Sloka & Translation

[Rama, Sita and Lakshmana reach the hermitage of Sutikshna.]

rāmastu sahitō bhrātrā sītayā ca parantapaḥ.

sutīkṣṇasyāśramapadaṅ jagāma saha tairdvijaiḥ৷৷3.7.1৷৷


parantapaḥ scorcher of enemies, rāmastu Rama, bhrātrā with brother (Lakshmana), sītayā Sita, ca and, sahitaḥ accompanied, taiḥ by them, dvijaiḥ saha with the brahmin sages, sutīkṣṇasya Sutikshna's, āśramapadam site of hermitage, jagāma went.

Rama, the scorcher of enemies, along with his brother Lakshmana and Sita and the sages went to Sutikshna's hermitage.
sa gatvā dīrghamadhvānaṅ nadīstīrtvā bahūdakāḥ.

dadarśa vimalaṅ śailaṅ mahāmēghamivōnnatam৷৷3.7.2৷৷


saḥ he (Rama), dīrgham long, adhvānam distance, gatvā went, bahūdakāḥ with plenty of water, nadī river, tīrtvā after crossing, mahāmēghamiva like a huge cloud, unnatam lobty, vimalam pure, śailam mountain, dadarśa saw.

After covering a long distance and crossing the river (Ganga) with plenty of water, Rama saw a huge mountain looking like a lofty cloud.
tata stadikṣvākuvarau santataṅ vividhairdrumaiḥ.

kānanaṅ tau viviśatussītayā saha rāghavau৷৷3.7.3৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, ikṣvākuvarau the best of the Ikshvakus, tau rāghavau both brothers of the Ragha family (Rama and Lakshmana), sītayā saha with Sita, vividhaiḥ with many, drumaiḥ by trees, santatam crowded all over, kānanam forest, viviśatuḥ both entered.

Rama and Lakshmana, the best of the Ikshvaku family, accompanied by Sita entered the dense forest filled with trees all over.
praviṣṭastu vanaṅ ghōraṅ bahupuṣpaphaladrumam.

dadarśāśramamēkāntē cīramālāpariṣkṛtam৷৷3.7.4৷৷


ghōram dreadful, bahupuṣpaphaladrumam filled with trees bearing different kinds of flowers and fruits, vanam forest, praviṣṭaḥ entered, ēkāntē at a lonely place, cīramālāpariṣkṛtam line of bark robes hanging, āśramam hermitage, dadarśa witnessed.

Entering that dreadful forest, they saw trees full of flowers and fruits, and a hermitage in a lonely place with lines of bark robes hanging.
tatra tāpasamāsīnaṅ malapaṅkajaṭādharam.

rāmassutīkṣṇaṅ vidhivattapōvṛddhamabhāṣata৷৷3.7.5৷৷


tatra there (at the hermitage), rāmaḥ Rama, malapaṅkajaṭhādharam with soiled, matted hair, āsīnam seated, tapōvṛddham grown old with penance, tāpasam ascetic, sutīkṣṇam Sutikshna, vidhivat as per tradition, abhāṣata spoke.

There at the hermitage was Sutikshna, an ascetic grown old with (long) penance, wearing soiled, matted locks and seated. Rama (first) addressed him as per custom.
rāmō.hamasmi bhagavanbhavantaṅ draṣṭumāgataḥ.

tvaṅ mābhivada dharmajña maharṣē satyavikrama৷৷3.7.6৷৷


bhagavan O revered one, aham am, rāmaḥ asmi I am Rama, bhavantam you, draṣṭum to see, āgataḥ I came, tvaṅ you, dharmajña knower of dharma, satyavikrama having truth as your prowess, maharṣē great sage, mā me, abhivada speak.

O venerable one, I am Rama.You are a great sage, armed with truth as your prowess and a knower of dharma. I have come to see you. Could you speak to me?
sa nirīkṣya tatō dhīrō rāmaṅ dharmabhṛtāṅ varam.

samāśliṣya ca bāhubhyāmidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷3.7.7৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, dhīraḥ composed, saḥ he (Sutikshna), dharmabhṛtām among righteous men, varam best, rāmam to Rama, nirīkṣya looking at, bāhubhyām with both his arms, samāśliṣya ca after embracing, idam these, vacanam words, abravīt said.

Thereafter the composed Sutikshna, looked at Rama, the best among righteous men, and embracing him with both his arms said:
svāgataṅ tē raghuśrēṣṭha rāma satyabhṛtāṅ vara.

āśramō.yaṅ tvayākrāntassanātha iva sāmpratam৷৷3.7.8৷৷


raghuśrēṣṭha scions of the Raghu family, satyabhṛtām among upholders of truth, vara the best, rāma Rama, tē to you, svāgatam welcome, sāmpratam presently, tvayā your, ākrāntaḥ occupied, ayam this, āśramaḥ hermitage, sanāthaḥ iva one that has a protector.

