Sloka & Translation

[Rama, Sita and Lakshmana enter the Dandaka forest -- Sages at Dandaka offer prayers and welcome Sri Rama.]

praviśya tu mahāraṇyaṅ daṇḍakāraṇyamātmavān.

dadarśa rāmō durdharṣastāpasāśramamaṇḍalam৷৷3.1.1৷৷


ātmavān self-possessed, durdharṣaḥ invincible rāmaḥ Rama, mahāraṇyam great forest, daṇḍakāraṇyam Dandaka forest, praviśya having entered, tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam multitude of hermitages of the ascetics, dadarśa saw.

The invincible and self-possessed Rama entered the great forest of Dandaka and saw there a multitude of hermitages of the ascetics.
kuśacīraparikṣiptaṅ brāhmyā lakṣmyā samāvṛtam.

yathā pradīptaṅ durdarśaṅ gaganē sūryamaṇḍalam৷৷3.1.2৷৷


kuśacīraparikṣiptam ceremonial robes(made) of kusa grass spread all over brāhmyā of the brahmanas, lakṣmyā of auspicious appearance, samāvṛtam surrounded, gaganē in the sky, pradīptam glowing, sūryamaṇḍalaṅ yathā like the orb of the Sun, durdarśam difficult to gaze.

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.
śaraṇyaṅ sarvabhūtānāṅ susammṛṣṭājiraṅ sadā.

mṛgairbahubhirākīrṇaṅ pakṣisaṅghaissamāvṛtam৷৷3.1.3৷৷


sarvabhūtānām for all beings, śaraṇyam shelter, sadā always, susammṛṣṭājiraṅ the courtyard being well-cleaned, wetted and decorated, bahubhiḥ by many, mṛgaiḥ by antelopes, ākīrṇam filled all over, pakṣisaṅghai by flocks of birds, samāvṛtam filled with.

The courtyards (of the hermitages) were clean-swept, sprinkled with water and decorated. They provided shelter to all kinds of creatures and were filled all over with flocks of birds and antelopes.
pūjitaṅ ca pranṛttaṅ ca nityamapsarasāṅ gaṇaiḥ.

viśālairagniśaraṇaiḥ srugbhāṇḍairajinaiḥ kuśaiḥ৷৷3.1.4৷৷

samidbhistōyakalaśaiḥ phalamūlaiśca śōbhitam.

āraṇyaiśca mahāvṛkṣaiḥ puṇyaissvāduphalairvṛtam৷৷3.1.5৷৷


apsarasām by celestial damsels, gaṇaiḥ by groups, pūjitaṅ ca glorified, pranṛttaṅ ca and offered dances as service, viśālaiḥ with vast, agniśaraṇaiḥ with fire sanctuaries srugbhāṇḍaiḥ with wooden ladles for offering ghee ajinaiḥ with deer-skins, kuśaiḥ with kusa grass, samidbhi: with faggots (specially offered to fire in sacrificial ceremonies), tōyakalaśaiḥ pots filled with water, phalamūlaiśca with fruits and roots, śōbhitam adorned, āraṇyaiḥ produced in forests, puṇyaiḥ sacred ones, svāduphalaiḥ by sweet fruits, mahāvṛkṣaiḥ with huge trees, upaśōbhitam looking delightful all over.

The hermitages looked glorified with dances by celestial damsels. They were adorned with vast fire sanctuaries, ladles for sacrificial ceremonies, deer-skins 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.
balihōmārcitaṅ puṇyaṅ brahmaghōṣanināditam.

puṣpaiścānyaiḥ parikṣiptaṅ padminyā ca sapadmayā৷৷3.1.6৷৷

phalamūlāśanairdāntaiścīrakṛṣṇājināmbaraiḥ.

sūryavaiśvānarābhaiśca purāṇairmunibhirvutam৷৷3.1.7৷৷


balihōmārcitam worshipped with various offerings and sacrifices, puṇyam sacred, brahmaghōṣanināditam reverberating with chanting of the Vedas,anyaiḥ puṣpaiḥ by other flowers, parikṣiptam scattered here and there, padminyā by a lotus-pond, sapadmayā filled with lotuses, phalamūlāśanaiḥ by those living on fruits and roots, dāntai: self-restrained ones, cīrakṛṣṇājināmbaraiḥ wearing bark garments and skins of black antelopes, sūryavaiśvānarābhaiśca glowing like the Sun or the fire, purāṇaiḥ by the aged, munibhiḥ by the sages, vṛtam surrounded by.

