Introduction
Rama and others, having spent that night in the hermitage of Sage Suteekshna, start to go from there on the next day morning, duly taking permission from the sage. While bidding farewell to Rama and others, Sage Suteekshna explains concern about the forests, which are rich natural gifts to human kind and tranquil abodes of hermits, and implicitly suggests to Rama, to somehow safeguard them from the demonic activities in this Dandaka Aranya, by whom these forests are rendered into graveyards, not even honourable graveyards, but stockyards for heaps of dead bodies, bones and skulls, for no faulty reason of the saints and sages.
Verse 1
रामः तु सह सौमित्रिः सुतीक्ष्णेन अभिपूजितः |
परिणांय निशाम् तत्र प्रभाते प्रत्यबुध्यत || ३-८-१
Rama along with Soumitri is well revered by Sage Suteekhsna, spent that night there and awoken in the morning. [3-8-1]
1. raaamaH saha saumitri = Rama, with, Soumitri; sutiikshNena abhi puujitaH = by sage Suteekshna, well, revered; pariNaamya nishaam tatra = spent, night, there; prabhaate prati abudhyata = in morning, again, got up [awoken.]
Verse 2
उत्थाय च यथा कालम् राघवः सह सीतया |
उपस्पृश्य सु शीतेन तोयेन उत्पल गंधिना || ३-८-२
Rama got up according to time along with Seetha and touched finely cool water with lotus-fragrance for morning bath. [3-8-2]
2. Raaghava; saha siitayaa = with Seetha; yathaa kaalam utthaaya = according to time, got up; su shiitena utpala gandhinaa toyena upa spR^ishya = finely cool, with lotus, fragrance, water, having touched [took morning bath, and readied to go.]
Verse 3 & 4
अथ ते अग्निम् सुराम् च एव वैदेही राम लक्ष्मणौ |
काल्यम् विधिवत् अभ्यर्च्य तपस्वि शरणे वने || ३-८-३
उदयन्तम् दिनकरम् दृष्ट्वा विगत कल्मषाः |
सुतीक्ष्णम् अभिगंय इदम् श्लक्ष्णम् वचनम् अब्रुवन् || ३-८-४
Then they all, Vaidehi, Rama and Lakshmana, on worshipping sacred fire and deities dutifully in the shelter of the sages in that forest and on seeing the dawning sun, they are reft of their blemishes, and then they approached Sage Suteekshna speaking this sentence gently. [3-8-3, 4]
3, 4. atha = then; Vaidehi, Rama, Lakshmana; te = they all; kaalyam = at appropriate time; agnim suraam ca eva = to sacred fire, to deities, also, thus; tapasvi sharaNe vane = sage’s, shelter, in forest; vidhivat abhyarcya = dutifully, on worshipping; udayantam dinakaram dR^iSTvaa = dawning, Sun, on seeing; vigata kalmashaaH = cleared, of blemishes; sutiikshNam abhigamya = Suteekshna, on approaching; shlakshNam idam vacanam abruvan = gently, this, sentence, spoke.
Verse 5
सुखोषिताः स्म भगवन् त्वया पूज्येन पूजिताः |
आपृच्छामः प्रयास्यामो मुनयः त्वरयन्ति नः || ३-८-५
“We stayed here happily, oh, god, venerated by a venerable one like you, and here we come to ask your permission as we wish to journey on, as the sages are hastening us… [3-8-5]
5. sukha uSitaaH sma = happily, stayed, we are; bhagavan = oh, god; tvayaa puujyena puujitaaH = by you, venerable one, venerated; aa pR^icChaamaH = we come, to ask [permission]; prayaasyaamaH = we journey on; munayaH tvarayanti naH = sages, are hastening, us.
Verse 6
त्वरामहे वयम् द्रष्टुम् कृत्स्नम् आश्रम मण्डलम् |
ऋषीणाम् पुण्य शीलानाम् दण्डकारण्य वासिनाम् || ३-८-६
“We make haste to see the habitats of hermitages in their entirety, and even wish to see the sages with meritorious selves living in Dandaka forest… [3-8-6]
6. vayam = we are; puNya shiilaanaam = with meritorious, selves; daNdaka araNya vaasinaam = Dandaka forest, living in; R^ishiiNaam kR^itsnam aashrama mandalam = of the sages, entire, hermitage, habitats; draSTum = to see; tvaraamahe = we make haste.
