← 2.111 Departure from Atri’s hermitage · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.2 Virādha’s attack →
Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 1: Daṇḍaka’s tapasvins seek protection
Summary. They welcome Rāma, Sītā & Lakṣmaṇa and claim the King’s protection as subjects who have renounced force
Sequence
- Entering Daṇḍaka, Rāma sees a settlement of tapasvins: swept courtyards, fire sanctuaries, sacrificial implements, bark garments, antelope skins, stores of roots and fruit, flowering trees, and a lotus pond → Vedic recitation fills the settlement, where munis follow different disciplines (3.1.1–8)
- he unstrings his bow before approaching (3.1.9)
- the munis welcome him and Sītā with blessings and gaze in wonder at all three travelers (3.1.10–13)
- they receive Rāma in a leaf hut and bring water, roots, flowers, and fruit (3.1.14–16)
- they explain that a King's authority carries the duty of protection: even in the forest, they remain his subjects → because they have renounced force and mastered their anger, they depend upon him for safety (3.1.17–20)
- they continue to honor him and Lakṣmaṇa with the food and produce of their hermitages. (3.1.21–22)
Verses 3.1.1–22
3.1.1
praviśya tu mahāraṇyaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyam ātmavān
dadarśa rāmo durdharṣas tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam
Entering the great forest, the Daṇḍaka wilderness, the self-possessed and unassailable Rāma beheld a cluster of ascetics' hermitages.
Words: praviśya — having entered; tu — and; mahāraṇyaṃ — the great forest; daṇḍakāraṇyam — the Daṇḍaka forest; ātmavān — self-possessed, resolute; dadarśa — beheld, saw; rāmo — Rāma; durdharṣas — unassailable, formidable; tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam — a cluster of ascetics' hermitages
3.1.2
kuśacīraparikṣiptaṃ brāhmyā lakṣmyā samāvṛtam
yathā pradīptaṃ durdharśaṃ gagane sūryamaṇḍalam
It was strewn about with kuśa grass and bark garments and pervaded by the radiance of Brahman, like the blazing, dazzling orb of the sun in the sky.
Words: kuśacīraparikṣiptaṃ — strewn about with kuśa grass and bark garments; brāhmyā — by that of Brahman; lakṣmyā — by radiance, splendour; samāvṛtam — enveloped, pervaded; yathā — like, as; pradīptaṃ — blazing; durdharśaṃ — hard to gaze upon, dazzling; gagane — in the sky; sūryamaṇḍalam — the orb of the sun
3.1.3
śaraṇyaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ susamṛṣṭājiraṃ sadā
pūjitaṃ copanṛttaṃ ca nityam apsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ
It was a refuge for all beings, its courtyards ever well-swept, always honoured and danced upon by throngs of apsarases.
Words: śaraṇyaṃ — a refuge, affording shelter; sarvabhūtānāṃ — for all beings; susamṛṣṭājiraṃ — with well-swept courtyards; sadā — always; pūjitaṃ — honoured, worshipped; copanṛttaṃ — and danced upon; ca — and; nityam — perpetually; apsarasāṃ — of apsarases; gaṇaiḥ — by throngs
3.1.4
viśālair agniśaraṇaiḥ srugbhāṇḍair ajinaiḥ kuśaiḥ
samidbhis toyakalaśaiḥ phalamūlaiś ca śobhitam
It was adorned with spacious fire-sanctuaries, with sacrificial ladles and vessels, with hides and kuśa grass, with kindling-sticks and water-pots, and with fruits and roots.
Words: viśālair — with spacious; agniśaraṇaiḥ — fire-sanctuaries; srugbhāṇḍair — with ladles and vessels; ajinaiḥ — with hides; kuśaiḥ — with kuśa grass; samidbhis — with kindling-sticks; toyakalaśaiḥ — with water-pots; phalamūlaiś — with fruits and roots; ca — and; śobhitam — adorned
3.1.5
āraṇyaiś ca mahāvṛkṣaiḥ puṇyaiḥ svāduphalair vṛtam
balihomārcitaṃ puṇyaṃ brahmaghoṣanināditam
It was surrounded by great forest trees, holy and bearing sweet fruit; holy, worshipped with offerings and oblations, and resounding with the murmur of Vedic recitation.
