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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 6: Sutīkṣṇa’s hospitality
Summary. The ṛṣi offers heavenly worlds and a forest home, Rāma declines a long stay because hunting the resident deer would distress his host
Sequence
- Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa travel with the brāhmaṇas across rivers and through dense forest until they reach Sutīkṣṇa's secluded hermitage (3.6.1–4)
- Rāma introduces himself to the aged, matted-haired tapasvin (3.6.5–6)
- Sutīkṣṇa embraces him and says that he too has delayed leaving his body because he was waiting to see Rāma (3.6.7–9)
- he recalls hearing of Rāma's exile and offers him, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa the heavenly worlds earned by his austerities (3.6.10–11)
- Rāma says he will earn those for himself and asks instead for a place to live, explaining that Śarabhaṅga sent him (3.6.12–14)
- Sutīkṣṇa invites them to remain in this very hermitage, supplied with roots and fruit and visited by fearless deer (3.6.15–17)
- Rāma says that he would shoot the deer gathering there and that this might distress the maharṣi, so he does not think a long stay appropriate (3.6.18–20)
- he performs evening worship and settles for the night → Sutīkṣṇa personally gives the brothers food suitable for tapasvins. (3.6.21–22)
Verses 3.6.1–22
3.6.1
rāmas tu sahito bhrātrā sītayā ca paraṃtapaḥ
sutīkṣṇasyāśramapadaṃ jagāma saha tair dvijaiḥ
And Rāma, scorcher of foes, together with his brother and with Sītā, went to the hermitage of Sutīkṣṇa along with those brahmins.
Words: rāmas — Rāma; tu — and; sahito — together; bhrātrā — with his brother; sītayā — with Sītā; ca — and; paraṃtapaḥ — scorcher of foes; sutīkṣṇasyāśramapadaṃ — to the hermitage of Sutīkṣṇa; jagāma — went; saha — with; tair — those; dvijaiḥ — brahmins
3.6.2
sa gatvā dūram adhvānaṃ nadīs tīrtva bahūdakāḥ
dadarśa vipulaṃ śailaṃ mahāmegham ivonnatam
Having gone a long way and crossed rivers with abundant water, he saw a broad mountain, lofty as a great cloud.
Words: sa — he; gatvā — having gone; dūram — a long; adhvānaṃ — way; nadīs — rivers; tīrtva — having crossed; bahūdakāḥ — with abundant water; dadarśa — saw; vipulaṃ — broad; śailaṃ — mountain; mahāmegham — a great cloud; ivonnatam — lofty as
3.6.3
tatas tad ikṣvākuvarau satataṃ vividhair drumaiḥ
kānanaṃ tau viviśatuḥ sītayā saha rāghavau
Then the two best of the Ikṣvākus, the two Rāghavas, with Sītā, entered that forest densely (thick) with all kinds of trees.
Words: tatas — then; tad — that; ikṣvākuvarau — the two best of the Ikṣvākus; satataṃ — continuously, densely; vividhair — with various; drumaiḥ — trees; kānanaṃ — forest; tau — the two; viviśatuḥ — entered; sītayā — with Sītā; saha — with; rāghavau — the two Rāghavas
3.6.4
praviṣṭas tu vanaṃ ghoraṃ bahupuṣpaphaladrumam
dadarśāśramam ekānte cīramālāpariṣkṛtam
Having entered the dread forest, with its trees of many flowers and fruits, he saw in a secluded spot a hermitage adorned with strings of bark-garments.
