Sloka & Translation

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

vākyamētattu vaidēhyā vyāhṛtaṅ bhartṛbhaktayā.

śrutvā dharmē sthitō rāmaḥ pratyuvācātha maithilīm৷৷3.10.1৷৷


bhartṛbhaktayā out of devotion to her husband, vaidēhyā by Sita, vyāhṛtam spoken, ētat this, vākyam word, śrutvā on hearing, dharmē in righteousness, sthitaḥ steadfast, rāmaḥ Rama, atha thereafter, maithilīm to Sita, pratyuvāca replied.

Having heard these words spoken by Sita who was devoted to her husband, replied Rama who was firm in righteousness.
hitamuktaṅ tvayā dēvi! snigdhayā sadṛśaṅ vacaḥ.

kulaṅ vyapadiśantyā ca dharmajñē! janakātmajē!৷৷3.10.2৷৷


dēvi! O Devi, dharmajñē! O one who knows righteousness janakātmajē! O daughter of Janaka, kulam race, vyapadiśantyā by admonishing, snigdhayā affectionately, tvayā by you, hitam good, sadṛśam suitable, vacaḥ words, uktam is stated.

O daughter of Janaka, you are conversant with dharma. Whatever you have admonished out of affection for me is befitting your race.
kintu vakṣyāmyahaṅ dēvi! tvayaivōktamidaṅ vacaḥ.

kṣatriyairdhāryatē cāpō nārtaśabdō bhavēditi৷৷3.10.3৷৷


dēvi! O Devi, aham I, kintu but, vakṣyāmi I speak, ārtaśabdaḥ cry of distress na bhavēditi not to arise, kṣatriyaiḥ by kshatriyas, cāpaḥ bow, dhāryatē is held, idam this way, vacaḥ declaration, tvayaiva by yourself, uktam 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)
tē cārtā daṇḍakāraṇyē munayassaṅśitavratāḥ.

māṅ sītē svayamāgamya śaraṇyāśśaraṇaṅ gatāḥ৷৷3.10.4৷৷


sītē Sita, saṅśitavratā: practising rigorous austerities, śaraṇyā worthy of giving refuge, daṇḍakāraṇyē in Dandaka forest, tē munayaḥ those sages, ārtāḥ in distress, svayam personally, āgamya after coming to me, mām myself, śaraṇaṅ gatāḥ 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.
vasantō dharmaniratā vanē mūlaphalāśanāḥ.

na labhantē sukhaṅ bhītā rākṣasaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ৷৷3.10.5৷৷


mūlaphalāśanāḥ living on roots and fruits, dharmaniratāḥ engaged in righteous activition vanē in the forest, vasantaḥ residing, krūrakarmabhiḥ by cruel activities, rākṣasaiḥ by demons, bhītāḥ are afraid, sukham happiness, na labhantē 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.
kālē kālē ca niratā niyamairvividhairvanē.

bhakṣyantē rākṣasairbhīmairnaramāṅsōpajīvibhiḥ৷৷3.10.6৷৷


kālē kālē at all times, vividhaiḥ by different, niyamaiḥ traditions, niratāḥ totally involved, vanē in the forest, naramāṅsōpajīvibhiḥ living on human flesh (as cannibals), bhīmaiḥ by dreadful, rākṣasaiḥ demons, bhakṣyantē are eaten.

The sages engrossed in various austerities in the forest have been victims to the dreadful demons living on human flesh.
tē bhakṣyamāṇā munayō daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ.

asmānabhyavapadyēti māmūcurdvijasattamā৷৷3.10.7৷৷


bhakṣyamāṇāḥ eaten up like that, daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ living in the Dandaka forest, dvijasattamāḥ best of brahmins, tē munayaḥ those sages, asmān to us, abhyavapadya you may come to our rescue, iti like this, mām me, ūcu: spoke.

The ascetics, the best of brahmins living in Dandaka forest being eaten up like that besought me to come to their rescue.
mayā tu vacanaṅ śrutvā tēṣāmēvaṅ mukhāccyutam.

kṛtvā caraṇaśuśrūṣāṅ vākyamētadudāhṛtam৷৷3.10.8৷৷


ēvam in that way, tēṣām their, mukhāt from their mouth, cyutam that came out from, vacanam statement, śrutvā on hearing, mayā by me, caraṇaśuśrūṣām bowing at their feet, kṛtvā having done ētat this way, vākyam words, udāhṛtam said so.