Words: āraṇyaiś — with forest, wild; ca — and; mahāvṛkṣaiḥ — with great trees; puṇyaiḥ — holy, auspicious; svāduphalair — with sweet fruit; vṛtam — surrounded; balihomārcitaṃ — worshipped with offerings and oblations; puṇyaṃ — holy; brahmaghoṣanināditam — resounding with the murmur of Vedic recitation
3.1.6
puṣpair vanyaiḥ parikṣiptaṃ padminyā ca sapadmayā
phalamūlāśanair dāntaiś cīrakṛṣṇājināmbaraiḥ
It was strewn with wild blossoms and set about with a lotus-pond full of lotuses, and peopled by self-controlled men who ate fruit and roots and were clad in bark and black antelope-hides.
Words: puṣpair — with flowers; vanyaiḥ — wild, forest-grown; parikṣiptaṃ — strewn, encompassed; padminyā — with a lotus-pond; ca — and; sapadmayā — full of lotuses; phalamūlāśanair — by those who eat fruit and roots; dāntaiś — by the self-controlled; cīrakṛṣṇājināmbaraiḥ — clad in bark and black antelope-hides
3.1.7
sūryavaiśvānarābhaiś ca purāṇair munibhir vṛtam
puṇyaiś a niyatāhāraiḥ śobhitaṃ paramarṣibhiḥ
It was thronged with ancient sages splendid as the sun and the fire, and made beautiful by holy supreme seers of restrained diet.
Words: sūryavaiśvānarābhaiś — splendid as the sun and fire; ca — and; purāṇair — ancient; munibhir — with sages; vṛtam — thronged, surrounded; puṇyaiś — holy; a — ; niyatāhāraiḥ — of restrained diet; śobhitaṃ — made beautiful; paramarṣibhiḥ — by supreme seers
3.1.8
tad brahmabhavanaprakhyaṃ brahmaghoṣanināditam
brahmavidbhir mahābhāgair brāhmaṇair upaśobhitam
That hermitage, resembling the abode of Brahmā and resounding with the murmur of Vedic recitation, was graced by illustrious brahmins who knew the sacred lore.
Words: tad — that; brahmabhavanaprakhyaṃ — resembling the abode of Brahmā; brahmaghoṣanināditam — resounding with the murmur of Vedic recitation; brahmavidbhir — by knowers of the sacred lore; mahābhāgair — illustrious; brāhmaṇair — by brahmins; upaśobhitam — graced, adorned
3.1.9
tad dṛṣṭvā rāghavaḥ śrīmāṃs tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam
abhyagacchan mahātejā vijyaṃ kṛtvā mahad dhanuḥ
Seeing that cluster of ascetics' hermitages, the illustrious Rāghava of great splendour unstrung his great bow and approached it.
Words: tad — that; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava (Rāma); śrīmāṃs — the illustrious, glorious; tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam — the cluster of ascetics' hermitages; abhyagacchan — approached; mahātejā — of great splendour; vijyaṃ — unstrung (bowstring removed); kṛtvā — having made; mahad — great; dhanuḥ — bow
3.1.10
divyajñānopapannās te rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā maharṣayaḥ
abhyagacchaṃs tadā prītā vaidehīṃ ca yaśasvinīm
Those great seers, endowed with divine knowledge, on seeing Rāma then came forward with delight, and to the illustrious Vaidehī (Sītā) too.
Words: divyajñānopapannās — endowed with divine knowledge; te — those; rāmaṃ — Rāma; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; maharṣayaḥ — the great seers; abhyagacchaṃs — came forward, approached; tadā — then; prītā — delighted; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī (Sītā); ca — and; yaśasvinīm — the illustrious (fem.)
