Sloka & Translation

[Sages seek Rama's protection from demons --- Rama's assurance to sages]

śarabhaṅgē divaṅ prāptē munisaṅghāssamāgatāḥ.

abhyagacchanta kākutsthaṅ rāmaṅ jvalitatējasam৷৷3.6.1৷৷


śarabhaṅgē when Sarabhanga, divam heaven, prāptē attained, munisaṅghā: all groups of sages, samāgatāḥ came together, kākutstham to Rama, jvalitatējasam shining like radiance of fire, rāmam Rama, abhyagacchanta approached.

When Sarabhanga attained the heaven, all the sages collected together and came to Rama whose radiance was like fire.
vaikhānasā vālakhilyāssamprakṣālā marīcipāḥ.

aśmakuṭṭāśca bahavaḥ patrāhārāśca tāpasāḥ৷৷3.6.2৷৷

dantōlūkhalinaścaiva tathaivōnmajjakāḥ parē.

gātraśayyā aśayyāśca tathaivābhrāvakāśakāḥ৷৷3.6.3৷৷

munayassalilāhārāvāyubhakṣā stathāparē.

ākāśanilayāścaiva tathā sthaṇḍilaśāyinaḥ৷৷3.6.4৷৷

vratōpavāsinō dāntāstathā.rdrapaṭavāsasaḥ.

sajapāśca tapōnityāstathā pañcatapō.nvitāḥ৷৷3.6.5৷৷

sarvē brāhmyā śriyā juṣṭā dṛḍhayōgāssamāhitāḥ.

śarabhaṅgāśramē rāmamabhijagmuśca tāpasāḥ৷৷3.6.6৷৷


vaikhānasāḥ Vaikhanasas (those born of the nails of Prajapati), vālakhilyāḥ Valakhilyas (the sixty thousand sages born out of the hair of Brahma, they are the size of the thumb, they surround the chariot of the Sun-god), samprakṣālāḥ those who keep on washing their body frequently, marīcipāḥ those who drink the rays of Sun and Moon, aśmakuṭṭāśca Asmakuttas, (those who bruise their bodies with stones or those who pound the grain and make their own food), patrāhārāḥ those who live on leaves, bahavaḥ many, tāpasāśca sages, dantōlūkhalinaścaiva those who have teeth like mortar, vāyubhakṣā those who live on air, tathaiva in a similar way, unmajjakāḥ those who perform penance standing in neck-deep water, parē great men, gātraśayyāḥ those who sleep on the skin of the tiger, aśayyāḥ those who do penance without bending any part of the body, tathaiva similarly, abhravakāśakāḥ those who live in the open in Sun and rain, salilāhārāḥ those who live on water only, munayaḥ sages, tathā like that, vāyubhakṣāḥ those who live on air, aparē others, ākāśanilayāścaiva those who carry on their penance under the open sky, tathā similarly, sthaṇḍilaśāyinaḥ those who sit and sleep on bare ground, tathā similarly, vratōpavāsinaḥ those who observe vows and fastings, dāntāḥ those who are self-restrained, ārdrapaṭavāsasaḥ those who wear only wet clothes all the time, sajapāśca those who repeat the names of gods always, tapōniṣṭhāḥ those who are steadfast in penance, tathā similarly, pañcatapōnvitāḥ those who do penance amidst five blazing fires, tāpasāḥ ascetics, śarabhaṅgāśramē in the hermitage of Sarabhanga, rāmam Rama, abhijagmuḥ approached, sarvē all, brāhmyā śriyā shining with radiance born of Brahmavidya, juṣṭāḥ endowed, dṛḍhayōgasamāhitāḥ those who are steadfast and single-minded in the practice of yoga.

Vaikhanasas, Valakhilyas, sages who continuously wash their bodies, Marichakas Asmakuttas sages who live on leaves only, those who have teeth like mortar, Unmajjakas, those who use limbs as their bed, those who practise penance without using a bed, those who do penance in the open, unmindful of rain or Sun or wind, those who live on water only, those who penance under the open sky, those who carry on penance on high places like the mountain-top, those who recline on bare ground only, those who observe fast as a part of religious tradition, those self-restrained men, those who mutter sacred mantras, those who constantly perform penance and those who stand under the blazing Sun in summer placing fire on four sides while performing penance-all these types of sages met Rama in the hermitage of Sarabhanga.
abhigamya ca dharmajñā rāmaṅ dharmabhṛtāṅ varam.

