← 3.5.2 · Araṇya Kāṇḍa 5: The ṛṣis appeal for protection · 3.5.4 →

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 3.5.3

Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 5: The ṛṣis appeal for protection. Tapasvins display the victims of rākṣasa attacks, Rāma promises to defend them and gives his exile a purpose

In the sequence: 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

3.5.3

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

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.