O Rama, the best among the Raghavas and among the upholders of truth, you are welcome. With your presence this hermitage will have a protector now.
pratīkṣamāṇastvāmēva nārōhē.haṅ mahāyaśaḥ.

dēvalōkamitō vīra dēhaṅ tyaktvā mahītalē.

citrakūṭamupādāya rājyabhraṣṭō.si mē śrutaḥ৷৷3.7.9৷৷


mahāyaśaḥ O illustrious one, vīra heroic one, aham I, tvāmēva you only, pratīkṣmāṇaḥ waiting for you, mahītalē on earth, dēham body, tyaktvā giving up, itaḥ from here, dēvalōkam world of the gods, nārōhē I do not ascend, rājyabhraṣṭaḥ renouncing the kingdom, citrakūṭam Chitrakuta, upādāya after taking, asi you are, mē I, śrutaḥ heard.

O renowned hero, I had heard that you have come to Chitrakuta, renouncing your
kingdom. I have been waiting so long to see you here. Unable to give up this body, I did not even leave the earth for heaven, the world of the gods.
ihōpayātaḥ kākutthsa! dēvarājaśśatakratuḥ৷৷3.7.10৷৷

upāgamya ca mē dēvō mahādēvassurēśvaraḥ.

sarvān lōkāñjitānāha mama puṇyēna karmaṇā৷৷3.7.11৷৷


kākutthsa! scion of the Kakutstha family, śatakratuḥ Indra, dēvarājaḥ king of the gods, iha here, upayātaḥ came to me, mahādēvaḥ chief of the gods, surēśvaraḥ Indra, dēvaḥ deity, upāgamya after he came here, mama my, puṇyēna karmaṇā by meritorious act, sarvān all, lōkān worlds, jitān won, mē by me, āha said.

O scion of the Kakutstha family, Indra, king of the gods came to me and said that by my meritorious deeds I have won all the worlds.
tēṣu dēvarṣijuṣṭēṣu jitēṣu tapasā mayā.

matprasādātsabhāryastvaṅ viharasva salakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷3.7.12৷৷


mayā by me, jitēṣu which have been won, dēvarṣijuṣṭēṣu worlds served by divine sages like Narada, tēṣu those, sabhāryaḥ with your wife, salakṣmaṇaḥ and with Lakshmana, tvam you, matprasādāt by my grace, viharasva move about.

Along with your wife and Lakshmana you may roam by my grace the worlds won by me and served by divine sages like devarsi Narada.
tamugratapasāyuktaṅ maharṣiṅ satyavādinam.

pratyuvācātmavānrāmō brahmāṇamiva kāśyapaḥ৷৷3.7.13৷৷


ātmavān self-possessed, rāmaḥ Rama, ugratapasāyuktaṅ doing severe penance, satyavādinam to the truthful taṅ maharṣim to that great sage, kāśyapaḥ Kasyapa, brahmāṇamiva as he would speak to Brahma, pratyuvāca thus replied.

Self-possessed Rama replied to the truthful ascetic who had performed intense penance. Just as Kasyapa would address Lord Brahma:
ahamēvāhariṣyāmi sarvān lōkānmahāmunē.

āvāsaṅ tvahamicchāmi pradiṣṭamiha kānanē৷৷3.7.14৷৷


mahāmunē O great sage, ahamēva I alone, sarvān all, lōkān worlds, āhariṣyāmi I will win, tu but, aham I, iha here, kānanē in the forest, pradiṣṭam directed, āvāsam residence, icchāmi intend to.

O great sage! I will win all the worlds myself. I (only) want to live in this forest. Allow me.
bhavānsarvatra kuśalassarvabhūtahitē rataḥ.

ākhyātaśśarabhaṅgēṇa gautamēna mahātmanā৷৷3.7.15৷৷


bhavān you, sarvatra all, kuśalaḥ are keeping well, sarvabhūtahitē in the welfare of all living beings, rataḥ ever engaged gautamēna of Gautama, mahātmanā by a great sage, śarabhaṅgēṇa by Sarabhanga, ākhyātaḥ told.

You are ever engaged in the welfare of all beings. I have heard this from the great sage Sarabhanga of Gautama's clan.
ēvamuktastu rāmēṇa maharṣirlōkaviśrutaḥ.

abravīnmadhuraṅ vākyaṅ harṣēṇa mahatā.plutaḥ৷৷3.7.16৷৷


rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam thus, uktaḥ told, lōkaviśrutaḥ well-known to the world, maharṣiḥ great sage, mahatā with great, harṣēṇa joy, plutaḥ overwhelmed, madhuram sweet, vākyam words, abravīt said.

Thus addressed by Rama, Sutikshna, the great sage, well-known to the world was highly delighted. He (then) said these sweet words:
ayamēvāśramō rāma guṇavānramyatāmiha.

