The Way to Pampa and Rishyamuka

Shloka 1 (aranya.73.1)

दर्शयित्वा तु रामाय सीतायाः परिमार्गणे । वाक्यमन्वर्थमर्थज्ञः कबन्धः पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ 73.1 ॥

darśayitvā tu rāmāya sītāyāḥ parimārgaṇe | vākyamanvarthamarthajñaḥ kabandhaḥ punarabravīt || 73.1 ||

Having thus shown Rama the way to search for Sita, Kabandha, who understood the essence of things, spoke again these words full of meaning:

Shloka 2 (aranya.73.2)

एष राम शिवः पन्था यत्रैते पुष्पिता द्रुमाः । प्रतीचीं दिशमाश्रित्य प्रकाशन्ते मनोरमाः ॥ 73.2 ॥

eṣa rāma śivaḥ panthā yatraite puṣpitā drumāḥ | pratīcīṃ diśamāśritya prakāśante manoramāḥ || 73.2 ||

'This, O Rama, is the auspicious path, where these blossoming, heart-delighting trees, facing toward the west, shine forth —

Shloka 3 (aranya.73.3)

जम्बूप्रियालपनसा न्यग्रोधप्लक्षतिन्दुकाः । अश्वत्थाः कर्णिकाराश्च चूताश्चान्ये च पादपाः ॥ 73.3 ॥

jambūpriyālapanasā nyagrodhaplakṣatindukāḥ | aśvatthāḥ karṇikārāśca cūtāścānye ca pādapāḥ || 73.3 ||

rose-apple, priyala, jackfruit, banyan, plaksha, tinduka, ashvattha, karnikara, mango, and other trees,

Shloka 4 (aranya.73.4)

धन्वना नागवृक्षाश्च तिलका नक्तमालकाः । नीलाशोकाः कदम्बाश्च करवीराश्च पुष्पिताः ॥ 73.4 ॥

dhanvanā nāgavṛkṣāśca tilakā naktamālakāḥ | nīlāśokāḥ kadambāśca karavīrāśca puṣpitāḥ || 73.4 ||

dhanvana, naga trees, tilaka, naktamala, blue ashoka, kadamba, and blossoming karavira —

Shloka 5 (aranya.73.5)

अग्निमुख्या अशोकाश्च सुरक्ताः पारिभद्रकाः । तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वा च तान् बलात् ॥ 73.5 ॥

agnimukhyā aśokāśca suraktāḥ pāribhadrakāḥ | tānāruhyāthavā bhūmau pātayitvā ca tān balāt || 73.5 ||

agnimukha trees, ashokas, deep-red flowering ones, and paribhadraka trees. Climbing up these, or else knocking them down forcibly to the ground,

Shloka 6 (aranya.73.6)

फलान्यमृतकल्पानि भक्षयित्वा गमिष्यथः । तदतिक्रम्य काकुत्स्थ वनं पुष्पितपादपम् ॥ 73.6 ॥

phalānyamṛtakalpāni bhakṣayitvā gamiṣyathaḥ | tadatikramya kākutstha vanaṃ puṣpitapādapam || 73.6 ||

you shall eat their nectar-like fruits and proceed onward. Beyond that, O Kakutstha, crossing a forest of flowering trees,

Shloka 7 (aranya.73.7)

नन्दनप्रतिमं चान्यत् कुरवस्तूत्तरा इव । सर्वकालफला यत्र पादपा मधुरस्रवाः ॥ 73.7 ॥

nandanapratimaṃ cānyat kuravastūttarā iva | sarvakālaphalā yatra pādapā madhurasravāḥ || 73.7 ||

you will find another park resembling Nandana, like the northern Kuru land, where trees bear fruit in every season and exude sweet nectar,

Shloka 8 (aranya.73.8)

सर्वे च ऋतवस्तत्र वने चैत्ररथे यथा । फलभारनतास्तत्र महाविटपधारिणः ॥ 73.8 ॥

sarve ca ṛtavastatra vane caitrarathe yathā | phalabhāranatāstatra mahāviṭapadhāriṇaḥ || 73.8 ||

where all the seasons dwell together as in Chaitraratha, Kubera's garden; there the great-branched trees bend low under the weight of their fruit,

