The Sages' Plea at Sharabhanga's Ashrama

Shloka 1 (aranya.6.1)

शरभङ्गे दिवं प्राप्ते मुनिसङ्घाः समागताः । अभ्यगच्छन्त काकुत्स्थं रामं ज्वलिततेजसम् ॥ 6.1 ॥

śarabhaṅge divaṃ prāpte munisaṅghāḥ samāgatāḥ abhyagacchanta kākutsthaṃ rāmaṃ jvalitatejasam || 6.1 ||

When Sharabhanga had attained heaven, throngs of sages gathered there and approached Rama of the Kakutstha line, ablaze with radiance.

Shloka 2 (aranya.6.2)

वैखानसा वालखिल्याः सम्प्रक्षाला मरीचिपाः । अश्मकुट्टाश्च बहवः पत्राहाराश्च तापसाः ॥ 6.2 ॥

vaikhānasā vālakhilyāḥ samprakṣālā marīcipāḥ aśmakuṭṭāśca bahavaḥ patrāhārāśca tāpasāḥ || 6.2 ||

There were Vaikhanasas, Valakhilyas, Samprakshalas, and those who drank only moonbeams, as well as many ascetics who pounded their grain with stones alone, and others who lived on leaves.

Shloka 3 (aranya.6.3)

दन्तोलूखलिनश्चैव तथैवोन्मज्जकाः परे । गात्रशय्या अशय्याश्च तथैवानवकाशिकाः ॥ 6.3 ॥

dantolūkhalinaścaiva tathaivonmajjakāḥ pare gātraśayyā aśayyāśca tathaivānavakāśikāḥ || 6.3 ||

Some used their own teeth in place of a mortar; others remained submerged in water; some slept only on the bare ground; some never slept at all; and others always stood exposed beneath the open sky.

Shloka 4 (aranya.6.4)

मुनयः सलिलाहारा वायुभक्षास्तथापरे । आकाशनिलयाश्चैव तथा स्थण्डिलशायिनः ॥ 6.4 ॥

munayaḥ salilāhārā vāyubhakṣāstathāpare ākāśanilayāścaiva tathā sthaṇḍilaśāyinaḥ || 6.4 ||

Some sages lived on water alone, others subsisted only on air; some made the very sky their dwelling, and others slept only on bare, unspread earth.

Shloka 5 (aranya.6.5)

तथोर्ध्ववासिनो दान्तास्तथाऽऽर्द्रपटवाससः । सजपाश्च तपोनिष्ठास्तथा पञ्चतपोऽन्विताः ॥ 6.5 ॥

tathordhvavāsino dāntāstathā''rdrapaṭavāsasaḥ sajapāśca taponiṣṭhāstathā pañcatapo'nvitāḥ || 6.5 ||

Some always stood with arms raised skyward, self-restrained and clad in wet garments; others were ever devoted to japa and steadfast in the discipline of the five fires.

Shloka 6 (aranya.6.6)

सर्वे ब्राह्म्या श्रिया युक्ता दृढयोगसमाहिताः । शरभङ्गाश्रमे राममभिजग्मुश्च तापसाः ॥ 6.6 ॥

sarve brāhmyā śriyā yuktā dṛḍhayogasamāhitāḥ śarabhaṅgāśrame rāmamabhijagmuśca tāpasāḥ || 6.6 ||

All these ascetics, radiant with Brahmic splendour and deeply settled in unwavering yoga, came thus to Rama at Sharabhanga's hermitage.

Shloka 7 (aranya.6.7)

अभिगम्य च धर्मज्ञा रामं धर्मभृतां वरम् । ऊचुः परमधर्मज्ञमृषिसङ्घाः समागताः ॥ 6.7 ॥

abhigamya ca dharmajñā rāmaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ varam ūcuḥ paramadharmajñamṛṣisaṅghāḥ samāgatāḥ || 6.7 ||

Approaching Rama, foremost among the upholders of dharma, that assembled host of sages—themselves knowers of righteousness—addressed him, the supreme knower of dharma.

Shloka 8 (aranya.6.8)

त्वमिक्ष्वाकुकुलस्यास्य पृथिव्याश्च महारथः । प्रधानश्चापि नाथश्च देवानां मघवानिव ॥ 6.8 ॥

tvamikṣvākukulasyāsya pṛthivyāśca mahārathaḥ pradhānaścāpi nāthaśca devānāṃ maghavāniva || 6.8 ||

You are the great champion of this Ikshvaku lineage and of this earth, its foremost protector, even as Indra is lord to the gods.

