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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 5: The ṛṣis appeal for protection

Summary. Tapasvins display the victims of rākṣasa attacks, Rāma promises to defend them and gives his exile a purpose

Sequence

  1. After Śarabhaṅga's ascent, tapasvins of many disciplines gather around Rāma: Vaikhānasas and Vālakhilyas, those living on leaves, water, air, or rays of light, those sleeping on bare ground, and those practicing prayer or the five-fire penance (3.5.1–5)
  2. they acknowledge his standing in the Ikṣvāku family and his commitment to truth and duty, then ask permission to speak of their distress (3.5.6–9)
  3. they argue that a ruler who takes taxes must protect his people, while a ruler who protects tapasvins receives a share of their merit (3.5.10–13)
  4. they say the rākṣasas are killing forest hermits as though they had no protector → they ask him to look at the slain munis and describe attacks around Pampā, the Mandākinī, and Citrakūṭa (3.5.14–16)
  5. unable to endure the assaults, they appeal to him for refuge (3.5.17–18)
  6. Rāma answers that they may command his service: protecting them will give purpose to his exile, and he wishes to fight their rākṣasa enemies (3.5.19–20)
  7. having assured them of his help, he proceeds with Lakṣmaṇa toward Sutīkṣṇa. (3.5.21)

Verses 3.5.1–21

3.5.1

śarabhaṅge divaṃ prāpte munisaṃghāḥ samāgatāḥ
abhyagacchanta kākutsthaṃ rāmaṃ jvalitatejasaṃ

When Śarabhaṅga had gone to heaven, throngs of sages assembled and came to Kākutstha Rāma of blazing splendour:

Words: śarabhaṅge — when Śarabhaṅga (loc. abs.); divaṃ — to heaven; prāpte — had reached (loc. abs.); munisaṃghāḥ — throngs of sages; samāgatāḥ — assembled; abhyagacchanta — approached; kākutsthaṃ — Kākutstha; rāmaṃ — Rāma; jvalitatejasaṃ — of blazing splendour

3.5.2

vaikhānasā vālakhilyāḥ saṃprakṣālā marīcipāḥ
aśmakuṭṭāś ca bahavaḥ patrāhārāś ca tāpasāḥ

Vaikhānasas, Vālakhilyas, Saṃprakṣālas, drinkers of light-rays, many stone-pounders, leaf-eaters and ascetics;

Words: vaikhānasā — Vaikhānasas; vālakhilyāḥ — Vālakhilyas; saṃprakṣālā — Saṃprakṣālas (who wash after eating); marīcipāḥ — drinkers of light-rays; aśmakuṭṭāś — stone-pounders; ca — and; bahavaḥ — many; patrāhārāś — leaf-eaters; ca — and; tāpasāḥ — ascetics

3.5.3

dantolūkhalinaś caiva tathaivonmajjakāḥ pare
munayaḥ salilāhārā vāyubhakṣās tathāpare

those who use their teeth as a mortar, and likewise the 'up-plungers,' others still — sages who feed on water, and others again who feed on air;

Words: dantolūkhalinaś — those whose mortar is their teeth; caiva — and indeed; tathaivonmajjakāḥ — and likewise the up-plungers; pare — others; munayaḥ — sages; salilāhārā — feeding on water; vāyubhakṣās — feeding on air; tathāpare — and likewise others

3.5.4

ākāśanilayāś caiva tathā sthaṇḍilaśāyinaḥ
tathordhvavāsino dāntās tathārdrapaṭavāsasaḥ

and those who dwell in the open sky, and likewise those who lie on the bare ground, and dwellers on high, self-controlled, and those who wear wet garments;

Words: ākāśanilayāś — dwellers in the sky; caiva — and indeed; tathā — likewise; sthaṇḍilaśāyinaḥ — those who lie on the bare ground; tathordhvavāsino — and dwellers on high; dāntās — self-controlled; tathārdrapaṭavāsasaḥ — and those who wear wet garments

3.5.5

sajapāś ca taponityās tathā pañcatapo'nvitāḥ
sarve brāhmyā śriyā juṣṭā dṛḍhayogasamāhitāḥ
śarabhaṅgāśrame rāmam abhijagmuś ca tāpasāḥ

and those given to muttered prayer, ever devoted to austerity, and those practising the five-fire penance — all endowed with the splendour of Brahman and steadied in firm yoga: these ascetics came to Rāma in Śarabhaṅga's hermitage.

