Sloka & Translation

[Rama, Lakshmana and Sita take leave of Atri and Anasuya --- enter the Dandaka forest.]

ಅನಸೂಯಾ ತು ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞಾ ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ತಾಂ ಮಹತೀಂ ಕಥಾಮ್.

ಪರ್ಯಷ್ವಜತ ಬಾಹುಭ್ಯಾಂ ಶಿರಸ್ಯಾಘ್ರಾಯ ಮೈಥಿಲೀಮ್৷৷2.119.1৷৷


ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞಾ knower of righteousness, ಅನಸೂಯಾ ತು Anasuya on her part, ತಾಮ್ all that, ಮಹತೀಂ ಕಥಾಮ್ great narrative, ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ having heard, ಮೈಥಿಲೀಮ್ Sita, ಶಿರಸಿ on head, ಆಘ್ರಾಯ having smelt, ಬಾಹುಭ್ಯಾಮ್ with arms, ಪರ್ಯಷ್ವಜತ embraced.

Then righteous Anasuya, having heard the great story of Sita, kissed her on the forehead and embraced her with both the arms.
ವ್ಯಕ್ತಾಕ್ಷರಪದಂ ಚಿತ್ರಂ ಭಾಷಿತಂ ಮಧುರಂ ತ್ವಯಾ.

ಯಥಾ ಸ್ವಯಂವರಂ ವೃತ್ತಂ ತತ್ಸರ್ವಂ ಹಿ ಶ್ರುತಂ ಮಯಾ৷৷2.119.2৷৷

ರಮೇಹಂ ಕಥಯಾ ತೇ ತು ದೃಢಂ ಮಧುರಭಾಷಿಣಿ.


ತ್ವಯಾ by you, ವ್ಯಕ್ತಾಕ್ಷರಪದಮ್ with each word and each syllable uttered clearly, ಚಿತ್ರಮ್ wonderful, ಮಧುರಮ್ sweet, ಭಾಷಿತಮ್ spoken, ಸ್ವಯಂವರಮ್ the ceremony in which the bride chooses the groom of her own accord, ಯಥಾ as, ವೃತ್ತಮ್ it happened, ತತ್ಸರ್ವಂ all that, ಮಯಾ by me, ಶ್ರುತಂ ಹಿ has been heard, ಮಧುರಭಾಷಿಣಿ O sweet-speaking, Sita, ತೇ your, ಕಥಯಾ in the story, ಅಹಮ್ I, ದೃಢಮ್ ರಮೇ I enjoy greatly.

You have related wonderfully and sweetly your Swayamvara with each word and each syllable uttered clearly. I have heard everything as it happened. O sweet-speaking Sita, I have greatly enjoyed your story.
ರವಿರಸ್ತಙ್ಗತಶ್ಶ್ರೀಮಾನುಪೋಹ್ಯ ರಜನೀಂ ಶಿವಾಮ್৷৷2.119.3৷৷

ದಿವಸಂ ಪ್ರತಿಕೀರ್ಣಾನಾಮಾಹಾರಾರ್ಥಂ ಪತತ್ರಿಣಾಮ್.

ಸನ್ಧ್ಯಾಕಾಲೇ ನಿಲೀನಾನಾಂ ನಿದ್ರಾರ್ಥಂ ಶ್ರೂಯತೇ ಧ್ವನಿಃ৷৷2.119.4৷৷


ಶ್ರೀಮಾನ್ resplendent, ರವಿಃ Sun, ಶಿವಾಮ್ auspicious, ರಜನೀಮ್ night, ಉಪೋಹ್ಯ after drawing near, ಅಸ್ತಗತಃ has set, ದಿವಸಮ್ during day, ಆಹಾರಾರ್ಥಮ್ for the sake of food, ಪ್ರತಿಕೀರ್ಣಾನಾಮ್ forage far and wide, ಸನ್ಧ್ಯಾಕಾಲೇ in the twilight, ನಿದ್ರಾರ್ಥಮ್ for the sake of sleep, ನಿಲೀನಾನಾಮ್ resting, ಪತತ್ರಿಣಾಮ್ of birds, ಧ್ವನಿಃ sound, ಶ್ರೂಯತೇ is heard.

