{"kanda":3,"kandaName":"Araṇya Kāṇḍa","sarga":9,"title":"Rāma’s promise to the ṛṣis","sentence":"He explains their refusal to spend tapasvin power on curses and declares that protecting them binds him more strongly than his own life","portion":"Sītā and Rāma debate the use of force","sequence":[[{"steps":["Rāma acknowledges that Sītā has spoken lovingly and thoughtfully (9.1–2)"],"from":1,"to":2,"sarga":9},{"steps":["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 (9.3–7)"],"from":3,"to":7,"sarga":9},{"steps":["he recalls being ashamed that they had to approach him when he ought to have offered service first (9.8–9)"],"from":8,"to":9,"sarga":9},{"steps":["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 (9.10–15)"],"from":10,"to":15,"sarga":9},{"steps":["Rāma says he has therefore promised protection and cannot take that promise back (9.16–17)"],"from":16,"to":17,"sarga":9},{"steps":["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 (9.18–19)"],"from":18,"to":19,"sarga":9},{"steps":["he again expresses appreciation for Sītā's concern and continues with her and Lakṣmaṇa toward the hermitages (9.20–21)."],"from":20,"to":21,"sarga":9}]],"verses":[{"v":1,"ref":"3.009.001","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"vākyam etat tu vaidehyā vyāhṛtaṃ bhartṛbhaktayā","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"śrutvā dharme sthito rāmaḥ pratyuvācātha maithilīm","q":null}],"tr":"Having heard this speech uttered by Vaidehī, devoted to her husband, Rāma, steadfast in dharma, then replied to the princess of Mithilā:","w":[["vākyam","speech, words"],["etat","this"],["tu","and"],["vaidehyā","by Vaidehī"],["vyāhṛtaṃ","uttered, spoken"],["bhartṛbhaktayā","by (her) devoted to her husband","",[["bhartṛ","husband"],["bhakta","devoted"]]],["śrutvā","having heard"],["dharme","in dharma"],["sthito","steadfast, established","sthitaḥ"],["rāmaḥ","Rāma"],["pratyuvācātha","then replied","pratyuvāca atha"],["maithilīm","the princess of Mithilā (Sītā)"]]},{"v":2,"ref":"3.009.002","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"hitam uktaṃ tvayā devi snigdhayā sadṛśaṃ vacaḥ","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"kulaṃ vyapadiśantyā ca dharmajñe janakātmaje","q":null}],"tr":"A beneficial word has been spoken by you, O queen, tenderly and fittingly, invoking our lineage, O knower of dharma, O daughter of Janaka.","w":[["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","",[["dharma","dharma"],["jña","knower"]]],["janakātmaje","O daughter of Janaka","",[["janaka","Janaka"],["ātmaja","daughter, offspring"]]]]},{"v":3,"ref":"3.009.003","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"kiṃ tu vakṣyāmy ahaṃ devi tvayaivoktam idaṃ vacaḥ","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"kṣatriyair dhāryate cāpo nārtaśabdo bhaved iti","q":null}],"tr":"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.'","w":[["kiṃ tu","but what"],["vakṣyāmy","shall I say","vakṣyāmi"],["ahaṃ","I"],["devi","O queen"],["tvayaivoktam","spoken by you yourself","tvayā eva uktam"],["idaṃ","this"],["vacaḥ","word"],["kṣatriyair","by warriors","kṣatriyaiḥ"],["dhāryate","is borne"],["cāpo","the bow","cāpaḥ"],["nārtaśabdo","no cry of distress","na ārtaśabdaḥ",[["ārta","distressed, afflicted"],["śabda","sound, cry"]]],["bhaved","may arise","bhavet"],["iti","thus"]]},{"v":4,"ref":"3.009.004","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"te cārtā daṇḍakāraṇye munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"māṃ sīte svayam āgamya