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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 108: The ṛṣis leave Citrakūṭa
Summary. Rākṣasas assault the tapasvins and disrupt their rites, the community departs for another hermitage despite Rāma’s appeal to remain
Sequence
- Back at Citrakūṭa, after Bharata's departure, Rāma notices the tapasvins exchanging worried looks and speaking about him (2.108.1–3)
- he asks their senior ṛṣi whether he, Lakṣmaṇa, or Sītā has behaved improperly (2.108.4–7)
- the muni assures him that their conduct is not the problem (2.108.8–10)
- he explains that Khara, Rāvaṇa's brother, has been driving tapasvins out of Janasthāna and that the rākṣasas' harassment here has intensified since Rāma arrived (2.108.11–13)
- they appear in frightening forms, assault and defile the tapasvins, lurk around the hermitages, extinguish fires, break pots, and disrupt offerings (2.108.14–17)
- the community plans to move to an ancient hermitage in a nearby forest rich in roots and fruit before further bodily harm is done → the elder advises Rāma to leave too, especially because Sītā is with him (2.108.18–22)
- Rāma cannot persuade the departing group to stay → he escorts them part of the way, pays his respects, and returns to his dwelling → although that community has gone, the account says other tapasvins continue to accompany him. (2.108.23–26)
Verses 2.108.1–26
2.108.1
pratiprayāte bharate vasan rāmas tapovane
lakṣayām āsa sodvegam athautsukyaṃ tapasvinām
When Bharata had gone back, Rāma, dwelling in the penance-grove, noticed the agitation and, moreover, the anxiety of the ascetics.
Words: pratiprayāte bharate — when Bharata had departed; vasan — dwelling; rāmas — Rāma; tapovane — in the penance-grove; lakṣayām āsa — noticed, observed; sodvegam — (their) agitation; athautsukyaṃ — and then the anxiety; tapasvinām — of the ascetics
2.108.2
ye tatra citrakūṭasya purastāt tāpasāśrame
rāmam āśritya niratās tān alakṣayad utsukān
Those who were there in the ascetics' hermitage before Citrakūṭa, content in their reliance on Rāma — them he observed to be anxious.
Words: ye — who; tatra — there; citrakūṭasya — of Citrakūṭa; purastāt — in front of; tāpasāśrame — in the ascetics' hermitage; rāmam — Rāma; āśritya — having resorted to, relying on; niratās — content, devoted; tān — them; alakṣayad — he observed; utsukān — (to be) anxious
2.108.3
nayanair bhṛkuṭībhiś ca rāmaṃ nirdiśya śaṅkitāḥ
anyonyam upajalpantaḥ śanaiś cakrur mithaḥ kathāḥ
Pointing at Rāma with their eyes and their frowns, apprehensive, whispering to one another, they softly held mutual conversation.
Words: nayanair — with (their) eyes; bhṛkuṭībhiś ca — and with frowns; rāmaṃ — (at) Rāma; nirdiśya — having pointed out; śaṅkitāḥ — apprehensive; anyonyam — one another; upajalpantaḥ — whispering, murmuring; śanaiś — softly; cakrur — they made; mithaḥ — mutually; kathāḥ — conversations
2.108.4
teṣām autsukyam ālakṣya rāmas tv ātmani śaṅkitaḥ
kṛtāñjalir uvācedam ṛṣiṃ kulapatiṃ tataḥ
Observing their anxiety, Rāma, apprehensive within himself, then with joined palms spoke this to the sage, the head of the community:
Words: teṣām — their; autsukyam — anxiety; ālakṣya — having observed; rāmas — Rāma; tv — but; ātmani — within himself; śaṅkitaḥ — apprehensive; kṛtāñjalir — with joined palms; uvācedam — spoke this; ṛṣiṃ — to the sage; kulapatiṃ — the head of the community; tataḥ — then
2.108.5
na kaccid bhagavan kiṃ cit pūrvavṛttam idaṃ mayi
dṛśyate vikṛtaṃ yena vikriyante tapasvinaḥ
Surely, revered one, nothing amiss of former conduct is seen in me, by which the ascetics are being troubled?
Words: na kaccid — surely not?; bhagavan — O revered one; kiṃ cit — anything; pūrvavṛttam — of former conduct; idaṃ — this; mayi — in me; dṛśyate — is seen; vikṛtaṃ — wrong, distorted; yena — by which; vikriyante — are troubled, perturbed; tapasvinaḥ — the ascetics
2.108.6
pramādāc caritaṃ kaccit kiṃ cin nāvarajasya me
lakṣmaṇasyarṣibhir dṛṣṭaṃ nānurūpam ivātmanaḥ
Nothing, I hope, has been done carelessly by my younger brother Lakṣmaṇa that the sages have seen to be unbecoming of him?