ūcuḥ paramadharmajñamṛṣisaṅghāssamāhitāḥ৷৷3.6.7৷৷


dharmajñāḥ knowers of dharma, samāgatāḥ all of them who reached there, ṛṣisaṅghāḥ groups of sages, dharmabhṛtām among upholders of righteousness, varam foremost, paramadharmajñam supreme knower of dharma, rāmam Rama, abhigamya having reached, ūcuḥ said.

All groups of sages, who knew dharma, and were upholders of righteousness reached Rama, the supreme knower of dharma, and said:
tvamikṣvākukulasyāsya pṛthivyāśca mahāratha.

pradhānaścāsi nāthaśca dēvānāṅ maghavāniva৷৷3.6.8৷৷


mahāratha O great charioteer, tvam you, asya of this, ikṣvākukulasya of the line of the Ikshvakus, pṛthivyāśca of this earth, dēvānām of gods, maghavāniva like Indra, pradhānaśca chief also, nāthaśca lord as well

O great charioteer! you are the lord of the Ikshvaku race and of the world just like Indra, chief among the gods.
viśrutastriṣu lōkēṣu yaśasā vikramēṇa ca.

pitṛbhaktiśca satyaṅ ca tvayi dharmaśca puṣkalaḥ৷৷3.6.9৷৷


triṣu among the three, lōkēṣu in worlds, yaśasā by renown, vikramēṇa ca viśrutaḥ famous in valour, tvayi in you, pitṛbhaktiḥ ca devotion to father, satyaṅ ca the truth also, puṣkalaḥ dharmaśca as well as righteousness.

You are renowned in the three worlds for your valour, for your devotion to father, and in you lies enough evidence of your adherence to truth and righteousness.
tvāmāsādya mahātmānaṅ dharmajñaṅ dharmavatsalam.

arthitvānnātha vakṣyāmastacca naḥ kṣantumarhasi৷৷3.6.10৷৷


mahātmānam great soul, dharmajñam knower of dharma, dharmavatsalam one who loves dharma, tvām
you, arthitvāt being the needy ones, āsādya having come to you, vakṣyāmaḥ we speak, nātha O lord, naḥ for us, tat that, kṣantum to excuse, arhasi should.

O lord, do excuse us. We sought your help to fulfil our needs since you are at hand. You are a great soul, knower and lover of dharma.
adharmassumahāṅstāta bhavēttasya mahīpatēḥ.

yō harēdbaliṣaḍbhāgāṅ na ca rakṣati putravat৷৷3.6.11৷৷


tāta (nātha) O Lord, yaḥ whoever, baliṣaṅbhāgam sixth portion of wealth as tax, harēt will take, putravat like children, na ca rakṣati does not protect, tasya his, mahīpatēḥ king's, sumahān very great, adharmaḥ act of injustice, bhavēt will become.

O Lord, a king who collect one sixth of the produce as tax and yet does not protect his subjects like his children commits an act of grave injustice.
yuñjānassvāniva prāṇānprāṇairiṣṭānsutāniva.

nityayuktassadā rakṣansarvānviṣayavāsinaḥ৷৷3.6.12৷৷

prāpnōti śāśvatīṅ rāma kīrtiṅ sa bahuvārṣikīm.

brahmaṇassthānamāsādya tatra cāpi mahīyatē৷৷3.6.13৷৷


sarvān all, viṣayavāsinaḥ residents of his country, prāṇaiḥ more than lives, iṣṭān dear ones, sutāniva like his sons, svān his own, prāṇān life, yañjānaḥ iva taking care, nityayuktaḥ always in rightful manner, sadā always, rakṣan while protecting, saḥ he, śāśvatīm forever, bahuvārṣikīm extending over long years, kīrtim fame, prāpnōti will acquire, brahmaṇaḥ Brahman, sthānam place, asādya after reaching, tatra cāpi there also, mahīyatē will be excelling.

