Sloka & Translation

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

रामस्तु सहितो भ्रात्रा सीतया च परन्तपः।

सुतीक्ष्णस्याश्रमपदं जगाम सह तैर्द्विजैः।।3.7.1।।


परन्तपः scorcher of enemies, रामस्तु Rama, भ्रात्रा with brother (Lakshmana), सीतया Sita, च and, सहितः accompanied, तैः by them, द्विजैः सह with the brahmin sages, सुतीक्ष्णस्य Sutikshna's, आश्रमपदम् site of hermitage, जगाम went.

Rama, the scorcher of enemies, along with his brother Lakshmana and Sita and the sages went to Sutikshna's hermitage.
स गत्वा दीर्घमध्वानं नदीस्तीर्त्वा बहूदकाः।

ददर्श विमलं शैलं महामेघमिवोन्नतम्।।3.7.2।।


सः he (Rama), दीर्घम् long, अध्वानम् distance, गत्वा went, बहूदकाः with plenty of water, नदी river, तीर्त्वा after crossing, महामेघमिव like a huge cloud, उन्नतम् lobty, विमलम् pure, शैलम् mountain, ददर्श 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.
तत स्तदिक्ष्वाकुवरौ सन्ततं विविधैर्द्रुमैः।

काननं तौ विविशतुस्सीतया सह राघवौ।।3.7.3।।


ततः thereafter, इक्ष्वाकुवरौ the best of the Ikshvakus, तौ राघवौ both brothers of the Ragha family (Rama and Lakshmana), सीतया सह with Sita, विविधैः with many, द्रुमैः by trees, सन्ततम् crowded all over, काननम् forest, विविशतुः both entered.

Rama and Lakshmana, the best of the Ikshvaku family, accompanied by Sita entered the dense forest filled with trees all over.
प्रविष्टस्तु वनं घोरं बहुपुष्पफलद्रुमम्।

ददर्शाश्रममेकान्ते चीरमालापरिष्कृतम्।।3.7.4।।


घोरम् dreadful, बहुपुष्पफलद्रुमम् filled with trees bearing different kinds of flowers and fruits, वनम् forest, प्रविष्टः entered, एकान्ते at a lonely place, चीरमालापरिष्कृतम् line of bark robes hanging, आश्रमम् hermitage, ददर्श 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.
तत्र तापसमासीनं मलपङ्कजटाधरम्।

रामस्सुतीक्ष्णं विधिवत्तपोवृद्धमभाषत।।3.7.5।।


तत्र there (at the hermitage), रामः Rama, मलपङ्कजठाधरम् with soiled, matted hair, आसीनम् seated, तपोवृद्धम् grown old with penance, तापसम् ascetic, सुतीक्ष्णम् Sutikshna, विधिवत् as per tradition, अभाषत 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.
रामोऽहमस्मि भगवन्भवन्तं द्रष्टुमागतः।

त्वं माभिवद धर्मज्ञ महर्षे सत्यविक्रम।।3.7.6।।


भगवन् O revered one, अहम् am, रामः अस्मि I am Rama, भवन्तम् you, द्रष्टुम् to see, आगतः I came, त्वं you, धर्मज्ञ knower of dharma, सत्यविक्रम having truth as your prowess, महर्षे great sage, मा me, अभिवद 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?
स निरीक्ष्य ततो धीरो रामं धर्मभृतां वरम्।

समाश्लिष्य च बाहुभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।3.7.7।।


ततः thereafter, धीरः composed, सः he (Sutikshna), धर्मभृताम् among righteous men, वरम् best, रामम् to Rama, निरीक्ष्य looking at, बाहुभ्याम् with both his arms, समाश्लिष्य च after embracing, इदम् these, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

Thereafter the composed Sutikshna, looked at Rama, the best among righteous men, and embracing him with both his arms said:
स्वागतं ते रघुश्रेष्ठ राम सत्यभृतां वर।

आश्रमोऽयं त्वयाक्रान्तस्सनाथ इव साम्प्रतम्।।3.7.8।।


रघुश्रेष्ठ scions of the Raghu family, सत्यभृताम् among upholders of truth, वर the best, राम Rama, ते to you, स्वागतम् welcome, साम्प्रतम् presently, त्वया your, आक्रान्तः occupied, अयम् this, आश्रमः hermitage, सनाथः इव 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.
प्रतीक्षमाणस्त्वामेव नारोहेऽहं महायशः।

