# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 7 — Departure from Sutīkṣṇa *Rāma obtains leave to visit other hermitages and promises to return, Sītā hands the brothers their weapons* Portion: The forest ṛṣis seek protection · Verses: 19 · Ref format: 3.7. ## Sequence - At dawn Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa wake → Rāma and Sītā sip and rinse with cool, lotus-scented water → all three worship the fire and Suras (7.1–3) - they thank Sutīkṣṇa for his hospitality and ask leave to visit the other Daṇḍaka hermitages with the munis accompanying them → they ask to leave while it is still cool enough to travel (7.4–9) - Sutīkṣṇa raises and embraces the brothers and blesses their journey with Sītā (7.10–11) - he describes the forests, peaceful animals, lotus ponds, and mountain cascades they will see, and asks them to return to his hermitage afterward (7.12–16) - they agree and walk respectfully around him (7.17) - Sītā hands the brothers their quivers, bows, and swords → they equip themselves and depart (7.18–19). ## Verses **3.7.1** rāmas tu sahasaumitriḥ sutīkṣṇenābhipūjitaḥ pariṇamya niśāṃ tatra prabhāte pratyabudhyata Rāma, together with Saumitri, honoured by Sutīkṣṇa, having passed the night there, awoke at dawn. **3.7.2** utthāya tu yathākālaṃ rāghavaḥ saha sītayā upāspṛśat suśītena jalenotpalagandhinā Rising at the proper time, Rāghava together with Sītā sipped and rinsed with cool water fragrant of lotuses. **3.7.3** atha te 'gniṃ surāṃś caiva vaidehī rāmalakṣmaṇau kālyaṃ vidhivad abhyarcya tapasviśaraṇe vane Then Vaidehī and Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, in that forest that is the refuge of ascetics, duly worshipped the fire and the gods at dawn. **3.7.4** udayanntaṃ dinakaraṃ dṛṣṭvā vigatakalmaṣāḥ sutīkṣṇam abhigamyedaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ vacanam abruvan Seeing the sun rising, free of all impurity, they approached Sutīkṣṇa and spoke these gentle words: **3.7.5** sukhoṣitāḥ sma bhagavaṃs tvayā pūjyena pūjitāḥ āpṛcchāmaḥ prayāsyāmo munayas tvarayanti naḥ “We have dwelt happily, O lord, honoured by you who are worthy of worship; we take our leave and shall depart—the sages are urging us on. **3.7.6** tvarāmahe vayaṃ draṣṭuṃ kṛtsnam āśramamaṇḍalam ṛṣīṇāṃ puṇyaśīlānāṃ daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinām We are eager to see the whole circle of hermitages of the sages of holy conduct who dwell in the Daṇḍaka forest. **3.7.7** abhyanujñātum icchāmaḥ sahaibhir munipuṅgavaiḥ dharmanityais tapodāntair viśikhair iva pāvakaiḥ We wish to be given leave, together with these bulls among sages—constant in dharma, subdued by austerity, like smokeless fires. **3.7.8** aviṣahyātapo yāvat sūryo nātivirājite amārgeṇāgatāṃ lakṣmīṃ prāpyevānvayavarjitaḥ While the sun, whose heat is unbearable, does not yet blaze too fiercely—like fortune gained by wrong means by a man devoid of good lineage— **3.7.9** tāvad icchāmahe gantum ity uktvā caraṇau muneḥ vavande sahasaumitriḥ sītayā saha rāghavaḥ so long do we wish to travel.” Having said this, Rāghava together with Saumitri and with Sītā saluted the feet of the sage. **3.7.10** tau saṃspṛśantau caraṇāv utthāpya munipuṃgavaḥ gāḍham āliṅgya sasneham idaṃ vacanam abravīt As the two touched his feet, the bull among sages raised them up, embraced them warmly and affectionately, and spoke these words: **3.7.11** ariṣṭaṃ gaccha panthānaṃ rāma saumitriṇā saha sītayā cānayā sārdhaṃ chāyayevānuvṛttayā “Travel a safe road, O Rāma, together with Saumitri and with this Sītā, who follows you like your shadow. **3.7.12** paśyāśramapadaṃ ramyaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinām eṣāṃ tapasvināṃ vīra tapasā bhāvitātmanām Behold, O hero, the lovely hermitage-region of these ascetics who dwell in the Daṇḍaka forest, their souls purified by austerity. **3.7.13** suprājyaphalamūlāni puṣpitāni vanāni ca praśāntamṛgayūthāni śāntapakṣigaṇāni ca You will see forests rich in fruits and roots and in bloom, with peaceful herds of deer and calm flocks of birds, **3.7.14** phullapaṅkajaṣaḍāni prasannasalilāni ca kāraṇḍavavikīrṇāni taṭākāni sarāṃsi ca and ponds and lakes with clusters of blooming lotuses and clear water, strewn with kāraṇḍava ducks, **3.7.15** drakṣyase dṛṣṭiramyāṇi giriprasravaṇāni ca ramaṇīyāny araṇyāni mayūrābhirutāni ca mountain cascades pleasing to the eye, and delightful forests resounding with peacocks. **3.7.16** gamyatāṃ vatsa saumitre bhavān api ca gacchatu āgantavyaṃ ca te dṛṣṭvā punar evāśramaṃ mama Let us go, dear Saumitri; and let your honour go too. Having seen it, you must return again to this hermitage of mine.” **3.7.17** evam uktas tathety uktvā kākutsthaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ muniṃ kṛtā prasthātum upacakrame Addressed thus, Kākutstha with Lakṣmaṇa said “So be it,” and having circumambulated the sage, set about departing. **3.7.18** tataḥ śubhatare tūṇī dhanuṣī cāyatekṣaṇā dadau sītā tayor bhrātroḥ khaḍgau ca vimalau tataḥ Then the long-eyed Sītā gave to the two brothers the two fine quivers and the two bows, and then the two spotless swords. **3.7.19** ābadhya ca śubhe tūṇī cāpe cādāya sasvane niṣkrāntāv āśramād gantum ubhau tau rāmalakṣmaṇau Having fastened on the two fine quivers and taken up the twanging bows, both Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa set out from the hermitage to travel.