Sloka & Translation

[Rama's tells Sita that protection of sages is his supreme righteous duty.]

ವಾಕ್ಯಮೇತತ್ತು ವೈದೇಹ್ಯಾ ವ್ಯಾಹೃತಂ ಭರ್ತೃಭಕ್ತಯಾ.

ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ಧರ್ಮೇ ಸ್ಥಿತೋ ರಾಮಃ ಪ್ರತ್ಯುವಾಚಾಥ ಮೈಥಿಲೀಮ್৷৷3.10.1৷৷


ಭರ್ತೃಭಕ್ತಯಾ out of devotion to her husband, ವೈದೇಹ್ಯಾ by Sita, ವ್ಯಾಹೃತಮ್ spoken, ಏತತ್ this, ವಾಕ್ಯಮ್ word, ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ on hearing, ಧರ್ಮೇ in righteousness, ಸ್ಥಿತಃ steadfast, ರಾಮಃ Rama, ಅಥ thereafter, ಮೈಥಿಲೀಮ್ to Sita, ಪ್ರತ್ಯುವಾಚ replied.

Having heard these words spoken by Sita who was devoted to her husband, replied Rama who was firm in righteousness.
ಹಿತಮುಕ್ತಂ ತ್ವಯಾ ದೇವಿ! ಸ್ನಿಗ್ಧಯಾ ಸದೃಶಂ ವಚಃ.

ಕುಲಂ ವ್ಯಪದಿಶನ್ತ್ಯಾ ಚ ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞೇ! ಜನಕಾತ್ಮಜೇ!৷৷3.10.2৷৷


ದೇವಿ! O Devi, ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞೇ! O one who knows righteousness ಜನಕಾತ್ಮಜೇ! O daughter of Janaka, ಕುಲಮ್ race, ವ್ಯಪದಿಶನ್ತ್ಯಾ by admonishing, ಸ್ನಿಗ್ಧಯಾ affectionately, ತ್ವಯಾ by you, ಹಿತಮ್ good, ಸದೃಶಮ್ suitable, ವಚಃ words, ಉಕ್ತಮ್ is stated.

O daughter of Janaka, you are conversant with dharma. Whatever you have admonished out of affection for me is befitting your race.
ಕಿನ್ತು ವಕ್ಷ್ಯಾಮ್ಯಹಂ ದೇವಿ! ತ್ವಯೈವೋಕ್ತಮಿದಂ ವಚಃ.

ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯೈರ್ಧಾರ್ಯತೇ ಚಾಪೋ ನಾರ್ತಶಬ್ದೋ ಭವೇದಿತಿ৷৷3.10.3৷৷


ದೇವಿ! O Devi, ಅಹಮ್ I, ಕಿನ್ತು but, ವಕ್ಷ್ಯಾಮಿ I speak, ಆರ್ತಶಬ್ದಃ cry of distress ನ ಭವೇದಿತಿ not to arise, ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯೈಃ by kshatriyas, ಚಾಪಃ bow, ಧಾರ್ಯತೇ is held, ಇದಮ್ this way, ವಚಃ declaration, ತ್ವಯೈವ by yourself, ಉಕ್ತಮ್ is spoken.

But permit me, Devi, you have already stated, when a kshatriya holds a bow there will be no cry of distress. (it means you approve of my holding a bow)
ತೇ ಚಾರ್ತಾ ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯೇ ಮುನಯಸ್ಸಂಶಿತವ್ರತಾಃ.

ಮಾಂ ಸೀತೇ ಸ್ವಯಮಾಗಮ್ಯ ಶರಣ್ಯಾಶ್ಶರಣಂ ಗತಾಃ৷৷3.10.4৷৷


ಸೀತೇ Sita, ಸಂಶಿತವ್ರತಾ: practising rigorous austerities, ಶರಣ್ಯಾ worthy of giving refuge, ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯೇ in Dandaka forest, ತೇ ಮುನಯಃ those sages, ಆರ್ತಾಃ in distress, ಸ್ವಯಮ್ personally, ಆಗಮ್ಯ after coming to me, ಮಾಮ್ myself, ಶರಣಂ ಗತಾಃ sought refuge.

