← 3.8 Story of the tapasvin’s sword · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.10 Ten years among the hermitages →
Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 9: Rāma’s promise to the ṛṣis
Summary. He explains their refusal to spend tapasvin power on curses and declares that protecting them binds him more strongly than his own life
Sequence
- Rāma acknowledges that Sītā has spoken lovingly and thoughtfully (3.9.1–2)
- he takes up her own principle that a warrior carries a bow to prevent cries of distress: the Daṇḍaka munis have already sought his protection against repeated attacks (3.9.3–7)
- he recalls being ashamed that they had to approach him when he ought to have offered service first (3.9.8–9)
- they told him that shape-changing rākṣasas attack during offerings and observances → although the tapasvins could use their tapas to kill their enemies, they will not squander their hard-earned austerity in curses (3.9.10–15)
- Rāma says he has therefore promised protection and cannot take that promise back (3.9.16–17)
- he declares that he would sooner surrender his life, Sītā, or Lakṣmaṇa than break his word, especially to brāhmaṇas → protecting the munis would be his duty even without a promise (3.9.18–19)
- he again expresses appreciation for Sītā's concern and continues with her and Lakṣmaṇa toward the hermitages. (3.9.20–21)
Verses 3.9.1–21
3.9.1
vākyam etat tu vaidehyā vyāhṛtaṃ bhartṛbhaktayā
śrutvā dharme sthito rāmaḥ pratyuvācātha maithilīm
Having heard this speech uttered by Vaidehī, devoted to her husband, Rāma, steadfast in dharma, then replied to the princess of Mithilā:
Words: vākyam — speech, words; etat — this; tu — and; vaidehyā — by Vaidehī; vyāhṛtaṃ — uttered, spoken; bhartṛbhaktayā — by (her) devoted to her husband; śrutvā — having heard; dharme — in dharma; sthito — steadfast, established; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pratyuvācātha — then replied; maithilīm — the princess of Mithilā (Sītā)
3.9.2
hitam uktaṃ tvayā devi snigdhayā sadṛśaṃ vacaḥ
kulaṃ vyapadiśantyā ca dharmajñe janakātmaje
A beneficial word has been spoken by you, O queen, tenderly and fittingly, invoking our lineage, O knower of dharma, O daughter of Janaka.
Words: hitam — beneficial; uktaṃ — spoken; tvayā — by you; devi — O queen, lady; snigdhayā — by (you) affectionate, tender; sadṛśaṃ — fitting, becoming; vacaḥ — a word, speech; kulaṃ — the lineage, family; vyapadiśantyā — by (you) invoking, pointing to; ca — and; dharmajñe — O knower of dharma; janakātmaje — O daughter of Janaka
3.9.3
kiṃ tu vakṣyāmy ahaṃ devi tvayaivoktam idaṃ vacaḥ
kṣatriyair dhāryate cāpo nārtaśabdo bhaved iti
But what shall I say, O queen? This very word has been spoken by you yourself: 'The bow is borne by warriors so that no cry of distress may arise.'
Words: kiṃ tu — but what; vakṣyāmy — shall I say; ahaṃ — I; devi — O queen; tvayaivoktam — spoken by you yourself; idaṃ — this; vacaḥ — word; kṣatriyair — by warriors; dhāryate — is borne; cāpo — the bow; nārtaśabdo — no cry of distress; bhaved — may arise; iti — thus
3.9.4
te cārtā daṇḍakāraṇye munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ
māṃ sīte svayam āgamya śaraṇyāḥ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ
And those distressed sages of rigorous vows in the Daṇḍaka forest, O Sītā, though themselves worthy of giving refuge, have come to me of their own accord and taken refuge.
Words: te — those; cārtā — and distressed; daṇḍakāraṇye — in the Daṇḍaka forest; munayaḥ — the sages; saṃśitavratāḥ — of rigorous vows; māṃ — me; sīte — O Sītā; svayam — of their own accord, themselves; āgamya — having come; śaraṇyāḥ — worthy of giving refuge; śaraṇaṃ — refuge; gatāḥ — have gone (to), taken
3.9.5
vasanto dharmaniratā vane mūlaphalāśanāḥ
na labhante sukhaṃ bhītā rākṣasaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ
Dwelling in the forest, devoted to dharma, living on roots and fruits, they find no ease, terrified by the rākṣasas of cruel deeds.