On hearing the words that came from their mouth, I bowed at their feet and said:
prasīdantu bhavantō mē hrīrēṣā hi mamātulā.

yadīdṛśairahaṅ viprairupasthēyairupasthitaḥ৷৷3.10.9৷৷


bhavantaḥ you all, mē myself, prasīdastu be pleased, aham I, yat that, upasthēyaiḥ to be approached īdṛśaiḥ by such men, vipraiḥ by sages, upasthitaḥ is approached, ēṣā this, mama my, atulā immeasureable, hrīḥ hi 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 .
kiṅ karōmīti ca mayā vyāhṛtaṅ dvijasannidhau.

sarvairētaissamāgamya vāgiyaṅ samudāhṛtā৷৷3.10.10৷৷


kim what, karōmi can I do, iti this, mayā by me, dvijasannidhau in the presence of brahmins, vyāhṛtam was enquired, sarvaiḥ by all of them, ētaiḥ by these, samāgamya collected together, iyam this, vāk voice, samudāhṛtā was spoken.

I enquired about what I could do for them. And all the brahmins in one voice said:.
rākṣasairdaṇḍakāraṇyē bahubhiḥ kāmarūpibhiḥ.

arditāssma dṛḍhaṅ rāma bhavānnastatra rakṣatu৷৷3.10.11৷৷


rāma O Rama, daṇḍakāraṇyē in Dandaka forest, bahubhiḥ by many, kāmarūpibhiḥ assuming forms at will rākṣasaiḥ by demons, dṛḍham strongly, (cruelly) arditāḥ are tormented, sma we are, bhavān you, tatra for that reason, naḥ us, rakṣatu 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'.
hōmakālēṣu samprāptāḥ parvakālēṣu cānagha.

dharṣayanti sudurdharṣā rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ৷৷3.10.12৷৷


anagha O sinless one!, sudurdharṣāḥ quite invincible, piśitāśanāḥ flesh-eaters, rākṣasāḥ demons, hōmakālēṣu at the time of sacrifices, parvakālēṣu at the time of change of lunar conjunction like full moon or no moon days samprāptāḥ are arriving, dharṣayanti 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.
rākṣasairdharṣitānāṅ ca tāpasānāṅ tapasvinām.

gatiṅ mṛgayamāṇānāṅ bhavānnaḥ paramā gatiḥ৷৷3.10.13৷৷


rākṣasaiḥ by demons, dharṣitānām oppressed, tapasvinām helpless people, tāpasānām of the sages, gatim direction, mṛgayamāṇānām for those who search for, naḥ for us, bhavān your, paramā supreme, gatiḥ refuge

'You are the supreme refuge for us ascetics, tormented by demons, helpless men in search of shelter.
kāmaṅ tapaḥprabhāvēna śaktā hantuṅ niśācarān.

cirārjitaṅ tu nēcchāmastapaḥ khaṇḍayituṅ vayam৷৷3.10.14৷৷


vayam we, tapaḥprabhāvēna by the power of penance, niśācarān night-rangers (demons), hantum to kill, kāmaṅ śaktāḥ have the power, tu however, cirārjitam earned over a long time, tapaḥ penance, khaṇḍayitum to exhaust them, (vayam) nēcchāmaḥ we are not willing.

bahuvighnaṅ tapō nityaṅ duścaraṅ caiva rāghava.

tēna śāpaṅ na muñcāmō bhakṣyamāṇāśca rākṣasaiḥ৷৷3.10.15৷৷


rāghava Rama, tapaḥ penance, nityam always, bahuvighnam is full of obstacles, duścaraṅ caiva but is difficult to pursue, tēna therefore, rākṣasaiḥ by demons, bhakṣyamāṇāḥ even if they eat us, śāpam curse, na not, muñcāmaḥ 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'.
tadardhyamānānrakṣōbhirdaṇḍakāraṇyavāsibhiḥ.

rakṣa nastvaṅ saha bhrātrā tvannāthā hi vayaṅ vanē৷৷3.10.16৷৷


tat then, daṇḍakāraṇyavāsibhiḥ by those who are dwelling in Dandaka forest, rakṣōbhiḥ by demons, ardhyamānān being tormented by, naḥ us, saha bhrātrā with your brother, tvam you,rakṣa protect, vayam we, vanē in the forest, tvannāthāḥ hi 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.'
mayā caitadvacaśśrutvā kārtsnyēna paripālanam.