ṛṣisaṅghānucaritassadā mūlaphalairyutaḥ৷৷3.7.17৷৷


rāma O Rama, ṛṣisaṅghānucaritaḥ where hosts of sages live, mūlaphalaiḥ with roots and fruits, yutaḥ endowed, ayam this, āśramaḥ ēva hermitage only, guṇavān is good, ramyatām enjoy, iha here.

O Rama! this is a salubrious hermitage where hosts of sages live and which is full of roots and fruits, you may enjoy yourself here.
imamāśramamāgamya mṛgasaṅghā mahāyaśaḥ.

ahatvā pratigacchanti lōbhayitvā.kutōbhayāḥ৷৷3.7.18৷৷


mahāyaśaḥ of great fame, mṛgasaṅghāḥ groups of animals, imam this, āśramam hermitage, āgamya coming here, lōbhayitvā enticing the inmates, ahatvā without harming, akutōbhayāḥ fearless, pratigacchanti return.

O illustrious Rama, herds of animals visit this place fearlessly, enticing the inmates and (then) go back without harming any one.
nānyaddhōṣaṅ bhavēdatra mṛgēbhyō.nyatra viddhi vai.

tacchṛtvā vacanaṅ tasya maharṣērlakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ৷৷3.7.19৷৷

uvāca vacanaṅ dhīrō vikṛṣya saśaraṅ dhanuḥ.


atra here, mṛgyēbhyaḥ from animals, anyatra other than that, anyat other, dōṣaṅ demerit, na bhavēt is not expected, viddhi vai you may know, dhīraḥ heroic man, lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ elder brother of Lakshmana, (Rama), tasya maharṣēḥ sages, tat these, vacanam words, śrutvā on hearing, saśaram with arrow, dhanuḥ bow, vikṛṣya lifted, vacanam words, uvāca said.

When heroic Rama heard that there was no other problem from the wild animals except their frequent incursions, he lifted his bow with an arrow and said these words:
tānahaṅ sumahābhāga mṛgasaṅghānsamāgatān৷৷3.7.20৷৷

hanyāṅ niśitadhārēṇa śarēṇāśanivarcasā.


sumahābhāga O reverend one, samāgatān those coming here, tān those, mṛgasaṅghān herds of animals, niśitadhārēṇa with sharp edge, aśanivarcasā with a thunder-like glow, śarēṇa by arrow, hanyām I will kill.

O reverend one, I will kill with a sharp-edged arrow, glowing like a thunderbolt, all those herds of animals who keep coming here.
bhavāṅstatrābhiṣajyēta kiṅsyātkṛcchrataraṅ tataḥ৷৷3.7.21৷৷

ētasminnāśramē vāsaṅ ciraṅ tu na samarthayē.


tatra then, bhavān you, abhiṣajyēta harass, tataḥ kṛcchrataram may cause pain, kiṅ syāt what could be there?, ētasmin in this, āśramē hermitage, ciram for a long time, vāsam residence, na not, samarthayē I foresee.

What can be more agonizing for you (than my killing animals). I (therefore) do not foresee our long stay in this hermitage.
tamēvamuktvōparamaṅ rāmassandhyāmupāgamat৷৷3.7.22৷৷

anvāsya paścimāṅ snadhyāṅ tatra vāsamakalpayat.

sutīkṣṇasyā.śramē ramyē sītayā lakṣmaṇēna ca৷৷3.7.23৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, tam him, ēvam in that way, uktvā having said, uparamam stopped there, sandhyām to the evening twilight, upāgamat drew to a close, paścimāṅ sandhyām at Sunset in the west, anvāsya to offer (oblation), sītayā with Sita, lakṣmaṇēna ca and Lakshmana, sutīkṣaṇasya at Sutikshna's, tatra then, ramyē in a delightful, āśramē hermitage, vāsam stay, akalpayat arranged.

Rama stopped with this. And then the evening drew to a close. Offering his evening oblation, he arranged for his stay along with Sita and Lakshmana in the delightful hermitage of Sutikshna.
tataśśubhaṅ tāpasabhōjyamannaṅ svayaṅ sutīkṣṇaḥ puruṣarṣabhābhyām.

tābhyāṅ susatkṛtya dadau mahātmā sandhyānivṛttau rajanīṅ mavēkṣya৷৷3.7.24৷৷


tataḥ then, mahātmā the great sage, sutīkṣṇaḥ Sutikshna, sandhyānivṛttau evening twilight had passed, rajanīm night, tābhyām to both of them, puruṣarṣabhābhyām to both best of men, tāpasa bhōjyam (yōgyam) that which is fit for ascetics, annam food, susatkṛtya with all hospitality, svayam himself, dadau presented.

Seeing that the evening had passed and night had set in, the great sage Sutikshna with due hospitality, served those best of men, food fit for ascetics.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē saptamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the seventh sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.