Words: vasanto — dwelling; dharmaniratā — devoted to dharma; vane — in the forest; mūlaphalāśanāḥ — living on roots and fruits; na — not; labhante — they obtain; sukhaṃ — ease, comfort; bhītā — frightened; rākṣasaiḥ — by the rākṣasas; krūrakarmabhiḥ — of cruel deeds
3.9.6
kāle kāle ca niratā niyamair vividhair vane
bhakṣyante rākṣasair bhīmair naramāṃsopajīvibhiḥ
Time and again, intent on their various observances in the forest, they are devoured by the fearsome rākṣasas who live on human flesh.
Words: kāle kāle — time and again, at each due time; ca — and; niratā — intent, devoted; niyamair — in observances, restraints; vividhair — various; vane — in the forest; bhakṣyante — are devoured; rākṣasair — by the rākṣasas; bhīmair — fearsome; naramāṃsopajīvibhiḥ — who subsist on human flesh
3.9.7
te bhakṣyamāṇā munayo daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ
asmān abhyavapadyeti mām ūcur dvijasattamāḥ
Those sages dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest, being devoured, said to me, those best of brahmins: 'Save us!'
Words: te — those; bhakṣyamāṇā — being devoured; munayo — sages; daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ — dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest; asmān — us; abhyavapadyeti — 'protect (us)!' thus; mām — to me; ūcur — said; dvijasattamāḥ — the best of brahmins
3.9.8
mayā tu vacanaṃ śrutvā teṣām evaṃ mukhāc cyutam
kṛtvā caraṇaśuśrūṣāṃ vākyam etad udāhṛtam
But I, having heard this word fallen thus from their lips, and having rendered service at their feet, uttered this speech:
Words: mayā — by me; tu — but; vacanaṃ — the word; śrutvā — having heard; teṣām — of them; evaṃ — thus; mukhāc — from the mouth; cyutam — fallen, issued; kṛtvā — having rendered, made; caraṇaśuśrūṣāṃ — service at the feet; vākyam — speech; etad — this; udāhṛtam — uttered
3.9.9
prasīdantu bhavanto me hrīr eṣā hi mamātulā
yadīdṛśair ahaṃ viprair upastheyair upasthitaḥ
kiṃ karomīti ca mayā vyāhṛtaṃ dvijasaṃnidhau
'May you be gracious to me—this is a matchless shame for me, that I, who ought myself to be attending upon such brahmins, am instead approached by them. What am I to do?' Thus was it spoken by me in the presence of the twice-born.
Words: prasīdantu — may (you) be gracious; bhavanto — your honours; me — to me; hrīr — shame, modesty; eṣā — this; hi — indeed; mamātulā — my matchless (shame); yadīdṛśair — that by such; ahaṃ — I; viprair — by brahmins; upastheyair — who ought to be attended upon; upasthitaḥ — am approached, waited upon; kiṃ karomīti — 'what am I to do?' thus; ca — and; mayā — by me; vyāhṛtaṃ — uttered; dvijasaṃnidhau — in the presence of the twice-born
3.9.10
sarvair eva samāgamya vāg iyaṃ samudāhṛtā
rākṣasair daṇḍakāraṇye bahubhiḥ kāmarūpibhiḥ
arditāḥ sma bhṛśaṃ rāma bhavān nas trātum arhati
By all of them, gathering together, this word was uttered: 'By the many rākṣasas in the Daṇḍaka forest who take any form at will, we are grievously afflicted, O Rāma; you ought to save us.'
Words: sarvair — by all; eva — just, indeed; samāgamya — having gathered together; vāg — word, speech; iyaṃ — this; samudāhṛtā — was uttered; rākṣasair — by the rākṣasas; daṇḍakāraṇye — in the Daṇḍaka forest; bahubhiḥ — many; kāmarūpibhiḥ — who take any form at will; arditāḥ — afflicted, tormented; sma — (perfect particle); bhṛśaṃ — greatly, grievously; rāma — O Rāma; bhavān — your honour; nas — us; trātum — to save; arhati — ought, is fit
3.9.11
homakāle tu saṃprāpte parvakāleṣu cānagha
dharṣayanti sma durdharṣā rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ
'When the time of oblation has come, and on the days of the moon's changes, O sinless one, the invincible flesh-eating rākṣasas assail us.'