देवलोकमितो वीर देहं त्यक्त्वा महीतले।

चित्रकूटमुपादाय राज्यभ्रष्टोऽसि मे श्रुतः।।3.7.9।।


महायशः O illustrious one, वीर heroic one, अहम् I, त्वामेव you only, प्रतीक्ष्माणः waiting for you, महीतले on earth, देहम् body, त्यक्त्वा giving up, इतः from here, देवलोकम् world of the gods, नारोहे I do not ascend, राज्यभ्रष्टः renouncing the kingdom, चित्रकूटम् Chitrakuta, उपादाय after taking, असि you are, मे I, श्रुतः 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.
इहोपयातः काकुत्थ्स देवराजश्शतक्रतुः।।3.7.10।।

उपागम्य च मे देवो महादेवस्सुरेश्वरः।

सर्वान् लोकाञ्जितानाह मम पुण्येन कर्मणा।।3.7.11।।


काकुत्थ्स scion of the Kakutstha family, शतक्रतुः Indra, देवराजः king of the gods, इह here, उपयातः came to me, महादेवः chief of the gods, सुरेश्वरः Indra, देवः deity, उपागम्य after he came here, मम my, पुण्येन कर्मणा by meritorious act, सर्वान् all, लोकान् worlds, जितान् won, मे by me, आह 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.
तेषु देवर्षिजुष्टेषु जितेषु तपसा मया।

मत्प्रसादात्सभार्यस्त्वं विहरस्व सलक्ष्मणः।।3.7.12।।


मया by me, जितेषु which have been won, देवर्षिजुष्टेषु worlds served by divine sages like Narada, तेषु those, सभार्यः with your wife, सलक्ष्मणः and with Lakshmana, त्वम् you, मत्प्रसादात् by my grace, विहरस्व 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.
तमुग्रतपसायुक्तं महर्षिं सत्यवादिनम्।

प्रत्युवाचात्मवान्रामो ब्रह्माणमिव काश्यपः।।3.7.13।।


आत्मवान् selfpossessed, रामः Rama, उग्रतपसायुक्तं doing severe penance, सत्यवादिनम् to the truthful तं महर्षिम् to that great sage, काश्यपः Kasyapa, ब्रह्माणमिव as he would speak to Brahma, प्रत्युवाच thus replied.

Selfpossessed Rama replied to the truthful ascetic who had performed intense penance. Just as Kasyapa would address Lord Brahma:
अहमेवाहरिष्यामि सर्वान् लोकान्महामुने।

आवासं त्वहमिच्छामि प्रदिष्टमिह कानने।।3.7.14।।


महामुने O great sage, अहमेव I alone, सर्वान् all, लोकान् worlds, आहरिष्यामि I will win, तु but, अहम् I, इह here, कानने in the forest, प्रदिष्टम् directed, आवासम् residence, इच्छामि intend to.

O great sage I will win all the worlds myself. I (only) want to live in this forest. Allow me.
भवान्सर्वत्र कुशलस्सर्वभूतहिते रतः।

आख्यातश्शरभङ्गेण गौतमेन महात्मना।।3.7.15।।


भवान् you, सर्वत्र all, कुशलः are keeping well, सर्वभूतहिते in the welfare of all living beings, रतः ever engaged गौतमेन of Gautama, महात्मना by a great sage, शरभङ्गेण by Sarabhanga, आख्यातः told.

You are ever engaged in the welfare of all beings. I have heard this from the great sage Sarabhanga of Gautama's clan.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण महर्षिर्लोकविश्रुतः।

अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं हर्षेण महताऽप्लुतः।।3.7.16।।


रामेण by Rama, एवम् thus, उक्तः told, लोकविश्रुतः wellknown to the world, महर्षिः great sage, महता with great, हर्षेण joy, प्लुतः overwhelmed, मधुरम् sweet, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

Thus addressed by Rama, Sutikshna, the great sage, wellknown to the world was highly delighted. He (then) said these sweet words:
अयमेवाश्रमो राम गुणवान्रम्यतामिह।

ऋषिसङ्घानुचरितस्सदा मूलफलैर्युतः।।3.7.17।।


राम O Rama, ऋषिसङ्घानुचरितः where hosts of sages live, मूलफलैः with roots and fruits, युतः endowed, अयम् this, आश्रमः एव hermitage only, गुणवान् is good, रम्यताम् enjoy, इह 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.
इममाश्रममागम्य मृगसङ्घा महायशः।

अहत्वा प्रतिगच्छन्ति लोभयित्वाऽकुतोभयाः।।3.7.18।।


महायशः of great fame, मृगसङ्घाः groups of animals, इमम् this, आश्रमम् hermitage, आगम्य coming here, लोभयित्वा enticing the inmates, अहत्वा without harming, अकुतोभयाः fearless, प्रतिगच्छन्ति return.