O Sita, the sages who perform rigorous penance in Dandaka forest came to me personally, seeking shelter although they can be their own protection.
ವಸನ್ತೋ ಧರ್ಮನಿರತಾ ವನೇ ಮೂಲಫಲಾಶನಾಃ.

ನ ಲಭನ್ತೇ ಸುಖಂ ಭೀತಾ ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈಃ ಕ್ರೂರಕರ್ಮಭಿಃ৷৷3.10.5৷৷


ಮೂಲಫಲಾಶನಾಃ living on roots and fruits, ಧರ್ಮನಿರತಾಃ engaged in righteous activition ವನೇ in the forest, ವಸನ್ತಃ residing, ಕ್ರೂರಕರ್ಮಭಿಃ by cruel activities, ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈಃ by demons, ಭೀತಾಃ are afraid, ಸುಖಮ್ happiness, ನ ಲಭನ್ತೇ do not get.

The sages living in the forest, eating roots and fruits and ever engaged in righteous activities are afraid of the depredations of the demons, with their happiness gone.
ಕಾಲೇ ಕಾಲೇ ಚ ನಿರತಾ ನಿಯಮೈರ್ವಿವಿಧೈರ್ವನೇ.

ಭಕ್ಷ್ಯನ್ತೇ ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈರ್ಭೀಮೈರ್ನರಮಾಂಸೋಪಜೀವಿಭಿಃ৷৷3.10.6৷৷


ಕಾಲೇ ಕಾಲೇ at all times, ವಿವಿಧೈಃ by different, ನಿಯಮೈಃ traditions, ನಿರತಾಃ totally involved, ವನೇ in the forest, ನರಮಾಂಸೋಪಜೀವಿಭಿಃ living on human flesh (as cannibals), ಭೀಮೈಃ by dreadful, ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈಃ demons, ಭಕ್ಷ್ಯನ್ತೇ are eaten.

The sages engrossed in various austerities in the forest have been victims to the dreadful demons living on human flesh.
ತೇ ಭಕ್ಷ್ಯಮಾಣಾ ಮುನಯೋ ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯವಾಸಿನಃ.

ಅಸ್ಮಾನಭ್ಯವಪದ್ಯೇತಿ ಮಾಮೂಚುರ್ದ್ವಿಜಸತ್ತಮಾ৷৷3.10.7৷৷


ಭಕ್ಷ್ಯಮಾಣಾಃ eaten up like that, ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯವಾಸಿನಃ living in the Dandaka forest, ದ್ವಿಜಸತ್ತಮಾಃ best of brahmins, ತೇ ಮುನಯಃ those sages, ಅಸ್ಮಾನ್ to us, ಅಭ್ಯವಪದ್ಯ you may come to our rescue, ಇತಿ like this, ಮಾಮ್ me, ಊಚು: spoke.

The ascetics, the best of brahmins living in Dandaka forest being eaten up like that besought me to come to their rescue.
ಮಯಾ ತು ವಚನಂ ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ತೇಷಾಮೇವಂ ಮುಖಾಚ್ಚ್ಯುತಮ್.

ಕೃತ್ವಾ ಚರಣಶುಶ್ರೂಷಾಂ ವಾಕ್ಯಮೇತದುದಾಹೃತಮ್৷৷3.10.8৷৷


ಏವಮ್ in that way, ತೇಷಾಮ್ their, ಮುಖಾತ್ from their mouth, ಚ್ಯುತಮ್ that came out from, ವಚನಮ್ statement, ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ on hearing, ಮಯಾ by me, ಚರಣಶುಶ್ರೂಷಾಮ್ bowing at their feet, ಕೃತ್ವಾ having done ಏತತ್ this way, ವಾಕ್ಯಮ್ words, ಉದಾಹೃತಮ್ said so.