Shloka 9 (aranya.73.9)

शोभन्ते सर्वतस्तत्र मेघपर्वतसंनिभाः । तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वाथवा सुखम् ॥ 73.9 ॥

śobhante sarvatastatra meghaparvatasaṃnibhāḥ | tānāruhyāthavā bhūmau pātayitvāthavā sukham || 73.9 ||

shining everywhere like clouds or mountains. Climbing up those trees, or else easily knocking them down to the ground,

Shloka 10 (aranya.73.10)

फलान्यमृतकल्पानि लक्ष्मणस्ते प्रदास्यति । चङ्क्रमन्तौ वरान् शैलान् शैलाच्छैलं वनाद् वनम् ॥ 73.10 ॥

phalānyamṛtakalpāni lakṣmaṇaste pradāsyati | caṅkramantau varān śailān śailācchailaṃ vanād vanam || 73.10 ||

Lakshmana will offer you their nectar-like fruits. And, wandering from mountain to mountain, from forest to forest, over the finest heights,

Shloka 11 (aranya.73.11)

ततः पुष्करिणीं वीरौ पम्पां नाम गमिष्यथः । अशर्करामविभ्रंशां समतीर्थामशैवलाम् ॥ 73.11 ॥

tataḥ puṣkariṇīṃ vīrau pampāṃ nāma gamiṣyathaḥ | aśarkarāmavibhraṃśāṃ samatīrthāmaśaivalām || 73.11 ||

you two heroes shall come to a lotus-pool named Pampa — free of pebbles, without treacherous slopes, with level landing-steps, free of moss,

Shloka 12 (aranya.73.12)

राम संजातवालूकां कमलोत्पलशोभिताम् । तत्र हंसाः प्लवाः क्रौञ्चाः कुरराश्चैव राघव ॥ 73.12 ॥

rāma saṃjātavālūkāṃ kamalotpalaśobhitām | tatra haṃsāḥ plavāḥ krauñcāḥ kurarāścaiva rāghava || 73.12 ||

O Rama, with fine natural sand-banks, beautified by red and blue lotuses. There, O Raghava, swans, waterfowl, curlews, and ospreys,

Shloka 13 (aranya.73.13)

वल्गुस्वरा निकूजन्ति पम्पासलिलगोचराः । नोद्विजन्ते नरान् दृष्ट्वा वधस्याकोविदाः शुभाः ॥ 73.13 ॥

valgusvarā nikūjanti pampāsalilagocarāḥ | nodvijante narān dṛṣṭvā vadhasyākovidāḥ śubhāḥ || 73.13 ||

dwelling in the waters of Pampa, call out in sweet voices. Unschooled in slaughter, those beautiful birds are not alarmed at the sight of men;

Shloka 14 (aranya.73.14)

घृतपिण्डोपमान् स्थूलांस्तान् द्विजान् भक्षयिष्यथः । रोहितान् वक्रतुण्डांश्च नलमीनांश्च राघव ॥ 73.14 ॥

ghṛtapiṇḍopamān sthūlāṃstān dvijān bhakṣayiṣyathaḥ | rohitān vakratuṇḍāṃśca nalamīnāṃśca rāghava || 73.14 ||

you may eat those plump birds, like lumps of ghee. And, O Raghava, red carp, blunt-snouted porpoises, and slender nala-fish —

Shloka 15 (aranya.73.15)

पम्पायामिषुभिर्मत्स्यांस्तत्र राम वरान् हतान् । निस्त्वक्पक्षानयस्तप्तानकृशानैककण्टकान् ॥ 73.15 ॥

pampāyāmiṣubhirmatsyāṃstatra rāma varān hatān | nistvakpakṣānayastaptānakṛśānaikakaṇṭakān || 73.15 ||

in Pampa, O Rama, the finest fish, struck with arrows, skinned and scaled, roasted on iron rods, plump and free of many bones,

Shloka 16 (aranya.73.16)