Words: homakāle — at the time of oblation; tu — and; saṃprāpte — having arrived; parvakāleṣu — on the days of the moon's changes; cānagha — and O sinless one; dharṣayanti — they assail, harass; sma — (perfect particle); durdharṣā — invincible, unassailable; rākṣasāḥ — the rākṣasas; piśitāśanāḥ — flesh-eaters
3.9.12
rākṣasair dharṣitānāṃ ca tāpasānāṃ tapasvinām
gatiṃ mṛgayamāṇānāṃ bhavān naḥ paramā gatiḥ
'For us ascetics and penitents, assailed by the rākṣasas and seeking a refuge, you are our supreme refuge.'
Words: rākṣasair — by the rākṣasas; dharṣitānāṃ — of (us) assailed; ca — and; tāpasānāṃ — of the ascetics; tapasvinām — of the penitents; gatiṃ — refuge, recourse; mṛgayamāṇānāṃ — of (us) seeking; bhavān — your honour; naḥ — our; paramā — supreme, highest; gatiḥ — refuge, recourse
3.9.13
kāmaṃ tapaḥ prabhāvena śaktā hantuṃ niśācarān
cirārjitaṃ tu necchāmas tapaḥ khaṇḍayituṃ vayam
'Granted, by the power of our penance we are able to slay the night-rovers; yet we do not wish to break the penance we have long amassed.'
Words: kāmaṃ — granted, indeed; tapaḥ — penance; prabhāvena — by the power; śaktā — able; hantuṃ — to slay; niśācarān — the night-rovers; cirārjitaṃ — long amassed; tu — but; necchāmas — we do not wish; tapaḥ — penance; khaṇḍayituṃ — to break, destroy; vayam — we
3.9.14
bahuvighnaṃ taponityaṃ duścaraṃ caiva rāghava
tena śāpaṃ na muñcāmo bhakṣyamāṇāś ca rākṣasaiḥ
'Penance is beset by many obstacles, must be kept up constantly, and is hard to practise, O Rāghava; therefore, though being devoured by the rākṣasas, we do not release a curse (upon them).'
Words: bahuvighnaṃ — beset by many obstacles; taponityaṃ — requiring constant austerity; duścaraṃ — hard to practise; caiva — and indeed; rāghava — O Rāghava; tena — therefore, by that; śāpaṃ — a curse; na — not; muñcāmo — we release, discharge; bhakṣyamāṇāś — being devoured; ca — and; rākṣasaiḥ — by the rākṣasas
3.9.15
tad ardyamānān rakṣobhir daṇḍakāraṇyavāsibhiḥ
rakṣanas tvaṃ saha bhrātrā tvannāthā hi vayaṃ vane
'So, tormented by the rākṣasas who dwell in the Daṇḍaka forest, protect us with your brother, for we have you as our lord in the forest.'
Words: tad — so, therefore; ardyamānān — (us) being tormented; rakṣobhir — by the rākṣasas; daṇḍakāraṇyavāsibhiḥ — dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest; rakṣanas — protecting, do protect; tvaṃ — you; saha bhrātrā — with your brother; tvannāthā — having you as lord; hi — for, indeed; vayaṃ — we; vane — in the forest
3.9.16
mayā caitad vacaḥ śrutvā kārtsnyena paripālanam
ṛṣīṇāṃ daṇḍakāraṇye saṃśrutaṃ janakātmaje
And I, having heard this word, promised the sages in the Daṇḍaka forest their full protection, O daughter of Janaka.