Words: pramādāc — through carelessness; caritaṃ — done, an act; kaccit — perhaps; kiṃ cin — anything; nāvarajasya — surely nothing of the younger-born's; me — my; lakṣmaṇasyarṣibhir — of Lakṣmaṇa, by the sages; dṛṣṭaṃ — seen; nānurūpam — as unbefitting; ivātmanaḥ — as it were, of himself
2.108.7
kaccic chuśrūṣamāṇā vaḥ śuśrūṣaṇaparā mayi
pramadābhyucitāṃ vṛttiṃ sītā yuktaṃ na vartate
I trust that Sītā, who attends upon you and is devoted to serving me, does not fall short of the conduct befitting a woman?
Words: kaccic — perhaps, I trust; chuśrūṣamāṇā — serving, attending; vaḥ — you (all); śuśrūṣaṇaparā — devoted to service; mayi — toward me; pramadābhyucitāṃ — befitting a woman; vṛttiṃ — conduct; sītā — Sītā; yuktaṃ — fittingly, properly; na vartate — does she not maintain
2.108.8
atharṣir jarayā vṛddhas tapasā ca jarāṃ gataḥ
vepamāna ivovāca rāmaṃ bhūtadayāparam
Then the sage, aged with years and grown decrepit through penance as well, as if trembling, spoke to Rāma, who was ever devoted to compassion for all beings:
Words: atharṣir — then the sage; jarayā — with old age; vṛddhas — aged; tapasā ca — and by penance; jarāṃ gataḥ — gone to decrepitude; vepamāna ivovāca — as if trembling, spoke; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; bhūtadayāparam — devoted to compassion for beings
2.108.9
kutaḥ kalyāṇasattvāyāḥ kalyāṇābhirates tathā
calanaṃ tāta vaidehyās tapasviṣu viśeṣataḥ
Whence, my son, could there be any wavering on the part of Vaidehī, who is of auspicious nature and delights in the good — especially toward ascetics?
Words: kutaḥ — whence; kalyāṇasattvāyāḥ — of her of auspicious nature; kalyāṇābhirates — who delights in the good; tathā — likewise, so; calanaṃ — wavering, deviation; tāta — my son; vaidehyās — of Vaidehī; tapasviṣu — toward the ascetics; viśeṣataḥ — especially
2.108.10
tvannimittam idaṃ tāvat tāpasān prati vartate
rakṣobhyas tena saṃvignāḥ kathayanti mithaḥ kathāḥ
This much that befalls the ascetics is on your account; alarmed by the rākṣasas because of it, they talk among themselves.
Words: tvannimittam — on account of you; idaṃ — this; tāvat — indeed, so much; tāpasān prati — toward the ascetics; vartate — occurs, proceeds; rakṣobhyas — because of the rākṣasas; tena — thereby; saṃvignāḥ — agitated, alarmed; kathayanti — they talk; mithaḥ — mutually; kathāḥ — talk, conversations
2.108.11
rāvaṇāvarajaḥ kaś cit kharo nāmeha rākṣasaḥ
utpāṭya tāpasān sarvāñ janasthānaniketanān
A certain rākṣasa here named Khara, a younger brother of Rāvaṇa, having uprooted all the ascetics who dwell in Janasthāna —
Words: rāvaṇāvarajaḥ — a younger brother of Rāvaṇa; kaś cit — a certain; kharo — Khara; nāmeha — by name, here; rākṣasaḥ — a rākṣasa; utpāṭya — having uprooted, driven out; tāpasān — the ascetics; sarvāñ — all; janasthānaniketanān — dwelling in Janasthāna
2.108.12
dhṛṣṭaś ca jitakāśī ca nṛśaṃsaḥ puruṣādakaḥ
avaliptaś ca pāpaś ca tvāṃ ca tāta na mṛṣyate
— insolent and flaunting his conquests, cruel, a man-eater, arrogant and wicked, he cannot endure even you, my son.
Words: dhṛṣṭaś ca — and insolent; jitakāśī ca — and flaunting his conquests; nṛśaṃsaḥ — cruel; puruṣādakaḥ — a man-eater; avaliptaś ca — and arrogant, haughty; pāpaś ca — and wicked; tvāṃ ca — and you; tāta — my son; na mṛṣyate — does not tolerate
2.108.13
tvaṃ yadā prabhṛti hy asminn āśrame tāta vartase
tadā prabhṛti rakṣāṃsi viprakurvanti tāpasān
For from the very time, my son, that you have dwelt in this hermitage, from that time on the rākṣasas have been harassing the ascetics.
