तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य रामस्त्वात्मनि शङ्कित: । कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदमृषिं कुलपतिं तत: ।। २.११६.
Perceiving their anxiety, Rāma became uneasy and, joining his palms, addressed the chief sage.
न कच्चिद्भगवन् किञ्चित्पूर्ववृत्तमिदं मयि । दृश्यते विकृतं येन विक्रियन्ते तपस्विन: ।। २.११६.
Revered one, I hope nothing from my past conduct appears improper, causing the ascetics to be disturbed.
प्रमादाच्चरितं कच्चित्किञ्चिन्नावरजस्य मे । लक्ष्मणस्यर्षिभिर्दृष्टं नानुरूपमिवात्मन: ।। २.११६.
I hope my younger brother Lakṣmaṇa has not, through carelessness, acted in a way unbefitting himself, as seen by the sages.
कच्चिच्छुश्रूषमाणा व: शुश्रूषणपरा मयि । प्र(म)मादाभ्युचितां वृत्तिं सीता युक्तं न वर्तते ।। २.११६.
I hope Sītā, who is devoted to serving you and attentive to me, has not, through negligence, behaved in a manner unsuitable for her.
अथर्षिर्जरया वृद्धस्तपसा च जरां गत: । वेपमान इवोवाच रामं भूतदयापरम् ।। २.११६.
Then the sage, aged by years and asceticism, trembling as if from old age, spoke to Rāma, who was compassionate toward all beings.
कुत: कल्याणसत्त्वाया: कल्याणाभिरतेस्तथा । चलनं तात वैदेह्यास्तपस्विषु विशेषत: ।। २.११६.
How could there be any misconduct by Vaidehī, who possesses noble character and delights in virtue, especially among ascetics, dear one?
त्वन्निमित्तमिदं तावत्तापसान् प्रति वर्तते । रक्षोभ्यस्तेन संविग्ना: कथयन्ति मिथ: कथा: ।। २.११६.
This concern among the ascetics arises solely because of you; frightened by the demons, they converse among themselves.
रावणावरज: कश्चित् खरो नामेह राक्षस: । उत्पाट्य तापसान् सर्वान् जनस्थाननिकेतनान् ।। २.११६.
There is a certain demon here named Khara, brother of Rāvaṇa, who has uprooted all the ascetics dwelling in Janasthāna.
धृष्टश्च जितकाशीं च नृशंस: पुरुषादक: । अवलिप्तश्च पापश्च त्वां च तात न मृष्यते ।। २.११६.
He is bold, cruel, a devourer of men, arrogant and wicked, and, dear one, he cannot tolerate you.
त्वं यदाप्रभृति ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रमे तात वर्तसे । तदाप्रभृति रक्षांसि विप्रकुर्वन्ति तापसान् ।। २.११६.
Since the time you have resided in this hermitage, the demons have begun to harass the ascetics.
दर्शयन्ति हि बीभत्सै: क्रूरैर्भीषणकैरपि । नानारूपैर्विरूपैश्च रूपैर्विकृतदर्शनै: ।। २.११६.
They appear in hideous, terrifying forms, monstrous and deformed, displaying dreadful appearances.
अप्रशस्तैरशुचिभि: सम्प्रयोज्य च तापसान् । प्रतिघ्नन्त्यपरान् क्षिप्रमनार्य्या: पुरत: स्थिता: ।। २.११६.
With vile and impure acts, they quickly attack other ascetics, standing before them in an ignoble manner.
तेषु तेष्वाश्रमस्थानेष्वबुद्धमवलीय च । रमन्ते तापसांस्तत्र नाशयन्तो ऽल्पयेतस: ।। २.११६.
There, in those hermitages, hiding themselves unnoticed, they delight in harassing the ascetics, those of little virtue, causing them distress.
अपक्षिपन्ति स्रुग्भाण्डानग्नीन् सिञ्चन्ति वारिणा । कलशांश्च प्रमृद्नन्ति हवने समुपस्थिते ।। २.११६.
They steal the ladles and vessels, extinguish the sacred fires with water, and crush the water pots just as the sacrifice is about to begin.
तैर्दुरात्मभिरामृष्टानाश्रमान् प्रजिहासव: । गमनायान्यदेशस्य चोदयन्त्यृषयो ऽद्य माम् ।। २.११६.
Because these wicked ones have defiled the hermitages, the sages, wishing to leave, urge me today to go to another place.