Words: praviṣṭas — having entered; tu — and; vanaṃ — forest; ghoraṃ — dread; bahupuṣpaphaladrumam — with trees of many flowers and fruits; dadarśāśramam — saw a hermitage; ekānte — in a secluded spot; cīramālāpariṣkṛtam — adorned with strings of bark-garments
3.6.5
tatra tāpasam āsīnaṃ malapaṅkajaṭādharam
rāmaḥ sutīkṣṇaṃ vidhivat tapovṛddham abhāṣata
There Rāma duly addressed the ascetic Sutīkṣṇa, who sat wearing matted locks caked with dirt and mud, aged in austerity:
Words: tatra — there; tāpasam — the ascetic; āsīnaṃ — seated; malapaṅkajaṭādharam — wearing matted locks caked with dirt and mud; rāmaḥ — Rāma; sutīkṣṇaṃ — Sutīkṣṇa; vidhivat — duly; tapovṛddham — aged in austerity; abhāṣata — addressed
3.6.6
rāmo 'ham asmi bhagavan bhavantaṃ draṣṭum āgataḥ
tan mābhivada dharmajña maharṣe satyavikrama
“I am Rāma, venerable one; I have come to see you. So speak to me, O knower of dharma, great seer of true valour.”
Words: rāmo — Rāma; 'ham — I; asmi — am; bhagavan — O venerable one; bhavantaṃ — you; draṣṭum — to see; āgataḥ — come; tan — so, therefore; mābhivada — address me; dharmajña — O knower of dharma; maharṣe — O great seer; satyavikrama — O one of true valour
3.6.7
sa nirīkṣya tato vīraṃ rāmaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ varam
samāśliṣya ca bāhubhyām idaṃ vacanam abravīt
Then, gazing upon the hero Rāma, the best of the upholders of dharma, and embracing him with both arms, he spoke these words:
Words: sa — he; nirīkṣya — having gazed upon; tato — then; vīraṃ — the hero; rāmaṃ — Rāma; dharmabhṛtāṃ — of the upholders of dharma; varam — the best; samāśliṣya — having embraced; ca — and; bāhubhyām — with both arms; idaṃ — this; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke
3.6.8
svāgataṃ khalu te vīra rāma dharmabhṛtāṃ vara
āśramo 'yaṃ tvayākrāntaḥ sanātha iva sāmpratam
“Welcome indeed to you, O hero Rāma, best of the upholders of dharma! This hermitage, now trodden by you, is as if it had found a protector.
Words: svāgataṃ — welcome; khalu — indeed; te — to you; vīra — O hero; rāma — O Rāma; dharmabhṛtāṃ — of the upholders of dharma; vara — O best; āśramo — hermitage; 'yaṃ — this; tvayākrāntaḥ — trodden by you; sanātha — having a protector; iva — as if; sāmpratam — now
3.6.9
pratīkṣamāṇas tvām eva nārohe 'haṃ mahāyaśaḥ
devalokam ito vīra dehaṃ tyaktvā mahītale
Awaiting you alone, O greatly glorious one, I have not ascended from here to the world of the gods, O hero, by casting off my body upon the earth.
Words: pratīkṣamāṇas — awaiting; tvām — you; eva — alone; nārohe — I do not ascend; 'haṃ — I; mahāyaśaḥ — O greatly glorious one; devalokam — to the world of the gods; ito — from here; vīra — O hero; dehaṃ — body; tyaktvā — having cast off; mahītale — upon the earth
3.6.10
citrakūṭam upādāya rājyabhraṣṭo 'si me śrutaḥ
ihopayātaḥ kākutstho devarājaḥ śatakratuḥ
sarvāṃl lokāñ jitān āha mama puṇyena karmaṇā
I have heard that, having settled at Citrakūṭa, you were deprived of your kingdom, O Kākutstha now arrived here; the king of the gods, Śatakratu, declared that all the worlds had been won by my meritorious deed.
Words: citrakūṭam — Citrakūṭa; upādāya — having taken up (residence); rājyabhraṣṭo — deprived of your kingdom; 'si — you are; me — by me; śrutaḥ — heard; ihopayātaḥ — arrived here; kākutstho — O Kākutstha; devarājaḥ — the king of the gods; śatakratuḥ — Śatakratu (Indra); sarvāṃl — all; lokāñ — worlds; jitān — won; āha — declared; mama — my; puṇyena — by meritorious; karmaṇā — deed
3.6.11
teṣu devarṣijuṣṭeṣu jiteṣu tapasā mayā
matprasādāt sabhāryas tvaṃ viharasva salakṣmaṇaḥ
Those worlds, frequented by gods and seers, having been won by me through austerity — by my grace, roam them, you with your wife and with Lakṣmaṇa.