śaraṇyāḥ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ","q":null}],"tr":"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.","w":[["te","those"],["cārtā","and distressed","ca ārtāḥ"],["daṇḍakāraṇye","in the Daṇḍaka forest","",[["daṇḍaka","Daṇḍaka"],["araṇya","forest"]]],["munayaḥ","the sages"],["saṃśitavratāḥ","of rigorous vows","",[["saṃśita","rigorous, strict"],["vrata","vow"]]],["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"]]},{"v":5,"ref":"3.009.005","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"vasanto dharmaniratā vane mūlaphalāśanāḥ","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"na labhante sukhaṃ bhītā rākṣasaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ","q":null}],"tr":"Dwelling in the forest, devoted to dharma, living on roots and fruits, they find no ease, terrified by the rākṣasas of cruel deeds.","w":[["vasanto","dwelling","vasantaḥ"],["dharmaniratā","devoted to dharma","dharmaniratāḥ",[["dharma","dharma"],["nirata","devoted, intent"]]],["vane","in the forest"],["mūlaphalāśanāḥ","living on roots and fruits","",[["mūla","root"],["phala","fruit"],["aśana","eating, food"]]],["na","not"],["labhante","they obtain"],["sukhaṃ","ease, comfort"],["bhītā","frightened","bhītāḥ"],["rākṣasaiḥ","by the rākṣasas"],["krūrakarmabhiḥ","of cruel deeds","",[["krūra","cruel"],["karman","deed"]]]]},{"v":6,"ref":"3.009.006","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"kāle kāle ca niratā niyamair vividhair vane","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"bhakṣyante rākṣasair bhīmair naramāṃsopajīvibhiḥ","q":null}],"tr":"Time and again, intent on their various observances in the forest, they are devoured by the fearsome rākṣasas who live on human flesh.","w":[["kāle kāle","time and again, at each due time"],["ca","and"],["niratā","intent, devoted","niratāḥ"],["niyamair","in observances, restraints","niyamaiḥ"],["vividhair","various","vividhaiḥ"],["vane","in the forest"],["bhakṣyante","are devoured"],["rākṣasair","by the rākṣasas","rākṣasaiḥ"],["bhīmair","fearsome","bhīmaiḥ"],["naramāṃsopajīvibhiḥ","who subsist on human flesh","",[["nara","man"],["māṃsa","flesh"],["upajīvin","living upon"]]]]},{"v":7,"ref":"3.009.007","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"te bhakṣyamāṇā munayo daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"asmān abhyavapadyeti mām ūcur dvijasattamāḥ","q":null}],"tr":"Those sages dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest, being devoured, said to me, those best of brahmins: 'Save us!'","w":[["te","those"],["bhakṣyamāṇā","being devoured","bhakṣyamāṇāḥ"],["munayo","sages","munayaḥ"],["daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ","dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest","",[["daṇḍaka","Daṇḍaka"],["araṇya","forest"],["vāsin","dwelling in"]]],["asmān","us"],["abhyavapadyeti","'protect (us)!' thus","abhyavapadya iti"],["mām","to me"],["ūcur","said","ūcuḥ"],["dvijasattamāḥ","the best of brahmins","",[["dvija","brahmin, twice-born"],["sattama","best of"]]]]},{"v":8,"ref":"3.009.008","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"mayā tu vacanaṃ śrutvā teṣām evaṃ mukhāc cyutam","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"kṛtvā caraṇaśuśrūṣāṃ vākyam etad udāhṛtam","q":null}],"tr":"But I, having heard this word fallen thus from their lips, and having rendered service at their feet, uttered this speech:","w":[["mayā","by me"],["tu","but"],["vacanaṃ","the word"],["śrutvā","having heard"],["teṣām","of them"],["evaṃ","thus"],["mukhāc","from