Verse 7
अभ्यनुज्ञातुम् इच्छामः सह एभिः मुनिपुङ्गवैः |
धर्म नित्यैः तपो दान्तैः विशिखैः इव पावकैः || ३-८-७
“We wish to have your permission, and that of these eminent sages, who are ever virtuous, self-controlled by their ascesis, and who look like the veritable tongues of sacred fire… [3-8-7]
7. dharma nityaiH = virtuousness, ever abiding ones; tapaH daantaiH = by ascesis, self-controlled ones; vi shikhaiH paavakaiH iva = veritable tongues, of sacred fire, as though looking; ebhiH munipungavaiH saha = by these, eminent sages, along with; abhyanuj~naatum icChaamaH = permission, we aspire.
Verse 8
अविषह्य आतपो यावत् सूर्यो न अति विराजते |
अमार्गेण आगताम् लक्ष्मीम् प्राप्य इव अन्वय वर्जितः || ३-८-८
तावत् इच्छामहे गन्तुम् इति उक्त्वा चरणौ मुनेः |
ववन्दे सह सौमित्रिः सीतया सह राघवः || ३-८-९
“We wish to proceed before sun attains an intolerable glare, like an unworthy person of unworthy lineage attains wealth in an improper way with much glare…” saying so Rama with Seetha and Lakshmana venerated at the feet of that sage Suteekshna. [3-8-8, 9]
8, 9. anvaya varjitaH = lineage, one with an improper; a maargeNa = by wrong route; lakshmiim aagataam = wealth, which came by; praapya iva = having attained, as if; suuryaH yaavat na aviSahya [a vi sahya] aatapaH = sun, in which time, not, intolerable he becomes, in his glare; na ati viraajite = not, too much, flares up; taavat = before that time; icChaamahe gantum = we wish to, go; iti uktvaa = thus, said; Raghava; saha saumitriH siitayaa saha = with Soumitri, with Seetha; muneH caraNau vavande = at sage’s, feet, venerated.
Verse 10
तौ सम् स्पृशंतौ चरणौ उत्थाप्य मुनिपुंगवः |
गाढम् आश्लिष्य सस्नेहम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् || ३-८-१०
That eminent sage lifted them that are touching his feet, embraced them tightly, and said this sentence in all his friendliness. [3-8-10]
10. muni pungavaH = sage, the eminent; caraNau sam spR^ishantau = feet, who are touching; tau = them; utthaapya = lifted up; gaaDham aaSliSya = tightly, embracing; sa sneham = in friendship; idam vacanam abraviit = this, sentence, said.
Verse 11
अरिष्टम् गच्छ पन्थानम् राम सौमित्रिणा सह |
सीतया च अनया सार्धम् छाय एव अनुवृत्तया || ३-८-११
“Proceed in an invulnerable way, Rama, along with Lakshmana, and with this Seetha while she follows you closely like a shadow… [3-8-11]
11. raama saumitriNaa saha = Rama, Soumitri, along with; Chaayayaa iva anu vR^ittayaa anayaa siitayaa saa ardham ca = shadow like, closely, following you, with this Seetha; ariSTam panthaanam gacCha = invulnerable, on way, you may go.
Verse 12
पश्य आश्रम पदम् रंयम् दण्डकारण्य वासिनाम् |
एषाम् तपस्विनाम् वीर तपसा भावित आत्मनाम् || ३-८-१२
“See the pleasant thresholds of the hermitages of the dwellers in the forests of Dandaka, oh! Valiant one, whose souls are consecrated just by their ascesis… [3-8-2]
12. viira = oh, valiant one; dandakaaraNya vaasinaam = Dandaka, forest, dwellers; tapasaa bhaavita aatmanaam = by ascesis, consecreated, souls; eSaam tapasvinaam = these, of the sages; ramyam aashrama padam pashya = pleasant, hermitage’s, thresholds, you see.
