्वा मम चिन्ताकुलं मनः।।3.9.12।। त्वद्वृत्तं चिन्तयन्त्या वै भवेन्निश्श्रेयसं हितम्।

tatastvāṃ prasthitaṃ dṛṣṭvā mama cintākulaṃ manaḥ tvadvṛttaṃ cintayantyā vai bhavenniśśreyasaṃ hitam|

I am, therefore, worried in my mind when I see you here and think of your wellbeing. I wish your ultimate good. [The next two lines appear, more or less, a repetition. So omitted : Editor]

त्वां चैव प्रस्थितं दृष्ट्वा राम चिन्ताकुलं मनः।।3.9.13।। सर्वतचशिन्तय्नत्या मे तव निश्श्रेयसं नृप। न हि मे रोचते वीर गमनं दण्डकान्प्रति।।3.9.14।। कारणं तत्र वक्ष्यामि वदन्त्याश्श्रूयतां मम।

tvāṃ caiva prasthitaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāma cintākulaṃ manaḥ sarvatacaśintaynatyā me tava niśśreyasaṃ nṛpa| na hi me rocate vīra gamanaṃ daṇḍakānprati kāraṇaṃ tatra vakṣyāmi vadantyāśśrūyatāṃ mama|

O brave Rama, I do not like your going to Dandaka forest. I shall tell you the reason. Do listen.

त्वां चैव प्रस्थितं दृष्ट्वा राम चिन्ताकुलं मनः।।3.9.13।। सर्वतचशिन्तय्नत्या मे तव निश्श्रेयसं नृप। न हि मे रोचते वीर गमनं दण्डकान्प्रति।।3.9.14।। कारणं तत्र वक्ष्यामि वदन्त्याश्श्रूयतां मम।

tvāṃ caiva prasthitaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāma cintākulaṃ manaḥ sarvatacaśintaynatyā me tava niśśreyasaṃ nṛpa| na hi me rocate vīra gamanaṃ daṇḍakānprati kāraṇaṃ tatra vakṣyāmi vadantyāśśrūyatāṃ mama|

O brave Rama, I do not like your going to Dandaka forest. I shall tell you the reason. Do listen.

त्वं हि बाणधनुष्पाणिर्भ्रात्रा सह वनं गतः।।3.9.15।। दृष्ट्वा वनचरान्सर्वान्कच्चित्कुर्याश्शरव्ययम्।

tvaṃ hi bāṇadhanuṣpāṇirbhrātrā saha vanaṃ gataḥ dṛṣṭvā vanacarānsarvānkaccitkuryāśśaravyayam|

Of course, you will go to the forest with your brother, holding the bow and arrows. Release the arrows when you see the forestrangers.

क्षत्रियाणामपि धनुर्हुताशस्येन्धनानि च।।3.9.16।। समीपतस्स्थितं तेजो बलमुच्छ्रयते भृशम्।

kṣatriyāṇāmapi dhanurhutāśasyendhanāni ca samīpatassthitaṃ tejo balamucchrayate bhṛśam|

A bow in the hand of a kshatriya is like fuel to fire. It surely swells his strength and his brilliance.

पुरा किल महाबाहो तपस्स्वी सत्यवाक्छुचिः।।3.9.17।। कस्मिंश्चिदभवत्पुण्ये वने रतमृगद्विजे।

purā kila mahābāho tapassvī satyavākchuciḥ kasmiṃścidabhavatpuṇye vane ratamṛgadvije|

O mightyarmed one, there dwelt in the past an ascetic, noble and truthful in a sacred forest where animals and birds lived merrily together.

तस्यैव तपसो विघ्नं कर्तुमिन्द्रश्शचीपतिः।।3.9.18।। खङ्गपाणिरथागच्छदाश्रमं भटरूपधृत्।

tasyaiva tapaso vighnaṃ kartumindraśśacīpatiḥ khaṅgapāṇirathāgacchadāśramaṃ bhaṭarūpadhṛt|

Once Indra, husband of Sachi, came to his hermitage in the guise of an attendant, sword in hand, in order to hinder his penance.