On hearing the words that came from their mouth, I bowed at their feet and said:
ಪ್ರಸೀದನ್ತು ಭವನ್ತೋ ಮೇ ಹ್ರೀರೇಷಾ ಹಿ ಮಮಾತುಲಾ.

ಯದೀದೃಶೈರಹಂ ವಿಪ್ರೈರುಪಸ್ಥೇಯೈರುಪಸ್ಥಿತಃ৷৷3.10.9৷৷


ಭವನ್ತಃ you all, ಮೇ myself, ಪ್ರಸೀದಸ್ತು be pleased, ಅಹಮ್ I, ಯತ್ that, ಉಪಸ್ಥೇಯೈಃ to be approached ಈದೃಶೈಃ by such men, ವಿಪ್ರೈಃ by sages, ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತಃ is approached, ಏಷಾ this, ಮಮ my, ಅತುಲಾ immeasureable, ಹ್ರೀಃ ಹಿ shame in deed.

Be pleased ! That brahmins like you have approached me while I should have come to you has put me to shame immeasurable .
ಕಿಂ ಕರೋಮೀತಿ ಚ ಮಯಾ ವ್ಯಾಹೃತಂ ದ್ವಿಜಸನ್ನಿಧೌ.

ಸರ್ವೈರೇತೈಸ್ಸಮಾಗಮ್ಯ ವಾಗಿಯಂ ಸಮುದಾಹೃತಾ৷৷3.10.10৷৷


ಕಿಮ್ what, ಕರೋಮಿ can I do, ಇತಿ this, ಮಯಾ by me, ದ್ವಿಜಸನ್ನಿಧೌ in the presence of brahmins, ವ್ಯಾಹೃತಮ್ was enquired, ಸರ್ವೈಃ by all of them, ಏತೈಃ by these, ಸಮಾಗಮ್ಯ collected together, ಇಯಮ್ this, ವಾಕ್ voice, ಸಮುದಾಹೃತಾ was spoken.

I enquired about what I could do for them. And all the brahmins in one voice said:.
ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈರ್ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯೇ ಬಹುಭಿಃ ಕಾಮರೂಪಿಭಿಃ.

ಅರ್ದಿತಾಸ್ಸ್ಮ ದೃಢಂ ರಾಮ ಭವಾನ್ನಸ್ತತ್ರ ರಕ್ಷತು৷৷3.10.11৷৷


ರಾಮ O Rama, ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯೇ in Dandaka forest, ಬಹುಭಿಃ by many, ಕಾಮರೂಪಿಭಿಃ assuming forms at will ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈಃ by demons, ದೃಢಮ್ strongly, (cruelly) ಅರ್ದಿತಾಃ are tormented, ಸ್ಮ we are, ಭವಾನ್ you, ತತ್ರ for that reason, ನಃ us, ರಕ್ಷತು may protect.

'O Rama, the demons who can assume any form at their will are mercilessly tormenting us in Dandaka forest. Do protect us from them'.
ಹೋಮಕಾಲೇಷು ಸಮ್ಪ್ರಾಪ್ತಾಃ ಪರ್ವಕಾಲೇಷು ಚಾನಘ.

ಧರ್ಷಯನ್ತಿ ಸುದುರ್ಧರ್ಷಾ ರಾಕ್ಷಸಾಃ ಪಿಶಿತಾಶನಾಃ৷৷3.10.12৷৷


ಅನಘ O sinless one!, ಸುದುರ್ಧರ್ಷಾಃ quite invincible, ಪಿಶಿತಾಶನಾಃ flesh-eaters, ರಾಕ್ಷಸಾಃ demons, ಹೋಮಕಾಲೇಷು at the time of sacrifices, ಪರ್ವಕಾಲೇಷು at the time of change of lunar conjunction like full moon or no moon days ಸಮ್ಪ್ರಾಪ್ತಾಃ are arriving, ಧರ್ಷಯನ್ತಿ are attacking.