The resplendent Sun has set. The auspcious night is drawing near. The birds who forage far and wide for food during the day return to their nests to rest for the night. You can hear them twittering.
ಏತೇ ಚಾಪ್ಯಭಿಷೇಕಾರ್ದ್ರಾ ಮುನಯಃ ಕಲಶೋದ್ಯತಾಃ.

ಸಹಿತಾ ಉಪವರ್ತನ್ತೇ ಸಲಿಲಾಪ್ಲುತವಲ್ಕಲಾಃ৷৷2.119.5৷৷


ಏತೇ ಮುನಯಃ ಚ these sages, ಅಭಿಷೇಕಾರ್ದ್ರಾಃ wet through ablution, ಕಲಶೋದ್ಯತಾಃ carrying water-pitchers, ಸಲಿಲಾಪ್ಲುತವಲ್ಕಲಾಃ their bark robes soaked with water, ಸಹಿತಾ: in groups, ಉಪವರ್ತನ್ತೇ are returning.

The sages also are returning in groups with water-pitchers filled with water and their bark robes soaked with water after their ceremonial bath.
ಋಷೀಣಾಮಗ್ನಿಹೋತ್ರೇಷು ಹುತೇಷು ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕಮ್.

ಕಪೋತಾಙ್ಗಾರುಣೋ ಧೂಮೋ ದೃಶ್ಯತೇ ಪವನೋದ್ಧತಃ৷৷2.119.6৷৷


ಋಷೀಣಾಮ್ of the ascetics, ಅಗ್ನಿಹೋತ್ರೇಷು in Agnihotra sacrifices, ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕಮ್ duly, ಹುತೇಷು oblations offered, ಕಪೋತಾಙ್ಗಾರುಣಃ tawny like the pigeon's body, ಧೂಮಃ smoke, ಪವನೋದ್ಧತಃ raised by the wind, ದೃಶ್ಯತೇ is seen.

The ascetics have duly offered oblations to the fire in Agnihotra sacrifices and the smoke, tawny like the pigeon's body, emanates wafted by the wind.
ಅಲ್ಪಪರ್ಣಾ ಹಿ ತರವೋ ಘನೀಭೂತಾಸ್ಸಮನ್ತತಃ.

ವಿಪ್ರಕೃಷ್ಟೇನ್ದ್ರಿಯೇ ದೇಶೇಸ್ಮಿನ್ನ ಪ್ರಕಾಶನ್ತಿ ವೈ ದಿಶಃ৷৷2.119.7৷৷


ಸಮನ್ತತಃ on all sides, ಅಲ್ಪಪರ್ಣಾಃ with sparse leaves, ತರವಃ trees, ಘನೀಭೂತಾಃ have grown dense, ವಿಪ್ರಕೃಷ್ಟೇನ್ದ್ರಿಯೇ with disturbed senses, ಅಸ್ಮಿನ್ ದೇಶೇ in this region, ದಿಶಃ the four quarters, ನ ಪ್ರಕಾಶನ್ತಿ ವೈ no longer look bright.

The trees with sparse leaves all over have grown dense, the quarters in the distant region are no longer discernible by the senses.
ರಜನೀಚರಸತ್ತ್ವಾನಿ ಪ್ರಚರನ್ತಿ ಸಮನ್ತತಃ.

ತಪೋವನಮೃಗಾ ಹ್ಯೇತೇ ವೇದಿತೀರ್ಥೇಷು ಶೇರತೇ৷৷2.119.8৷৷


ರಜನೀಚರಸತ್ವಾನಿ the beings that range by night, ಸಮನ್ತತಃ everywhere, ಪ್ರಚರನ್ತಿ are wandering, ಏತೇ ತಪೋವನಮೃಗಾಃ these deer of the penance grove, ವೇದಿತೀರ್ಥೇಷು around sacred altars, ಶೇರತೇ are sleeping.

