Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116

प्रतिप्रयाते भरते वसन्रामस्तपोवने। लक्षयामास सोद्वेगमथौत्सुक्यं तपस्विनाम्।।2.116.1।।

pratiprayāte bharate vasanrāmastapovane| lakṣayāmāsa sodvegamathautsukyaṃ tapasvinām

After Bharta, had departed, Rama who was living in the penancegrove of ascetics observed that the ascetics were filled with apprehensions, and were eager (to leave that forest).

ये तत्र चित्रकूटस्य पुरस्तात्तापसाश्रमे। राममाश्रित्य निरतास्तानलक्षयदुत्सुकान्।।2.116.2।।

ye tatra citrakūṭasya purastāttāpasāśrame| rāmamāśritya niratāstānalakṣayadutsukān

Rama observed that the sages who earlier sought to stay with him near his hermitage under his protection on chitrakuta were filled with anxiety (now).

नयनैर्ब्रुकुटीभिश्च रामं निर्दिश्य शङ्किताः। अन्योन्यमुपजल्पन्त श्शनैश्चक्रुर्मिथः कथाः।।2.116.3।।

nayanairbrukuṭībhiśca rāmaṃ nirdiśya śaṅkitāḥ| anyonyamupajalpanta śśanaiścakrurmithaḥ kathāḥ

Those sages, glancing at Rama with suspicious eyes, knitting their eyebrows and murmering among themselves, conversed secretly.

तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य रामस्त्वात्मनि शङ्कितः। कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदमृषिं कुलपतिं ततः।।2.116.4।।

teṣāmautsukyamālakṣya rāmastvātmani śaṅkitaḥ| kṛtāñjaliruvācedamṛṣiṃ kulapatiṃ tataḥ

Having observed their anxiety, Rama apprehending somethig in his mind approached the chief of the hermitage with folded palms and said:

न कच्चिद्भगवन्किञ्चित्पूर्ववृत्तमिदं मयि। दृश्यते विकृतं येन विक्रियन्ते तपस्विनः।।2.116.5।।

na kaccidbhagavankiñcitpūrvavṛttamidaṃ mayi| dṛśyate vikṛtaṃ yena vikriyante tapasvinaḥ

O revered sire, have you seen any change in my conduct? For what reason are the sages looking perturbed?

प्रमादाच्चरितं कच्चित्किञ्चिन्नावरजस्य मे। लक्ष्मणस्यर्षिभिदृष्टं नानुरूपमिवात्मनः।।2.116.6।।

pramādāccaritaṃ kaccitkiñcinnāvarajasya me| lakṣmaṇasyarṣibhidṛṣṭaṃ nānurūpamivātmanaḥ

Have the sages found my younger brother Lakshmana doing something unbecoming of him through inadvertence?

कच्चिच्छुश्रूषमाणा व श्शुश्रूषणपरा मयि। प्रमदाऽभ्युचितां वृत्तिं सीता युक्तं न वर्तते।।2.116.7।।

kaccicchuśrūṣamāṇā va śśuśrūṣaṇaparā mayi| pramadā'bhyucitāṃ vṛttiṃ sītā yuktaṃ na vartate

Has Sita devoted in her service to me and engaged in serving you failed to follow the conduct befitting a woman?

अथर्षिर्जरया वृद्धस्तपसा च जरां गतः। वेपमान इवोवाच रामं भूतदयापरम्।।2.116.8।।

atharṣirjarayā vṛddhastapasā ca jarāṃ gataḥ| vepamāna ivovāca rāmaṃ bhūtadayāparam

Hearing those words, an ascetic old in age and austerities, as though trembling said to Rama who is compassionate to all beings:

कुतः कल्याणसत्त्वायाः कल्याणाभिरतेस्तथा। चलनं तात वैदेह्यास्तपस्विषु विशेषतः।।2.116.9।।

kutaḥ kalyāṇasattvāyāḥ kalyāṇābhiratestathā| calanaṃ tāta vaidehyāstapasviṣu viśeṣataḥ

O dear child, how can goodnatured Sita who is always engaged in performing auspicious deeds, especially towards ascetics be associated with violation of duty?

त्वन्निमित्तमिदं तावत्तापसान्प्रतिवर्तते। रक्षोभ्यस्तेन संविग्नाः कथयन्ति मिथः कथाः।।2.116.10।।

tvannimittamidaṃ tāvattāpasānprativartate| rakṣobhyastena saṃvignāḥ kathayanti mithaḥ kathāḥ

There is apprehension for ascetics from the demons on acount of your presence here. That is why they are conversing with one another about the likely fallout.

