कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तं ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या समावृतम्। यथा प्रदीप्तं दुर्दर्शं गगने सूर्यमण्डलम्
Encircled by kuśa grass and bark garments, endowed with divine splendor, it shone like the blazing, hard-to-behold orb of the sun in the sky.
शरण्यं सर्वभूतानां सुसम्मृष्टाजिरं सदा। मृगैर्बहुभिराकीर्णं पक्षिसंघैः समावृतम्
A refuge for all beings, its courtyard always clean, teeming with many deer and surrounded by flocks of birds.
पूजितं चोपनृत्तं च नित्यमप्सरसां गणैः। विशालैरग्निशरणैः स्रुग्भाण्डैरजिनैः कुशैः
Constantly honored and attended by groups of Apsarases, adorned with spacious fire-altars, ladles, vessels, deerskins, and kuśa grass.
समिद्भिस्तोयकलशैः फलमूलैश्च शोभितम्। आरण्यैश्च महावृक्षैः पुण्यैः स्वादुफलैर्वृतम्
Graced with kindling sticks, water pots, fruits and roots, and covered with great forest trees bearing auspicious, sweet fruits.
बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्। पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया
Sanctified by offerings and oblations, resounding with the chanting of Brahman, encircled by various flowers and a lotus pond with lotuses.
फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरैः। सूर्यवैश्वानराभैश्च पुराणैर्मुनिभिर्युतम्
Inhabited by self-restrained ascetics who subsist on fruits and roots, clad in bark and black antelope skins, shining like the sun and fire, and by ancient sages.
पुण्यैश्च नियताहारैः शोभितं परमर्षिभिः। तद् ब्रह्मभवनप्रख्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्
Adorned by noble sages of pure diet, that place, resembling the abode of Brahmā, resounded with the chanting of Brahman.
ब्रह्मविद्भिर्महाभागैर्ब्राह्मणैरुपशोभितम्। तद् दृष्ट्वा राघवः श्रीमांस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम्
Graced by learned and highly fortunate Brāhmaṇas, the illustrious Rāghava beheld that circle of hermitages.
अभ्यगच्छन्महातेजा विज्यं कृत्वा महद् धनुः। दिव्यज्ञानोपपन्नास्ते रामं दृष्ट्वा महर्षयः
The great-souled sages, endowed with divine knowledge, approached after stringing their mighty bows, having seen Rāma.
अभिजग्मुस्तदा प्रीता वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम्। ते तु सोममिवोद्यन्तं दृष्ट्वा वै धर्मचारिणम्
Then, pleased, they greeted the illustrious Vaidehī; seeing the righteous one shining like the rising moon, they rejoiced.
लक्ष्मणं चैव दृष्ट्वा तु वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम्। मङ्गलानि प्रयुञ्जानाः प्रत्यगृह्णन् दृढव्रताः
Seeing Lakṣmaṇa and the renowned Vaidehī, those resolute ascetics welcomed them with auspicious blessings.
रूपसंहननं लक्ष्मीं सौकुमार्यं सुवेषताम्। ददृशुर्विस्मिताकारा रामस्य वनवासिनः
The forest-dwellers, amazed, beheld Rāma's form, his build, his grace, his delicacy, and his splendid attire.
वैदेहीं लक्ष्मणं रामं नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव। आश्चर्यभूतान् ददृशुः सर्वे ते वनवासिनः
All those forest-dwellers gazed in wonder, their eyes unblinking, at Vaidehī, Lakṣmaṇa, and Rāma.
अत्रैनं हि महाभागाः सर्वभूतहिते रताः। अतिथिं पर्णशालायां राघवं संन्यवेशयन्
There, those greatly fortunate ones, devoted to the welfare of all beings, received Rāghava as a guest in their leaf-hut.
ततो रामस्य सत्कृत्य विधिना पावकोपमाः। आजह्रुस्ते महाभागाः सलिलं धर्मचारिणः
Then, honoring Rāma according to custom, those exalted, fire-like ascetics brought water for the righteous one.