O Rama, whoever protects the inhabitants of his kingdom at all times like his own son who he loves more than his own life will attain the world of Brahma and remain there for long years and will achieve prosperity thereafter.
yatkarōti paraṅ dharma munirmūlaphalāśanaḥ.

tatra rājñaścaturbhāga prajā dharmēṇa rakṣitaḥ৷৷3.6.14৷৷


muniḥ sage, yat whatever, param supreme, dharmam merit, karōti earns, tatra there, caturbhāgaḥ fourth portion, prajāḥ people, dharmēṇa righteously, rakṣitaḥ for him who protects.

One fourth of the supreme merit a sage earns by living on fruits and roots, accrues to the king through which the people are protected righteously.
sō.yaṅ brāhmaṇabhūyiṣṭhō vānaprasthagaṇō mahān.

tvannāthō.nāthavadrāma rākṣasairvadhyatē bhṛśam৷৷3.6.15৷৷


rāma O Rama, tvannāthaḥ with you as their lord, brāhmaṇa bhūyiṣṭhaḥ mostly brahmins, mahān great, saḥ ayam that we, vānaprasthagaṇaḥ group of sages leading the vanaprastha stage of life, anāthavat like orphans, rākṣasaiḥ by the demons, bhṛśam in large numbers, vadhyatē being slain.

O Rama ! we are a group of great sages, mostly brahmins, leading a vanaprastha life. Yet with a protector like you, we are slaughtered in large numbers like orphans.
ēhi paśya śarīrāṇi munīnāṅ bhāvitātmanām.

hatānāṅ rākṣasairghōrairbahūnāṅ bahudhā vanē৷৷3.6.16৷৷


ēhi come on, vanē in the forest, ghōrai fierce, rākṣasaiḥ by demons, bahudhā in many, hatānām killed, bhāvitātmanām those who have perceived the Supreme spirit, bahūnām of many, munīnām of sages, śarīrāṇi the bodies, paśya see.

Come and see the bodies of ascetics, who had perceived the Supreme Spirit, killed in large numbers in the forest by the fierce demons.
pampānadīnivāsānāmanumandākinīmapi.

citrakūṭālayānāṅ ca kriyatē kadanaṅ mahat৷৷3.6.17৷৷


pampānadīnivāsānām of residents on the banks of river Pampa, anumandākinīmapi of those residing near river Mandakini, citrakūṭālayānāṅ ca of those residing in mount Chitrakuta, mahat great, kadanam war, kriyatē is being waged.

A great slaughter is taking place amongst those residing on the bank of the Pampa lake, near the river Mandakini, and on mount Chitrakuta.
ēvaṅ vayaṅ na mṛṣyāmō viprakāraṅ tapasvinām.

kriyamāṇaṅ vanē ghōraṅ rakṣōbhirbhīmakarmabhiḥ৷৷3.6.18৷৷


ēvaṅ vayam in this state we are, bhīmakarmabhi: by those doing fearful deeds, rakṣōbhiḥ by demons, vanē in the forest, kriyamāṇam being done, tapasvinām for ascetics, ghōram dreadful, viprakāram offence, na mṛṣyāmaḥ we are not able to bear.

We ascetics are not able to tolerate the fearful deeds perpetrated by the dreadful demons in the forest.
tatastvāṅ śaraṇārthaṅ ca śaraṇyaṅ samupasthitāḥ.

paripālaya nō rāma vadhyamānānniśācaraiḥ৷৷3.6.19৷৷


tataḥ then, rāma O Rama, śaraṇyam worthy of refuge, tvām you, śaraṇārtham for protection, samupasthitāḥ we have come here, niśācaraiḥ by the night-stalkers (the demons), vadhyamānān being killed, naḥ us, paripālaya protect.

O Rama, you are worthy of refuge. Hence we have come to you seeking your protection. We are being killed by the night-stalkers. Save us.
parā tvattō gatirvīra pṛthivyāṅ nōpapadyatē.

paripālaya na ssarvānrākṣasēbhyō nṛpātmaja৷৷3.6.20৷৷


vīra great warrior, tvattaḥ other than you, parā greatest, gatiḥ refuge, pṛthivyām on this earth,
nōpapadyatē cannot be found, nṛpātmaja O son of a king, naḥ us, sarvān all, rākṣasēbhyaḥ from the demons, paripālaya rescue.