तव भक्त्या समायुक्तो लक्ष्मणः सम्प्रदास्यति । भृशं तान् खादतो मत्स्यान् पम्पायाः पुष्पसंचये ॥ 73.16 ॥

tava bhaktyā samāyukto lakṣmaṇaḥ sampradāsyati | bhṛśaṃ tān khādato matsyān pampāyāḥ puṣpasaṃcaye || 73.16 ||

Lakshmana, filled with devotion, will offer to you. And as you eat those fish to your fill, amid the gathered flowers of Pampa,

Shloka 17 (aranya.73.17)

पद्मगन्धि शिवं वारि सुखशीतमनामयम् । उद्धृत्य स तदाक्लिष्टं रूप्यस्फटिकसंनिभम् ॥ 73.17 ॥

padmagandhi śivaṃ vāri sukhaśītamanāmayam | uda‍dhṛtya sa tadākliṣṭaṃ rūpyasphaṭikasaṃnibham || 73.17 ||

then Lakshmana, drawing up the lotus-scented, pure, pleasantly cool and wholesome water — untroubled, and gleaming like silver and crystal —

Shloka 18 (aranya.73.18)

अथ पुष्करपर्णेन लक्ष्मणः पाययिष्यति । स्थूलान् गिरिगुहाशय्यान् वानरान् वनचारिणः ॥ 73.18 ॥

atha puṣkaraparṇena lakṣmaṇaḥ pāyayiṣyati | sthūlān giriguhāśayyān vānarān vanacāriṇaḥ || 73.18 ||

will give you to drink, cupped in a lotus leaf. And, O Rama, roaming there in the evening, Lakshmana will show you the sturdy vanaras who bed down in mountain caves,

Shloka 19 (aranya.73.19)

सायाह्ने विचरन् राम दर्शयिष्यति लक्ष्मणः । अपां लोभादुपावृत्तान् वृषभानिव नर्दतः ॥ 73.19 ॥

sāyāhne vicaran rāma darśayiṣyati lakṣmaṇaḥ | apāṃ lobhādupāvṛttān vṛṣabhāniva nardataḥ || 73.19 ||

who, drawn by desire for water, gather nearby, bellowing like bulls.

Shloka 20 (aranya.73.20)

स्थूलान् पीतांश्च पम्पायां द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं नरोत्तम । सायाह्ने विचरन् राम विटपी माल्यधारिणः ॥ 73.20 ॥

sthūlān pītāṃśca pampāyāṃ drakṣyasi tvaṃ narottama | sāyāhne vicaran rāma viṭapī mālyadhāriṇaḥ || 73.20 ||

O best of men, roaming at evening you shall see, at Pampa, sturdy and tawny vanaras of fine form, and trees standing there as if wearing garlands.

Shloka 21 (aranya.73.21)

शिवोदकं च पम्पायां दृष्ट्वा शोकं विहास्यसि । सुमनोभिश्चितास्तत्र तिलका नक्तमालकाः ॥ 73.21 ॥

śivodakaṃ ca pampāyāṃ dṛṣṭvā śokaṃ vihāsyasi | sumanobhiścitāstatra tilakā naktamālakāḥ || 73.21 ||

On seeing the auspicious waters of Pampa you shall cast off your sorrow. There, tilaka and naktamala trees, heaped with lovely blossoms,

Shloka 22 (aranya.73.22)

उत्पलानि च फुल्लानि पङ्कजानि च राघव । न तानि कश्चिन्माल्यानि तत्रारोपयिता नरः ॥ 73.22 ॥

utpalāni ca phullāni paṅkajāni ca rāghava | na tāni kaścinmālyāni tatrāropayitā naraḥ || 73.22 ||

and blooming blue lotuses and red lotuses stand, O Raghava. No man is there to gather them into garlands,

Shloka 23 (aranya.73.23)

न च वै म्लानतां यान्ति न च शीर्यन्ति राघव । मतङ्गशिष्यास्तत्रासन्नृषयः सुसमाहिताः ॥ 73.23 ॥

na ca vai mlānatāṃ yānti na ca śīryanti rāghava | mataṅgaśiṣyāstatrāsannṛṣayaḥ susamāhitāḥ || 73.23 ||

yet, O Raghava, they never wither nor fall apart. There once dwelt the deeply composed sages who were disciples of Matanga —