मङ्गलानि प्रयुञ्जाना मुदा परमया युताः। मूलं पुष्पं फलं सर्वमाश्रमं च महात्मनः
With utmost joy, offering auspicious blessings, they presented roots, flowers, fruits, and all the resources of the great soul's hermitage.
निवेदयित्वा धर्मज्ञास्ते तु प्राञ्जलयोऽब्रुवन्। धर्मपालो जनस्यास्य शरण्यश्च महायशाः
Having offered these, those knowers of dharma, with joined palms, spoke: 'You, the protector of dharma and refuge of the people, famed one—'
पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च राजा दण्डधरो गुरुः। इन्द्रस्यैव चतुर्भागः प्रजा रक्षति राघव
'The king, wielder of the rod, is to be honored and respected; like a fourth part of Indra, Rāghava protects the people.'
राजा तस्माद् वरान् भोगान् रम्यान् भुङ्क्ते नमस्कृतः। ते वयं भवता रक्ष्या भवद्विषयवासिनः। नगरस्थो वनस्थो वा त्वं नो राजा जनेश्वरः
'Therefore, the king, worshipped, enjoys the finest pleasures; we, the dwellers in your domain, must be protected by you. Whether in the city or the forest, you are our king, lord of the people.'
न्यस्तदण्डा वयं राजञ्जितक्रोधा जितेन्द्रियाः। रक्षणीयास्त्वया शश्वद् गर्भभूतास्तपोधनाः
'We, O king, have laid down the rod, conquered anger and the senses; always, you must protect us ascetics, who are like embryos, rich in austerity.'
एवमुक्त्वा फलैर्मूलैः पुष्पैरन्यैश्च राघवम्। वन्यैश्च विविधाहारैः सलक्ष्मणमपूजयन्
Having spoken thus, they honored Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa with fruits, roots, flowers, and various forest foods.
तथान्ये तापसाः सिद्धा रामं वैश्वानरोपमाः। न्यायवृत्ता यथान्यायं तर्पयामासुरीश्वरम्
Likewise, other ascetics and perfected beings, righteous in conduct and like fire, satisfied Rāma, the lord, as was proper.
thumb|द्वितीयः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे द्वितीयः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the second chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
कृतातिथ्योऽथ रामस्तु सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति। आमन्त्र्य स मुनीन् सर्वान् वनमेवान्वगाहत
Then, after receiving hospitality, Rāma, having taken leave of all the sages, set out toward the sunrise and entered the forest.
निष्कूजमानशकुनिं झिल्लिकागणनादितम्। लक्ष्मणानुचरो रामो वनमध्यं ददर्श ह
Accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma saw the heart of the forest, where no birds called, but the crickets resounded.
सीतया सह काकुत्स्थस्तस्मिन् घोरमृगायुते। ददर्श गिरिशृङ्गाभं पुरुषादं महास्वनम्
There, together with Sītā, the descendant of Kakutstha beheld a man-eater, terrible and loud, surrounded by fierce beasts, resembling a mountain peak.
गभीराक्षं महावक्त्रं विकटं विकटोदरम्। बीभत्सं विषमं दीर्घं विकृतं घोरदर्शनम्
With deep-set eyes, a huge mouth, a grotesque and swollen belly, hideous, uneven, tall, deformed, and terrifying to behold.
वसानं चर्म वैयाघ्रं वसार्द्रं रुधिरोक्षितम्। त्रासनं सर्वभूतानां व्यादितास्यमिवान्तकम्
Wearing a tiger's hide, still wet with fat and stained with blood, a terror to all beings, with mouth agape like Death itself.
त्रीन् सिंहांश्चतुरो व्याघ्रान् द्वौ वृकौ पृषतान् दश। सविषाणं वसादिग्धं गजस्य च शिरो महत्
Three lions, four tigers, two wolves, ten spotted deer, and a great elephant's head, horned and smeared with fat—
अवसज्यायसे शूले विनदन्तं महास्वनम्। स रामं लक्ष्मणं चैव सीतां दृष्ट्वा च मैथिलीम्
He had impaled them on an iron spike, roaring with a mighty voice; seeing Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā of Mithilā—