The night rangers have started moving everywhere and the deer in the penance grove are beginning to sleep around the sacred altars.
ಸಮ್ಪ್ರವೃತ್ತಾನಿಶಾ ಸೀತೇ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಸಮಲಙ್ಕೃತಾ.

ಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸ್ನಾಪ್ರಾವರಣಶ್ಚನ್ದ್ರೋ ದೃಶ್ಯತೇಭ್ಯುದಿತೋಮ್ಬರೇ৷৷2.119.9৷৷


ಸೀತೇ O Sita, ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಸಮಲಙ್ಕೃತಾ adorned with stars, ನಿಶಾ night, ಸಮ್ಪ್ರವೃತ್ತಾ has commenced, ಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸ್ನಾಪ್ರಾವರಣಃ spread with the mantle of moonlight, ಚನ್ದ್ರಃ moon, ಅಮ್ಬರೇ in the sky, ಅಭ್ಯುದಿತಃ is rising, ದೃಶ್ಯತೇ is appearing.

O Sita, adorned with stars, the night has commenced. You can see the moon rising in the sky spreading his mantle of light.
ಗಮ್ಯತಾಮನುಜಾನಾಮಿ ರಾಮಸ್ಯಾನುಚರೀ ಭವ.

ಕಥಾಯನ್ತ್ಯಾ ಹಿ ಮಧುರಂ ತ್ವಯಾಹಂ ಪರಿತೋಷಿತಾ৷৷2.119.10৷৷


ಗಮ್ಯತಾಮ್ you may go now, ಅನುಜಾನಾಮಿ I give you my consent, ರಾಮಸ್ಯ to Rama, ಅನುಚರೀ ಭವ be his companion, ಮಧುರಮ್ sweetly, ಕಥಯನ್ತ್ಯಾ story-telling, ತ್ವಯಾ by you, ಅಹಮ್ I, ಪರಿತೋಷಿತಾ thoroughly contented.

With my permission you may go now and be a companion of Rama. I am thoroughly contented with your story told so sweetly.
ಅಲಙ್ಕುರು ಚ ತಾವತ್ತ್ವಂ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷಂ ಮಮ ಮೈಥಿಲಿ.

ಪ್ರೀತಿಂ ಜನಯ ಮೇ ವತ್ಸೇ ದಿವ್ಯಾಲಙ್ಕಾರಶೋಭಿತಾ৷৷2.119.11৷৷


ಮೈಥಿಲಿ O Sita, ತ್ವಮ್ you, ಮಮ my, ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷಂ ತಾವತ್ in my presence, ಅಲಙ್ಕುರು adorn yourself, ವತ್ಸೇ dear child, ದಿವ್ಯಾಲಙ್ಕಾರಶೋಭಿತಾ adorned with divine ornaments, ಮೇ to me, ಪ್ರೀತಿಮ್ delight, ಜನಯ cause me.

O Sita, adorn yourself in my presence. Dear child, permit me the pleasure of adorning you with these divine ornaments.
ಸಾ ತಥಾ ಸಮಲಙ್ಕೃತ್ಯ ಸೀತಾ ಸುರಸುತೋಪಮಾ.

ಪ್ರಣಮ್ಯ ಶಿರಸಾ ತಸ್ಯೈ ರಾಮಂ ತ್ವಭಿಮುಖೀ ಯಯೌ৷৷2.119.12৷৷


ಸುರಸುತೋಪಮಾ resembling the daughter of a god, ಸಾ ಸೀತಾ that Sita, ತಥಾ in that way, ಸಮಲಙ್ಕುತ್ಯ having adorned, ತಸ್ಯೈ to her, ಶಿರಸಾ with her head, ಪ್ರಣಮ್ಯ saluting with reverence, ರಾಮಮ್ to Rama, ಅಭಿಮುಖೀ towards, ಯಯೌ went.