Shloka 24 (aranya.73.24)

तेषां भाराभितप्तानां वन्यमाहरतां गुरोः । ये प्रपेतुर्महीं तूर्णं शरीरात् स्वेदबिन्दवः ॥ 73.24 ॥

teṣāṃ bhārābhitaptānāṃ vanyamāharatāṃ guroḥ | ye prapeturmahīṃ tūrṇaṃ śarīrāt svedabindavaḥ || 73.24 ||

and as they carried forest produce for their teacher, wearied by its weight, the drops of sweat that quickly fell from their bodies to the earth —

Shloka 25 (aranya.73.25)

तानि माल्यानि जातानि मुनीनां तपसा तदा । स्वेदबिन्दुसमुत्थानि न विनश्यन्ति राघव ॥ 73.25 ॥

tāni mālyāni jātāni munīnāṃ tapasā tadā | svedabindusamutthāni na vinaśyanti rāghava || 73.25 ||

those, by the power of the sages' austerity, became garlands of flowers; and since they arose from drops of sweat, O Raghava, they never perish.

Shloka 26 (aranya.73.26)

तेषां गतानामद्यापि दृश्यते परिचारिणी । श्रमणी शबरी नाम काकुत्स्थ चिरजीविनी ॥ 73.26 ॥

teṣāṃ gatānāmadyāpi dṛśyate paricāriṇī | śramaṇī śabarī nāma kākutstha cirajīvinī || 73.26 ||

Now that those sages have departed, their attendant may still be seen there — a long-lived ascetic woman, O Kakutstha, named Shabari.

Shloka 27 (aranya.73.27)

त्वां तु धर्मे स्थिता नित्यं सर्वभूतनमस्कृतम् । दृष्ट्वा देवोपमं राम स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यति ॥ 73.27 ॥

tvāṃ tu dharme sthitā nityaṃ sarvabhūtanamaskṛtam | dṛṣṭvā devopamaṃ rāma svargalokaṃ gamiṣyati || 73.27 ||

She, ever established in righteousness, on seeing you, O Rama, who are revered by all beings and equal to the gods, shall go to the world of heaven.

Shloka 28 (aranya.73.28)

ततस्तद्राम पम्पायास्तीरमाश्रित्य पश्चिमम् । आश्रमस्थानमतुलं गुह्यं काकुत्स्थ पश्यसि ॥ 73.28 ॥

tatastadrāma pampāyāstīramāśritya paścimam | āśramasthānamatulaṃ guhyaṃ kākutstha paśyasi || 73.28 ||

Then, O Rama, taking the western shore of Pampa, you shall see, O Kakutstha, an incomparable and secluded hermitage-site,

Shloka 29 (aranya.73.29)

न तत्राक्रमितुं नागाः शक्नुवन्ति तदाश्रमे । ऋषेस्तस्य मतङ्गस्य विधानात् तच्च काननम् ॥ 73.29 ॥

na tatrākramituṃ nāgāḥ śaknuvanti tadāśrame | ṛṣestasya mataṅgasya vidhānāt tacca kānanam || 73.29 ||

where even elephants are unable to trespass into that hermitage, that woodland, by the ordinance of the sage Matanga himself.

Shloka 30 (aranya.73.30)

मतङ्गवनमित्येव विश्रुतं रघुनन्दन । तस्मिन् नन्दनसंकाशे देवारण्योपमे वने ॥ 73.30 ॥

mataṅgavanamityeva viśrutaṃ raghunandana | tasmin nandanasaṃkāśe devāraṇyopame vane || 73.30 ||

It is renowned, O joy of Raghu's line, simply as the Matanga forest. In that woodland, resembling Nandana and comparable to a divine grove,

Shloka 31 (aranya.73.31)

नानाविहगसंकीर्णे रंस्यसे राम निर्वृतः । ऋष्यमूकस्तु पम्पायाः पुरस्तात् पुष्पितद्रुमः ॥ 73.31 ॥

nānāvihagasaṃkīrṇe raṃsyase rāma nirvṛtaḥ | ṛṣyamūkastu pampāyāḥ purastāt puṣpitadrumaḥ || 73.31 ||

thronged with birds of every kind, you, O Rama, shall find rest and joy. And in front of Pampa stands Mount Rishyamuka, with flowering trees,

