The Passing of Sharabhanga

Shloka 1 (aranya.5.1)

हत्वा तु तं भीमबलं विराधं राक्षसं वने । ततः सीतां परिष्वज्य समाश्वास्य च वीर्यवान् ॥ 5.1 ॥

hatvā tu taṃ bhīmabalaṃ virādhaṃ rākṣasaṃ vane | tataḥ sītāṃ pariṣvajya samāśvāsya ca vīryavān || 5.1 ||

Having slain that demon Viradha of terrible might in the forest, the valiant Rama then embraced Sita and comforted her,

Shloka 2 (aranya.5.2)

अब्रवीद् भ्रातरं रामो लक्ष्मणं दीप्ततेजसम् । कष्टं वनमिदं दुर्गं न च स्मो वनगोचराः ॥ 5.2 ॥

abravīd bhrātaraṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇaṃ dīptatejasam | kaṣṭaṃ vanamidaṃ durgaṃ na ca smo vanagocarāḥ || 5.2 ||

and said to his radiant brother Lakshmana: "This forest is harsh and impenetrable, and we are not, after all, forest-dwellers by nature;

Shloka 3 (aranya.5.3)

अभिगच्छामहे शीघ्रं शरभङ्गं तपोधनम् । आश्रमं शरभङ्गस्य राघवोऽभिजगाम ह ॥ 5.3 ॥

abhigacchāmahe śīghraṃ śarabhaṅgaṃ tapodhanam | āśramaṃ śarabhaṅgasya rāghavo'bhijagāma ha || 5.3 ||

let us go quickly to Sharabhanga, whose wealth is austerity." So saying, Raghava made his way to Sharabhanga's hermitage.

Shloka 4 (aranya.5.4)

तस्य देवप्रभावस्य तपसा भावितात्मनः । समीपे शरभङ्गस्य ददर्श महदद्भुतम् ॥ 5.4 ॥

tasya devaprabhāvasya tapasā bhāvitātmanaḥ | samīpe śarabhaṅgasya dadarśa mahadadbhutam || 5.4 ||

Near the hermitage of Sharabhanga — his soul purified by austerity, his power divine — Rama beheld a great and wondrous sight.

Shloka 5 (aranya.5.5)

विभ्राजमानं वपुषा सूर्यवैश्वानरप्रभम् । रथप्रवरमारूढमाकाशे विबुधानुगम् ॥ 5.5 ॥

vibhrājamānaṃ vapuṣā sūryavaiśvānaraprabham | rathapravaramārūḍhamākāśe vibudhānugam || 5.5 ||

He saw one whose body blazed with the combined splendour of sun and fire, mounted on a magnificent chariot in the sky, attended by the gods,

Shloka 6 (aranya.5.6)

असंस्पृशन्तं वसुधां ददर्श विबुधेश्वरम् । सम्प्रभाभरणं देवं विरजोऽम्बरधारिणम् ॥ 5.6 ॥

asaṃspṛśantaṃ vasudhāṃ dadarśa vibudheśvaram | samprabhābharaṇaṃ devaṃ virajo'mbaradhāriṇam || 5.6 ||

one who did not touch the earth — the lord of the gods himself — radiant with brilliant ornaments and clad in spotless raiment.

Shloka 7 (aranya.5.7)

तद्विधैरेव बहुभिः पूज्यमानं महात्मभिः । हरितैर्वाजिभिर्युक्तमन्तरिक्षगतं रथम् ॥ 5.7 ॥

tadvidhaireva bahubhiḥ pūjyamānaṃ mahātmabhiḥ | haritairvājibhiryuktamantarikṣagataṃ ratham || 5.7 ||

He was honoured by many great souls of his own kind, and his chariot, coursing through the sky, was drawn by tawny-green steeds —

Shloka 8 (aranya.5.8)

ददर्शादूरतस्तस्य तरुणादित्यसंनिभम् । पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्रख्यं चन्द्रमण्डलसंनिभम् ॥ 5.8 ॥

dadarśādūratastasya taruṇādityasaṃnibham | pāṇḍurābhraghanaprakhyaṃ candramaṇḍalasaṃnibham || 5.8 ||

seen from close by, that chariot shone like the rising sun, like a mass of pale white clouds, like the very orb of the moon.

