Aranya Kanda, Sarga 8
रामस्तु सहसौमित्रिः सुतीक्ष्णेनाभिपूजितः। परिणाम्य निशां तत्र प्रभाते प्रत्यबुध्यत॥ १॥
Meaning
Honoured by Sutīkṣṇa, Rāma for his part together with Lakṣmaṇa passed the night there and got up in the morning. (1)
उत्थाय च यथाकालं राघवः सह सीतया। उपस्पृश्य सुशीतेन तोयेनोत्पलगन्धिना॥ २॥
Meaning
Getting up at the proper time, Rāma together with Sītā bathed in pleasantly cold water fragrant with the scent of lotuses. (2)
अथ तेऽग्निं सुरांश्चैव वैदेही रामलक्ष्मणौ। काल्यं विधिवदभ्यर्च्य तपस्विशरणे वने॥ ३॥ उदयन्तं दिनकरं दृष्ट्वा विगतकल्मषाः। सुतीक्ष्णमभिगम्येदं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रुवन्॥ ४॥
Meaning
Then they—Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā—who were free from sins, worshipped in time the fire and other gods according to the rites, in the forest resorted to by ascetics and, having seen the rising sun and going to Sutīkṣṇa, uttered the following sweet words: (3-4)
सुखोषिताः स्म भगवंस्त्वया पूज्येन पूजिताः। आपृच्छामः प्रयास्यामो मुनयस्त्वरयन्ति नः॥ ५॥
Meaning
“Sir, happily have we stayed, honoured by Your Holiness. We now take leave of you and shall depart. The sages are hastening us. (5)
त्वरामहे वयं द्रष्टुं कृत्स्नमाश्रममण्डलम्। ऋषीणां पुण्यशीलानां दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्॥ ६॥
Meaning
“We shall hasten to see the whole circle of hermitages of the sages of meritorious deeds, staying in the Daṇḍaka forest. (6)
अभ्यनुज्ञातुमिच्छामः सहैभिर्मुनिपुंगवैः। धर्मनित्यैस्तपोदान्तैर्विशिखैरिव पावकैः॥ ७॥
Meaning
“We desire to take leave of you together with these jewels among foremost sages, always persistent in virtue and self-restraint through penance, looking like a fire without smoke. (7)
अविषह्यातपो यावत् सूर्यो नातिविराजते। अमार्गेणागतां लक्ष्मीं प्राप्येवान्वयवर्जितः॥ ८॥ तावदिच्छामहे गन्तुमित्युक्त्वा चरणौ मुनेः। ववन्दे सहसौमित्रिः सीतया सह राघवः॥ ९॥
Meaning
“Before the sun starts shining brightly with unbearable heat, just as a man from a low family becomes unbearable after getting wealth earned through unfair means, we desire to go.” Saying this, Rāghava bowed down at the feet of the sage, together with Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā. (8-9)
तौ संस्पृशन्तौ चरणावुत्थाप्य मुनिपुंगवः। गाढमाश्लिष्य सस्नेहमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ १०॥
Meaning
The great sage lifted the two princes touching his feet and, closely embracing them, uttered these affectionate words : (10)
अरिष्टं गच्छ पन्थानं राम सौमित्रिणा सह। सीतया चानया सार्धं छाययेवानुवृत्तया॥ ११॥
Meaning
“Rāma, proceed on your journey devoid of any danger together with the son of Sumitrā and with Sītā, who is following you like a shadow. (11)
पश्याश्रमपदं रम्यं दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्। एषां तपस्विनां वीर तपसा भावितात्मनाम्॥ १२॥
Meaning
“O hero, see the charming site of the hermitages of these ascetics, dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest, their soul purified with penance. (12)
सुप्राज्यफलमूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च। प्रशस्तमृगयूथानि शान्तपक्षिगणानि च॥ १३॥ फुल्लपङ्कजखण्डानि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च। कारण्डवविकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च॥ १४॥ द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टिरम्याणि गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च। रमणीयान्यरण्यानि मयूराभिरुतानि च॥ १५॥
Meaning
“You will see beautiful forests abounding in fruits and roots and full of flowers with excellent herds of deer and peaceful flocks of birds, lakes and ponds containing cluster of blossoming lotuses with crystal waters and thronged with water-fowls, springs on mountains, charming to the eye, and beautiful forests resounding with the noise of peacocks. (13—15)
गम्यतां वत्स सौमित्रे भवानपि च गच्छतु। आगन्तव्यं च ते दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाश्रमं प्रति॥ १६॥
Meaning
“Go, dear Rāma; you too may go, O son of Sumitrā ! You should come back to this very hermitage after seeing these things.” (16)
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा काकुत्स्थः सहलक्ष्मणः। प्रदक्षिणं मुनिं कृत्वा प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे॥ १७॥
Meaning
Thus addressed, Kākutstha, together with Lakṣmaṇa, said, “So be it !” and going round the sage keeping him to the right, started on his journey. (17)
ततः शुभतरे तूणी धनुषी चायतेक्षणा। ददौ सीता तयोर्भ्रात्रोः खड्गौ च विमलौ ततः॥ १८॥
Meaning
Then Sītā, possessed of large eyes, handed to those two brothers highly superb quivers, bows and polished swords. (18)
आबध्य च शुभे तूणी चापे चादाय सस्वने। निष्क्रान्तावाश्रमाद् गन्तुमुभौ तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ १९॥
Meaning
Both of them, Rāma as well as Lakṣmaṇa, fastened the beautiful quivers, took with a twang the bows and left the hermitage for proceeding on their journey. (19)
शीघ्रं तौ रूपसम्पन्नावनुज्ञातौ महर्षिणा। प्रस्थितौ धृतचापासी सीतया सह राघवौ॥ २०॥
Meaning
Permitted by the great sage and holding the bows and the swords, the two handsome Rāghavas started with Sītā. (20)
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