Shloka 32 (aranya.73.32)

सुदुःखारोहणश्चैव शिशुनागाभिरक्षितः । उदारो ब्रह्मणा चैव पूर्वकालेऽभिनिर्मितः ॥ 73.32 ॥

suduḥkhārohaṇaścaiva śiśunāgābhirakṣitaḥ | udāro brahmaṇā caiva pūrvakāle'bhinirmitaḥ || 73.32 ||

a mountain very hard to climb, guarded by young elephants, bountiful, and fashioned long ago by Brahma himself.

Shloka 33 (aranya.73.33)

शयानः पुरुषो राम तस्य शैलस्य मूर्धनि । यत् स्वप्नं लभते वित्तं तत् प्रबुद्धोऽधिगच्छति ॥ 73.33 ॥

śayānaḥ puruṣo rāma tasya śailasya mūrdhani | yat svapnaṃ labhate vittaṃ tat prabuddho'dhigacchati || 73.33 ||

O Rama, whatever wealth a man sleeping on the summit of that mountain gains in a dream, that very wealth he obtains on waking.

Shloka 34 (aranya.73.34)

यस्त्वेनं विषमाचारः पापकर्माधिरोहति । तत्रैव प्रहरन्त्येनं सुप्तमादाय राक्षसाः ॥ 73.34 ॥

yastvenaṃ viṣamācāraḥ pāpakarmādhirohati | tatraiva praharantyenaṃ suptamādāya rākṣasāḥ || 73.34 ||

But whoever, of crooked conduct and sinful deeds, climbs it, him the demons seize while he sleeps and strike down there itself.

Shloka 35 (aranya.73.35)

तत्रापि शिशुनागानामाक्रन्दः श्रूयते महान् । क्रीडतां राम पम्पायां मतङ्गाश्रमवासिनाम् ॥ 73.35 ॥

tatrāpi śiśunāgānāmākrandaḥ śrūyate mahān | krīḍatāṃ rāma pampāyāṃ mataṅgāśramavāsinām || 73.35 ||

There, too, O Rama, the loud trumpeting of the young elephants of the Matanga hermitage, sporting at Pampa, may be heard,

Shloka 36 (aranya.73.36)

सक्ता रुधिरधाराभिः संहत्य परमद्विपाः । प्रचरन्ति पृथक्कीर्णा मेघवर्णास्तरस्विनः ॥ 73.36 ॥

saktā rudhiradhārābhiḥ saṃhatya paramadvipāḥ | pracaranti pṛthakkīrṇā meghavarṇāstarasvinaḥ || 73.36 ||

as those mighty, cloud-dark and swift elephants, drenched in streams of blood from their clashes, scatter apart and roam about.

Shloka 37 (aranya.73.37)

ते तत्र पीत्वा पानीयं विमलं चारु शोभनम् । अत्यन्तसुखसंस्पर्शं सर्वगन्धसमन्वितम् ॥ 73.37 ॥

te tatra pītvā pānīyaṃ vimalaṃ cāru śobhanam | atyantasukhasaṃsparśaṃ sarvagandhasamanvitam || 73.37 ||

There, having drunk the clear, lovely, radiant water — most pleasant to the touch and filled with every fragrance —

Shloka 38 (aranya.73.38)

निर्वृत्ताः संविगाहन्ते वनानि वनगोचराः । ऋक्षांश्च द्वीपिनश्चैव नीलकोमलकप्रभान् ॥ 73.38 ॥

nirvṛttāḥ saṃvigāhante vanāni vanagocarāḥ | ṛkṣāṃśca dvīpinaścaiva nīlakomalakaprabhān || 73.38 ||

those forest-ranging elephants, now content, plunge back into the woods. And there, seeing bears, leopards, and antelope gleaming sapphire-soft,

Shloka 39 (aranya.73.39)