O great warrior! here on this earth there is no protector as mighty as you. So, O prince ! save us all from these demons.
ētacchrutvā tu kākutsthastāpasānāṅ tapasvinām.

idaṅ prōvāca dharmātmā sarvānēva tapasvinaḥ৷৷3.6.21৷৷


dharmātmā righteous self, kākutsthaḥ of Kakutstha dynasty, tapasvinām engaged in penance, tāpasānām of the ascetics, ētat this, śrutvātu on hearing, sarvānēva addressing them all, tapasvinaḥ ascetics, idam this, prōvāca said.

Having heard this, righteous Rama of the Kakutstha dynasty said to all the ascetics engaged in penance:
naivamarhatha māṅ vaktumājñāpyō.haṅ tapasvinām.

kēvalēnātmakāryēṇa pravēṣṭavyaṅ mayā vanaṅ৷৷3.6.22৷৷


ēvam thus, mām we, vaktum to address, na arhatha it is not befitting you, aham I, tapasvinām for ascetics, ājñāpyaḥ should be ordered, kēvalēna only to, ātmakāryēṇa with a personal mission, mayā by me, vanam forest, pravēṣṭavyam entered

You should not speak to me this way. I deserve to be commanded by the ascetics. I have not entered this forest only on a personal mission.
viprakāramapākraṣṭuṅ rākṣasairbhavatāmimam.

pitustu nirdēśakaraḥ praviṣṭō.hamidaṅ vanam৷৷3.6.23৷৷


aham I, rākṣasaiḥ by the demons, bhavatām to you, imam these, viprakāram offence, apākraṣṭum to ward off, pituḥ father's, nirdēśakaraḥ one who carries out instructions, idam here, vanam forest, praviṣṭaḥ I entered.

I came into this forest in obedience to my father's orders to repel the aggression of demons against you.
bhavatāmarthasiddhyarthamāgatō.haṅ yadṛcchayā.

tasya mē.yaṅ vanē vāsō bhaviṣyati mahāphalaḥ৷৷3.6.24৷৷


aham I, bhavatām your, arthasidhyartham to acomplish your task, yadṛccayā incidentally, āgataḥ came, tasya for such a man, mē for me, ayam this, vanē vāsaḥ stay in the forest, mahāphalaḥ great result, bhaviṣyati will yield.

I came here to acomplish your task incidentally, Therefore, my stay in the forest will yield great results.
tapasvināṅ raṇē śatrūnhantumicchāmi rākṣasān.

paśyantu vīryamṛṣayassabhrāturmē tapōdhanāḥ৷৷3.6.25৷৷


tapasvinām of ascetics, śatrūn enemies, rākṣasān demons, raṇē in war, hantum to kill, icchāmi intend to, tapōdhanāḥ those who are richly endowed with penance, ṛṣayaḥ sages, sabhrātuḥ along with my brother, mē my, vīryam valour, paśyantu you will see.

I wish to kill in the fight the demons who are your enemies. O great ascetics, you may witness my prowess supported by my brother.
dattvā.bhayaṅ cāpi tapōdhanānāṅ dharmē dhṛtātmā saha lakṣmaṇēna.

tapōdhanaiścāpi sabhājyavṛttaḥ sutīkṣṇamēvābhijagāma vīraḥ৷৷3.6.26৷৷


dharmē in righteousness, dhṛtātmā steadfast man, vīraḥ a brave man, tapōdhanānām for ascetics endowed with the wealth of penance, abhayam assurance to protect, datvā after giving, saha lakṣmaṇēna with Lakshmana, tapōdhanaiścāpi and along with the ascetics, sabhājyavṛttaḥ one whose behaviour deserves to be respected, sutīkṣṇamēva to Sutikshna, abhijagāma approached.

Brave Rama, steadfast in righteousness, worthy of honour, gave assurance to protect the ascetics endowed with the wealth of penance, and proceeded towards sage Sutikshna.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ṣaṣṭhassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the sixth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.