तस्मिंस्तदाश्रमपदे निशितः खङ्ग उत्तमः।।3.9.19।। स न्यासविधिना दत्तः पुण्ये तपसि तिष्ठतः।

tasmiṃstadāśramapade niśitaḥ khaṅga uttamaḥ sa nyāsavidhinā dattaḥ puṇye tapasi tiṣṭhataḥ|

Then while the sage was practising penance at the hermitage, he gave him that excellent sword to be kept in trust.

स तच्छस्त्रमनुप्राप्य न्यासरक्षणतत्परः।।3.9.20।। वने तु विचरत्येव रक्षन्प्रत्ययमात्मनः।

sa tacchastramanuprāpya nyāsarakṣaṇatatparaḥ vane tu vicaratyeva rakṣanpratyayamātmanaḥ|

Having received the weapon as a trust, the sage went wandering in the forest, always attentive in safeguarding the weapon.

यत्र गच्छत्युपादातुं मूलानि च फलानि च।।3.9.21।। न विना याति तं खङ्गं न्यासरक्षणतत्परः।

yatra gacchatyupādātuṃ mūlāni ca phalāni ca na vinā yāti taṃ khaṅgaṃ nyāsarakṣaṇatatparaḥ|

Vigilant about protecting the sword deposited with him, the sage never moved without it even when he went gathering roots and fruits.

नित्यं शस्त्रं परिवहन्क्रमेण स तपोधनः।।3.9.22।। चकार रौद्रीं स्वां बुद्धिं त्यक्त्वा तपसि निश्चयम्।

nityaṃ śastraṃ parivahankrameṇa sa tapodhanaḥ cakāra raudrīṃ svāṃ buddhiṃ tyaktvā tapasi niścayam|

While the sage moved about holding the weapon, he gave up the practice of penance gradually and developed a violent mindset.

ततस्सरौद्रेऽभिरतः प्रमत्तोऽधर्मकर्शितः।।3.9.23।। तस्य शस्त्रस्य संवासाज्जगाम नरकं मुनिः।

tatassaraudre'bhirataḥ pramatto'dharmakarśitaḥ tasya śastrasya saṃvāsājjagāma narakaṃ muniḥ|

By association with the sword, he developed a violent attitude. And in that habitual state of excitement he was dragged into unrighteous ways which (ultimately) took him to hell.

एवमेतत्पुरा वृत्तं शस्त्रसंयोगकारणम्।।3.9.24।। अग्निसंयोगवद्धेतुश्शस्त्रसंयोग उच्यते। स्नेहाच्च बहुमानाच्च स्मारये त्वां न शिक्षये।।3.9.25।।

evametatpurā vṛttaṃ śastrasaṃyogakāraṇam agnisaṃyogavaddhetuśśastrasaṃyoga ucyate| snehācca bahumānācca smāraye tvāṃ na śikṣaye

Contact with the weapon has led to this in the past. Like contact with fire, it leads man to destruction. I say this out of my love and reverence for you as a reminder and not as an instruction.

एवमेतत्पुरा वृत्तं शस्त्रसंयोगकारणम्।।3.9.24।। अग्निसंयोगवद्धेतुश्शस्त्रसंयोग उच्यते। स्नेहाच्च बहुमानाच्च स्मारये त्वां न शिक्षये।।3.9.25।।

evametatpurā vṛttaṃ śastrasaṃyogakāraṇam agnisaṃyogavaddhetuśśastrasaṃyoga ucyate| snehācca bahumānācca smāraye tvāṃ na śikṣaye

Contact with the weapon has led to this in the past. Like contact with fire, it leads man to destruction. I say this out of my love and reverence for you as a reminder and not as an instruction.