रुरूनपेतानजयान् दृष्ट्वा शोकं प्रहास्यसि । राम तस्य तु शैलस्य महती शोभते गुहा ॥ 73.39 ॥

rurūnapetānajayān dṛṣṭvā śokaṃ prahāsyasi | rāma tasya tu śailasya mahatī śobhate guhā || 73.39 ||

unafraid and unconquered, you shall put aside your grief, O Rama. Now, on that very mountain there shines a great cave,

Shloka 40 (aranya.73.40)

शिलापिधाना काकुत्स्थ दुःखं चास्याः प्रवेशनम् । तस्या गुहायाः प्राग्द्वारे महान् शीतोदको ह्रदः ॥ 73.40 ॥

śilāpidhānā kākutstha duḥkhaṃ cāsyāḥ praveśanam | tasyā guhāyāḥ prāgdvāre mahān śītodako hradaḥ || 73.40 ||

sealed with a boulder, O Kakutstha, and difficult to enter. At the eastern gate of that cave there is a great lake with cool waters,

Shloka 41 (aranya.73.41)

बहुमूलफलो रम्यो नानानगसमाकुलः । तस्यां वसति धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवः सह वानरैः ॥ 73.41 ॥

bahumūlaphalo ramyo nānānagasamākulaḥ | tasyāṃ vasati dharmātmā sugrīvaḥ saha vānaraiḥ || 73.41 ||

delightful, rich in roots and fruits, thronged with trees of every kind. In that cave the righteous Sugriva dwells together with the vanaras,

Shloka 42 (aranya.73.42)

कदाचिच्छिखरे तस्य पर्वतस्यापि तिष्ठति । कबन्धस्त्वनुशास्यैवं तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 73.42 ॥

kadācicchikhare tasya parvatasyāpi tiṣṭhati | kabandhastvanuśāsyaivaṃ tāvubhau rāmalakṣmaṇau || 73.42 ||

and at times he may also be found on the peak of that very mountain.' Having thus instructed both Rama and Lakshmana, Kabandha —

Shloka 43 (aranya.73.43)

स्रग्वी भास्करवर्णाभः खे व्यरोचत वीर्यवान् । तं तु खस्थं महाभागं तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 73.43 ॥

sragvī bhāskaravarṇābhaḥ khe vyarocata vīryavān | taṃ tu khasthaṃ mahābhāgaṃ tāvubhau rāmalakṣmaṇau || 73.43 ||

garlanded, mighty, radiant with the hue of the sun, shone forth there in the sky. Then Rama and Lakshmana, to him, that most fortunate one standing in the sky,

Shloka 44 (aranya.73.44)

प्रस्थितौ त्वं व्रजस्वेति वाक्यमूचतुरन्तिके । गम्यतां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थमिति तावब्रवीत् स च ॥ 73.44 ॥

prasthitau tvaṃ vrajasveti vākyamūcaturantike | gamyatāṃ kāryasiddhyarthamiti tāvabravīt sa ca || 73.44 ||

who were themselves setting out, said nearby these words: 'You may go now.' And he in turn said to them, 'Go, that your purpose may be accomplished.'

Shloka 45 (aranya.73.45)

सुप्रीतौ तावनुज्ञाप्य कबन्धः प्रस्थितस्तदा ॥ 73.45 ॥

suprītau tāvanujñāpya kabandhaḥ prasthitastadā || 73.45 ||

Then Kabandha, having taken leave of those two who were greatly gladdened, departed.

Shloka 46 (aranya.73.46)

स तत् कबन्धः प्रतिपद्य रूपं वृतः श्रिया भास्वरसर्वदेहः । निदर्शयन् राममवेक्ष्य खस्थः सख्यं कुरुष्वेति तदाभ्युवाच ॥ 73.46 ॥

sa tat kabandhaḥ pratipadya rūpaṃ vṛtaḥ śriyā bhāsvarasarvadehaḥ | nidarśayan rāmamavekṣya khasthaḥ sakhyaṃ kuruṣveti tadābhyuvāca || 73.46 ||

That Kabandha, having regained his own true form, his whole body radiant and enveloped in splendour, gazing down upon Rama from his place in the sky, pointed the way and spoke once more: 'Make friendship with Sugriva,' and so saying, he vanished.