Words: mayā — by me; caitad — and this; vacaḥ — word; śrutvā — having heard; kārtsnyena — completely, in full; paripālanam — protection, safeguarding; ṛṣīṇāṃ — of the seers; daṇḍakāraṇye — in the Daṇḍaka forest; saṃśrutaṃ — promised, pledged; janakātmaje — O daughter of Janaka
3.9.17
saṃśrutya ca na śakṣyāmi jīvamānaḥ pratiśravam
munīnām anyathā kartuṃ satyam iṣṭaṃ hi me sadā
And having so promised, I shall not, while I live, be able to make my pledge to the sages otherwise; for truth is ever dear to me.
Words: saṃśrutya — having promised; ca — and; na — not; śakṣyāmi — I shall be able; jīvamānaḥ — while living; pratiśravam — the pledge, promise; munīnām — to the sages; anyathā — otherwise; kartuṃ — to make; satyam — truth; iṣṭaṃ — dear, desired; hi — for, indeed; me — to me; sadā — ever, always
3.9.18
apy ahaṃ jīvitaṃ jahyāṃ tvāṃ vā sīte salakṣmaṇām
na tu pratijñāṃ saṃśrutya brāhmaṇebhyo viśeṣataḥ
I would sooner give up my life, or even you, O Sītā, along with Lakṣmaṇa, than break a promise, once made—especially one made to brahmins.
Words: apy — even; ahaṃ — I; jīvitaṃ — life; jahyāṃ — I would give up; tvāṃ — you; vā — or; sīte — O Sītā; salakṣmaṇām — along with Lakṣmaṇa; na tu — but not; pratijñāṃ — a promise, vow; saṃśrutya — having pledged; brāhmaṇebhyo — to the brahmins; viśeṣataḥ — especially
3.9.19
tad avaśyaṃ mayā kāryam ṛṣīṇāṃ paripālanam
anuktenāpi vaidehi pratijñāya tu kiṃ punaḥ
So the protection of the sages must without fail be done by me even unasked, O Vaidehī—how much more when I have promised it!
Words: tad — so, therefore; avaśyaṃ — without fail, necessarily; mayā — by me; kāryam — to be done; ṛṣīṇāṃ — of the seers; paripālanam — the protection; anuktenāpi — even unasked; vaidehi — O Vaidehī; pratijñāya — having promised; tu — but; kiṃ punaḥ — how much more
3.9.20
mama snehāc ca sauhārdād idam uktaṃ tvayā vacaḥ
parituṣṭo 'smy ahaṃ sīte na hy aniṣṭo 'nuśiṣyate
sadṛśaṃ cānurūpaṃ ca kulasya tava śobhane
This word has been spoken by you out of love for me and out of goodwill; I am well pleased, O Sītā—for one who is not dear is not counselled thus—and it is fitting and worthy of your family, O lovely one.
Words: mama — for me; snehāc ca — out of affection and; sauhārdād — out of goodwill; idam — this; uktaṃ — spoken; tvayā — by you; vacaḥ — word; parituṣṭo — well pleased; 'smy — I am; ahaṃ — I; sīte — O Sītā; na — not; hy — for, indeed; aniṣṭo — one who is not dear; 'nuśiṣyate — is counselled, advised; sadṛśaṃ — fitting, befitting; cānurūpaṃ — and worthy, suitable; ca — and; kulasya — of the family; tava — your; śobhane — O lovely one
3.9.21
ity evam uktvā vacanaṃ mahātmā sītāṃ priyāṃ maithila rājaputrīm
rāmo dhanuṣmān sahalakṣmaṇena jagāma ramyāṇi tapovanāni
Having spoken these words to Sītā, his beloved, the princess of the Mithila king, the great-souled Rāma, bow in hand, together with Lakṣmaṇa, went on to the lovely penance-groves.
Words: ity evam — thus, in this way; uktvā — having spoken; vacanaṃ — the words; mahātmā — the great-souled one; sītāṃ — to Sītā; priyāṃ — beloved; maithila — of the Mithila (king); rājaputrīm — princess, king's daughter; rāmo — Rāma; dhanuṣmān — bearing a bow; sahalakṣmaṇena — together with Lakṣmaṇa; jagāma — went; ramyāṇi — lovely; tapovanāni — penance-groves
← 3.8 Story of the tapasvin’s sword · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.10 Ten years among the hermitages →
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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