Sita, adorned, looked like the daughter of a god. She bowed at the feet of Anasuya in reverence and set out to meet Rama.
ತಥಾ ತು ಭೂಷಿತಾಂ ಸೀತಾಂ ದದರ್ಶ ವದತಾಂ ವರಃ.

ರಾಘವಃ ಪ್ರೀತಿದಾನೇನ ತಪಸ್ವಿನ್ಯಾ ಜಹರ್ಷ ಚ৷৷2.119.13৷৷


ವದತಾಮ್ among those eloquent one, ವರಃ excellent, ರಾಘವಃ Rama, ತಥಾ in that way, ಭೂಷಿತಾಮ್ adorned, ಸೀತಾಮ್ Sita, ದದರ್ಶ beheld, ತಪಸ್ವಿನ್ಯಾಃ of the female ascetic, ಪ್ರೀತಿದಾನೇನ with gifts of
love, ಜಹರ್ಷ ಚ rejoiced.

Rama, the most eloquent among men, saw Sita adorned, and rejoiced at the gifts of love given by the ascetic Anasuya.
ನ್ಯವೇದಯತ್ತತಸ್ಸರ್ವಂ ಸೀತಾ ರಾಮಾಯ ಮೈಥಿಲೀ.

ಪ್ರೀತಿದಾನಂ ತಪಸ್ವಿನ್ಯಾ ವಸನಾಭರಣಸ್ರಜಮ್৷৷2.119.14৷৷


ಮೈಥಿಲೀ the princess of Mithila, ಸೀತಾ Sita, ತತಃ there after, ತಪಸ್ವಿನ್ಯಾಃ of ascetic Anasuya, ಪ್ರೀತಿದಾನಮ್ gifts of love, ವಸನಾಭರಣಸ್ರಜಮ್ raiment, jewellery and garlands, ಸರ್ವಮ್ everything, ರಾಮಾಯ to Rama, ನ್ಯವೇದಯತ್ related.

Sita the princess of Mithila related everything to Rama and showed him the gifts of love given by ascetic Anasuya -- raiment, jewellery and garlands.
ಪ್ರಹೃಷ್ಟಸ್ತ್ವಭವದ್ರಾಮೋ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣಶ್ಚ ಮಹಾರಥಃ.

ಮೈಥಿಲ್ಯಾಸ್ಸತ್ಕ್ರಿಯಾಂ ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ ಮಾನುಷೇಷು ಸುದುರ್ಲಭಾಮ್৷৷2.119.15৷৷


ರಾಮಃ Rama, ಮಹಾರಥಃ great charioteer, ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣಶ್ಚ Lakshmana also, ಮಾನುಷೇಷು among mortals, ಸುದುರ್ಲಭಾಮ್ very difficult to obtain, ಮೈಥಿಲ್ಯಾಃ to Sita, ಸತ್ಕ್ರಿಯಾಮ್ the honour, ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ having seen, ಪ್ರಹೃಷ್ಟಃ ಅಭವತ್ was gratified.

Rama the great charioteer and Lakshmana were exceedingly gratified to see the honour conferred on Sita, rare among mortals.
ತತಸ್ತಾಂ ಶರ್ವರೀಂ ಪ್ರೀತಃ ಪುಣ್ಯಾಂ ಶಶಿನಿಭಾನನಃ.