The hermitages where various sacrificial offerings were made reverberated with Vedic chantings. Flowers were scattered all over. There was a lotus-pond with lotuses. There were aged, self-restrained sages glowing like the Sun or the fire, living on fruits and roots, clothed in bark and dark deer-skin.
puṇyaiśca niyatāhāraiḥ śōbhitaṅ paramarṣibhiḥ.

tadbrahmabhavanaprakhyaṅ brahmaghōṣanināditam৷৷3.1.8৷৷


puṇyaiḥ by holy people, niyatāhāraiḥ with regulated diet, paramarṣibhiḥ by great sages, śōbhitam shining, brahmaghōṣanināditam echoing with the chanting of the Vedas, brahmabhavanaprakhyam resembling the abode of Brahma, tat that (hermitage).

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.
brahmavidbhirmahābhāgairbrāhmaṇairupaśōbhitam.

taddṛṣṭvā rāghavaḥ śrīmāṅstāpasāśramamaṇḍalam৷৷3.1.9৷৷

abhyagacchanmahātējā vijyaṅ kṛtvā mahaddhanuḥ.


brahmavidbhi: by those knowing the Supreme Spirit, mahābhāgaiḥ by the venerable ones, bāhmaṇaiḥ by brahmins, upaśōbhitam was adorned, tat that, tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam groups of hermitages of the sages, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, śrīmān illustrious, mahātējāḥ a man of great lustre, rāghavaḥ Rama, mahat great, dhanuḥ bow, vijyam with loosened string, kṛtvā doing, abhyagacchat went forward.

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.
divyajñānōpapannāstē rāmaṅ dṛṣṭvā maharṣayaḥ৷৷3.1.10৷৷

abhyagacchanstadā prītā vaidēhīṅ ca yaśasvinīm.


divyajñānōpapannāḥ richly endowed with divine knowledge, tē maharṣayaḥ those great sages, rāmaṅ Rama, yaśasvinīm highly reputed, vaidēhīṅ ca Sita too, dṛṣṭvā on seeing, prītāḥ pleased, tadā then, abhyagacchan went towards.

On seeing Rama with illustrious Sita, the great sages, richly endowed with divine knowledge, went forward to greet him.
tē taṅ sōmamivōdyantaṅ dṛṣṭvā vai dharmacāriṇam৷৷3.1.11৷৷

lakṣmaṇaṅ caiva dṛṣṭvā tu vaidēhīṅ ca yaśasvinīm.

maṅgalāni prayuñjānāḥ pratyagṛhṇandṛḍhavratāḥ৷৷3.1.12৷৷


dṛḍhavratāḥ steadfast in vows, tē they, udyantam rising, sōmamiva like the Moon, dharmacāriṇam follower of righteous path, dṛṣṭvā tu on seeing, lakṣmaṇaṅ caiva Lakshmana too, yaśasvinīm famed, vaidēhīṅ ca Sita also, dṛṣṭvā tu seeing, maṅgalāni words of benediction, prayuñjānāḥ uttering, pratyagṛhṇan went towards and received them.

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.
rūpasaṅhananaṅ lakṣmīṅ saukumāryaṅ suvēṣatām.

dadṛśurvismitākārā rāmasya vanavāsinaḥ৷৷3.1.13৷৷


vanavāsinaḥ (sages) living in the woods, rāmasya Rama's, rūpasaṅhananam beauty of the body, lakṣmīm splendour, saukumāryam tenderness, suvēṣatām will attired, vismitākārāḥ wonder-struck sages, dadṛśuḥ saw.

Those sages living in the forest were wonder-struck to see the handsome, graceful, delicate and well-dressed Rama.
vaidēhīṅ lakṣmaṇaṅ rāmaṅ nētrairanimiṣairiva.

āścaryabhūtāndadṛśuḥ sarvē tē vanacāriṇaḥ৷৷3.1.14৷৷


sarvē all, tē vanacāriṇa: those forest-rangers, āścaryabhūtān creating wonder, vaidēhīm Sita, lakṣmaṇaṅ Lakshmana, caiva too, rāmaṅ Rama, animiṣairiva unblinking, nētrai: with eyes, dadṛśuḥ saw.

All the foresters looked at the wonderful figures of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana with unblinking eyes.
atrainaṅ hi mahābhāgā ssarvabhūtahitē ratāḥ.

atithiṅ parṇaśālāyāṅ rāghavaṅ saṅnyavēśayan৷৷3.1.15৷৷


sarvabhūtahitē in the welfare of all beings, ratāḥ engaged, mahābhāgāḥ glorious, atra here, parṇaśālāyām in a leafy hut, atithim guest, ēnam rāghavam this Rama, saṅnyavēśayan made him sit and rest.