Words: sajapāś — those given to muttered prayer; ca — and; taponityās — ever devoted to austerity; tathā — likewise; pañcatapo'nvitāḥ — practising the five-fire penance; sarve — all; brāhmyā — of Brahman; śriyā — with splendour; juṣṭā — endowed; dṛḍhayogasamāhitāḥ — steadied in firm yoga; śarabhaṅgāśrame — in Śarabhaṅga's hermitage; rāmam — Rāma; abhijagmuś — came to; ca — and; tāpasāḥ — ascetics

3.5.6

abhigamya ca dharmajñā rāmaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ varam
ūcuḥ paramadharmajñam ṛṣisaṃghāḥ samāhitāḥ

And having approached Rāma, the best of the upholders of dharma, the throngs of seers, knowers of dharma and composed, said to that supreme knower of dharma:

Words: abhigamya — having approached; ca — and; dharmajñā — knowers of dharma; rāmaṃ — Rāma; dharmabhṛtāṃ — of the upholders of dharma; varam — the best; ūcuḥ — said; paramadharmajñam — the supreme knower of dharma; ṛṣisaṃghāḥ — throngs of seers; samāhitāḥ — composed

3.5.7

tvam ikṣvākukulasyāsya pṛthivyāś ca mahārathaḥ
pradhānaś cāsi nāthaś ca devānāṃ maghavān iva

“You are the great warrior of this house of Ikṣvāku and of the earth; you are its chief and its lord, like Maghavat (Indra) among the gods.

Words: tvam — you; ikṣvākukulasyāsya — of this house of Ikṣvāku; pṛthivyāś — of the earth; ca — and; mahārathaḥ — great warrior; pradhānaś — chief; cāsi — and you are; nāthaś — lord, protector; ca — and; devānāṃ — of the gods; maghavān — Maghavat (Indra); iva — like

3.5.8

viśrutas triṣu lokeṣu yaśasā vikrameṇa ca
pitṛvratatvaṃ satyaṃ ca tvayi dharmaś ca puṣkalaḥ

You are renowned in the three worlds for your fame and your valour; devotion to your father, truthfulness, and abundant dharma dwell in you.

Words: viśrutas — renowned; triṣu — in the three; lokeṣu — worlds; yaśasā — by fame; vikrameṇa — by valour; ca — and; pitṛvratatvaṃ — devotion to one's father; satyaṃ — truthfulness; ca — and; tvayi — in you; dharmaś — dharma; ca — and; puṣkalaḥ — abundant

3.5.9

tvām āsādya mahātmānaṃ dharmajñaṃ dharmavatsalam
arthitvān nātha vakṣyāmas tac ca naḥ kṣantum arhasi

Having come to you, the great-souled one, knower of dharma and devoted to dharma, we shall speak out of our need, O lord; and you should forgive us that.

Words: tvām — you; āsādya — having come to; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled one; dharmajñaṃ — knower of dharma; dharmavatsalam — devoted to dharma; arthitvān — out of need, as suppliants; nātha — O lord; vakṣyāmas — we shall speak; tac — that; ca — and; naḥ — us; kṣantum — to forgive; arhasi — you should

3.5.10

adhārmas tu mahāṃs tāta bhavet tasya mahīpateḥ
yo hared baliṣaḍbhāgaṃ na ca rakṣati putravat

Great, dear one, would be the unrighteousness of that lord of the earth who takes the sixth part as tribute yet does not protect his people like his own children.