ಅರ್ಚಿತಸ್ತಾಪಸೈ ಸ್ಸಿದ್ಧೈರುವಾಸ ರಘುನನ್ದನಃ৷৷2.119.16৷৷


ತತಃ thereafter, ಶಶಿನಿಭಾನನಃ face like the Moon, ರಘುನನ್ದನಃ the descendant of Raghu, ಸಿದ್ಧೈಃ
by the acomplished, ತಾಪಸೈಃ by ascetics, ಅರ್ಚಿತಃ hospitality having been extended, ಪ್ರೀತಃ in
delight, ಪುಣ್ಯಾಮ್ holy, ತಾಂ ಶರ್ವರೀಮ್ that night, ಉವಾಸ passed.

Thereafter, the descendant of Raghu, whose countenance resembled the Moon, having received the hospitality of the accomplished ascetics, passed that holy night in delight.
ತಸ್ಯಾಂ ರಾತ್ರ್ಯಾಂ ವ್ಯತೀತಾಯಾಮಭಿಷಿಚ್ಯ ಹುತಾಗ್ನಿಕಾನ್.

ಆಪೃಚ್ಛೇತಾಂ ನರವ್ಯಾಘ್ರೌ ತಾಪಸಾನ್ವನಗೋಚರಾನ್৷৷2.119.17৷৷


ತಸ್ಯಾಮ್ that, ರಾತ್ರ್ಯಾಮ್ night, ವ್ಯತೀತಾಯಾಮ್ had passed away, ನರವ್ಯಾಘ್ರೌ the two great men, ಅಭಿಷಿಚ್ಯ having bathed, ಹುತಾಗ್ನಿಕಾನ್ who performed their fire-offerings, ವನಗೋಚರಾನ್ inhabiting the forest, ತಾಪಸಾನ್ ascetics, ಅಪೃಚ್ಛೇತಾಮ್ took leave of.

Night over, the two best men, Rama and Lakshmana, after their ablution took leave of the ascetics inhabiting the forest who offered morning oblations to the fire .
ತಾವೂಚುಸ್ತೇ ವನಚರಾಸ್ತಾಪಸಾ ಧರ್ಮಚಾರಿಣಃ.

ವನಸ್ಯ ತಸ್ಯ ಸಞ್ಚಾರಂ ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈಸ್ಸಮಭಿಪ್ಲುತಮ್৷৷2.119.18৷৷


ವನಚರಾಃ dwellers in the forest, ಧರ್ಮಚಾರಿಣಃ following the righteousness, ತೇ ತಾಪಸಾಃ those ascetics, ತಸ್ಯ ವನಸ್ಯ of that forest, ಸಞ್ಚಾರಮ್ movement, ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈಃ with demons, ಸಮಭಿಪ್ಲುತಮ್ inundated, ತೌ addressing both of them, ಊಚುಃ said.

The righteous ascetics dwelling in the forest informed both Rama and Lakshmana that part of the forest infested by demons.
ರಕ್ಷಾಂಸಿ ಪುರುಷಾದಾನಿ ನಾನಾರೂಪಾಣಿ ರಾಘವ.

ವಸನ್ತ್ಯಸ್ಮಿನ್ಮಹಾರಣ್ಯೇ ವ್ಯಾಲಾಶ್ಚ ರುಧಿರಾಶನಾಃ৷৷2.119.19৷৷


ರಾಘವ O Rama!, ಅಸ್ಮಿನ್ ಮಹಾರಣ್ಯೇ in this great forest, ಪುರುಷಾದಾನಿ man-eaters, ನಾನಾರೂಪಾಣಿ in various forms, ರಕ್ಷಾಂಸಿ demons, ರುಧಿರಾಶನಾಃ blood-drinking, ವ್ಯಾಲಾಶ್ಚ wild animals, ವಸನ್ತಿ are
living.

O Rama, this great forest is haunted by carnivorous demons who can assume any
form and by blood-drinking wild animals.
ಉಚ್ಛಿಷ್ಟಂ ವಾ ಪ್ರಮತ್ತಂ ವಾ ತಾಪಸಂ ಧರ್ಮಚಾರಿಣಮ್.