3.1.11
te taṃ somam ivodyantaṃ dṛṣṭvā vai dharmacāriṇaḥ
maṅgalāni prayuñjānāḥ pratyagṛhṇan dṛḍhavratāḥ
Seeing him like the rising moon, those righteous men of firm vows, pronouncing auspicious blessings, welcomed him.
Words: te — those; taṃ — him; somam — the moon; ivodyantaṃ — like the rising; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; vai — indeed; dharmacāriṇaḥ — righteous, practisers of dharma; maṅgalāni — auspicious blessings; prayuñjānāḥ — pronouncing, employing; pratyagṛhṇan — welcomed, received; dṛḍhavratāḥ — of firm vows
3.1.12
rūpasaṃhananaṃ lakṣmīṃ saukumāryaṃ suveṣatām
dadṛśur vismitākārā rāmasya vanavāsinaḥ
The forest-dwellers, their expressions full of wonder, gazed upon Rāma's beauty of form, his splendour, his delicacy, and his fine attire.
Words: rūpasaṃhananaṃ — beauty of form and frame; lakṣmīṃ — splendour, grace; saukumāryaṃ — delicacy, tenderness; suveṣatām — fine attire, handsome appearance; dadṛśur — gazed upon, saw; vismitākārā — with wonder-struck expressions; rāmasya — of Rāma; vanavāsinaḥ — the forest-dwellers
3.1.13
vaidehīṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmaṃ netrair animiṣair iva
āścaryabhūtān dadṛśuḥ sarve te vanacāriṇaḥ
With unblinking eyes, as it were, all those forest-rangers gazed upon Vaidehī, Lakṣmaṇa, and Rāma, who had become objects of marvel.
Words: vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī (Sītā); lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; rāmaṃ — Rāma; netrair — with eyes; animiṣair — unblinking; iva — as it were; āścaryabhūtān — become objects of marvel; dadṛśuḥ — gazed upon, saw; sarve — all; te — those; vanacāriṇaḥ — the forest-rangers
3.1.14
atrainaṃ hi mahābhāgāḥ sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ
atithiṃ parṇaśālāyāṃ rāghavaṃ saṃnyaveśayan
Then those illustrious ones, devoted to the welfare of all beings, installed Rāghava as their guest in a leaf-hut.
Words: atrainaṃ — then him; hi — indeed; mahābhāgāḥ — the illustrious ones; sarvabhūtahite — in the welfare of all beings; ratāḥ — devoted, delighting; atithiṃ — as a guest; parṇaśālāyāṃ — in a leaf-hut; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; saṃnyaveśayan — installed, settled
3.1.15
tato rāmasya satkṛtya vidhinā pāvakopamāḥ
ājahrus te mahābhāgāḥ salilaṃ dharmacāriṇaḥ
Then those illustrious, righteous men, radiant as fire, having duly honoured Rāma, brought him water.
Words: tato — then; rāmasya — for Rāma; satkṛtya — having honoured; vidhinā — according to rule; pāvakopamāḥ — radiant as fire; ājahrus — brought, offered; te — those; mahābhāgāḥ — the illustrious ones; salilaṃ — water; dharmacāriṇaḥ — righteous ones
3.1.16
mūlaṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ vanyam āśramaṃ ca mahātmanaḥ
nivedayītvā dharmajñās tataḥ prāñjalayo 'bruvan
Having presented to the great-souled one roots, flowers, wild fruit, and their hermitage, those knowers of dharma then spoke with joined palms:
Words: mūlaṃ — root; puṣpaṃ — flower; phalaṃ — fruit; vanyam — wild, forest-grown; āśramaṃ — hermitage; ca — and; mahātmanaḥ — to the great-souled one; nivedayītvā — having presented, offered; dharmajñās — the knowers of dharma; tataḥ — then; prāñjalayo — with joined palms; 'bruvan — spoke
3.1.17
dharmapālo janasyāsya śaraṇyaś ca mahāyaśāḥ
pūjanīyaś ca mānyaś ca rājā daṇḍadharo guruḥ
The king, guardian of dharma, is the protector of these people and their refuge, of great renown, to be worshipped and honoured; wielder of the rod of justice, he is their elder.