तत्पुरा राम शारीरीमुपहिंसां तपस्विषु । दर्शयन्ति हि दुष्टास्ते त्यक्ष्याम इममाश्रमम् ।। २.११६.
Therefore, O Rāma, before those evil ones inflict bodily harm upon the ascetics, we shall abandon this hermitage.
बहुमूलफलं चित्रमविदूरादितो वनम् । पुराणाश्रममेवाहं श्रयिष्ये सगण: पुन: ।। २.११६.
There is a beautiful forest, rich in roots and fruits, not far from here; I, together with my followers, will again take refuge in our old hermitage.
खरस्त्वय्यपि चायुक्तं पुरा तात प्रवर्त्तते । सहास्माभिरितो गच्छ यदि बुद्धि: प्रवर्त्तते ।। २.११६.
Khara, too, formerly acted unjustly toward you, dear one; if you are inclined, go with us from here.
सकलत्रस्य सन्देहो नित्यं यत्तस्य राघव । समर्थस्यापि वसतो वासो दु:खमिहाद्य ते ।। २.११६.
For one who is always uncertain about his family’s safety, O Rāghava, even for the capable, dwelling here today would be difficult for you.
इत्युक्तवन्तं रामस्तं राजपुत्रस्तपस्विनम् । न शशाकोत्तरैर्वाक्यैरवरोद्धुं समुत्सुक: ।। २.११६.
Though the royal prince Rāma wished to persuade that ascetic with further words, he could not restrain him.
अभिनन्द्य समापृच्छ्य समाधाय च राघवम् । स जगामाश्रमं त्यक्त्वा कुलै: कुलपति: सह ।। २.११६.
Having greeted, taken leave of, and reassured Rāghava, the leader of the hermitage departed, leaving the hermitage with his community.
राम: संसाध्य त्वृषिगणमनुगमनाद्देशात्तस्मात् कुलपतिमभिवाद्य ऋषिम् । सम्यक्प्रीतैस्तैरनुमत उपदिष्टार्थ: पुण्यं वासाय स्वनिलयमुपसम्पेदे ।। २.११६.
Then Rāma, having respectfully followed the sage and his group for a distance, saluted the chief sage, and, with their full approval and instructions, returned to his own blessed dwelling.
आश्रमं त्वृषिविरहितं प्रभु: क्षणमपि न विजहौ स राघव: । राघवं हि सततमनुगतास्तापसाश्चार्षचरितधृतगुणा: ।। २.११६.
But the lord Rāghava did not leave the hermitage, even for a moment, though it was deserted by the sages; for the ascetics, steadfast in the ways of the seers, always followed Rāghava.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदयोध्याकाण्डे षोडशोत्तरशततम: सर्ग:
Thus ends the one hundred sixteenth sarga of the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the ancient epic, the holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
thumb|सप्तदशाधिकशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center राघवस्त्वथ यातेषु तपस्विषु विचिन्तयन् । न तत्रारोचयद्वासं कारणैर्बहुभिस्तदा ।। २.११७.
Then, when the ascetics had departed, Rāghava reflected and, for many reasons, did not find that place suitable for dwelling.
इह मे भरतो दृष्टो मातरश्च सनागरा: । सा च मे स्मृतिरन्वेति तान्नित्यमनुशोचत: ।। २.११७.
Here, Bharata saw me, and my mothers with the people of the city; and my mind, remembering them, constantly grieves for them.
स्कन्धावारनिवेशेन तेन तस्य महात्मन: । हयहस्तिकरीषैश्च उपमर्द्द: कृतो भृशम् ।। २.११७.
Because the great-souled Bharata had set up his camp here, the ground was greatly trampled by the dung of horses and elephants.
तस्मादन्यत्र गच्छाम इति सञ्चिन्त्य राघव: । प्रातिष्ठत स वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च सङ्गत: ।। २.११७.
Therefore, thinking it best to go elsewhere, Rāghava set out, accompanied by Vaidehī and Lakṣmaṇa.
सो ऽत्रेराश्रममासाद्य तं ववन्दे महायशा: । तं चापि भगवानत्रि: पुत्रवत् प्रत्यपद्यत ।। २.११७.
He, of great fame, reached the hermitage of Atri and offered his respects; and the venerable Atri received him as a son.
स्वयमातिथ्यमादिश्य सर्वमस्य सुसत्कृतम् । सौमित्रिं च महाभागां सीतां च समसान्त्वयत् ।। २.११७.
Personally arranging all hospitality, he honored them well, and kindly comforted both Saumitri and the noble Sītā.