--- title: "Aranya Kanda, Sarga 5" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/aranya-kanda/sarga-5" lang: "en" --- # Aranya Kanda, Sarga 5 > हत्वा तु तं भीमबलं विराधं राक्षसं वने। > ततः सीतां परिष्वज्य समाश्वास्य च वीर्यवान्॥ १॥ > अब्रवीद् भ्रातरं रामो लक्ष्मणं दीप्ततेजसम्। > कष्टं वनमिदं दुर्गं न च स्मो वनगोचराः॥ २॥ Killing in the forest that ogre Virādha of terrible might and then embracing and consoling Sītā, the heroic Rāma spoke to brother Lakṣmaṇa of shining lustre—“This is a very dangerous forest, difficult of access, and we are not accustomed to it. (1-2) > अभिगच्छामहे शीघ्रं शरभङ्गं तपोधनम्। > आश्रमं शरभङ्गस्य राघवोऽभिजगाम ह॥ ३॥ “We will quickly visit the ascetic Śarabhaṅga.” Rāghava then went towards the hermitage of Śarabhaṅga. (3) > तस्य देवप्रभावस्य तपसा भावितात्मनः। > समीपे शरभङ्गस्य ददर्श महदद्भुतम्॥ ४॥ In the vicinity of the said Śarabhaṅga, possessing divine power and purified with penance, he saw a great wonder. (4) > विभ्राजमानं वपुषा सूर्यवैश्वानरप्रभम्। > रथप्रवरमारूढमाकाशे विबुधानुगम्॥ ५॥ > असंस्पृशन्तं वसुधां ददर्श विबुधेश्वरम्। > सम्प्रभाभरणं देवं विरजोऽम्बरधारिणम्॥ ६॥ > तद्विधैरेव बहुभिः पूज्यमानं महात्मभिः। > हरितैर्वाजिभिर्युक्तमन्तरिक्षगतं रथम्॥ ७॥ > ददर्शादूरतस्तस्य तरुणादित्यसंनिभम्। > पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्रख्यं चन्द्रमण्डलसंनिभम्॥ ८॥ > अपश्यद् विमलं छत्रं चित्रमाल्योपशोभितम्। > चामरव्यजने चाग्र्ये रुक्मदण्डे महाधने॥ ९॥ > गृहीते वरनारीभ्यां धूयमाने च मूर्धनि। > गन्धर्वामरसिद्धाश्च बहवः परमर्षयः॥ १०॥ > अन्तरिक्षगतं देवं गीर्भिरग्र्याभिरैडयन्। > सह सम्भाषमाणे तु शरभङ्गेन वासवे॥ ११॥ He saw the lord of the gods, shining with his body, possessing a lustre like the sun and the fire, seated in a fine chariot in the sky not touching the earth, followed by gods, wearing shining ornaments and clean garments, being worshipped by many high-souled beings of the same type. Not far from him, he saw a chariot in the sky drawn by green horses, looking like the midday sun. He saw an immaculate canopy resembling a white cloud and possessing the lustre of the orb of the moon and decorated with magnificent garlands. He also saw excellent and very precious whisks having gold handles, held by two beautiful women and being waved over the head. Gandharvas, gods, Siddhas and many great sages praised the god in the sky with excellent verses, while Indra was conversing with Śarabhaṅga. (5—11) > दृष्ट्वा शतक्रतुं तत्र रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्। > रामोऽथ रथमुद्दिश्य भ्रातुर्दर्शयताद्भुतम्॥ १२॥ Seeing Indra there, Rāma addressed Lakṣmaṇa and then pointing to the chariot showed the wonder to his brother. (12) > अर्चिष्मन्तं श्रिया जुष्टमद्भुतं पश्य लक्ष्मण। > प्रतपन्तमिवादित्यमन्तरिक्षगतं रथम्॥ १३॥ “O Lakṣmaṇa, see in the sky the wonderful chariot possessed of lustre, attended by grandeur and glowing like the sun. (13) > ये हयाः पुरुहूतस्य पुरा शक्रस्य नः श्रुताः। > अन्तरिक्षगता दिव्यास्त इमे हरयो ध्रुवम्॥ १४॥ “Indeed, here in the sky are those celestial horses of Indra—the horses of which we had heard so much earlier. (14) > इमे च पुरुषव्याघ्र ये तिष्ठन्त्यभितो दिशम्। > शतं शतं कुण्डलिनो युवानः खड्गपाणयः॥ १५॥ > विस्तीर्णविपुलोरस्काः परिघायतबाहवः। > शोणांशुवसनाः सर्वे व्याघ्रा इव दुरासदाः॥ १६॥ “And O tiger-man, those who are standing all round in groups of hundreds—youngmen wearing earrings, holding swords in their hands, having very broad chests and large arms resembling iron clubs and wearing red garments—all are unassailable like tigers. (15-16) > उरोदेशेषु सर्वेषां हारा ज्वलनसंनिभाः। > रूपं बिभ्रति सौमित्रे पञ्चविंशतिवार्षिकम्॥ १७॥ “At the breast-regions of all hang garlands bright as fire. O son of Sumitrā, all are possessed of a form aged twenty-five years. (17) > एतद्धि किल देवानां वयो भवति नित्यदा। > यथेमे पुरुषव्याघ्रा दृश्यन्ते प्रियदर्शनाः॥ १८॥ “Indeed, they say this is the permanent age of gods, as these tiger-men of agreeable looks appear. (18) > इहैव सह वैदेह्या मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ लक्ष्मण। > यावज्जानाम्यहं व्यक्तं क एष द्युतिमान् रथे॥ १९॥ “Lakṣmaṇa, stay here only awhile with Vaidehī till I find out clearly who this lustrous being in the chariot is.” (19) > तमेवमुक्त्वा सौमित्रिमिहैव स्थीयतामिति। > अभिचक्राम काकुत्स्थः शरभङ्गाश्रमं प्रति॥ २०॥ Thus telling the said Saumitri to stay there only, Kākutstha walked towards the hermitage of Śarabhaṅga. (20) > ततः समभिगच्छन्तं प्रेक्ष्य रामं शचीपतिः। > शरभङ्गमनुज्ञाप्य विबुधानिदमब्रवीत्॥ २१॥ Then, seeing Rāma coming near, the husband of Śacī, Indra, took leave of Śarabhaṅga and said this to the gods: (21) > इहोपयात्यसौ रामो यावन्मां नाभिभाषते। > निष्ठां नयत तावत् तु ततो मां द्रष्टुमर्हति॥ २२॥ > जितवन्तं कृतार्थं हि तदाहमचिरादिमम्। > कर्म ह्यनेन कर्तव्यं महदन्यैः सुदुष्करम्॥ २३॥ “Here comes this Rāma; before he speaks to me, make a move, let him not see me. Shortly when he has conquered Rāvaṇa and achieved his purpose, then I shall see him. For, he has to do a great deed which is very difficult to be done by others.” (22-23) > अथ वज्री तमामन्त्र्य मानयित्वा च तापसम्। > रथेन हययुक्तेन ययौ दिवमरिंदमः॥ २४॥ Then having taken leave of and having honoured that ascetic, the wielder of the thunderbolt, a subduer of enemies, rose to heaven in his chariot drawn by horses. (24) > प्रयाते तु सहस्राक्षे राघवः सपरिच्छदः। > अग्निहोत्रमुपासीनं शरभङ्गमुपागमत्॥ २५॥ When, however, the thousand-eyed one had left, Rāghava together with his followers approached Śarabhaṅga, who was worshipping the fire. (25) > तस्य पादौ च संगृह्य रामः सीता च लक्ष्मणः। > निषेदुस्तदनुज्ञाता लब्धवासा निमन्त्रिताः॥ २६॥ Rāma, Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa touched his feet and sat down with his permission. He invited them to be his guests and gave them rooms to stay. (26) > ततः शक्रोपयानं तु पर्यपृच्छत्स राघवः। > शरभङ्गश्च तत् सर्वं राघवाय न्यवेदयत्॥ २७॥ Then Rāma, for his part, asked the purpose of Indra’s visit and Śarabhaṅga related the whole thing to Rāghava. (27) > मामेष वरदो राम ब्रह्मलोकं निनीषति। > जितमुग्रेण तपसा दुष्प्रापमकृतात्मभिः॥ २८॥ “This bestower of boons, Indra, O Rāma, desires to take me to Brahmaloka, which has been won by me through severe penance and which is difficult to be attained by those who are not self-controlled. (28) > अहं ज्ञात्वा नरव्याघ्र वर्तमानमदूरतः। > ब्रह्मलोकं न गच्छामि त्वामदृष्ट्वा प्रियातिथिम्॥ २९॥ “O tiger-man, I, having known you to be present nearby, decided not to go to Brahmaloka without seeing you, my beloved guest. (29) > त्वयाहं पुरुषव्याघ्र धार्मिकेण महात्मना। > समागम्य गमिष्यामि त्रिदिवं चावरं परम्॥ ३०॥ > अक्षया नरशार्दूल जिता लोका मया शुभाः। > ब्राह्म्याश्च नाकपृष्ठ्याश्च प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मामकान्॥ ३१॥ “Having had a meeting with you, a high-souled prince of righteous nature, I shall go to the lower heaven and then to the higher. I have won, O tiger-man, auspicious and unending worlds—heavenly and those of Lord Brahmā; please accept all these my worlds.” (30-31) > एवमुक्तो नरव्याघ्रः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः। > ऋषिणा शरभङ्गेन राघवो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ ३२॥ When thus spoken to by Sage Śarabhaṅga, the tiger-man, Rāma, well-versed in all sciences—replied as follows: (32) > अहमेवाहरिष्यामि सर्वाल्ँलोकान् महामुने। > आवासं त्वहमिच्छामि प्रदिष्टमिह कानने॥ ३३॥ “O great sage, I shall myself bring all the worlds to you. However, I desire that a place of abode be pointed out to me in this forest.” (33) > राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु शक्रतुल्यबलेन वै। > शरभङ्गो महाप्राज्ञः पुनरेवाब्रवीद् वचः॥ ३४॥ Thus addressed by Rāghava, equal in might to Indra, the very wise Śarabhaṅga once again uttered the following words :(34) > इह राम महातेजाः सुतीक्ष्णो नाम धार्मिकः। > वसत्यरण्ये नियतः स ते श्रेयो विधास्यति॥ ३५॥ “Rāma, here in the forest dwells a righteous and self-restrained sage, named Sutīkṣṇa, possessed of great lustre. He will do you good. (35) > सुतीक्ष्णमभिगच्छ त्वं शुचौ देशे तपस्विनम्। > रमणीये वनोद्देशे स ते वासं विधास्यति॥ ३६॥ “Approach you the ascetic Sutīkṣṇa in that pious region. He will arrange for your residence in a charming region of the forest. (36) > इमां मन्दाकिनीं राम प्रतिस्रोतामनुव्रज। > नदीं पुष्पोडुपवहां ततस्तत्र गमिष्यसि॥ ३७॥ “Rāma, follow against the current this river Mandākinī carrying boats of flowers; then you will reach there. (37) > एष पन्था नरव्याघ्र मुहूर्तं पश्य तात माम्। > यावज्जहामि गात्राणि जीर्णां त्वचमिवोरगः॥ ३८॥ “This is the path, O tiger-man ! Dear, look at me for a while as I shed the old and worn-out limbs, just as a serpent casts off its slough.” (38) > ततोऽग्निं स समाधाय हुत्वा चाज्येन मन्त्रवत्। > शरभङ्गो महातेजाः प्रविवेश हुताशनम्॥ ३९॥ Then, kindling the fire and pouring oblations of ghee with chants, that Śarabhaṅga of great lustre entered the fire. (39) > तस्य रोमाणि केशांश्च तदा वह्निर्महात्मनः। > जीर्णां त्वचं तदस्थीनि यच्च मांसं च शोणितम्॥ ४०॥ Presently the fire burnt the hair on the body and head, old skin and bones and whatever flesh and blood that great soul had. (40) > स च पावकसंकाशः कुमारः समपद्यत। > उत्थायाग्निचयात् तस्माच्छरभङ्गो व्यरोचत॥ ४१॥ And he appeared as a boy glowing like fire. Rising from that heap of fire, Śarabhaṅga shone bright. (41) > स लोकानाहिताग्नीनामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्। > देवानां च व्यतिक्रम्य ब्रह्मलोकं व्यरोहत॥ ४२॥ He crossed the worlds of fire-worshippers, high-souled sages and gods and rose to the Brahmaloka. (42) > स पुण्यकर्मा भुवने द्विजर्षभः > पितामहं सानुचरं ददर्श ह। > पितामहश्चापि समीक्ष्य तं द्विजं > ननन्द सुस्वागतमित्युवाच ह॥ ४३॥ That meritorious jewel among the twice-born, Śarabhaṅga, in the world saw the grandfather, Brahmā, with his attendants; the grandfather also was delighted to see that Brāhmaṇa and said “You are fully welcome.” (43) Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana --- Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. Buy the book: https://gitapress.org/product/sri-ramcharitmanas-special-edition Ramayana.com, a free, ad-free project of Ved Vyas Foundation.