Shloka 9 (aranya.5.9)

अपश्यद् विमलं छत्रं चित्रमाल्योपशोभितम् । चामरव्यजने चाग्र्ये रुक्मदण्डे महाधने ॥ 5.9 ॥

apaśyad vimalaṃ chatraṃ citramālyopaśobhitam | cāmaravyajane cāgrye rukmadaṇḍe mahādhane || 5.9 ||

He saw a spotless royal parasol, adorned with lovely garlands, and a pair of splendid, priceless fly-whisks with golden handles,

Shloka 10 (aranya.5.10)

गृहीते वरनारीभ्यां धूयमाने च मूर्धनि । गन्धर्वामरसिद्धाश्च बहवः परमर्षयः ॥ 5.10 ॥

gṛhīte varanārībhyāṃ dhūyamāne ca mūrdhani | gandharvāmarasiddhāśca bahavaḥ paramarṣayaḥ || 5.10 ||

which two beautiful women held and waved above his head. And there, too, were many gandharvas, immortals, siddhas, and great sages —

Shloka 11 (aranya.5.11)

अन्तरिक्षगतं देवं गीर्भिरग्र्या भिरैडयन् । सह सम्भाषमाणे तु शरभङ्गेन वासवे ॥ 5.11 ॥

antarikṣagataṃ devaṃ gīrbhiragryā bhiraiḍayan | saha sambhāṣamāṇe tu śarabhaṅgena vāsave || 5.11 ||

extolling with their finest hymns that god who stood there in the sky. And while Vasava (Indra) was conversing thus with Sharabhanga,

Shloka 12 (aranya.5.12)

दृष्ट्वा शतक्रतुं तत्र रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् । रामोऽथ रथमुद्दिश्य भ्रातुर्दर्शयताद्भुतम् ॥ 5.12 ॥

dṛṣṭvā śatakratuṃ tatra rāmo lakṣmaṇamabravīt | rāmo'tha rathamuddiśya bhrāturdarśayatādbhutam || 5.12 ||

Rama, seeing there the hundred-sacrificed Indra, spoke to Lakshmana. Pointing toward the chariot, he showed his brother that wonder, saying—

Shloka 13 (aranya.5.13)

अर्चिष्मन्तं श्रिया जुष्टमद्भुतं पश्य लक्ष्मण । प्रतपन्तमिवादित्यमन्तरिक्षगतं रथम् ॥ 5.13 ॥

arciṣmantaṃ śriyā juṣṭamadbhutaṃ paśya lakṣmaṇa | pratapantamivādityamantarikṣagataṃ ratham || 5.13 ||

"See, Lakshmana, that wondrous chariot in the sky, radiant, endowed with splendour, blazing like the very sun.

Shloka 14 (aranya.5.14)

ये हयाः पुरुहूतस्य पुरा शक्रस्य नः श्रुताः । अन्तरिक्षगता दिव्यास्त इमे हरयो ध्रुवम् ॥ 5.14 ॥

ye hayāḥ puruhūtasya purā śakrasya naḥ śrutāḥ | antarikṣagatā divyāsta ime harayo dhruvam || 5.14 ||

These very horses of which we heard before, belonging to Purandara, to Shakra — these tawny, celestial steeds coursing through the sky must surely be his.

Shloka 15 (aranya.5.15)

इमे च पुरुषव्याघ्र ये तिष्ठन्त्यभितो दिशम् । शतं शतं कुण्डलिनो युवानः खड्गपाणयः ॥ 5.15 ॥

ime ca puruṣavyāghra ye tiṣṭhantyabhito diśam | śataṃ śataṃ kuṇḍalino yuvānaḥ khaḍgapāṇayaḥ || 5.15 ||

And these, O tiger among men, standing in their hundreds and hundreds on every side, young, ear-ringed, swords in hand,

Shloka 16 (aranya.5.16)

विस्तीर्णविपुलोरस्काः परिघायतबाहवः । शोणांशुवसनाः सर्वे व्याघ्रा इव दुरासदाः ॥ 5.16 ॥

vistīrṇavipuloraskāḥ parighāyatabāhavaḥ | śoṇāṃśuvasanāḥ sarve vyāghrā iva durāsadāḥ || 5.16 ||

broad and deep of chest, their arms long as iron clubs, clad in garments of glowing red — all of them, like tigers, unapproachable,

Shloka 17 (aranya.5.17)

उरोदेशेषु सर्वेषां हारा ज्वलनसंनिभाः । रूपं बिभ्रति सौमित्रे पञ्चविंशतिवार्षिकम् ॥ 5.17 ॥

urodeśeṣu sarveṣāṃ hārā jvalanasaṃnibhāḥ | rūpaṃ bibhrati saumitre pañcaviṃśativārṣikam || 5.17 ||

with necklaces upon every chest blazing like fire — all of them, O Saumitri, bear the appearance of youths of five-and-twenty years.