'O sinless one, these cannibals are invincible. They arrive at the time of our sacrificial rituals, on the days of festivities or at the time of lunar conjunctions like no moon or full moon days and attack us.
ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈರ್ಧರ್ಷಿತಾನಾಂ ಚ ತಾಪಸಾನಾಂ ತಪಸ್ವಿನಾಮ್.

ಗತಿಂ ಮೃಗಯಮಾಣಾನಾಂ ಭವಾನ್ನಃ ಪರಮಾ ಗತಿಃ৷৷3.10.13৷৷


ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈಃ by demons, ಧರ್ಷಿತಾನಾಮ್ oppressed, ತಪಸ್ವಿನಾಮ್ helpless people, ತಾಪಸಾನಾಮ್ of the sages, ಗತಿಮ್ direction, ಮೃಗಯಮಾಣಾನಾಮ್ for those who search for, ನಃ for us, ಭವಾನ್ your, ಪರಮಾ supreme, ಗತಿಃ refuge

'You are the supreme refuge for us ascetics, tormented by demons, helpless men in search of shelter.
ಕಾಮಂ ತಪಃಪ್ರಭಾವೇನ ಶಕ್ತಾ ಹನ್ತುಂ ನಿಶಾಚರಾನ್.

ಚಿರಾರ್ಜಿತಂ ತು ನೇಚ್ಛಾಮಸ್ತಪಃ ಖಣ್ಡಯಿತುಂ ವಯಮ್৷৷3.10.14৷৷


ವಯಮ್ we, ತಪಃಪ್ರಭಾವೇನ by the power of penance, ನಿಶಾಚರಾನ್ night-rangers (demons), ಹನ್ತುಮ್ to kill, ಕಾಮಂ ಶಕ್ತಾಃ have the power, ತು however, ಚಿರಾರ್ಜಿತಮ್ earned over a long time, ತಪಃ penance, ಖಣ್ಡಯಿತುಮ್ to exhaust them, (ವಯಮ್) ನೇಚ್ಛಾಮಃ we are not willing.

ಬಹುವಿಘ್ನಂ ತಪೋ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ದುಶ್ಚರಂ ಚೈವ ರಾಘವ.

ತೇನ ಶಾಪಂ ನ ಮುಞ್ಚಾಮೋ ಭಕ್ಷ್ಯಮಾಣಾಶ್ಚ ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈಃ৷৷3.10.15৷৷


ರಾಘವ Rama, ತಪಃ penance, ನಿತ್ಯಮ್ always, ಬಹುವಿಘ್ನಮ್ is full of obstacles, ದುಶ್ಚರಂ ಚೈವ but is difficult to pursue, ತೇನ therefore, ರಾಕ್ಷಸೈಃ by demons, ಭಕ್ಷ್ಯಮಾಣಾಃ even if they eat us, ಶಾಪಮ್ curse, ನ not, ಮುಞ್ಚಾಮಃ we do not pronounce.

'O Rama! it is difficult to perform penance which is ever full of obstacles. Therefore, we do not pronounce curses even if eaten up by demons'.
ತದರ್ಧ್ಯಮಾನಾನ್ರಕ್ಷೋಭಿರ್ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯವಾಸಿಭಿಃ.

ರಕ್ಷ ನಸ್ತ್ವಂ ಸಹ ಭ್ರಾತ್ರಾ ತ್ವನ್ನಾಥಾ ಹಿ ವಯಂ ವನೇ৷৷3.10.16৷৷


ತತ್ then, ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯವಾಸಿಭಿಃ by those who are dwelling in Dandaka forest, ರಕ್ಷೋಭಿಃ by demons, ಅರ್ಧ್ಯಮಾನಾನ್ being tormented by, ನಃ us, ಸಹ ಭ್ರಾತ್ರಾ with your brother, ತ್ವಮ್ you,ರಕ್ಷ protect, ವಯಮ್ we, ವನೇ in the forest, ತ್ವನ್ನಾಥಾಃ ಹಿ you alone as the Lord.