O illustrious Rama, herds of animals visit this place fearlessly, enticing the inmates and (then) go back without harming any one.
नान्यद्धोषं भवेदत्र मृगेभ्योऽन्यत्र विद्धि वै।

तच्छृत्वा वचनं तस्य महर्षेर्लक्ष्मणाग्रजः।।3.7.19।।

उवाच वचनं धीरो विकृष्य सशरं धनुः।


अत्र here, मृग्येभ्यः from animals, अन्यत्र other than that, अन्यत् other, दोषं demerit, न भवेत् is not expected, विद्धि वै you may know, धीरः heroic man, लक्ष्मणाग्रजः elder brother of Lakshmana, (Rama), तस्य महर्षेः sages, तत् these, वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, सशरम् with arrow, धनुः bow, विकृष्य lifted, वचनम् words, उवाच 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:
तानहं सुमहाभाग मृगसङ्घान्समागतान्।।3.7.20।।

हन्यां निशितधारेण शरेणाशनिवर्चसा।


सुमहाभाग O reverend one, समागतान् those coming here, तान् those, मृगसङ्घान् herds of animals, निशितधारेण with sharp edge, अशनिवर्चसा with a thunderlike glow, शरेण by arrow, हन्याम् I will kill.

O reverend one, I will kill with a sharpedged arrow, glowing like a thunderbolt, all those herds of animals who keep coming here.
भवांस्तत्राभिषज्येत किंस्यात्कृच्छ्रतरं ततः।।3.7.21।।

एतस्मिन्नाश्रमे वासं चिरं तु न समर्थये।


तत्र then, भवान् you, अभिषज्येत harass, ततः कृच्छ्रतरम् may cause pain, किं स्यात् what could be there?, एतस्मिन् in this, आश्रमे hermitage, चिरम् for a long time, वासम् residence, न not, समर्थये I foresee.

What can be more agonizing for you (than my killing animals). I (therefore) do not foresee our long stay in this hermitage.
तमेवमुक्त्वोपरमं रामस्सन्ध्यामुपागमत्।।3.7.22।।

अन्वास्य पश्चिमां स्नध्यां तत्र वासमकल्पयत्।

सुतीक्ष्णस्याऽश्रमे रम्ये सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च।।3.7.23।।


रामः Rama, तम् him, एवम् in that way, उक्त्वा having said, उपरमम् stopped there, सन्ध्याम् to the evening twilight, उपागमत् drew to a close, पश्चिमां सन्ध्याम् at Sunset in the west, अन्वास्य to offer (oblation), सीतया with Sita, लक्ष्मणेन च and Lakshmana, सुतीक्षणस्य at Sutikshna's, तत्र then, रम्ये in a delightful, आश्रमे hermitage, वासम् stay, अकल्पयत् 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.
तमेवमुक्त्वोपरमं रामस्सन्ध्यामुपागमत्।।3.7.22।।

अन्वास्य पश्चिमां संंध्यां तत्र वासमकल्पयत्।

सुतीक्ष्णस्याश्रमे रम्ये सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च।।3.7.23।।


रामः Rama, तम् him, एवम् in that way, उक्त्वा having said, उपरमम् stopped there, सन्ध्याम् to the evening twilight, उपागमत् drew to a close, पश्चिमां सन्ध्याम् at Sunset in the west, अन्वास्य to offer (oblation), सीतया with Sita, लक्ष्मणेन च and Lakshmana, सुतीक्षणस्य at Sutikshna's, तत्र then, रम्ये in a delightful, आश्रमे hermitage, वासम् stay, अकल्पयत् 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.
ततश्शुभं तापसभोज्यमन्नं स्वयं सुतीक्ष्णः पुरुषर्षभाभ्याम्।

ताभ्यां सुसत्कृत्य ददौ महात्मा सन्ध्यानिवृत्तौ रजनीं मवेक्ष्य।।3.7.24।।


ततः then, महात्मा the great sage, सुतीक्ष्णः Sutikshna, सन्ध्यानिवृत्तौ evening twilight had passed, रजनीम् night, ताभ्याम् to both of them, पुरुषर्षभाभ्याम् to both best of men, तापस भोज्यम् (योग्यम्) that which is fit for ascetics, अन्नम् food, सुसत्कृत्य with all hospitality, स्वयम् himself, ददौ 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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the seventh sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.