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title: "Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/ayodhya-kanda/sarga-116"
lang: "en"
---

# Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116

> प्रतियाते तु भरते वसन् रामस्तदा वने।  
> लक्षयामास सोद्वेगमथौत्सुक्यं तपस्विनाम्॥ १॥

Living in the forest when Bharata had returned to Ayodhyā, Śrī Rāma for his part forthwith noticed during that period anxiety accompanied by perturbation among the ascetics. (1)

> ये तत्र चित्रकूटस्य पुरस्तात् तापसाश्रमे।  
> राममाश्रित्य निरतास्तानलक्षयदुत्सुकान्॥ २॥

He perceived the ascetics, who looked formerly quite pleased in that hermitage at Citrakūṭa, depending, as they did, on Śrī Rāma, anxious. (2)

> नयनैर्भ्रुकुटीभिश्च रामं निर्दिश्य शङ्किताः।  
> अन्योन्यमुपजल्पन्तः शनैश्चक्रुर्मिथः कथाः॥ ३॥

Making references to Śrī Rāma through the movements of their eyes and eyebrows and calling one another, full of misgiving, they whispered among themselves. (3)

> तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य रामस्त्वात्मनि शङ्कितः।  
> कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदमृषिं कुलपतिं ततः॥ ४॥

Perceiving their anxiety, Śrī Rāma was filled with apprehension about himself and accordingly submitted with folded hands as follows to the Ṛṣi (a seer of Vedic Mantras) who presided over the hermitage : (4)

> न कश्चिद् भगवन् किंचित् पूर्ववृत्तमिदं मयि।  
> दृश्यते विकृतं येन विक्रियन्ते तपस्विनः॥ ५॥

“I fear, O venerable sir, the conduct of my forefathers is not seen in me here, or there is some change for the worse in me, due to which the ascetics feel agitated. (5)

> प्रमादाच्चरितं किंचित् कच्चिन्नावरजस्य मे।  
> लक्ष्मणस्यर्षिभिर्दृष्टं नानुरूपं महात्मनः॥ ६॥

“I hope no lapse, unbecoming of an exalted soul, on the part of my younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa, has been detected by the sages. (6)

> कच्चिच्छुश्रूषमाणा वः शुश्रूषणपरा मयि।  
> प्रमदाभ्युचितां वृत्तिं सीता युक्तां न वर्तते॥ ७॥

“While attending on you, Sītā, who remains solely devoted to my service, does not, I am afraid, follow the conduct wholly worthy of a young lady and showing due respect to you.” (7)

> अथर्षिर्जरया वृद्धस्तपसा च जरां गतः।  
> वेपमान इवोवाच रामं भूतदयापरम्॥ ८॥

The Ṛṣi, who was not only worn out from age but had also attained ripeness through askesis, replied as follows, as though quaking, to Śrī Rāma, who regarded compassion for created beings as the highest virtue : (8)

> कुतः कल्याणसत्त्वायाः कल्याणाभिरतेः सदा।  
> चलनं तात वैदेह्यास्तपस्विषु विशेषतः॥ ९॥

“How can there be any aberration, my darling, on the part of Sītā, a princess of the Videha kingdom, who has a benign disposition and is ever devoted to goodness, particularly in her attitude towards ascetics? (9)

> त्वन्निमित्तमिदं तावत् तापसान् प्रति वर्तते।  
> रक्षोभ्यस्तेन संविग्नाः कथयन्ति मिथः कथाः॥ १०॥

“This peril from the Rākṣasas threatens the ascetics because of you, who are kindly disposed to the latter. Alarmed by it, they hold conversation among themselves. (10)

> रावणावरजः कश्चित् खरो नामेह राक्षसः।  
> उत्पाट्य तापसान् सर्वाञ्जनस्थाननिवासिनः॥ ११॥  
> धृष्टश्च जितकाशी च नृशंसः पुरुषादकः।  
> अवलिप्तश्च पापश्च त्वां च तात न मृष्यते॥ १२॥

“Having uprooted all the ascetics in Janasthāna (a portion of the Daṇḍaka forest), a man-eating Rākṣasa, Khara by name—who is a younger brother of Rāvaṇa and is presumptuous, victorious in battle, brutal, haughty and sinful—is intolerant of you too, my darling ! (11-12)

> त्वं यदाप्रभृति ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रमे तात वर्तसे।  
> तदाप्रभृति रक्षांसि विप्रकुर्वन्ति तापसान्॥ १३॥

“Ever since, O darling, you are in this hermitage, the ogres continue to ill-treat the ascetics. (13)

> दर्शयन्ति हि बीभत्सैः क्रूरैर्भीषणकैरपि।  
> नानारूपैर्विरूपैश्च रूपैरसुखदर्शनैः॥ १४॥