Shloka 9 (aranya.6.9)

विश्रुतस्त्रिषु लोकेषु यशसा विक्रमेण च । पितृव्रतत्वं सत्यं च त्वयि धर्मश्च पुष्कलः ॥ 6.9 ॥

viśrutastriṣu lokeṣu yaśasā vikrameṇa ca pitṛvratatvaṃ satyaṃ ca tvayi dharmaśca puṣkalaḥ || 6.9 ||

Renowned in all three worlds for your fame and valour, you embody devotion to your father's word, truthfulness, and abundant righteousness.

Shloka 10 (aranya.6.10)

त्वामासाद्य महात्मानं धर्मज्ञं धर्मवत्सलम् । अर्थित्वान्नाथ वक्ष्यामस्तच्च नः क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥ 6.10 ॥

tvāmāsādya mahātmānaṃ dharmajñaṃ dharmavatsalam arthitvānnātha vakṣyāmastacca naḥ kṣantumarhasi || 6.10 ||

Having come to you, O protector—great soul, knower of dharma, devoted to dharma—we speak out of our own need; may you forgive us for this.

Shloka 11 (aranya.6.11)

अधर्मः सुमहान् नाथ भवेत् तस्य तु भूपतेः । यो हरेद् बलिषड्भागं न च रक्षति पुत्रवत् ॥ 6.11 ॥

adharmaḥ sumahān nātha bhavet tasya tu bhūpateḥ yo hared baliṣaḍbhāgaṃ na ca rakṣati putravat || 6.11 ||

Great, O lord, would be the sin of that king who takes a sixth part of his people's produce as tax yet fails to protect them as his own children.

Shloka 12 (aranya.6.12)

युञ्जानः स्वानिव प्राणान् प्राणैरिष्टान् सुतानिव । नित्ययुक्तः सदा रक्षन् सर्वान् विषयवासिनः ॥ 6.12 ॥

yuñjānaḥ svāniva prāṇān prāṇairiṣṭān sutāniva nityayuktaḥ sadā rakṣan sarvān viṣayavāsinaḥ || 6.12 ||

But the king who, treating his subjects as dear as his own life and as beloved as sons, ever and diligently protects all who dwell in his realm—

Shloka 13 (aranya.6.13)

प्राप्नोति शाश्वतीं राम कीर्तिं स बहुवार्षिकीम् । ब्रह्मणः स्थानमासाद्य तत्र चापि महीयते ॥ 6.13 ॥

prāpnoti śāśvatīṃ rāma kīrtiṃ sa bahuvārṣikīm brahmaṇaḥ sthānamāsādya tatra cāpi mahīyate || 6.13 ||

—he, O Rama, attains eternal, age-enduring fame, and, reaching the abode of Brahma, is honoured there as well.

Shloka 14 (aranya.6.14)

यत् करोति परं धर्मं मुनिर्मूलफलाशनः । तत्र राज्ञश्चतुर्भागः प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षतः ॥ 6.14 ॥

yat karoti paraṃ dharmaṃ munirmūlaphalāśanaḥ tatra rājñaścaturbhāgaḥ prajā dharmeṇa rakṣataḥ || 6.14 ||

Whatever supreme merit a sage subsisting on roots and fruits earns through his austerities, a fourth part of it belongs to the king who righteously protects his people.

Shloka 15 (aranya.6.15)

सोऽयं ब्राह्मणभूयिष्ठो वानप्रस्थगणो महान् । त्वन्नाथोऽनाथवद् राम राक्षसैर्हन्यते भृशम् ॥ 6.15 ॥

so'yaṃ brāhmaṇabhūyiṣṭho vānaprasthagaṇo mahān tvannātho'nāthavad rāma rākṣasairhanyate bhṛśam || 6.15 ||

This great community of forest-dwelling hermits, mostly brahmins, though it has you as its lord, is being cruelly slaughtered by rakshasas as though it had no protector at all, O Rama.

Shloka 16 (aranya.6.16)

एहि पश्य शरीराणि मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । हतानां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्बहूनां बहुधा वने ॥ 6.16 ॥

ehi paśya śarīrāṇi munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām hatānāṃ rākṣasairghorairbahūnāṃ bahudhā vane || 6.16 ||

Come and see the bodies of many purified-souled sages, slain in the forest in various ways by fearsome rakshasas.

Shloka 17 (aranya.6.17)

पम्पानदीनिवासानामनुमन्दाकिनीमपि । चित्रकूटालयानां च क्रियते कदनं महत् ॥ 6.17 ॥

pampānadīnivāsānāmanumandākinīmapi citrakūṭālayānāṃ ca kriyate kadanaṃ mahat || 6.17 ||

Terrible slaughter is being wrought on those who dwell beside the Pampa river, along the Mandakini, and at Chitrakuta.