रावणावरजः कश्चित् खरो नामेह राक्षसः। उत्पाट्य तापसान्सर्वाञ्जनस्थाननिकेतनान्।।2.116.11।। धृष्टश्च जितकाशी च नृशंसः पुरुषादकः। अवलिप्तश्च पापश्च त्वां च तात न मृष्यते।।2.116.12।।

rāvaṇāvarajaḥ kaścit kharo nāmeha rākṣasaḥ| utpāṭya tāpasānsarvāñjanasthānaniketanān dhṛṣṭaśca jitakāśī ca nṛśaṃsaḥ puruṣādakaḥ| avaliptaśca pāpaśca tvāṃ ca tāta na mṛṣyate

O dear child, Khara, one of the brothers of Ravana is dwelling in nearby 'Janasthana'. He is impudent, reportedly winner of battles, cruel, sinful, a maneater and haughty. He has uprooted all the ascetics from Janasthana. He will not tolerate even you.

रावणावरजः कश्चित् खरो नामेह राक्षसः। उत्पाट्य तापसान्सर्वाञ्जनस्थाननिकेतनान्।।2.116.11।। धृष्टश्च जितकाशी च नृशंसः पुरुषादकः। अवलिप्तश्च पापश्च त्वां च तात न मृष्यते।।2.116.12।।

rāvaṇāvarajaḥ kaścit kharo nāmeha rākṣasaḥ| utpāṭya tāpasānsarvāñjanasthānaniketanān dhṛṣṭaśca jitakāśī ca nṛśaṃsaḥ puruṣādakaḥ| avaliptaśca pāpaśca tvāṃ ca tāta na mṛṣyate

O dear child, Khara, one of the brothers of Ravana is dwelling in nearby 'Janasthana'. He is impudent, reportedly winner of battles, cruel, sinful, a maneater and haughty. He has uprooted all the ascetics from Janasthana. He will not tolerate even you.

त्वं यदाप्रभृति ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रमे तात वर्तसे। तदाप्रभृति रक्षांसि विप्रकुर्वन्ति तापसान्।।2.116.13।।

tvaṃ yadāprabhṛti hyasminnāśrame tāta vartase| tadāprabhṛti rakṣāṃsi viprakurvanti tāpasān

O dear child, ever since you started residing in this hermitage rakshasas have been tormenting the ascetics.

दर्शयन्ति हि बीभत्सैः क्रूरैर्भीषणकैरपि। नानारूपैर्विरूपैश्च रूपैर्विकृतदर्शनैः।।2.116.14।।

darśayanti hi bībhatsaiḥ krūrairbhīṣaṇakairapi| nānārūpairvirūpaiśca rūpairvikṛtadarśanaiḥ

They appear in various distorted forms now rapacious, now fearful, now deformed.

अप्रशस्तैशुचिभिस्सम्प्रयोज्य च तापसान्। प्रतिध्नन्त्यपरान्क्षिप्रमनार्याः पुरतः स्थिताः।।2.116.15।।

apraśastaiśucibhissamprayojya ca tāpasān| pratidhnantyaparānkṣipramanāryāḥ purataḥ sthitāḥ

Those wicked rakshasas employ forbidden and dirty means against ascetics and kill them by suddenly appearing in front of them.

तेषु तेष्वाश्रमस्थानेष्वबुद्धमवलीय च। रमन्ते तापसां स्तत्र नाशयन्तोऽल्पचेतसः।।2.116.16।।

teṣu teṣvāśramasthāneṣvabuddhamavalīya ca| ramante tāpasāṃ statra nāśayanto'lpacetasaḥ

These debased rakshasas, concealing themselves in various ashram sites take delight in harassing and killing the ascetics.

अपक्षिपन्ति स्रुग्भाण्डानग्नीस्निञ्चन्ति वारिणा। कलशांश्च प्रमध्नन्ति हवने समुपस्थिते।।2.116.17।।

apakṣipanti srugbhāṇḍānagnīsniñcanti vāriṇā| kalaśāṃśca pramadhnanti havane samupasthite

When sacrifices are about to start, they throw away the sacrificial ladels and vessels containing sacrificial materials and sprinkle water on sacrificial fire. They also break down the earthen vessels used in the sacrifice.