ಅದನ್ತ್ಯಸ್ಮಿನ್ಮಹಾರಣ್ಯೇ ತಾನ್ನಿವಾರಯ ರಾಘವ৷৷2.119.20৷৷


ರಾಘವ Rama, ಅಸ್ಮಿನ್ ಮಹಾರಣ್ಯೇ in this great forest, ಉಚ್ಛಿಷ್ಟಂ ವಾ or impure, ಪ್ರಮತ್ತಂ ವಾ or not alert, ತಾಪಸಮ್ an ascetic, ಅದನ್ತಿ they (eat) devour, ತಾನ್ them, ನಿವಾರಯ prevent them.

O Rama, in this great forest demons will devour the ascetics if they find them impure or intoxicated or indolent. Prevent them.
ಏಷ ಪನ್ಥಾ ಮಹರ್ಷೀಣಾಂ ಫಲಾನ್ಯಾಹರತಾಂ ವನೇ.

ಅನೇನ ತು ವನಂ ದುರ್ಗಂ ಗನ್ತುಂ ರಾಘವ ತೇ ಕ್ಷಮಮ್৷৷2.119.21৷৷


ರಾಘವ Rama, ಏಷಃ ವನೇ in the forest, ಫಲಾನಿ fruits, ಆಹರತಾಮ್ of those gathering, ಮಹರ್ಷೀಣಾಮ್ ascetics, ಏಷ ಪನ್ಥಾಃ this path, ಅನೇನ through this path, ದುರ್ಗಮ್ impassable, ವನಮ್ the forest, ಗನ್ತುಮ್ to go, ತೇ to you, ಕ್ಷಮಮ್ is safe.

O Rama, this is the one path in the forest used by the ascetics to gather fruits. You can safely cross the otherwise impassable forest through this path.
ಇತೀವ ತೈಃ ಪ್ರಾಞ್ಜಲಿಭಿಸ್ತಪಸ್ವಿಭಿರ್ದ್ವಿಜೈಃ ಕೃತಸ್ವಸ್ತ್ಯಯನಃ ಪರನ್ತಪಃ.

ವನಂ ಸಭಾರ್ಯಃ ಪ್ರವಿವೇಶ ರಾಘವಸ್ಸಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣಸ್ಸೂರ್ಯ ಇವಾಭ್ರಮಣ್ಡಲಮ್৷৷2.119.22৷৷


ಪ್ರಾಞ್ಜಲಿಭಿಃ (paying obeisance) with folded hands, ತಪಸ್ವಿಭಿಃ by ascetics, ತೈಃ ದ್ವಿಜೈಃ by those brahmins, ಇತೀವ thus, ಕೃತಸ್ವಸ್ತ್ಯಯನಃ obtaining their blessings, ಪರನ್ತಪಃ tormentor of enemies, ರಾಘವಃ Rama, ಸಭಾರ್ಯಃ with his wife, ಸಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣಃ with Lakshmana, ಸೂರ್ಯಃ Sun, ಅಭ್ರಮಣ್ಡಲಮ್ ಇವ like entering the mass of clouds, ವನಮ್ forest, ಪ್ರವಿವೇಶ entered.

The ascetics offered their blessings to Rama the tormentor of enemies. Thereafter,
accompanied by his wife and Lakshmana, he entered the great forest like the Sun entering the mass of clouds.
ಇತ್ಯಾರ್ಷೇ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ರಾಮಾಯಣೇ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ವಾಲ್ಮೀಕೀಯ ಆದಿಕಾವ್ಯೇ ಚತುರ್ವಿಂಶತ್ಸಹಸ್ರಿಕಾಯಾಂ ಸಂಹಿತಯಾಂ ಶ್ರೀಮದಯೋಧ್ಯಾಕಾಣ್ಡೇ ಏಕೋನವಿಂಶತ್ಯುತ್ತರಶತತಮಸ್ಸರ್ಗಃ৷৷
Thus ends the hundred-nineteenth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.