Shloka 18 (aranya.5.18)

एतद्धि किल देवानां वयो भवति नित्यदा । यथेमे पुरुषव्याघ्रा दृश्यन्ते प्रियदर्शनाः ॥ 5.18 ॥

etaddhi kila devānāṃ vayo bhavati nityadā | yatheme puruṣavyāghrā dṛśyante priyadarśanāḥ || 5.18 ||

For it is said that this, indeed, is the age at which the gods remain forever fixed — that is why these tiger-like men appear so pleasing to behold."

Shloka 19 (aranya.5.19)

इहैव सह वैदेह्या मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ लक्ष्मण । यावज्जानाम्यहं व्यक्तं क एष द्युतिमान् रथे ॥ 5.19 ॥

ihaiva saha vaidehyā muhūrtaṃ tiṣṭha lakṣmaṇa | yāvajjānāmyahaṃ vyaktaṃ ka eṣa dyutimān rathe || 5.19 ||

"Stay here a moment, Lakshmana, together with Vaidehi, until I find out clearly who this radiant one on the chariot may be."

Shloka 20 (aranya.5.20)

तमेवमुक्त्वा सौमित्रिमिहैव स्थीयतामिति । अभिचक्राम काकुत्स्थः शरभङ्गाश्रमं प्रति ॥ 5.20 ॥

tamevamuktvā saumitrimihaiva sthīyatāmiti | abhicakrāma kākutsthaḥ śarabhaṅgāśramaṃ prati || 5.20 ||

Having thus told Saumitri to remain there, Kakutstha Rama advanced toward Sharabhanga's hermitage.

Shloka 21 (aranya.5.21)

ततः समभिगच्छन्तं प्रेक्ष्य रामं शचीपतिः । शरभङ्गमनुज्ञाप्य विबुधानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ 5.21 ॥

tataḥ samabhigacchantaṃ prekṣya rāmaṃ śacīpatiḥ | śarabhaṅgamanujñāpya vibudhānidamabravīt || 5.21 ||

Then, seeing Rama approach, Shachi's lord took leave of Sharabhanga and said this to the gods:

Shloka 22 (aranya.5.22)

इहोपयात्यसौ रामो यावन्मां नाभिभाषते । निष्ठां नयत तावत् तु ततो माद्रष्टुमर्हति ॥ 5.22 ॥

ihopayātyasau rāmo yāvanmāṃ nābhibhāṣate | niṣṭhāṃ nayata tāvat tu tato mādraṣṭumarhati || 5.22 ||

"This Rama is approaching. Until he speaks with me, complete your task; only afterward will he be fit to look upon me.

Shloka 23 (aranya.5.23)

जितवन्तं कृतार्थं हि तदाहमचिरादिमम् । कर्म ह्यनेन कर्तव्यं महदन्यैः सुदुष्करम् ॥ 5.23 ॥

jitavantaṃ kṛtārthaṃ hi tadāhamacirādimam | karma hyanena kartavyaṃ mahadanyaiḥ suduṣkaram || 5.23 ||

Once he has triumphed and accomplished his purpose, then very soon I shall behold him; for a great task, most difficult for others, is yet his to perform."

Shloka 24 (aranya.5.24)

अथ वज्री तमामन्त्र्य मानयित्वा च तापसम् । रथेन हययुक्तेन ययौ दिवमरिंदमः ॥ 5.24 ॥

atha vajrī tamāmantrya mānayitvā ca tāpasam | rathena hayayuktena yayau divamariṃdamaḥ || 5.24 ||

Then the wielder of the thunderbolt, the subduer of foes, having taken leave of and honoured that ascetic, departed for heaven in his horse-drawn chariot.

Shloka 25 (aranya.5.25)

प्रयाते तु सहस्राक्षे राघवः सपरिच्छदः । अग्निहोत्रमुपासीनं शरभङ्गमुपागमत् ॥ 5.25 ॥

prayāte tu sahasrākṣe rāghavaḥ saparicchadaḥ | agnihotramupāsīnaṃ śarabhaṅgamupāgamat || 5.25 ||

When the thousand-eyed one had departed, Raghava, together with his companions, approached Sharabhanga, who sat there tending his sacred fire.

Shloka 26 (aranya.5.26)

तस्य पादौ च संगृह्य रामः सीता च लक्ष्मणः । निषेदुस्तदनुज्ञाता लब्धवासा निमन्त्रिताः ॥ 5.26 ॥

tasya pādau ca saṃgṛhya rāmaḥ sītā ca lakṣmaṇaḥ | niṣedustadanujñātā labdhavāsā nimantritāḥ || 5.26 ||

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana touched his feet, and, given his leave and his invitation, having thus found lodging, sat down there.