Words: dharmapālo — guardian of dharma; janasyāsya — of these people; śaraṇyaś — a refuge; ca — and; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown; pūjanīyaś — to be worshipped; ca — and; mānyaś — to be honoured; ca — and; rājā — the king; daṇḍadharo — wielder of the rod (of justice); guruḥ — elder, venerable one
3.1.18
indrasyaiva caturbhāgaḥ prajā rakṣati rāghava
rājā tasmād vanān bhogān bhuṅkte lokanamaskṛtaḥ
A very quarter-portion of Indra, the king protects his subjects, O Rāghava; therefore, honoured by the world, he enjoys choice pleasures.
Words: indrasyaiva — of Indra himself; caturbhāgaḥ — a quarter-portion; prajā — subjects, the people; rakṣati — protects; rāghava — O Rāghava; rājā — the king; tasmād — therefore; vanān — choice, excellent; bhogān — pleasures, enjoyments; bhuṅkte — enjoys; lokanamaskṛtaḥ — honoured by the world
3.1.19
te vayaṃ bhavatā rakṣyā bhavadviṣayavāsinaḥ
nagarastho vanastho vā tvaṃ no rājā janeśvaraḥ
We, dwellers in your realm, are to be protected by you; whether in the city or in the forest, you are our king, the lord of the people.
Words: te — those, such; vayaṃ — we; bhavatā — by you; rakṣyā — to be protected; bhavadviṣayavāsinaḥ — dwellers in your realm; nagarastho — dwelling in the city; vanastho — dwelling in the forest; vā — or; tvaṃ — you; no — our; rājā — king; janeśvaraḥ — lord of the people
3.1.20
nyastadaṇḍā vayaṃ rājañ jitakrodhā jitendriyāḥ
rakṣitavyās tvayā śaśvad garbhabhūtās tapodhanāḥ
We have laid down the rod of force, O king, having conquered anger and mastered our senses; we, whose wealth is austerity and who are as though unborn children, must ever be protected by you.
Words: nyastadaṇḍā — having laid down the rod (of force); vayaṃ — we; rājañ — O king; jitakrodhā — having conquered anger; jitendriyāḥ — having mastered the senses; rakṣitavyās — to be protected; tvayā — by you; śaśvad — ever, perpetually; garbhabhūtās — like children in the womb, wholly dependent; tapodhanāḥ — those whose wealth is austerity
3.1.21
evam uktvā phalair mūlaiḥ puṣpair vanyaiś ca rāghavam
anyaiś ca vividhāhāraiḥ salakṣmaṇam apūjayan
Having spoken thus, they honoured Rāghava together with Lakṣmaṇa with fruits, roots, wild flowers, and other foods of many kinds.
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; phalair — with fruits; mūlaiḥ — with roots; puṣpair — with flowers; vanyaiś — wild; ca — and; rāghavam — Rāghava; anyaiś — with other; ca — and; vividhāhāraiḥ — foods of many kinds; salakṣmaṇam — together with Lakṣmaṇa; apūjayan — honoured, worshipped
3.1.22
tathānye tāpasāḥ siddhā rāmaṃ vaiśvānaropamāḥ
nyāyavṛttā yathānyāyaṃ tarpayām āsur īśvaram
Likewise other perfected ascetics, resembling fire, of righteous conduct, gratified the lord Rāma as was fitting.
Words: tathānye — likewise other; tāpasāḥ — ascetics; siddhā — perfected, accomplished; rāmaṃ — Rāma; vaiśvānaropamāḥ — resembling fire; nyāyavṛttā — of righteous conduct; yathānyāyaṃ — as was fitting; tarpayām āsur — gratified, satisfied; īśvaram — the lord
← 2.111 Departure from Atri’s hermitage · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.2 Virādha’s attack →
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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