न कथञ्चन सा कार्या गृहीतधनुषा त्वया। बुद्धिर्वैरं विना हन्तुं राक्षसान्दण्डकाश्रितान्।।3.9.26।। अपराधं विना हन्तुं लोकान्वीर न कामये।

na kathañcana sā kāryā gṛhītadhanuṣā tvayā| buddhirvairaṃ vinā hantuṃ rākṣasāndaṇḍakāśritān aparādhaṃ vinā hantuṃ lokānvīra na kāmaye|

While holding a bow, you should not have the intention to kill demons residing in Dandaka with no animosity against you. O valiant one I do not desire that any one should be killed without incurring any offence.

क्षत्रियाणां तु वीराणां वनेषु निरतात्मनाम्।।3.9.27।। धनुषा कार्यमेतावदार्तानां त्वभिरक्षणम्।

kṣatriyāṇāṃ tu vīrāṇāṃ vaneṣu niratātmanām dhanuṣā kāryametāvadārtānāṃ tvabhirakṣaṇam|

It is the duty of a kshatriya, a warrior to protect with his bow those who practise selfcontrol (penance) in the forest in a state of panic.

क्वच शस्त्रं क्व च वनं क्व च क्षात्रं तपः क्वच।।3.9.28।। व्याविद्धमिदमस्माभिर्द्देशधर्मस्तु पूज्यताम्।

kvaca śastraṃ kva ca vanaṃ kva ca kṣātraṃ tapaḥ kvaca vyāviddhamidamasmābhirddeśadharmastu pūjyatām|

Where is the question of wielding a weapon and living in the forest, where is the life of a kshatriya and the life of penance? For us, this is an encroachment. Let the law of the land be honoured.

तदार्य कलुषा बुद्धिर्जायते शस्त्रसेवनात्।।3.9.29।। पुनर्गत्वा त्वयोध्यायां क्षत्रधर्मं चरिष्यसि।

tadārya kaluṣā buddhirjāyate śastrasevanāt punargatvā tvayodhyāyāṃ kṣatradharmaṃ cariṣyasi|

Lord, when we handle the weapon, the mind gets vitiated. (Only) after returning to Ayodhya can you perform the duty of a kshatriya.

अक्षया तु भवेत्प्रीतिश्श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोर्मम।।3.9.30।। यदि राज्यं परित्यज्य भवेस्त्वं निरतो मुनिः।

akṣayā tu bhavetprītiśśvaśrūśvaśurayormama yadi rājyaṃ parityajya bhavestvaṃ nirato muniḥ|

You would have been on unlimited source of joy to my fatherinlaw and motherinlaw had you permanently renounced the kingdom for the life of an ascetic.

धर्मादर्थः प्रभवति धर्मात्प्रभवते सुखम्।।3.9.31।। धर्मेण लभते सर्वं धर्मसारमिदं जगत्।

dharmādarthaḥ prabhavati dharmātprabhavate sukham dharmeṇa labhate sarvaṃ dharmasāramidaṃ jagat|

Righteousness brings wealth. Wealth brings happiness. Righteousness brings everything. In fact, the essence of the world is righteousness.

आत्मानं नियमैस्तैस्तै कर्शयित्वा प्रयत्नतः।।3.9.32।। प्राप्यते निपुणैर्धर्मो न सुखाल्लभ्यते सुखम्।

ātmānaṃ niyamaistaistai karśayitvā prayatnataḥ prāpyate nipuṇairdharmo na sukhāllabhyate sukham|

The wise earn dharma through getting their bodies emaciated by carefully adopting different means of discipline (selftorture). Happiness does not beget happiness.

नित्यं शुचिमतिस्सौम्य चर धर्मं तपोवने।।3.9.33।। सर्वं हि विदितं तुभ्यं त्रैलोक्यमपि तत्त्वतः।

nityaṃ śucimatissaumya cara dharmaṃ tapovane sarvaṃ hi viditaṃ tubhyaṃ trailokyamapi tattvataḥ|

O gentle one you may move in this forest of ascetics with a pure mind. The true meaning behind everything in these three worlds is known to you, indeed.