Shloka 27 (aranya.5.27)

ततः शक्रोपयानं तु पर्यपृच्छत राघवः । शरभङ्गश्च तत् सर्वं राघवाय न्यवेदयत् ॥ 5.27 ॥

tataḥ śakropayānaṃ tu paryapṛcchata rāghavaḥ | śarabhaṅgaśca tat sarvaṃ rāghavāya nyavedayat || 5.27 ||

Then Raghava asked about Indra's coming, and Sharabhanga told Raghava all of it.

Shloka 28 (aranya.5.28)

मामेष वरदो राम ब्रह्मलोकं निनीषति । जितमुग्रेण तपसा दुष्प्रापमकृतात्मभिः ॥ 5.28 ॥

māmeṣa varado rāma brahmalokaṃ ninīṣati | jitamugreṇa tapasā duṣprāpamakṛtātmabhiḥ || 5.28 ||

"This bounteous Indra, O Rama, wishes to lead me to the world of Brahma, a world I have won by fierce austerity, one hard to attain for those of undisciplined soul.

Shloka 29 (aranya.5.29)

अहं ज्ञात्वा नरव्याघ्र वर्तमानमदूरतः । ब्रह्मलोकं न गच्छामि त्वामदृष्ट्वा प्रियातिथिम् ॥ 5.29 ॥

ahaṃ jñātvā naravyāghra vartamānamadūrataḥ | brahmalokaṃ na gacchāmi tvāmadṛṣṭvā priyātithim || 5.29 ||

But, tiger among men, knowing that you were near at hand, I would not go to the world of Brahma without first seeing you, my beloved guest.

Shloka 30 (aranya.5.30)

त्वयाहं पुरुषव्याघ्र धार्मिकेण महात्मना । समागम्य गमिष्यामि त्रिदिवं चावरं परम् ॥ 5.30 ॥

tvayāhaṃ puruṣavyāghra dhārmikeṇa mahātmanā | samāgamya gamiṣyāmi tridivaṃ cāvaraṃ param || 5.30 ||

Having met you, O tiger among men, righteous and great of soul, I shall now depart for the triple heaven, be it the lesser or the highest.

Shloka 31 (aranya.5.31)

अक्षया नरशार्दूल जिता लोका मया शुभाः । ब्राह्म्याश्च नाकपृष्ठ्याश्च प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मामकान् ॥ 5.31 ॥

akṣayā naraśārdūla jitā lokā mayā śubhāḥ | brāhmyāśca nākapṛṣṭhyāśca pratigṛhṇīṣva māmakān || 5.31 ||

O tiger among men, the imperishable and blessed worlds I have won — whether of Brahma's realm or beyond the vault of heaven — accept these worlds of mine as your own."

Shloka 32 (aranya.5.32)

एवमुक्तो नरव्याघ्रः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः । ऋषिणा शरभङ्गेन राघवो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 5.32 ॥

evamukto naravyāghraḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ | ṛṣiṇā śarabhaṅgena rāghavo vākyamabravīt || 5.32 ||

When the sage Sharabhanga had spoken thus, Raghava, that tiger among men, versed in every scripture, replied:

Shloka 33 (aranya.5.33)

अहमेवाहरिष्यामि सर्वान् लोकान् महामुने । आवासं त्वहमिच्छामि प्रदिष्टमिह कानने ॥ 5.33 ॥

ahamevāhariṣyāmi sarvān lokān mahāmune | āvāsaṃ tvahamicchāmi pradiṣṭamiha kānane || 5.33 ||

"I myself, O great sage, am able to win all the worlds by my own right; what I ask of you is only a dwelling place appointed here in this forest."

Shloka 34 (aranya.5.34)

राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु शक्रतुल्यबलेन वै । शरभङ्गो महाप्राज्ञः पुनरेवाब्रवीद् वचः ॥ 5.34 ॥

rāghaveṇaivamuktastu śakratulyabalena vai | śarabhaṅgo mahāprājñaḥ punarevābravīd vacaḥ || 5.34 ||

Thus addressed by Raghava, whose strength equalled Indra's, Sharabhanga, of great wisdom, spoke once more, saying:

Shloka 35 (aranya.5.35)

इह राम महातेजाः सुतीक्ष्णो नाम धार्मिकः । वसत्यरण्ये नियतः स ते श्रेयो विधास्यति ॥ 5.35 ॥

iha rāma mahātejāḥ sutīkṣṇo nāma dhārmikaḥ | vasatyaraṇye niyataḥ sa te śreyo vidhāsyati || 5.35 ||

"Here, Rama, there dwells in this forest, self-disciplined, a greatly resplendent and righteous sage named Sutikshna; he will show you what is best.