'The demons, dwelling in the Dandaka forest are tormenting us. You alone are our lord in the forest. Do protect us with your brother.'
ಮಯಾ ಚೈತದ್ವಚಶ್ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ಕಾರ್ತ್ಸ್ನ್ಯೇನ ಪರಿಪಾಲನಮ್.

ಋಷೀಣಾಂ ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯೇ ಸಂಶ್ರುತಂ ಜನಕಾತ್ಮಜೇ৷৷3.10.17৷৷


ಜನಕಾತ್ಮಜೇ O daughter of Janaka, Sita, ಚ and, ಏತತ್ these, ವಚಃ words, ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ hearing, ದಣ್ಡಕಾರಣ್ಯೇ ಋಷೀಣಾಮ್ of sages of Dandaka forest, ಕಾರ್ತ್ಸ್ನ್ಯೇನ in the entire, ಪರಿಪಾಲನಮ್ protection, ಸಂಶ್ರುತಮ್ made a promise.

O daughter of Janaka, on hearing the words of the sages I promised to undertake the entire protection of sages of the Dandaka forest.
ಸಂಶ್ರುತ್ಯ ಚ ನ ಶಕ್ಷ್ಯಾಮಿ ಜೀವಮಾನಃ ಪ್ರತಿಶ್ರವಮ್.

ಮುನೀನಾಮನ್ಯಥಾ ಕರ್ತುಂ ಸತ್ಯಮಿಷ್ಟಂ ಹಿ ಮೇ ಸದಾ৷৷3.10.18৷৷


ಸಂಶ್ರುತ್ಯ having promised, ಜೀವಮಾನಃ as long as there is life in me, ಮುನೀನಾಮ್ of sages, ಪ್ರತಿಶ್ರವಮ್ promise, ಅನ್ಯಥಾ otherwise, ಕರ್ತುಮ್ to do, ನ shall not do, ಶಕ್ಷ್ಯಾಮಿ I will not be able, ಸದಾ always, ಮೇ to me, ಸತ್ಯಮ್ truth, ಇಷ್ಟಂ ಹಿ is dear.

Having promised the sages, I cannot do otherwise as long as I have life in me. To me truth is always dear.
ಅಪ್ಯಹಂ ಜೀವಿತಂ ಜಹ್ಯಾಂ ತ್ವಾಂ ವಾ ಸೀತೇ ಸಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣಾಮ್.

ನ ತು ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾಂ ಸಂಶ್ರುತ್ಯ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣೇಭ್ಯೋ ವಿಶೇಷತಃ৷৷3.10.19৷৷


ಸೀತೇ O Sita!, ಅಹಮ್ I, ಜೀವಿತಮಪಿ even life, ಸಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣಾಮ್ including Lakshmana, ತ್ವಾಂ ವಾ or you, ಜಹ್ಯಾಮ್ I may forsake ತು but, ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾಮ್ the promise, ವಿಶೇಷತಃ specially, ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣೇಭ್ಯಃ to the
brahmins, ಸಂಶ್ರುತ್ಯ after promising, ನ do not (fail to fulfil).

O Sita I may forfeit my life forsake, even Lakshmana and you but will not break the promise made specially to the brahmins৷৷
ತದವಶ್ಯಂ ಮಯಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಮೃಷೀಣಾಂ ಪರಿಪಾಲನಮ್.

ಅನುಕ್ತೇನಾಪಿ ವೈದೇಹಿ ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾಯ ತು ಕಿಂ ಪುನಃ৷৷3.10.20৷৷


ವೈದೇಹಿ O Sita, ತತ್ that, ಮಯಾ by me, ಅನುಕ್ತೇನಾಪಿ even if they did not request, ಋಷೀಣಾಮ್ of the sages, ಪರಿಪಾಲನಮ್ protection, ಕಾರ್ಯಮ್ should have been done, ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾಯ even after making the promise ಕಿಂ ಪುನಃ what more?