“They reveal themselves in diverse odious, savage, hideous and ugly forms, whose very sight brings sorrow in its wake. (14)

> अप्रशस्तैरशुचिभिः सम्प्रयुज्य च तापसान्।  
> प्रतिघ्नन्त्यपरान् क्षिप्रमनार्याः पुरतः स्थितान्॥ १५॥

“Nay, forcibly bringing the ascetics into touch with forbidden and impure substances, the ignoble fellows quickly dispose of others standing in front of them. (15)

> तेषु तेष्वाश्रमस्थानेष्वबुद्धमवलीय च।  
> रमन्ते तापसांस्तत्र नाशयन्तोऽल्पचेतसः॥ १६॥

‘They incognito hide themselves in this hermitage and killing the dull-witted and unconscious ascetics, move about there in glee. (16)

> अवक्षिपन्ति स्रुग्भाण्डानग्नीन् सिञ्चन्ति वारिणा।  
> कलशांश्च प्रमर्दन्ति हवने समुपस्थिते॥ १७॥

“When the time of pouring oblations into the sacred fire has approached, they fling away sacrificial vessels such as the ladle, sprinkle the fires with water and smash the water-pots. (17)

> तैर्दुरात्मभिराविष्टानाश्रमान् प्रजिहासवः।  
> गमनायान्यदेशस्य चोदयन्त्यृषयोऽद्य माम्॥ १८॥

“Desirous of leaving for good the hermitages defiled by those evil-minded fellows, the sages urge me to shift to another region today. (18)

> तत् पुरा राम शारीरीमुपहिंसां तपस्विषु।  
> दर्शयन्ति हि दुष्टास्ते त्यक्ष्याम इममाश्रमम्॥ १९॥

“Therefore, O Rāma, we shall certainly abandon this hermitage before those wicked fellows exhibit bodily violence towards the ascetics. (19)

> बहुमूलफलं चित्रमविदूरादितो वनम्।  
> अश्वस्याश्रममेवाहं श्रयिष्ये सगणः पुनः॥ २०॥

“I shall then resort with my followers to the hermitage of Sage Aśwa (lit., who does not lay by anything for the morrow), consisting of an excellent woodland abounding in roots and fruits, not very far from this place. (20)

> खरस्त्वय्यपि चायुक्तं पुरा राम प्रवर्तते।  
> सहास्माभिरितो गच्छ यदि बुद्धिः प्रवर्तते॥ २१॥

“If your mind feels so inclined, O Rāma, depart from this place alongwith us before Khara proceeds unjustly with you as well, O Rāma ! (21)

> सकलत्रस्य संदेहो नित्यं युक्तस्य राघव।  
> समर्थस्यापि हि सतो वासो दुःखमिहाद्य ते॥ २२॥

“Your continuance too at this place, O scion of Raghu, with your consort, although you are ever alert and even though you are powerful enough to put him down, is attended with peril and conducive to misery now.”(22)

> इत्युक्तवन्तं रामस्तं राजपुत्रस्तपस्विनम्।  
> न शशाकोत्तरैर्वाक्यैरवबद्धुं समुत्सुकम्॥ २३॥

Prince Rāma could not with counter-arguments check the said ascetic when he had spoken as above, impatient as he was to leave the place. (23)

> अभिनन्द्य समापृच्छ्य समाधाय च राघवम्।  
> स जगामाश्रमं त्यक्त्वा कुलैः कुलपतिः सह॥ २४॥

Extolling, duly taking leave of and consoling Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), the aforesaid leader of the sages departed with the hosts of sages, leaving the hermitage.(24)

> रामः संसाध्य ऋषिगणमनुगमनाद्  
> देशात् तस्मात् कुलपतिमभिवाद्य ऋषिम्।  
> सम्यक्प्रीतैस्तैरनुमत उपदिष्टार्थः  
> पुण्यं वासाय स्वनिलयमुपसम्पेदे॥ २५॥

Seeing off the multitude of sages from that area by following them to a distance, and greeting the Ṛṣi who presided over the entire host, nay, instructed by the sages about his duty, Śrī Rāma, when permitted by them, who were highly pleased with him, returned to his sacred dwelling for rest. (25)

> आश्रममृषिविरहितं प्रभुः  
> क्षणमपि न जहौ स राघवः।  
> राघवं हि सततमनुगता-  
> स्तापसाश्चार्षचरिते धृतगुणाः॥ २६॥

The powerful Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, referred to above, did not leave the hermitage, now bereft of the sages, even for a moment; while the ascetics, who had fixed their mind on Śrī Rāma, who followed the conduct of sages, constantly followed Śrī Rāma, with their mind. (26)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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