Words: tvaṃ — you; yadā prabhṛti — from the time when; hy — indeed; asminn — in this; āśrame — hermitage; tāta — my son; vartase — you dwell; tadā prabhṛti — from that time on; rakṣāṃsi — the rākṣasas; viprakurvanti — harass, molest; tāpasān — the ascetics
2.108.14
darśayanti hi bībhatsaiḥ krūrair bhīṣaṇakair api
nānā rūpair virūpaiś ca rūpair asukhadarśanaiḥ
For they display themselves in disgusting, cruel, and terrifying guises — in manifold shapes, misshapen, in forms unpleasant to behold.
Words: darśayanti — they show (themselves); hi — for; bībhatsaiḥ — disgusting; krūrair — cruel; bhīṣaṇakair api — and terrifying; nānā — manifold, various; rūpair — forms; virūpaiś ca — and misshapen; rūpair — in forms; asukhadarśanaiḥ — unpleasant to look at
2.108.15
apraśastair aśucibhiḥ saṃprayojya ca tāpasān
pratighnanty aparān kṣipram anāryāḥ purataḥ sthitaḥ
And having brought the ascetics into contact with vile, impure things, these ignoble ones, standing before them, swiftly strike down still others.
Words: apraśastair — with vile, disreputable things; aśucibhiḥ — with impure things; saṃprayojya ca — and having brought into contact; tāpasān — the ascetics; pratighnanty — they strike down; aparān — others; kṣipram — quickly; anāryāḥ — the ignoble ones; purataḥ — in front; sthitaḥ — standing
2.108.16
teṣu teṣv āśramasthāneṣv abuddham avalīya ca
ramante tāpasāṃs tatra nāśayanto 'lpacetasaḥ
Lurking unnoticed in this or that hermitage-spot, those dull-witted ones take delight there in destroying the ascetics.
Words: teṣu teṣv — in this and that; āśramasthāneṣv — in the hermitage places; abuddham — unnoticed, imperceptibly; avalīya ca — and having hidden, lurking; ramante — they take delight; tāpasāṃs — the ascetics; tatra — there; nāśayanto — destroying; 'lpacetasaḥ — the dull-witted
2.108.17
apakṣipanti srugbhāṇḍān agnīn siñcanti vāriṇā
kalaśāṃś ca pramṛdnanti havane samupasthite
They fling away the sacrificial ladles and vessels, douse the fires with water, and smash the pots when the oblation is at hand.
Words: apakṣipanti — they throw away, scatter; srugbhāṇḍān — the sacrificial ladles and vessels; agnīn — the fires; siñcanti — they douse, sprinkle; vāriṇā — with water; kalaśāṃś ca — and the pots; pramṛdnanti — they crush, smash; havane samupasthite — when the oblation is at hand
2.108.18
tair durātmabhir āviṣṭān āśramān prajihāsavaḥ
gamanāyānyadeśasya codayanty ṛṣayo 'dya mām
Wishing to abandon their hermitages now beset by those evil ones, the sages are urging me today toward departure for another region.
Words: tair durātmabhir — by those evil-minded ones; āviṣṭān — beset, invaded; āśramān — the hermitages; prajihāsavaḥ — wishing to abandon; gamanāyānyadeśasya — for departure to another region; codayanty — they urge; ṛṣayo — the sages; 'dya — today; mām — me
2.108.19
tat purā rāma śārīrām upahiṃsāṃ tapasviṣu
darśayati hi duṣṭās te tyakṣyāma imam āśramam
Therefore, Rāma, before those wicked ones inflict bodily injury upon the ascetics, we shall abandon this hermitage.
Words: tat — therefore; purā — before (they do); rāma — O Rāma; śārīrām — bodily; upahiṃsāṃ — injury, harm; tapasviṣu — upon the ascetics; darśayati hi — indeed inflict, display; duṣṭās te — those wicked ones; tyakṣyāma — we shall abandon; imam āśramam — this hermitage
2.108.20
bahumūlaphalaṃ citram avidūrād ito vanam
purāṇāśramam evāhaṃ śrayiṣye sagaṇaḥ punaḥ
Not far from here is a lovely forest rich in roots and fruits; there in an ancient hermitage I, with my company, shall take refuge once more.