Words: adhārmas — unrighteousness; tu — but, indeed; mahāṃs — great; tāta — dear one; bhavet — would be; tasya — of that; mahīpateḥ — lord of the earth; yo — who; hared — takes; baliṣaḍbhāgaṃ — the sixth part as tribute; na — not; ca — and; rakṣati — protects; putravat — like his own children

3.5.11

yuñjānaḥ svān iva prāṇān prāṇair iṣṭān sutān iva
nityayuktaḥ sadā rakṣan sarvān viṣayavāsinaḥ

But (the king) who, ever diligent, cherishing them with his own life-breaths as though they were his own life, dear as sons, always guards all the dwellers of his realm —

Words: yuñjānaḥ — engaging himself, applying; svān — his own; iva — as if; prāṇān — life-breaths; prāṇair — with life-breaths; iṣṭān — cherished, dear; sutān — sons; iva — like; nityayuktaḥ — ever diligent; sadā — always; rakṣan — guarding; sarvān — all; viṣayavāsinaḥ — the dwellers of the realm

3.5.12

prāpnoti śāśvatīṃ rāma kīrtiṃ sa bahuvārṣikīm
brahmaṇaḥ sthānam āsādya tatra cāpi mahīyate

he, O Rāma, wins everlasting fame lasting many years, and, attaining the abode of Brahman, is there magnified.

Words: prāpnoti — attains; śāśvatīṃ — everlasting; rāma — O Rāma; kīrtiṃ — fame; sa — he; bahuvārṣikīm — lasting many years; brahmaṇaḥ — of Brahman; sthānam — abode; āsādya — having attained; tatra — there; cāpi — and also; mahīyate — is magnified, honoured

3.5.13

yat karoti paraṃ dharmaṃ munir mūlaphalāśanaḥ
tatra rājñaś caturbhāgaḥ prajā dharmeṇa rakṣataḥ

Of the supreme merit that a sage living on roots and fruit acquires, a fourth part belongs to the king who protects his subjects by dharma.

Words: yat — which; karoti — performs; paraṃ — supreme; dharmaṃ — merit, dharma; munir — the sage; mūlaphalāśanaḥ — living on roots and fruit; tatra — therein; rājñaś — of the king; caturbhāgaḥ — a fourth part; prajā — the subjects; dharmeṇa — by dharma; rakṣataḥ — of (the king) protecting

3.5.14

so 'yaṃ brāhmaṇabhūyiṣṭho vānaprasthagaṇo mahān
tvan nātho 'nāthavad rāma rākṣasair vadhyate bhṛśam

This great company of forest-hermits, mostly brahmins, though it has you for its lord, is being grievously slain by the rākṣasas as if it were lordless, O Rāma.

Words: so — this; 'yaṃ — this; brāhmaṇabhūyiṣṭho — mostly brahmins; vānaprasthagaṇo — company of forest-hermits; mahān — great; tvan — having you (as lord); nātho — having as lord; 'nāthavad — as if lordless; rāma — O Rāma; rākṣasair — by the rākṣasas; vadhyate — is slain; bhṛśam — grievously

3.5.15

ehi paśya śarīrāṇi munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām
hatānāṃ rākṣasair ghorair bahūnāṃ bahudhā vane

Come, look at the bodies of the sages of purified souls, many of them, slain in various ways in the forest by the dreadful rākṣasas.

Words: ehi — come; paśya — look at; śarīrāṇi — the bodies; munīnāṃ — of the sages; bhāvitātmanām — of purified souls; hatānāṃ — of the slain; rākṣasair — by the rākṣasas; ghorair — dreadful; bahūnāṃ — many; bahudhā — in various ways; vane — in the forest

3.5.16

pampānadīnivāsānām anumandākinīm api
citrakūṭālayānāṃ ca kriyate kadanaṃ mahat

Great slaughter is being wrought upon those who dwell by the Pampā river, along the Mandākinī, and upon those who make their abode on Citrakūṭa.

Words: pampānadīnivāsānām — of those dwelling by the Pampā river; anumandākinīm — along the Mandākinī; api — also; citrakūṭālayānāṃ — of those whose abode is Citrakūṭa; ca — and; kriyate — is being made; kadanaṃ — slaughter; mahat — great

3.5.17

evaṃ vayaṃ na mṛṣyāmo viprakāraṃ tapasvinam
kriyamāṇaṃ vane ghoraṃ rakṣobhir bhīmakarmabhiḥ

Thus we cannot endure the dreadful outrage being done to the ascetics in the forest by the rākṣasas of terrible deeds.