Shloka 36 (aranya.5.36)

सुतीक्ष्णमभिगच्छ त्वं शुचौ देशे तपस्विनम् । रमणीये वनोद्देशे स ते वासं विधास्यति ॥ 5.36 ॥

sutīkṣṇamabhigaccha tvaṃ śucau deśe tapasvinam | ramaṇīye vanoddeśe sa te vāsaṃ vidhāsyati || 5.36 ||

Go to that ascetic Sutikshna, who dwells in a pure and lovely part of the forest; he will provide for your dwelling there.

Shloka 37 (aranya.5.37)

इमां मन्दाकिनीं राम प्रतिस्रोतामनुव्रज । नदीं पुष्पोडुपवहां ततस्तत्र गमिष्यसि ॥ 5.37 ॥

imāṃ mandākinīṃ rāma pratisrotāmanuvraja | nadīṃ puṣpoḍupavahāṃ tatastatra gamiṣyasi || 5.37 ||

Follow, O Rama, this Mandakini river, that carries little flower-boats upon its stream, against its current; then you shall reach that place.

Shloka 38 (aranya.5.38)

एष पन्था नरव्याघ्र मुहूर्तं पश्य तात माम् । यावज्जहामि गात्राणि जीर्णां त्वचमिवोरगः ॥ 5.38 ॥

eṣa panthā naravyāghra muhūrtaṃ paśya tāta mām | yāvajjahāmi gātrāṇi jīrṇāṃ tvacamivoragaḥ || 5.38 ||

This is the path, O tiger among men. And now, dear one, watch me for a moment, as I cast off this body, as a serpent casts off its worn-out skin."

Shloka 39 (aranya.5.39)

ततोऽग्निं स समाधाय हुत्वा चाज्येन मन्त्रवित् । शरभङ्गो महातेजाः प्रविवेश हुताशनम् ॥ 5.39 ॥

tato'gniṃ sa samādhāya hutvā cājyena mantravit | śarabhaṅgo mahātejāḥ praviveśa hutāśanam || 5.39 ||

Then that greatly resplendent sage, versed in sacred formulas, having duly kindled the fire and offered oblations of clarified butter into it, entered that very fire.

Shloka 40 (aranya.5.40)

तस्य रोमाणि केशांश्च तदा वह्निर्महात्मनः । जीर्णां त्वचं तदस्थीनि यच्च मांसं च शोणितम् ॥ 5.40 ॥

tasya romāṇi keśāṃśca tadā vahnirmahātmanaḥ | jīrṇāṃ tvacaṃ tadasthīni yacca māṃsaṃ ca śoṇitam || 5.40 ||

Then the fire consumed the body-hairs, the head-hair, the aged skin, the bones, and whatever flesh and blood remained of that great soul.

Shloka 41 (aranya.5.41)

स च पावकसंकाशः कुमारः समपद्यत । उत्थायाग्निचयात् तस्माच्छरभङ्गो व्यरोचत ॥ 5.41 ॥

sa ca pāvakasaṃkāśaḥ kumāraḥ samapadyata | utthāyāgnicayāt tasmāccharabhaṅgo vyarocata || 5.41 ||

And he arose, transformed into a youth radiant as fire itself; rising from that fire-altar, Sharabhanga shone forth resplendent.

Shloka 42 (aranya.5.42)

स लोकानाहिताग्नीनामृषीणां च महात्मनाम् । देवानां च व्यतिक्रम्य ब्रह्मलोकं व्यरोहत ॥ 5.42 ॥

sa lokānāhitāgnīnāmṛṣīṇāṃ ca mahātmanām | devānāṃ ca vyatikramya brahmalokaṃ vyarohata || 5.42 ||

Passing beyond the worlds of the fire-keepers, of great-souled sages, and even of the gods, he ascended to the world of Brahma.

Shloka 43 (aranya.5.43)

स पुण्यकर्मा भुवने द्विजर्षभः । पितामहं सानुचरं ददर्श ह । पितामहश्चापि समीक्ष्य तं द्विजं । ननन्द सुस्वागतमित्युवाच ह ॥ 5.43 ॥

sa puṇyakarmā bhuvane dvijarṣabhaḥ | pitāmahaṃ sānucaraṃ dadarśa ha | pitāmahaścāpi samīkṣya taṃ dvijaṃ | nananda susvāgatamityuvāca ha || 5.43 ||

That meritorious one, foremost of the twice-born, beheld in that world the Grandsire Brahma amid his attendants; and the Grandsire too, on beholding that brahmin, rejoiced and said, "Welcome."