Words: bahumūlaphalaṃ — rich in roots and fruits; citram — lovely, varied; avidūrād — not far; ito — from here; vanam — forest; purāṇāśramam — an ancient hermitage; evāhaṃ — indeed I; śrayiṣye — I shall resort to, take refuge in; sagaṇaḥ — with my company; punaḥ — again
2.108.21
kharas tvayy api cāyuktaṃ purā tāta pravartate
sahāsmābhir ito gaccha yadi buddhiḥ pravartate
Before Khara begins to act improperly against you too, my son, come away from here along with us, if your mind is so inclined.
Words: kharas — Khara; tvayy api — against you too; cāyuktaṃ — and something improper; purā — before; tāta — my son; pravartate — begins to act; sahāsmābhir — together with us; ito — from here; gaccha — go, come away; yadi — if; buddhiḥ — (your) mind, inclination; pravartate — is so inclined, proceeds
2.108.22
sakalatrasya saṃdeho nityaṃ yat tasya rāghava
samarthasyāpi hi sato vāso duḥkha ihādya te
Since for you, who have your wife with you, there is constant peril here, O Rāghava, dwelling in this place is now painful for you, capable though you are.
Words: sakalatrasya — of one who has his wife with him; saṃdeho — danger, peril; nityaṃ — constantly; yat — since, that; tasya — for him; rāghava — O Rāghava; samarthasyāpi — even for one capable; hi — indeed; sato — being (so); vāso — dwelling; duḥkha — painful; ihādya — here now; te — for you
2.108.23
ity uktavantaṃ rāmas taṃ rājaputras tapasvinam
na śaśākottarair vākyair avaroddhuṃ samutsukam
Rāma the prince could not, with any words of reply, hold back that ascetic who, having spoken thus, was so eager to depart.
Words: ity uktavantaṃ — him who had spoken thus; rāmas — Rāma; taṃ — that; rājaputras — the prince; tapasvinam — the ascetic; na — not; śaśākottarair — was able ... with (words of) reply; vākyair — with words; avaroddhuṃ — to hold back, restrain; samutsukam — the eager one
2.108.24
abhinandya samāpṛcchya samādhāya ca rāghavam
sa jagāmāśramaṃ tyaktvā kulaiḥ kulapatiḥ saha
Having greeted, taken leave of, and reassured Rāghava, the head of the community abandoned the hermitage and departed together with his families.
Words: abhinandya — having greeted; samāpṛcchya — having taken leave; samādhāya ca — and having reassured, comforted; rāghavam — Rāghava; sa — he; jagāmāśramaṃ — went ... the hermitage; tyaktvā — having abandoned; kulaiḥ — with the families; kulapatiḥ — the head of the community; saha — together with
2.108.25
rāmaḥ saṃsādhya tv ṛṣigaṇam anugamanād deśāt tasmāccit kulapatim abhivādyarṣim
samyakprītais tair anumata upadiṣṭārthaḥ puṇyaṃ vāsāya svanilayam upasaṃpede
Rāma, having escorted the host of sages a little way from that region and saluted the sage who was the community's head, being permitted by them who were thoroughly pleased and instructed in his course, betook himself to his own holy abode to dwell.
Words: rāmaḥ — Rāma; saṃsādhya — having escorted, seen off; tv — and; ṛṣigaṇam — the host of sages; anugamanād — by accompanying (them a little way); deśāt — from the region; tasmāccit — from that very (region); kulapatim — the community's head; abhivādyarṣim — having saluted the sage; samyakprītais — by (them) thoroughly pleased; tair — by them; anumata — permitted; upadiṣṭārthaḥ — instructed in his course; puṇyaṃ — holy; vāsāya — for dwelling; svanilayam — his own abode; upasaṃpede — betook himself to, reached
2.108.26
āśramaṃ tv ṛṣivirahitaṃ prabhuḥ kṣaṇam api na jahau sa rāghavaḥ
rāghavaṃ hi satatam anugatās tāpasāś carṣicaritadhṛtaguṇāḥ
But the lord Rāghava did not forsake even for a moment the hermitage now bereft of its sages; for ascetics who held fast to the virtues drawn from the seers' way of life followed Rāghava constantly.
Words: āśramaṃ — the hermitage; tv — but; ṛṣivirahitaṃ — bereft of its sages; prabhuḥ — the lord; kṣaṇam api — even for a moment; na jahau — did not forsake; sa rāghavaḥ — he, Rāghava; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; hi — for; satatam — constantly; anugatās — followed, attended; tāpasāś — the ascetics; carṣicaritadhṛtaguṇāḥ — and holding the virtues of the seers' conduct
← 2.107 Bharata establishes rule at Nandigrāma · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.109 Rāma leaves Citrakūṭa for Atri →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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