the mouth","mukhāt"],["cyutam","fallen, issued"],["kṛtvā","having rendered, made"],["caraṇaśuśrūṣāṃ","service at the feet","",[["caraṇa","foot"],["śuśrūṣā","service, attendance"]]],["vākyam","speech"],["etad","this","etat"],["udāhṛtam","uttered"]]},{"v":9,"ref":"3.009.009","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"prasīdantu bhavanto me hrīr eṣā hi mamātulā","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"yadīdṛśair ahaṃ viprair upastheyair upasthitaḥ","q":null},{"p":"e","t":"kiṃ karomīti ca mayā vyāhṛtaṃ dvijasaṃnidhau","q":null}],"tr":"'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.","w":[["prasīdantu","may (you) be gracious"],["bhavanto","your honours","bhavantaḥ"],["me","to me"],["hrīr","shame, modesty","hrīḥ"],["eṣā","this"],["hi","indeed"],["mamātulā","my matchless (shame)","mama atulā",[["a","not"],["tulā","equal, measure"]]],["yadīdṛśair","that by such","yadi īdṛśaiḥ"],["ahaṃ","I"],["viprair","by brahmins","vipraiḥ"],["upastheyair","who ought to be attended upon","upastheyaiḥ"],["upasthitaḥ","am approached, waited upon"],["kiṃ karomīti","'what am I to do?' thus","kiṃ karomi iti"],["ca","and"],["mayā","by me"],["vyāhṛtaṃ","uttered"],["dvijasaṃnidhau","in the presence of the twice-born","",[["dvija","brahmin"],["saṃnidhi","presence, proximity"]]]]},{"v":10,"ref":"3.009.010","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"sarvair eva samāgamya vāg iyaṃ samudāhṛtā","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"rākṣasair daṇḍakāraṇye bahubhiḥ kāmarūpibhiḥ","q":null},{"p":"e","t":"arditāḥ sma bhṛśaṃ rāma bhavān nas trātum arhati","q":null}],"tr":"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.'","w":[["sarvair","by all","sarvaiḥ"],["eva","just, indeed"],["samāgamya","having gathered together"],["vāg","word, speech","vāk"],["iyaṃ","this"],["samudāhṛtā","was uttered"],["rākṣasair","by the rākṣasas","rākṣasaiḥ"],["daṇḍakāraṇye","in the Daṇḍaka forest","",[["daṇḍaka","Daṇḍaka"],["araṇya","forest"]]],["bahubhiḥ","many"],["kāmarūpibhiḥ","who take any form at will","",[["kāma","will, desire"],["rūpin","having form"]]],["arditāḥ","afflicted, tormented"],["sma","(perfect particle)"],["bhṛśaṃ","greatly, grievously"],["rāma","O Rāma"],["bhavān","your honour"],["nas","us","naḥ"],["trātum","to save"],["arhati","ought, is fit"]]},{"v":11,"ref":"3.009.011","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"homakāle tu saṃprāpte parvakāleṣu cānagha","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"dharṣayanti sma durdharṣā rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ","q":null}],"tr":"'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.'","w":[["homakāle","at the time of oblation","",[["homa","oblation, fire-offering"],["kāla","time"]]],["tu","and"],["saṃprāpte","having arrived"],["parvakāleṣu","on the days of the moon's changes","",[["parvan","lunar juncture, festival day"],["kāla","time"]]],["cānagha","and O sinless one","ca anagha",[["an","without"],["agha","sin"]]],["dharṣayanti","they assail, harass"],["sma","(perfect particle)"],["durdharṣā","invincible, unassailable","durdharṣāḥ"],["rākṣasāḥ","the rākṣasas"],["piśitāśanāḥ","flesh-eaters","",[["piśita","flesh"],["aśana","eating"]]]]},{"v":12,"ref":"3.009.012","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"rākṣasair dharṣitānāṃ ca tāpasānāṃ tapasvinām","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"gatiṃ mṛgayamāṇānāṃ bhavān naḥ paramā gatiḥ","q":null}],"tr":"'For us ascetics and penitents, assailed by the rākṣasas and