Ever engaged in the welfare of all beings, the sages made Rama, their guest, sit in their leafy hut.
tatō rāmasya satkṛtya vidhinā pāvakōpamāḥ.

ājahrustē mahābhāgāḥ salilaṅ dharmacāriṇaḥ৷৷3.1.16৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, pāvakōpamāḥ comparable to fire, mahābhāgāḥ great ones, tē they, dharmacāriṇaḥ followers of righteousness, vidhinā as per tradition, satkṛtya after rendering due hospitality, rāmasya to Rama, salilam water, ājahruḥ offered.

The great sages comparable to the fire-god and followers of righteousness honoured Rama according to tradition by offering water.
puṣpaṅ mūlaṅ phalaṅ sarvamāśramaṅ ca mahātmanaḥ.

nivēdayitvā dharmajñāstē tataḥ prāñjalayō.bruvan৷৷3.1.17৷৷


dharmajñāḥ knowers of dharma, tē they, tata: then, puṣpam flower, phalam fruit, mūlaṅ root, sarvam all, āśramaṅ ca and the hermitage, mahātmanaḥ to the great self, nivēdayitvā having offered, prāñjalayaḥ with folded palms, abruvan said.

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:
dharmapālō janasyāsya śaraṇyastvaṅ mahāyaśāḥ.

pūjanīyaśca mānyaśca rājā daṇḍadharō guruḥ৷৷3.1.18৷৷


rājā king, mahāyaśā: of great fame, janasyāsya of the people, dharmapālaḥ protector of dharma, śaraṇyaśca refuge, pūjanīyaśca worthy of worship, mānyaśca respectable, daṇḍadharaḥ chastiser of evil-doers, guruḥ a respectable one.

O king of great reputation, you are the refuge of the people, a protector of dharma, a chastiser of wrong-doers, a worshipful and respectable preceptor.
indrasyēha caturbhāgaḥ prajā rakṣati rāghava.

rājā tasmādvarānbhōgānramyān bhuṅaktēlōkanamaskṛtaḥ৷৷3.1.19৷৷


rāghava O Rama, indrasya Indra's, iha here, caturbhāgaḥ fourth part, prajāḥ people, rakṣati protects, tasmāt therefore, rājā king, namaskṛtaḥ obeyed, varān best, bhōgān pleasures, bhuṅaktē enjoys.

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.
tē vayaṅ bhavatā rakṣyā bhavadviṣayavāsinaḥ.

nagarasthō vanasthō vā tvaṅ nō rājā janēśvaraḥ৷৷3.1.20৷৷


bhavadviṣayavāsi residents of your domain, tē to you, vayam we, bhavatā by you, rakṣyāḥ deserve to be protected, nagarasthaḥ residing in a city, vanasthaḥ vā or staying in the forest, janēśvara: Lord of the people, tvam you, rājā king.

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.
nyastadaṇḍā vayaṅ rājañjitakrōdhā jitēndriyāḥ.

rakṣaṇīyāstvayā śaśvadagarbhabhūtāstapōdhanāḥ৷৷3.1.21৷৷


rājan O king, jitakrōdhāḥ men who have conquered anger, jitēndriyāḥ self-controlled, tapōdhanāḥ asceties, vayam we, nyastadaṇḍāḥ cast aside the symbol of authority, garbhabhūtāḥ like your children, tvayā by you, śaśvat forever, rakṣaṇīyāḥ to be protected.

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
ēvamuktvā phalairmūlaiḥ puṣpairvanyaiśca rāghavam.

anyaiśca vividhāhāraiḥ salakṣmaṇamapūjayan৷৷3.1.22৷৷


ēvam in that manner, uktvā having said, salakṣmaṇam along with Lakshmana, rāghavam Rama, phalaiḥ with fruits, mūlaiḥ with roots, puṣpaiḥ with flowers, anyaiśca and by other, vanyaiḥ by forest produce, vividhāhāraiḥ different kinds of food, apūjayan offered with reverence.

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

nyāyavṛttā yathānyāyaṅ tarpayāmāsurīśvaram৷৷3.1.23৷৷


tathā like that, vaiśvānarōpamāḥ men comparable to fire, siddhāḥ men who accomplished spiritual pursuits, anyē others, nyāyavṛttāḥ law-abiding people, tāpasāḥ ascetics, īśvaram divine Rama (who controls every one), yathānyāyam in a fitting manner, tarpayāmāsuḥ pleased with their words.

The law-abiding ascetics, who were comparable to fire and who were accomplished in their penances, pleased lord Rama in a befitting manner.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē prathamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the first sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.