Aranya Kanda, Sarga 7

Meaning

Rāma, the tormentor of foes, together with his brother and Sītā and also with the Brāhmaṇas, went to the site of Sutīkṣṇa’s hermitage. (1)

Meaning

Going a long distance and crossing the rivers of deep waters he saw a bright mountain, high like the great Meru. (2)

Meaning

Then those two Rāghavas, the best amongst the Ikṣwākus, together with Sītā, entered that forest full of a variety of trees.(3)

Meaning

Having entered the fearful forest having trees laden with flowers and fruits, he saw in one corner a hermitage decorated with bark-garments and garlands. (4)

Meaning

Rāma spoke with due decorum to the ascetic, Sage Sutīkṣṇa, sitting there in the posture of Padmāsana for purification : (5)

Meaning

“Sir, I am Rāma, come to see you. Hence, O knower of Dharma, great sage of true spiritual might, please speak to me.” (6)

Meaning

That wise seer then saw Rāma, the best amongst the upholders of Dharma, folded him in his arms and addressed to him the following words : (7)

Meaning

“Welcome to you, O Rāma, the foremost amongst the Raghus, the best amongst the upholders of truth. With your arrival this hermitage has now found its master, as it were. (8)

Meaning

“Awaiting you only, I am not ascending to the realm of gods from here, abandoning the body on the surface of the earth, O highly illustrious hero ! (9)

Meaning

“O Kākutstha, Indra, the king of gods, had come here. I have heard that abandoning the kingdom you have come over to Citrakūṭa. (10)

Meaning

“Coming to me, Indra, the great god, the king of gods, told me that I have won all the higher worlds through meritorious action. I urge you that, you may please rejoice in those worlds inhabited by divine sages, won by me, together with your wife and Lakṣmaṇa.” (11-12)

Meaning

The self-restrained Rāma replied to that great resplendent sage of austere penance, who had taken a vow to speak the truth, as Indra does to Brahmā : (13)

Meaning

“O great sage, I shall myself bring all the worlds within your reach. However, at this moment, I desire that a place for my abode in this forest be pointed out to me.(14)

Meaning

“The high-souled Śarabhaṅga of Gautama family told me that you are well-versed in all sciences and devoted to the good of all creatures.” (15)

Meaning

Thus addressed by Rāma, the great sage, well-known in the world, uttered the following sweet words with great delight : (16)

Meaning

“Rāma, this very hermitage, frequented by multitudes of sages and always abounding in roots and fruits, is comfortable; you may please stay happily here. (17)

Meaning

“Coming to this hermitage, large herds of deer roam everywhere; they return without harming anyone and having lured everyone with their beauty. (18)

Meaning

“Rest assured that there will be no disturbance here except that from the frolicking deer.” Hearing that speech of the great sage, the valiant elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa uttered the following words picking up the bow with arrow: “O highly fortunate sage, if perchance I happen to kill those herds of deer collected here with an arrow of sharp edge, bent at the joint, you will be insulted thereby; what could be more painful than that? (19—21)

Meaning

“Hence I don’t favour a long stay in this hermitage.” Saying thus to him, Rāma stopped short and left for the evening worship. (22)

Meaning

Having performed the evening worship, he took up his abode there in the charming hermitage of Sutīkṣṇa, together with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa. (23)

Meaning

Then at the close of evening, seeing the nightfall, the high-souled Sutīkṣṇa himself honoured those jewels among men and offered them pious food fit for ascetics. (24)