seeking a refuge, you are our supreme refuge.'","w":[["rākṣasair","by the rākṣasas","rākṣasaiḥ"],["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"]]},{"v":13,"ref":"3.009.013","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"kāmaṃ tapaḥ prabhāvena śaktā hantuṃ niśācarān","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"cirārjitaṃ tu necchāmas tapaḥ khaṇḍayituṃ vayam","q":null}],"tr":"'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.'","w":[["kāmaṃ","granted, indeed"],["tapaḥ","penance"],["prabhāvena","by the power"],["śaktā","able","śaktāḥ"],["hantuṃ","to slay"],["niśācarān","the night-rovers","",[["niśā","night"],["cara","roaming"]]],["cirārjitaṃ","long amassed","",[["cira","long (time)"],["arjita","acquired, earned"]]],["tu","but"],["necchāmas","we do not wish","na icchāmaḥ"],["tapaḥ","penance"],["khaṇḍayituṃ","to break, destroy"],["vayam","we"]]},{"v":14,"ref":"3.009.014","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"bahuvighnaṃ taponityaṃ duścaraṃ caiva rāghava","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"tena śāpaṃ na muñcāmo bhakṣyamāṇāś ca rākṣasaiḥ","q":null}],"tr":"'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).'","w":[["bahuvighnaṃ","beset by many obstacles","",[["bahu","many"],["vighna","obstacle"]]],["taponityaṃ","requiring constant austerity","",[["tapas","austerity"],["nitya","constant"]]],["duścaraṃ","hard to practise","",[["dus","difficult"],["cara","to be practised"]]],["caiva","and indeed","ca eva"],["rāghava","O Rāghava"],["tena","therefore, by that"],["śāpaṃ","a curse"],["na","not"],["muñcāmo","we release, discharge","muñcāmaḥ"],["bhakṣyamāṇāś","being devoured","bhakṣyamāṇāḥ"],["ca","and"],["rākṣasaiḥ","by the rākṣasas"]]},{"v":15,"ref":"3.009.015","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"tad ardyamānān rakṣobhir daṇḍakāraṇyavāsibhiḥ","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"rakṣanas tvaṃ saha bhrātrā tvannāthā hi vayaṃ vane","q":null}],"tr":"'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.'","w":[["tad","so, therefore","tat"],["ardyamānān","(us) being tormented"],["rakṣobhir","by the rākṣasas","rakṣobhiḥ"],["daṇḍakāraṇyavāsibhiḥ","dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest","",[["daṇḍaka","Daṇḍaka"],["araṇya","forest"],["vāsin","dwelling in"]]],["rakṣanas","protecting, do protect","rakṣan"],["tvaṃ","you"],["saha bhrātrā","with your brother"],["tvannāthā","having you as lord","tvat-nāthāḥ",[["tvat","you"],["nātha","lord, protector"]]],["hi","for, indeed"],["vayaṃ","we"],["vane","in the forest"]]},{"v":16,"ref":"3.009.016","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"mayā caitad vacaḥ śrutvā kārtsnyena paripālanam","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"ṛṣīṇāṃ daṇḍakāraṇye saṃśrutaṃ janakātmaje","q":null}],"tr":"And I, having heard this word, promised the sages in the Daṇḍaka forest their full protection, O daughter of Janaka.","w":[["mayā","by me"],["caitad","and this","ca etat"],["vacaḥ","word"],["śrutvā","having heard"],["kārtsnyena","completely, in full"],["paripālanam","protection, safeguarding"],["ṛṣīṇāṃ","of the seers"],["daṇḍakāraṇye","in the Daṇḍaka forest","",[["daṇḍaka","Daṇḍaka"],["araṇya","forest"]]],["saṃśrutaṃ","promised, pledged"],["janakātmaje","O daughter of Janaka","",[["janaka","Janaka"],["ātmaja","daughter"]]]]},{"v":17,"ref":"3.009.017","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"saṃśrutya ca na śakṣyāmi jīvamānaḥ pratiśravam","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"munīnām