# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 1 — Daṇḍaka’s tapasvins seek protection *They welcome Rāma, Sītā & Lakṣmaṇa and claim the King’s protection as subjects who have renounced force* Portion: Entering Daṇḍaka and defeating Virādha · Verses: 22 · Ref format: 3.1. ## Sequence - Entering Daṇḍaka, Rāma sees a settlement of tapasvins: swept courtyards, fire sanctuaries, sacrificial implements, bark garments, antelope skins, stores of roots and fruit, flowering trees, and a lotus pond → Vedic recitation fills the settlement, where munis follow different disciplines (1.1–8) - he unstrings his bow before approaching (1.9) - the munis welcome him and Sītā with blessings and gaze in wonder at all three travelers (1.10–13) - they receive Rāma in a leaf hut and bring water, roots, flowers, and fruit (1.14–16) - they explain that a King's authority carries the duty of protection: even in the forest, they remain his subjects → because they have renounced force and mastered their anger, they depend upon him for safety (1.17–20) - they continue to honor him and Lakṣmaṇa with the food and produce of their hermitages (1.21–22). ## Verses **3.1.1** praviśya tu mahāraṇyaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyam ātmavān dadarśa rāmo durdharṣas tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam Entering the great forest, the Daṇḍaka wilderness, the self-possessed and unassailable Rāma beheld a cluster of ascetics' hermitages. **3.1.2** kuśacīraparikṣiptaṃ brāhmyā lakṣmyā samāvṛtam yathā pradīptaṃ durdharśaṃ gagane sūryamaṇḍalam It was strewn about with kuśa grass and bark garments and pervaded by the radiance of Brahman, like the blazing, dazzling orb of the sun in the sky. **3.1.3** śaraṇyaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ susamṛṣṭājiraṃ sadā pūjitaṃ copanṛttaṃ ca nityam apsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ It was a refuge for all beings, its courtyards ever well-swept, always honoured and danced upon by throngs of apsarases. **3.1.4** viśālair agniśaraṇaiḥ srugbhāṇḍair ajinaiḥ kuśaiḥ samidbhis toyakalaśaiḥ phalamūlaiś ca śobhitam It was adorned with spacious fire-sanctuaries, with sacrificial ladles and vessels, with hides and kuśa grass, with kindling-sticks and water-pots, and with fruits and roots. **3.1.5** āraṇyaiś ca mahāvṛkṣaiḥ puṇyaiḥ svāduphalair vṛtam balihomārcitaṃ puṇyaṃ brahmaghoṣanināditam It was surrounded by great forest trees, holy and bearing sweet fruit; holy, worshipped with offerings and oblations, and resounding with the murmur of Vedic recitation. **3.1.6** puṣpair vanyaiḥ parikṣiptaṃ padminyā ca sapadmayā phalamūlāśanair dāntaiś cīrakṛṣṇājināmbaraiḥ It was strewn with wild blossoms and set about with a lotus-pond full of lotuses, and peopled by self-controlled men who ate fruit and roots and were clad in bark and black antelope-hides. **3.1.7** sūryavaiśvānarābhaiś ca purāṇair munibhir vṛtam puṇyaiś a niyatāhāraiḥ śobhitaṃ paramarṣibhiḥ It was thronged with ancient sages splendid as the sun and the fire, and made beautiful by holy supreme seers of restrained diet. **3.1.8** tad brahmabhavanaprakhyaṃ brahmaghoṣanināditam brahmavidbhir mahābhāgair brāhmaṇair upaśobhitam That hermitage, resembling the abode of Brahmā and resounding with the murmur of Vedic recitation, was graced by illustrious brahmins who knew the sacred lore. **3.1.9** tad dṛṣṭvā rāghavaḥ śrīmāṃs tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam abhyagacchan mahātejā vijyaṃ kṛtvā mahad dhanuḥ Seeing that cluster of ascetics' hermitages, the illustrious Rāghava of great splendour unstrung his great bow and approached it. **3.1.10** divyajñānopapannās te rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā maharṣayaḥ abhyagacchaṃs tadā prītā vaidehīṃ ca yaśasvinīm Those great seers, endowed with divine knowledge, on seeing Rāma then came forward with delight, and to the illustrious Vaidehī (Sītā) too. **3.1.11** te taṃ somam ivodyantaṃ dṛṣṭvā vai dharmacāriṇaḥ maṅgalāni prayuñjānāḥ pratyagṛhṇan dṛḍhavratāḥ Seeing him like the rising moon, those righteous men of firm vows, pronouncing auspicious blessings, welcomed him. **3.1.12** rūpasaṃhananaṃ lakṣmīṃ saukumāryaṃ suveṣatām dadṛśur vismitākārā rāmasya vanavāsinaḥ The forest-dwellers, their expressions full of wonder, gazed upon Rāma's beauty of form, his splendour, his delicacy, and his fine attire. **3.1.13** vaidehīṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmaṃ netrair animiṣair iva āścaryabhūtān dadṛśuḥ sarve te vanacāriṇaḥ With unblinking eyes, as it were, all those forest-rangers gazed upon Vaidehī, Lakṣmaṇa, and Rāma, who had become objects of marvel. **3.1.14** atrainaṃ hi mahābhāgāḥ sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ atithiṃ parṇaśālāyāṃ rāghavaṃ saṃnyaveśayan Then those illustrious ones, devoted to the welfare of all beings, installed Rāghava as their guest in a leaf-hut. **3.1.15** tato rāmasya satkṛtya vidhinā pāvakopamāḥ ājahrus te mahābhāgāḥ salilaṃ dharmacāriṇaḥ Then those illustrious, righteous men, radiant as fire, having duly honoured Rāma, brought him water. **3.1.16** mūlaṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ vanyam āśramaṃ ca mahātmanaḥ nivedayītvā dharmajñās tataḥ prāñjalayo 'bruvan Having presented to the great-souled one roots, flowers, wild fruit, and their hermitage, those knowers of dharma then spoke with joined palms: **3.1.17** dharmapālo janasyāsya śaraṇyaś ca mahāyaśāḥ pūjanīyaś ca mānyaś ca rājā daṇḍadharo guruḥ The king, guardian of dharma, is the protector of these people and their refuge, of great renown, to be worshipped and honoured; wielder of the rod of justice, he is their elder. **3.1.18** indrasyaiva caturbhāgaḥ prajā rakṣati rāghava rājā tasmād vanān bhogān bhuṅkte lokanamaskṛtaḥ A very quarter-portion of Indra, the king protects his subjects, O Rāghava; therefore, honoured by the world, he enjoys choice pleasures. **3.1.19** te vayaṃ bhavatā rakṣyā bhavadviṣayavāsinaḥ nagarastho vanastho vā tvaṃ no rājā janeśvaraḥ We, dwellers in your realm, are to be protected by you; whether in the city or in the forest, you are our king, the lord of the people. **3.1.20** nyastadaṇḍā vayaṃ rājañ jitakrodhā jitendriyāḥ rakṣitavyās tvayā śaśvad garbhabhūtās tapodhanāḥ We have laid down the rod of force, O king, having conquered anger and mastered our senses; we, whose wealth is austerity and who are as though unborn children, must ever be protected by you. **3.1.21** evam uktvā phalair mūlaiḥ puṣpair vanyaiś ca rāghavam anyaiś ca vividhāhāraiḥ salakṣmaṇam apūjayan Having spoken thus, they honoured Rāghava together with Lakṣmaṇa with fruits, roots, wild flowers, and other foods of many kinds. **3.1.22** tathānye tāpasāḥ siddhā rāmaṃ vaiśvānaropamāḥ nyāyavṛttā yathānyāyaṃ tarpayām āsur īśvaram Likewise other perfected ascetics, resembling fire, of righteous conduct, gratified the lord Rāma as was fitting.