तैर्दुरात्मभिरामृष्टानाश्रमान्प्रजिहासवः। गमनायान्यदेशस्य चोदयन्त्यृषयोऽद्य माम्।।2.116.18।।

tairdurātmabhirāmṛṣṭānāśramānprajihāsavaḥ| gamanāyānyadeśasya codayantyṛṣayo'dya mām

Now all these sages are urging me to abandon this hermitage infested by these wicked rakshasas and move to another region.

तत्पुरा राम शारीरामुपहिंसां तपस्विषु। दर्शयन्ति हि दुष्टास्ते त्यक्ष्याम इममाश्रमम्।।2.116.19।।

tatpurā rāma śārīrāmupahiṃsāṃ tapasviṣu| darśayanti hi duṣṭāste tyakṣyāma imamāśramam

O Rama, those vile creatures resort to physical violence against ascetics, we have therefore, resolved to quit this ashram.

बहुमूलफलं चित्रमविदूरादितो वनम्। पुराणाश्रममेवाहं श्रयिष्ये सगणः पुनः।।2.116.20।।

bahumūlaphalaṃ citramavidūrādito vanam| purāṇāśramamevāhaṃ śrayiṣye sagaṇaḥ punaḥ

Not very far from here stands an ancient ashram in a lovely forest abounding in roots and fruits and I with my companions will seek shelter there.

खरस्त्वय्यपि चायुक्तं पुरा तात प्रवर्तते। सहास्माभिरितो गच्छ यदि बुद्धिः प्रवर्तते।।2.116.21।।

kharastvayyapi cāyuktaṃ purā tāta pravartate| sahāsmābhirito gaccha yadi buddhiḥ pravartate

Dear child, Khara will also misbehave with you as usual. (Therefore), if you so decide you may come along with us.

सकलत्रस्य सन्देहो नित्यं यत्तस्य राघव। समर्थस्यापि हि सतो वासो दुःखमिहाद्य ते।।2.116.22।।

sakalatrasya sandeho nityaṃ yattasya rāghava| samarthasyāpi hi sato vāso duḥkhamihādya te

O Rama, even though you are always vigilant and capable in all possible ways to defend youself, a doubt arises in our mind. It is perilous for you to live here with your wife.

इत्युक्तवन्तं स्तंराम राजपुत्रस्तपस्विनम्। न शशाकोत्तरैर्वाक्यैरवरोद्धुं समुत्सुकम्।।2.116.23।।

ityuktavantaṃ staṃrāma rājaputrastapasvinam| na śaśākottarairvākyairavaroddhuṃ samutsukam

It was not possible for prince Rama to hold back by mere words that ascetic who was saying like this and was anxious to quit the hermitage.

अभिनन्द्य समापृच्छ्य समाधाय च राघवम्। स जगामाश्रमं त्यक्त्वा कुलैः कुलपतिस्सह।।2.116.24।।

abhinandya samāpṛcchya samādhāya ca rāghavam| sa jagāmāśramaṃ tyaktvā kulaiḥ kulapatissaha

The leader of the group quit the hermitage along with his companions after paying respect to Rama, convincing him and taking leave of him.

रामः संसाद्य ऋषिगणमनुगमनाद्देशात्तस्मात्कुलपतिमभिवाद्य ऋषिम्। सम्यक्प्रीतैस्तैरनुमत उपदिष्टार्थः पुण्यं वासाय स्वनिलयमुपसम्पेदे।।2.116.25।।

rāmaḥ saṃsādya ṛṣigaṇamanugamanāddeśāttasmātkulapatimabhivādya ṛṣim| samyakprītaistairanumata upadiṣṭārthaḥ puṇyaṃ vāsāya svanilayamupasampede

Rama, followed the sages for some distance to bid them farewell. He paid obeisance to the chief of the group and having grasped the instruction of the highly pleased sages, he with their consent returned to his holy hermitage.

आश्रममृषिविरहितं प्रभुः क्षणमपिन जहौ स राघवः। राघवं हि सततमनुगता स्तापसाश्चार्षचरित धृतगुणाः।।2.116.26।।

āśramamṛṣivirahitaṃ prabhuḥ kṣaṇamapina jahau sa rāghavaḥ| rāghavaṃ hi satatamanugatā stāpasāścārṣacarita dhṛtaguṇāḥ

Lord Rama, did not leave that hermitage deserted by the sages even for a moment. Those who had adopted the traditions of the sages and had acquired many virtues followed Rama. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षोडशोत्तरशततमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the hundredsixteenth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.