Words: teṣu — those (loc.); devarṣijuṣṭeṣu — frequented by gods and seers; jiteṣu — won (loc.); tapasā — by austerity; mayā — by me; matprasādāt — by my grace; sabhāryas — with your wife; tvaṃ — you; viharasva — roam, disport yourself; salakṣmaṇaḥ — with Lakṣmaṇa
3.6.12
tam ugratapasaṃ dīptaṃ maharṣiṃ satyavādinam
pratyuvācātmavān rāmo brahmāṇam iva vāsavaḥ
To that great seer of fierce austerity, resplendent and truth-speaking, the self-possessed Rāma replied, as Vāsava (Indra) to Brahmā:
Words: tam — to that; ugratapasaṃ — of fierce austerity; dīptaṃ — resplendent; maharṣiṃ — great seer; satyavādinam — truth-speaking; pratyuvācātmavān — the self-possessed one replied; rāmo — Rāma; brahmāṇam — to Brahmā; iva — as; vāsavaḥ — Vāsava (Indra)
3.6.13
aham evāhariṣyāmi svayaṃ lokān mahāmune
āvāsaṃ tv aham icchāmi pradiṣṭam iha kānane
“I myself shall win the worlds for myself, great sage; but I wish for a dwelling here in this forest, one pointed out to me.
Words: aham — I; evāhariṣyāmi — myself shall win; svayaṃ — by myself; lokān — the worlds; mahāmune — O great sage; āvāsaṃ — a dwelling; tv — but; aham — I; icchāmi — wish; pradiṣṭam — pointed out; iha — here; kānane — in the forest
3.6.14
bhavān sarvatra kuśalaḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ
ākhyātaḥ śarabhaṅgena gautamena mahātmanā
You, skilled in everything and devoted to the welfare of all beings, were described to me by the great-souled Śarabhaṅga Gautama.”
Words: bhavān — you (honorific); sarvatra — everywhere, in everything; kuśalaḥ — skilled; sarvabhūtahite — to the welfare of all beings; rataḥ — devoted; ākhyātaḥ — described, spoken of; śarabhaṅgena — by Śarabhaṅga; gautamena — Gautama (of Gautama's line); mahātmanā — by the great-souled
3.6.15
evam uktas tu rāmeṇa maharṣir lokaviśrutaḥ
abravīn madhuraṃ vākyaṃ harṣeṇa mahatāplutaḥ
Thus addressed by Rāma, the great seer, renowned in the world, flooded with great joy, spoke sweet words:
Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — and; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; maharṣir — the great seer; lokaviśrutaḥ — renowned in the world; abravīn — spoke; madhuraṃ — sweet; vākyaṃ — words; harṣeṇa — with joy; mahatāplutaḥ — flooded with great (joy)
3.6.16
ayam evāśramo rāma guṇavān ramyatām iha
ṛṣisaṃghānucaritaḥ sadā mūlaphalair yutaḥ
“This very hermitage, O Rāma, is excellent; take your delight here — frequented by throngs of seers, ever furnished with roots and fruits.
Words: ayam — this; evāśramo — very hermitage; rāma — O Rāma; guṇavān — excellent, endowed with virtues; ramyatām — let it be delighted in, take delight; iha — here; ṛṣisaṃghānucaritaḥ — frequented by throngs of seers; sadā — ever; mūlaphalair — with roots and fruits; yutaḥ — furnished
3.6.17
imam āśramam āgamya mṛgasaṃghā mahāyaśāḥ
aṭitvā pratigacchanti lobhayitvākutobhayāḥ
Coming to this hermitage, O greatly glorious one, herds of deer roam about, tempt (us with their charm), and then go back, free from fear from any quarter.