Verse 13 , 14 & 15
सुप्राज्य फल मूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च |
प्रशस्त मृग यूथानि शान्त पक्षि गणानि च || ३-८-१३
फुल्ल पंकज खण्डानि प्रसन्न सलिलानि च |
कारण्डव विकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च || ३-८-१४
द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टि रंयाणि गिरि प्रस्रवणानि च |
रमणीयानि अरण्यानि मयूर अभिरुतानि च || ३-८-१५
“See the well-flowered woodlands with well-grown fruits and tubers, with herds of best animals and peaceful bird flocks… tranquil waters with spreading clusters of bloomed lotuses and water-birds in the pools and lakes… eye-pleasing rapids from mountains and you can see pleasant forests loaded with the hearty screams of precooks… [3-8-13, 14, 15]
13, 14, 15. su praajya phala muulaani = well grown, fruits, tubers; puSpitaani = flowered ones; prashasta mR^iga yuuthaani = with best, animal, herds; shaanta pakshi gaNaani ca = with peaceful, bird, flocks, also; vanaani ca = woodlands, also; phulla pankaja shaNDaani = bloomed, lotuses, clusters; prasanna salilaani ca = tranquil, waters, too; kaaraNDava vikiirNaani taTaakaani = by water-birds, spread-over, pools; saraamsi ca = lakes, also; dR^iSTi ramyaaNi = eye, pleasing ones; giri prasravaNaani ca = mountain, rapids, also; mayuura abhi rutaani ca = by peacocks, with hearty screams loaded with [forests]; ramaNiiyaani araNyaani = pleasant, forests; drakSyase= you can see.
Verse 16
गंयताम् वत्स सौमित्रे भवान् अपि च गच्छतु |
आगन्तव्यम् च ते दृष्ट्वा पुनः एव आश्रमम् प्रति || ३-८-१६
“My dear Rama, you may go and Soumitri you too also may go… but come again towards this hermitage after seeing all of them… [3-8-16]
16. gamyataam vatsa = you may go, my dear; saumitre = Soumitri; bhavaan api ca gachatu = you, too, also, may go; dR^iSTvaa = having seen; punaH eva aashramam prati = again, thus, hermitage, towards [this]; te = to you [you shall]; aa gantavyam ca = come, and go you may.
Verse 17
एवम् उक्तः तथा इति उक्त्वा काकुत्स्थः सह लक्ष्मणः |
प्रदक्षिणम् मुनिम् कृत्वा प्रस्थातुम् उपचक्रमे || ३-८-१७
Thus said by the sage, Rama in his turn said to him, “so be it…” and having performed circumambulations around the sage he started to journey on. [3-8-17]
17. evam uktaH = thus, said; kaakutsthaH = Rama; saha lakshmanaH = with, Lakshmana; tathaa iti = like that only; uktvaa = having said; munim pradakshiNam kR^itvaa = to sage, circumambulations, having performed; prasthaatum upacakrame = to journey, started on.
Verse 18
ततः शुभतरे तूणी धनुषी च आयतेक्षणा |
ददौ सीता तयोः भ्रात्रोः खड्गौ च विमलौ ततः || ३-८-१८
Then the broad eyed Seetha gave auspicious quivers and bows to those brothers and then spotless swords too. [3-8-18]
18. tataH = then; aayatekshaNaa sitaa = broad eyed, Seetha; tayoH bhraatroH = to those two, brothers; shubhatare tuNii dhanuSii ca = auspicious, quivers, bows, also; tataH = then; vi malau khaDgau ca = unstained, swords, too; dadau = gave;
Verse 19
आबध्य च शुभे तूणी चापे च आदाय सस्वने |
निष्क्रान्तौ आश्रमात् गन्तुम् उभौ तौ राम लक्ष्मणौ || ३-८-१९
Both of those two Rama and Lakshmana tied their beautiful quivers well on their backs, and took the twangy bows and exited from that hermitage to go on their way. [3-8-19]
19. tau ubhau raama lakSmaNau = those, both, Rama and Lakshmana; shubhe tuuNii aa badhya ca = beautiful, quivers, on tying; sa svane = with, sound [twangy]; caape ca = bows, also; aadaaya = on taking; aashramaat gantum niSkraantaa = from hermitage, to go, exited.
Verse 20
शीघ्रम् तौ रूपसंपन्नौ अनुज्ञातौ महर्षिणा |
प्रस्थितौ धृत चापा असी सीतया सह राघवौ || ३-८-२०
Those two Raghava-s, the handsome princes, have swiftly set out when permitted by that august sage, wielding bows and swords, and along with Seetha. [3-8-20]
20. ruupa sampannau = appearance, exquisite – handsome princes; tau raaghavau = those, Raghava-s; anuj~naatau maharSiNaa = permitted by, august sage; dhR^ita chaapaa asii = wielding, bows, swords; siitayaa saha = Seetha, along with; shiighram = swiftly; prasthitau = set out.