Words: evaṃ — thus; vayaṃ — we; na — not; mṛṣyāmo — endure; viprakāraṃ — the outrage, injury; tapasvinam — to the ascetics; kriyamāṇaṃ — being done; vane — in the forest; ghoraṃ — dreadful; rakṣobhir — by the rākṣasas; bhīmakarmabhiḥ — of terrible deeds

3.5.18

tatas tvāṃ śaraṇārthaṃ ca śaraṇyaṃ samupasthitāḥ
paripālaya no rāma vadhyamānān niśācaraiḥ

Therefore we have come to you, our refuge, seeking protection; protect us, O Rāma, who are being slain by the night-rangers.

Words: tatas — therefore; tvāṃ — you; śaraṇārthaṃ — for the sake of refuge; ca — and; śaraṇyaṃ — the refuge, the protector; samupasthitāḥ — having approached; paripālaya — protect; no — us; rāma — O Rāma; vadhyamānān — being slain; niśācaraiḥ — by the night-rangers

3.5.19

etac chrutvā tu kākutsthas tāpasānāṃ tapasvinām
idaṃ provāca dharmātmā sarvān eva tapasvinaḥ
naivam arhatha māṃ vaktum ājñāpyo 'haṃ tapasvinam

Hearing this from the ascetic hermits, the righteous Kākutstha said this to all the ascetics: “You ought not to speak to me thus; I am one to be commanded at the ascetics' bidding.

Words: etac — this; chrutvā — having heard; tu — and; kākutsthas — Kākutstha; tāpasānāṃ — from the hermits; tapasvinām — of the ascetics; idaṃ — this; provāca — said; dharmātmā — the righteous one; sarvān — to all; eva — indeed; tapasvinaḥ — the ascetics; naivam — not thus; arhatha — you ought; māṃ — to me; vaktum — to speak; ājñāpyo — to be commanded; 'haṃ — I; tapasvinam — at the ascetics' bidding

3.5.20

bhavatām arthasiddhyartham āgato 'haṃ yadṛcchayā
tasya me 'yaṃ vane vāso bhaviṣyati mahāphalaḥ
tapasvināṃ raṇe śatrūn hantum icchāmi rākṣasān

It was for the accomplishing of your purpose that I came, as it happened; this dwelling of mine in the forest shall bear great fruit — I wish to slay in battle the rākṣasa foes of the ascetics.”

Words: bhavatām — of you (honorific); arthasiddhyartham — for the accomplishment of your purpose; āgato — come; 'haṃ — I; yadṛcchayā — by chance, as it happened; tasya — of that, therefore; me — my; 'yaṃ — this; vane — in the forest; vāso — dwelling; bhaviṣyati — shall be; mahāphalaḥ — of great fruit; tapasvināṃ — of the ascetics; raṇe — in battle; śatrūn — the foes; hantum — to slay; icchāmi — I wish; rākṣasān — the rākṣasas

3.5.21

dattvā varaṃ cāpi tapodhanānāṃ dharme dhṛtātmā sahalakṣmaṇena
tapodhanaiś cāpi sahārya vṛttaḥ sutīṣkṇam evābhijagāma vīraḥ

And having granted a boon to the ascetics rich in austerity, the hero, his soul fixed on dharma, together with Lakṣmaṇa and behaving with noble conduct toward the ascetics, went straight on to Sutīkṣṇa.

Words: dattvā — having given; varaṃ — a boon; cāpi — and also; tapodhanānāṃ — to the ascetics rich in austerity; dharme — in dharma; dhṛtātmā — his soul fixed; sahalakṣmaṇena — together with Lakṣmaṇa; tapodhanaiś — with the ascetics; cāpi — and also; sahārya — together, with noble (conduct); vṛttaḥ — conducting himself, of (such) conduct; sutīṣkṇam — Sutīkṣṇa; evābhijagāma — went straight on; vīraḥ — the hero

← 3.4 Śarabhaṅga’s ascent through fire · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.6 Sutīkṣṇa’s hospitality →

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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