Words: imam — this; āśramam — hermitage; āgamya — having come to; mṛgasaṃghā — herds of deer; mahāyaśāḥ — O greatly glorious one; aṭitvā — having roamed about; pratigacchanti — go back; lobhayitvākutobhayāḥ — having tempted (us), fearless from any quarter
3.6.18
tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya maharṣer lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ
uvāca vacanaṃ dhīro vikṛṣya saśaraṃ dhanuḥ
Hearing that speech of the great seer, the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa (Rāma), steadfast, drawing his bow with an arrow, spoke these words:
Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; vacanaṃ — speech; tasya — his; maharṣer — of the great seer; lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ — the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa; uvāca — spoke; vacanaṃ — words; dhīro — steadfast; vikṛṣya — having drawn; saśaraṃ — with an arrow; dhanuḥ — bow
3.6.19
tān ahaṃ sumahābhāga mṛgasaṃghān samāgatān
hanyāṃ niśitadhāreṇa śareṇāśanivarcasā
O most fortunate one, I would slay those herds of deer as they gather, with a sharp-edged arrow blazing like the thunderbolt.
Words: tān — those; ahaṃ — I; sumahābhāga — O most fortunate one; mṛgasaṃghān — herds of deer; samāgatān — gathered; hanyāṃ — I would slay; niśitadhāreṇa — with sharp-edged; śareṇāśanivarcasā — with an arrow blazing like the thunderbolt
3.6.20
bhavāṃs tatrābhiṣajyeta kiṃ syāt kṛcchrataraṃ tataḥ
etasminn āśrame vāsaṃ ciraṃ tu na samarthaye
But you might be pained by that — what could be more grievous than that? Therefore I do not think it right to dwell long in this hermitage.
Words: bhavāṃs — you (honorific); tatrābhiṣajyeta — might be pained by that; kiṃ — what; syāt — could be; kṛcchrataraṃ — more grievous; tataḥ — than that; etasminn — in this; āśrame — hermitage; vāsaṃ — dwelling; ciraṃ — long; tu — but; na — not; samarthaye — I approve, think right
3.6.21
tam evam uktvā varadaṃ rāmaḥ saṃdhyām upāgamat
anvāsya paścimāṃ saṃdhyāṃ tatra vāsam akalpayat
Having spoken thus to that boon-giver, Rāma went to the twilight (worship); and having attended to the evening twilight, he arranged for a stay there.
Words: tam — to him; evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; varadaṃ — the boon-giver; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saṃdhyām — the twilight (worship); upāgamat — went to; anvāsya — having attended to, worshipped; paścimāṃ — the evening (western); saṃdhyāṃ — twilight; tatra — there; vāsam — a stay; akalpayat — arranged
3.6.22
tataḥ śubhaṃ tāpasabhojyam annaṃ svayaṃ sutīkṣṇaḥ puruṣarṣabhābhyām
tābhyāṃ susatkṛtya dadau mahātmā saṃdhyānivṛttau rajanīṃ samīkṣya
Then the great-souled Sutīkṣṇa himself, having warmly honoured those two bulls among men, gave them fine food fit for ascetics, when the twilight had passed and he saw that night had come.
Words: tataḥ — then; śubhaṃ — fine, auspicious; tāpasabhojyam — food fit for ascetics; annaṃ — food; svayaṃ — himself; sutīkṣṇaḥ — Sutīkṣṇa; puruṣarṣabhābhyām — to the two bulls among men; tābhyāṃ — to those two; susatkṛtya — having warmly honoured; dadau — gave; mahātmā — the great-souled one; saṃdhyānivṛttau — at the passing of twilight; rajanīṃ — the night; samīkṣya — having observed
← 3.5 The ṛṣis appeal for protection · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.7 Departure from Sutīkṣṇa →
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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