Even before the sages requested me I should have protected them. What to speak of the promise I have already made ?
ಮಮ ಸ್ನೇಹಾಚ್ಚ ಸೌಹಾರ್ದಾದಿದಮುಕ್ತಂತ್ವಯಾನಘೇ.

ಪರಿತುಷ್ಟೋಸ್ಮ್ಯಹಂ ಸೀತೇ ನ ಹ್ಯನಿಷ್ಟೋನುಶಿಷ್ಯತೇ৷৷3.10.21৷৷


ಅನಘೇ O sinless, ಮಮ my, ಸ್ನೇಹಾಚ್ಚ out of love, ಸೌಹಾರ್ದಾತ್ friendly feeling, ತ್ವಯಾ by you, ಇದಮ್ this, ಉಕ್ತಮ್ is spoken, ಸೀತೇ O Sita, ಅಹಮ್ I, ಪರಿತುಷ್ಟಃ pleased, ಅಸ್ಮಿ I am, ಅನಿಷ್ಟಃ undesirable, ನ ಅನುಶಿಷ್ಯತೇ ಹಿ is not advised.

O sinless one! all that has been said by you is out of your love and affection for me. I am pleased. What is harmful is never advised.
ಸದೃಶಂ ಚಾನುರೂಪಂ ಚ ಕುಲಸ್ಯ ತವ ಚಾತ್ಮನಃ.

ಸಧರ್ಮಚಾರಿಣೀ ಮೇ ತ್ವಂ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಭ್ಯೋಪಿ ಗರೀಯಸೀ৷৷3.10.22৷৷


ತವ your, ಕುಲಸ್ಯ of family, ಆತ್ಮನಃ ಚ of yourself, ಸದೃಶಮ್ befitting ಅನುಕೂಲಂ ಚ favourable too, ಮೇ to me, ಸಧರ್ಮಚಾರಿಣೀ follwer of dharma of husband, ತ್ವಮ್ you, ಪ್ರಾಣೇಭ್ಯೋಪಿ more than my life, ಗರೀಯಸೀ dearer.

Your auspicious words are quite befitting your lineage. You are the follower of my dharma and so dearer to me than my life.
ಇತ್ಯೇವಮುಕ್ತ್ವಾ ವಚನಂ ಮಹಾತ್ಮಾ ಸೀತಾಂ ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂ ಮೈಥಿಲರಾಜಪುತ್ರೀಮ್.

ರಾಮೋ ಧನುಷ್ಮಾನ್ಸಹ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣೇನ ಜಗಾಮ ರಮ್ಯಾಣಿ ತಪೋವನಾನಿ৷৷3.10.23৷৷


ಮಹಾತ್ಮಾ great soul, ರಾಮಃ Rama, ಪ್ರಿಯಾಮ್ to his beloved, ಮೈಥಿಲರಾಜಪುತ್ರೀಮ್ to the daughter of king of Mithila, ಸೀತಾಮ್ to Sita, ಇತ್ಯೇವಮ್ in this way, ವಚನಮ್ statement, ಉಕ್ತ್ವಾ on having said, ಧನುಷ್ಮಾನ್ wielding the bow, ಸಹ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣೇನ with Lakshmana, ರಮ್ಯಾಣಿ most delightful, ತಪೋವನಾನಿ penance groves, ಜಗಾಮ moved about.

Having said this to Sita, the princess of Mithila, Rama along with Lakshmana, bow in hand, moved about the delightful penance-grove.
ಇತ್ಯಾರ್ಷೇ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ರಾಮಾಯಣೇ ವಾಲ್ಮೀಕೀಯ ಆದಿಕಾವ್ಯೇ ಅರಣ್ಯಕಾಣ್ಡೇ ದಶಮಸ್ಸರ್ಗಃ৷৷
Thus ends the tenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by the sage Valmiki.