Shloka 18 (aranya.6.18)

एवं वयं न मृष्यामो विप्रकारं तपस्विनाम् । क्रियमाणं वने घोरं रक्षोभिर्भीमकर्मभिः ॥ 6.18 ॥

evaṃ vayaṃ na mṛṣyāmo viprakāraṃ tapasvinām kriyamāṇaṃ vane ghoraṃ rakṣobhirbhīmakarmabhiḥ || 6.18 ||

Thus we can no longer bear this terrible persecution being inflicted in the forest on the ascetics by rakshasas of fearsome deeds.

Shloka 19 (aranya.6.19)

ततस्त्वां शरणार्थं च शरण्यं समुपस्थिताः । परिपालय नो राम वध्यमानान् निशाचरैः ॥ 6.19 ॥

tatastvāṃ śaraṇārthaṃ ca śaraṇyaṃ samupasthitāḥ paripālaya no rāma vadhyamānān niśācaraiḥ || 6.19 ||

Therefore we have come to you, seeking refuge, for you alone are worthy of granting it—protect us, O Rama, from these night-wanderers who slay us.

Shloka 20 (aranya.6.20)

परा त्वत्तो गतिर्वीर पृथिव्यां नोपपद्यते । परिपालय नः सर्वान् राक्षसेभ्यो नृपात्मज ॥ 6.20 ॥

parā tvatto gatirvīra pṛthivyāṃ nopapadyate paripālaya naḥ sarvān rākṣasebhyo nṛpātmaja || 6.20 ||

There is no higher refuge for us on this earth than you, O hero; protect us all from the rakshasas, O prince.

Shloka 21 (aranya.6.21)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु काकुत्स्थस्तापसानां तपस्विनाम् । इदं प्रोवाच धर्मात्मा सर्वानेव तपस्विनः ॥ 6.21 ॥

etacchrutvā tu kākutsthastāpasānāṃ tapasvinām idaṃ provāca dharmātmā sarvāneva tapasvinaḥ || 6.21 ||

Having heard this, the righteous-souled scion of Kakutstha spoke thus to all those ascetics—

Shloka 22 (aranya.6.22)

नैवमर्हथ मां वक्तुमाज्ञाप्योऽहं तपस्विनाम् । केवलेन स्वकार्येण प्रवेष्टव्यं वनं मया ॥ 6.22 ॥

naivamarhatha māṃ vaktumājñāpyo'haṃ tapasvinām kevalena svakāryeṇa praveṣṭavyaṃ vanaṃ mayā || 6.22 ||

'You need not have spoken to me thus—I am ever at the command of ascetics. Even for my own purpose alone, it would have been fitting for me to enter this forest.'

Shloka 23 (aranya.6.23)

विप्रकारमपाक्रष्टुं राक्षसैर्भवतामिमम् । पितुस्तु निर्देशकरः प्रविष्टोऽहमिदं वनम् ॥ 6.23 ॥

viprakāramapākraṣṭuṃ rākṣasairbhavatāmimam pitustu nirdeśakaraḥ praviṣṭo'hamidaṃ vanam || 6.23 ||

'To remove this persecution wrought upon you by the rakshasas, I shall do just that; though it is true I entered this forest carrying out my father's command.'

Shloka 24 (aranya.6.24)

भवतामर्थसिद्ध्यर्थमागतोऽहं यदृच्छया । तस्य मेऽयं वने वासो भविष्यति महाफलः ॥ 6.24 ॥

bhavatāmarthasiddhyarthamāgato'haṃ yadṛcchayā tasya me'yaṃ vane vāso bhaviṣyati mahāphalaḥ || 6.24 ||

'I have come here, as if by chance, for the very fulfilment of your purpose; thus this dwelling of mine in the forest shall bear great fruit.'

Shloka 25 (aranya.6.25)

तपस्विनां रणे शत्रून् हन्तुमिच्छामि राक्षसान् । पश्यन्तु वीर्यमृषयः सभ्रातुर्मे तपोधनाः ॥ 6.25 ॥

tapasvināṃ raṇe śatrūn hantumicchāmi rākṣasān paśyantu vīryamṛṣayaḥ sabhrāturme tapodhanāḥ || 6.25 ||

'I wish to slay in battle the rakshasas who are enemies of the ascetics; let the sages, rich in austerity, witness the valour of me and my brother.'

Shloka 26 (aranya.6.26)

दत्त्वा वरं चापि तपोधनानां । धर्मे धृतात्मा सह लक्ष्मणेन ॥ तपोधनैश्चापि सहार्यदत्तः । सुतीक्ष्णमेवाभिजगाम वीरः ॥ 6.26 ॥

dattvā varaṃ cāpi tapodhanānāṃ dharme dhṛtātmā saha lakṣmaṇena tapodhanaiścāpi sahāryadattaḥ sutīkṣṇamevābhijagāma vīraḥ || 6.26 ||

Having thus given assurance to those rich in austerity, the hero—his mind fixed upon dharma—set out together with Lakshmana, honourably escorted by those ascetics, toward the hermitage of sage Sutikshna.