--- title: "Aranya Kanda, Sarga 74" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/aranya-kanda/sarga-74" lang: "en" --- # Aranya Kanda, Sarga 74 > दर्शयित्वा तु रामाय सीतायाः परिमार्गणे। > वाक्यमन्वर्थमर्थज्ञः कबन्धः पुनरब्रवीत्॥ १॥ Having shown to Śrī Rāma the means of searching out Sītā, Kabandha, who knew the matter in hand, again spoke the following meaningful words : (1) > एष राम शिवः पन्था यत्रैते पुष्पिता द्रुमाः। > प्रतीचीं दिशमाश्रित्य प्रकाशन्ते मनोरमाः॥ २॥ “Going westward, this is the path propitious for you to reach Ṛṣyamūka, O Rāma, where these trees in blossom, so pleasing to the mind, appear. (2) > जम्बूप्रियालपनसा न्यग्रोधप्लक्षतिन्दुकाः। > अश्वत्थाः कर्णिकाराश्च चूताश्चान्ये च पादपाः॥ ३॥ > धन्वना नागवृक्षाश्च तिलका नक्तमालकाः। > नीलाशोकाः कदम्बाश्च करवीराश्च पुष्पिताः॥ ४॥ > अग्निमुख्या अशोकाश्च सुरक्ताः पारिभद्रकाः। > तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वा च तान् बलात्॥ ५॥ > फलान्यमृतकल्पानि भक्षयित्वा गमिष्यथः। > तदतिक्रम्य काकुत्स्थ वनं पुष्पितपादपम्॥ ६॥ > नन्दनप्रतिमं चान्यत् कुरवस्तूत्तरा इव। > सर्वकालफला यत्र पादपा मधुरस्रवाः॥ ७॥ “They are Jambū (rose-apple), Priyāla and jack-fruit trees, banyans, Plakṣas and Tindukas, peepul trees and Karṇikāras, mango and other trees too, Dhavas and Nāgakesara trees, Tilakas, Naktamālakas, blue Aśokas and Kadambas, blossomed Karavīras too, Agnimukhyas and Aśokas, red sandalwood trees and Mandāras. Climbing them or bending their branches by force to the ground, and partaking of their nectar-like fruits, you should march along. Passing beyond that forest with trees in blossom, O scion of Kākutstha, you will reach another woodland resembling the Nandana grove in paradise, the trees in which bear fruit during all the seasons and drip honey all the time as is the case with the territory of the Uttarakurus (one of the nine divisions of the world). (3—7) > सर्वे च ऋतवस्तत्र वने चैत्ररथे यथा। > फलभारनतास्तत्र महाविटपधारिणः॥ ८॥ > शोभन्ते सर्वतस्तत्र मेघपर्वतसंनिभाः। > तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वाथवा सुखम्॥ ९॥ > फलान्यमृतकल्पानि लक्ष्मणस्ते प्रदास्यति। > चङ्क्रमन्तौ वरान् शैलान् शैलाच्छैलं वनाद् वनम्॥ १०॥ > ततः पुष्करिणीं वीरौ पम्पां नाम गमिष्यथः। > अशर्करामविभ्रंशां समतीर्थामशैवलाम्॥ ११॥ “All the seasons are represented simultaneously in that woodland as in the Caitraratha grove (belonging to Kubera, the deity presiding over the northern quarter). Carrying large boughs, the trees in that forest ever remain bent under the weight of their fruits. Resembling clouds and mountains, they spread their charm on all sides in that forest. Climbing them or bending their branches to the ground at ease, Lakṣmaṇa will offer you their nectar-like fruits. Ranging over the loveliest mountains and wandering from hill to hill and from wood to wood, O valiant princes, you will then proceed to the lotus-pond, Pampā by name, which is free from gravel and has no slime etc., (which may cause one treading on them to slip), is provided with level banks and free from duck-weeds. (8—11) > राम संजातवालूकां कमलोत्पलशोभिताम्। > तत्र हंसाः प्लवाः क्रौञ्चाः कुरराश्चैव राघव॥ १२॥ > वल्गुस्वरा निकूजन्ति पम्पासलिलगोचराः। > नोद्विजन्ते नरान् दृष्ट्वा वधस्याकोविदाः शुभाः॥ १३॥ “Its rocky bed causes sand to be formed on it and it remains ever adorned with lotuses and lilies, O Rāma ! Swimming on the water of Pampā, lovely swans, ducks, Krauñcas and ospreys call in sweet tones there, O scion of Raghu ! Having not known destruction before, they are not frightened to see human beings. (12-13) > घृतपिण्डोपमान् स्थूलांस्तान् द्विजान् भक्षयिष्यथः। > रोहितान् वक्रतुण्डांश्च नलमीनांश्च राघव॥ १४॥ > पम्पायामिषुभिर्मत्स्यांस्तत्र राम वरान् हतान्। > निस्त्वक्पक्षानयस्तप्तानकृशानैककण्टकान् ॥ १५॥ > तव भक्त्या समायुक्तो लक्ष्मणः सम्प्रदास्यति। > भृशं तान् खादतो मत्स्यान् पम्पायाः पुष्पसंचये॥ १६॥ > पद्मगन्धि शिवं वारि सुखशीतमनामयम्। > उद्धृत्य स तदाक्लिष्टं रूप्यस्फटिकसंनिभम्॥ १७॥ > अथ पुष्करपर्णेन लक्ष्मणः पाययिष्यति। > स्थूलान् गिरिगुहाशय्यान् वानरान् वनचारिणः॥ १८॥ > सायाह्ने विचरन् राम दर्शयिष्यति लक्ष्मणः। > अपां लोभादुपावृत्तान् वृषभानिव नर्दतः॥ १९॥ > स्थूलान् पीतांश्च पम्पायां द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं नरोत्तम। > सायाह्ने विचरन् राम विटपी माल्यधारिणः॥ २०॥ > शिवोदकं च पम्पायां दृष्ट्वा शोकं विहास्यसि। > सुमनोभिश्चितास्तत्र तिलका नक्तमालकाः॥ २१॥ > उत्पलानि च फुल्लानि पङ्कजानि च राघव। > न तानि कश्चिन्माल्यानि तत्रारोपयिता नरः॥ २२॥ “You two should feed there on the edge of the said Pampā, O scion of Raghu, those plump birds as well as the beautiful fishes well-known by the names of Rohita, Vakratuṇḍa and Nalamīna on fresh edibles (in the form of bulbs and roots) stripped of their rind and other coverings with the heads of your arrows with not a single thorn left in them and looking like balls of clarified butter and roasted on the steel heads of those very arrows, which Lakṣmaṇa, who is richly adorned with devotion, will lovingly offer you. Then, taking out in the leaves (formed into a hollow) of a lotus the delightful, pleasantly cool, wholesome and limpid water of the Pampā, fragrant with the scent of lotuses and sparkling like silver and crystal, the said Lakṣmaṇa will forthwith give it to you to drink while you are busy feeding again and again those fishes in the midst of the collection of flowers in the Pampā. Rambling at dusk, O Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa will show you stout monkeys roaming in the forest and reposing in caves. You will see those stout monkeys arrived on the brink of the Pampā due to longing for water, and having drunk water, lowing like bulls, O jewel among men ! Beholding trees putting on blossom and the delightful water of the Pampā while roving at dusk, O Rāma, you will cast off grief. The Tilaka and Naktamāla trees in that forest are covered with blossom and the lotuses and lilies in the lake are expanded, O scion of Raghu ! The lake being beyond human reach, no man would ever venture to pluck and wear those flowers on his person. (14—22) > न च वै म्लानतां यान्ति न च शीर्यन्ति राघव। > मतङ्गशिष्यास्तत्रासन्नृषयः सुसमाहिताः॥ २३॥ “The flowers in that region neither fade nor decay, O scion of Raghu ! Formerly there lived in that forest Ṛṣis (seers of Vedic Mantras) who were pupils of Sage Mataṅga and were highly composed. (23) > तेषां भाराभितप्तानां वन्यमाहरतां गुरोः। > ये प्रपेतुर्महीं तूर्णं शरीरात् स्वेदबिन्दवः॥ २४॥ > तानि माल्यानि जातानि मुनीनां तपसा तदा। > स्वेदबिन्दुसमुत्थानि न विनश्यन्ति राघव॥ २५॥ “The drops of perspiration that fell down from their body to the ground when they felt oppressed with their load while bringing the produce of the forest for their teacher quickly turned into flowers by force of their austerities at that time. Sprung as they are of those drops of perspiration, they never die, O scion of Raghu ! (24-25) > तेषां गतानामद्यापि दृश्यते परिचारिणी। > श्रमणी शबरी नाम काकुत्स्थ चिरजीविनी॥ २६॥ “Even though they have departed for the higher worlds earned by virtue of their austerities, their female attendant, an ascetic woman, Śabarī by name, who is long lived, is still to be seen, O scion of Kākutstha ! (26) > त्वां तु धर्मे स्थिता नित्यं सर्वभूतनमस्कृतम्। > दृष्ट्वा देवोपमं राम स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यति॥ २७॥ “The woman, who is ever devoted to virtue, will ascend to heaven (the realm of Brahmā) only after seeing you, who are greeted by the whole world, godlike as you are, O Rāma ! (27) > ततस्तद्राम पम्पायास्तीरमाश्रित्य पश्चिमम्। > आश्रमस्थानमतुलं गुह्यं काकुत्स्थ पश्यसि॥ २८॥ “After that, O Rāma, you will see the site of a well-known hermitage, the former abode of Mataṅga, now occupied by Śabarī, located on the western edge of Pampā, which is incomparable and hidden from public view, being inaccessible to man, O scion of Kākutstha ! (28) > न तत्राक्रमितुं नागाः शक्नुवन्ति तदाश्रमे। > ऋषेस्तस्य मतङ्गस्य विधानात् तच्च काननम्॥ २९॥ > मतङ्गवनमित्येव विश्रुतं रघुनन्दन। > तस्मिन् नन्दनसंकाशे देवारण्योपमे वने॥ ३०॥ > नानाविहगसंकीर्णे रंस्यसे राम निर्वृतः। > ऋष्यमूकस्तु पम्पायाः पुरस्तात् पुष्पितद्रुमः॥ ३१॥ > सुदुःखारोहणश्चैव शिशुनागाभिरक्षितः। > उदारो ब्रह्मणा चैव पूर्वकालेऽभिनिर्मितः॥ ३२॥ “Through the spiritual power of the aforesaid Sage Mataṅga (who cast off his body long ago) elephants, which abound in the forest round about the hermitage, are not able to intrude into that hermitage in that forest. The forest in question is widely known by the name of Mataṅgavana only (inasmuch as it is the haunt of elephants), O joy of the race of Raghu ! In that forest, resembling the Nandana grove in paradise and looking like a heavenly forest, crowded with birds of different species, you will enjoy life happily, O Rāma ! To the east of Pampā stands the munificent Ṛṣyamūka Hill, the trees on which are ever in blossom, nay which being steep and high is most difficult of ascent and is guarded on all sides by young elephants, and which was specially evolved by Brahmā (the creator) in the olden days. (29—32) > शयानः पुरुषो राम तस्य शैलस्य मूर्धनि। > यत् स्वप्नं लभते वित्तं तत् प्रबुद्धोऽधिगच्छति॥ ३३॥ “A man who, reposing on the top of that mountain, lays his hands on a treasure in a dream, attains it even when awake (after sleep), O Rāma ! (33) > यस्त्वेनं विषमाचारः पापकर्माधिरोहति। > तत्रैव प्रहरन्त्येनं सुप्तमादाय राक्षसाः॥ ३४॥ “Seizing, on the other hand, even while he is asleep, him who climbs up this mountain though partial in his conduct and engaged in sinful acts, ogres strike him. (34) > तत्रापि शिशुनागानामाक्रन्दः श्रूयते महान्। > क्रीडतां राम पम्पायां मतङ्गाश्रमवासिनाम्॥ ३५॥ “The loud trumpeting of young elephants, inhabiting the forest surrounding the hermitage of Sage Mataṅga and disporting in the Pampā lake, O Rāma, is heard even on that mountain. (35) > सक्ता रुधिरधाराभिः संहत्य परमद्विपाः। > प्रचरन्ति पृथक्कीर्णा मेघवर्णास्तरस्विनः॥ ३६॥ “Wet with streams of reddish ichor, huge elephants possessing the dark hue of clouds and full of ardour roam there in a herd, remaining distinct from other herds. (36) > ते तत्र पीत्वा पानीयं विमलं चारु शोभनम्। > अत्यन्तसुखसंस्पर्शं सर्वगन्धसमन्वितम्॥ ३७॥ > निर्वृत्ताः संविगाहन्ते वनानि वनगोचराः। > ऋक्षांश्च द्वीपिनश्चैव नीलकोमलकप्रभान्॥ ३८॥ > रुरूनपेतानजयान् दृष्ट्वा शोकं प्रहास्यसि। > राम तस्य तु शैलस्य महती शोभते गुहा॥ ३९॥ > शिलापिधाना काकुत्स्थ दुःखं चास्याः प्रवेशनम्। > तस्या गुहायाः प्राग्द्वारे महान् शीतोदको ह्रदः॥॥४० > बहुमूलफलो रम्यो नानानगसमाकुलः। > तस्यां वसति धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवः सह वानरैः॥ ४१॥ > कदाचिच्छिखरे तस्य पर्वतस्यापि तिष्ठति। > कबन्धस्त्वनुशास्यैवं तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ ४२॥ > स्रग्वी भास्करवर्णाभः खे व्यरोचत वीर्यवान्। > तं तु खस्थं महाभागं तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ ४३॥ > प्रस्थितौ त्वं व्रजस्वेति वाक्यमूचतुरन्तिके। > गम्यतां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थमिति तावब्रवीत् स च॥ ४४॥ “Gratified after drinking the limpid, agreeable and lovely water of the lake, which is most delightful to touch and fragrant with all kinds of odours, the wild elephants penetrate into the woodlands again. Beholding the bears possessed of a blue and soft shining coat and leopards as well as the Rurus (a species of deer) unconquered by man and arrived near without fear, you will shed grief altogether. Spreading its charm on that mountain, O Rāma, there is a big cave which has its mouth blocked with a rock and as such is difficult to enter, O scion of Kakutstha ! At the eastern entrance of that cave there is a large lovely deep pool of cool water abounding in roots and fruits and surrounded by trees of various species. Sugrīva, whose mind is set on virtue, dwells in that cave with other monkeys. Sometimes he resides even on the top of that mountain.” Having instructed as aforesaid both the princes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the powerful Kabandha for his part, who was adorned with a garland and possessed a splendour resembling the sun’s, shone brightly in the air. To the highly blessed Kabandha, who remained standing in the air for sometime to take leave of the two princes, both the princes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, for their part, already set out on their journey, spoke as follows standing near the ogre : “Depart you !” He too said to them, “Proceed on your journey for accomplishing your purpose.” (37—44) > सुप्रीतौ तावनुज्ञाप्य कबन्धः प्रस्थितस्तदा॥ ४५॥ Taking leave of the two princes, who felt highly pleased, Kabandha departed forthwith. (45) > स तत् कबन्धः प्रतिपद्य रूपं > वृतः श्रिया भास्वरसर्वदेहः। > निदर्शयन् राममवेक्ष्य खस्थः > सख्यं कुरुष्वेति तदाभ्युवाच॥ ४६॥ Having regained his pristine form, and showing the path to the Ṛṣyamūka Hill, nay, gazing on Śrī Rāma, Kabandha, who was enveloped in glory and whose entire body was full of glow, presently said to Śrī Rāma, while remaining in the air, ‘Do enter into an alliance with Sugrīva !’ ” (46) Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana --- Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. 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