anyathā kartuṃ satyam iṣṭaṃ hi me sadā","q":null}],"tr":"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.","w":[["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"]]},{"v":18,"ref":"3.009.018","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"apy ahaṃ jīvitaṃ jahyāṃ tvāṃ vā sīte salakṣmaṇām","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"na tu pratijñāṃ saṃśrutya brāhmaṇebhyo viśeṣataḥ","q":null}],"tr":"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.","w":[["apy","even","api"],["ahaṃ","I"],["jīvitaṃ","life"],["jahyāṃ","I would give up"],["tvāṃ","you"],["vā","or"],["sīte","O Sītā"],["salakṣmaṇām","along with Lakṣmaṇa","",[["sa","with"],["lakṣmaṇa","Lakṣmaṇa"]]],["na tu","but not"],["pratijñāṃ","a promise, vow"],["saṃśrutya","having pledged"],["brāhmaṇebhyo","to the brahmins","brāhmaṇebhyaḥ"],["viśeṣataḥ","especially"]]},{"v":19,"ref":"3.009.019","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"tad avaśyaṃ mayā kāryam ṛṣīṇāṃ paripālanam","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"anuktenāpi vaidehi pratijñāya tu kiṃ punaḥ","q":null}],"tr":"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!","w":[["tad","so, therefore","tat"],["avaśyaṃ","without fail, necessarily"],["mayā","by me"],["kāryam","to be done"],["ṛṣīṇāṃ","of the seers"],["paripālanam","the protection"],["anuktenāpi","even unasked","anuktena api",[["an","not"],["ukta","spoken, asked"]]],["vaidehi","O Vaidehī"],["pratijñāya","having promised"],["tu","but"],["kiṃ punaḥ","how much more"]]},{"v":20,"ref":"3.009.020","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"mama snehāc ca sauhārdād idam uktaṃ tvayā vacaḥ","q":null},{"p":"c","t":"parituṣṭo 'smy ahaṃ sīte na hy aniṣṭo 'nuśiṣyate","q":null},{"p":"e","t":"sadṛśaṃ cānurūpaṃ ca kulasya tava śobhane","q":null}],"tr":"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.","w":[["mama","for me"],["snehāc ca","out of affection and","snehāt ca"],["sauhārdād","out of goodwill","sauhārdāt"],["idam","this"],["uktaṃ","spoken"],["tvayā","by you"],["vacaḥ","word"],["parituṣṭo","well pleased","parituṣṭaḥ"],["'smy","I am","asmi"],["ahaṃ","I"],["sīte","O Sītā"],["na","not"],["hy","for, indeed","hi"],["aniṣṭo","one who is not dear","aniṣṭaḥ",[["an","not"],["iṣṭa","dear, desired"]]],["'nuśiṣyate","is counselled, advised","anuśiṣyate"],["sadṛśaṃ","fitting, befitting"],["cānurūpaṃ","and worthy, suitable","ca anurūpaṃ"],["ca","and"],["kulasya","of the family"],["tava","your"],["śobhane","O lovely one"]]},{"v":21,"ref":"3.009.021","lines":[{"p":"a","t":"ity evam uktvā vacanaṃ mahātmā sītāṃ priyāṃ maithila rājaputrīm","q":["ity evam uktvā vacanaṃ mahātmā","sītāṃ priyāṃ maithila rājaputrīm"]},{"p":"c","t":"rāmo dhanuṣmān sahalakṣmaṇena jagāma ramyāṇi tapovanāni","q":["rāmo dhanuṣmān sahalakṣmaṇena","jagāma ramyāṇi tapovanāni"]}],"tr":"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.","w":[["ity evam","thus, in this way","iti evam"],["uktvā","having spoken"],["vacanaṃ","the words"],["mahātmā","the great-souled one","",[["mahā","great"],["ātman","soul"]]],["sītāṃ","to Sītā"],["priyāṃ","beloved"],["maithila","of the Mithila (king)"],["rājaputrīm","princess, king's daughter","",[["rāja","king"],["putrī","daughter"]]],["rāmo","Rāma","rāmaḥ"],["dhanuṣmān","bearing a bow","",[["dhanus","bow"],["mat","possessing"]]],["sahalakṣmaṇena","together with Lakṣmaṇa","",[["saha","with"],["lakṣmaṇa","Lakṣmaṇa"]]],["jagāma","went"],["ramyāṇi","lovely"],["tapovanāni","penance-groves","",[["tapas","austerity"],["vana","grove, forest"]]]]}]}