ṛṣīṇāṅ daṇḍakāraṇyē saṅśrutaṅ janakātmajē৷৷3.10.17৷৷


janakātmajē O daughter of Janaka, Sita, ca and, ētat these, vacaḥ words, śrutvā hearing, daṇḍakāraṇyē ṛṣīṇām of sages of Dandaka forest, kārtsnyēna in the entire, paripālanam protection, saṅśrutam 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.
saṅśrutya ca na śakṣyāmi jīvamānaḥ pratiśravam.

munīnāmanyathā kartuṅ satyamiṣṭaṅ hi mē sadā৷৷3.10.18৷৷


saṅśrutya having promised, jīvamānaḥ as long as there is life in me, munīnām of sages, pratiśravam promise, anyathā otherwise, kartum to do, na shall not do, śakṣyāmi I will not be able, sadā always, mē to me, satyam truth, iṣṭaṅ hi is dear.

Having promised the sages, I cannot do otherwise as long as I have life in me. To me truth is always dear.
apyahaṅ jīvitaṅ jahyāṅ tvāṅ vā sītē salakṣmaṇām.

na tu pratijñāṅ saṅśrutya brāhmaṇēbhyō viśēṣataḥ৷৷3.10.19৷৷


sītē O Sita!, aham I, jīvitamapi even life, salakṣmaṇām including Lakshmana, tvāṅ vā or you, jahyām I may forsake tu but, pratijñām the promise, viśēṣataḥ specially, brāhmaṇēbhyaḥ to the
brahmins, saṅśrutya after promising, na 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
tadavaśyaṅ mayā kāryamṛṣīṇāṅ paripālanam.

anuktēnāpi vaidēhi pratijñāya tu kiṅ punaḥ৷৷3.10.20৷৷


vaidēhi O Sita, tat that, mayā by me, anuktēnāpi even if they did not request, ṛṣīṇām of the sages, paripālanam protection, kāryam should have been done, pratijñāya even after making the promise kiṅ punaḥ what more?

Even before the sages requested me I should have protected them. What to speak of the promise I have already made ?
mama snēhācca sauhārdādidamuktaṅtvayā.naghē.

parituṣṭō.smyahaṅ sītē na hyaniṣṭō.nuśiṣyatē৷৷3.10.21৷৷


anaghē O sinless, mama my, snēhācca out of love, sauhārdāt friendly feeling, tvayā by you, idam this, uktam is spoken, sītē O Sita, aham I, parituṣṭaḥ pleased, asmi I am, aniṣṭaḥ undesirable, na anuśiṣyatē hi 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.
sadṛśaṅ cānurūpaṅ ca kulasya tava cātmanaḥ.

sadharmacāriṇī mē tvaṅ prāṇēbhyō.pi garīyasī৷৷3.10.22৷৷


tava your, kulasya of family, ātmanaḥ ca of yourself, sadṛśam befitting anukūlaṅ ca favourable too, mē to me, sadharmacāriṇī follwer of dharma of husband, tvam you, prāṇēbhyō.pi more than my life, garīyasī dearer.

Your auspicious words are quite befitting your lineage. You are the follower of my dharma and so dearer to me than my life.
ityēvamuktvā vacanaṅ mahātmā sītāṅ priyāṅ maithilarājaputrīm.

rāmō dhanuṣmānsaha lakṣmaṇēna jagāma ramyāṇi tapōvanāni৷৷3.10.23৷৷


mahātmā great soul, rāmaḥ Rama, priyām to his beloved, maithilarājaputrīm to the daughter of king of Mithila, sītām to Sita, ityēvam in this way, vacanam statement, uktvā on having said, dhanuṣmān wielding the bow, saha lakṣmaṇēna with Lakshmana, ramyāṇi most delightful, tapōvanāni penance groves, jagāma moved about.

Having said this to Sita, the princess of Mithila, Rama along with Lakshmana, bow in hand, moved about the delightful penance-grove.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē daśamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the tenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by the sage Valmiki.