जितवन्तं कृतार्थं हि तदाहमचिरादिमम्। कर्म ह्यनेन कर्तव्यं महदन्यैः सुदुष्करम्
For I have conquered and fulfilled my purpose; soon I will depart. He must perform a great deed, difficult for others.
अथ वज्री तमामन्त्र्य मानयित्वा च तापसम्। रथेन हययुक्तेन ययौ दिवमरिंदमः
Then, having addressed and honored the ascetic, the wielder of the thunderbolt, Indra, departed to heaven in his chariot yoked with horses.
प्रयाते तु सहस्राक्षे राघवः सपरिच्छदः। अग्निहोत्रमुपासीनं शरभङ्गमुपागमत्
After the thousand-eyed one had departed, Rāghava, with his retinue, approached Śarabhaṅga, who was seated at the sacrificial fire.
तस्य पादौ च संगृह्य रामः सीता च लक्ष्मणः। निषेदुस्तदनुज्ञाता लब्धवासा निमन्त्रिताः
Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa, having clasped his feet, sat down with his permission, having received lodging and invitation.
ततः शक्रोपयानं तु पर्यपृच्छत राघवः। शरभङ्गश्च तत् सर्वं राघवाय न्यवेदयत्
Then Rāghava inquired about Indra's arrival, and Śarabhaṅga related everything to Rāghava.
मामेष वरदो राम ब्रह्मलोकं निनीषति। जितमुग्रेण तपसा दुष्प्रापमकृतात्मभिः
This Indra, O Rāma, is granting me a boon and wishes to take me to Brahma's world, which is won by fierce austerity and is difficult to attain for those who lack self-control.
अहं ज्ञात्वा नरव्याघ्र वर्तमानमदूरतः। ब्रह्मलोकं न गच्छामि त्वामदृष्ट्वा प्रियातिथिम्
Knowing you were nearby, O tiger among men, I did not go to Brahma's world without seeing you, my beloved guest.
त्वयाहं पुरुषव्याघ्र धार्मिकेण महात्मना। समागम्य गमिष्यामि त्रिदिवं चावरं परम्
Having met you, O great-souled and righteous one, I shall depart for the highest heaven.
अक्षया नरशार्दूल जिता लोका मया शुभाः। ब्राह्म्याश्च नाकपृष्ठ्याश्च प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मामकान्
O best among men, I have conquered auspicious worlds that are inexhaustible; accept from me the Brahmanical and celestial realms.
एवमुक्तो नरव्याघ्रः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः। ऋषिणा शरभङ्गेन राघवो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by the sage Śarabhaṅga, the tiger among men, skilled in all scriptures, Rāghava spoke these words.
अहमेवाहरिष्यामि सर्वाल्ँ लोकान् महामुने। आवासं त्वहमिच्छामि प्रदिष्टमिह कानने
O great sage, I myself shall win all the worlds; I desire only a dwelling here in this forest, as you have indicated.
राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु शक्रतुल्यबलेन वै। शरभङ्गो महाप्राज्ञः पुनरेवाब्रवीद् वचः
Thus addressed by Rāghava, whose strength was equal to Indra's, the wise Śarabhaṅga again spoke these words.
इह राम महातेजाः सुतीक्ष्णो नाम धार्मिकः। वसत्यरण्ये नियतः स ते श्रेयो विधास्यति
Here, O Rāma, dwells the highly radiant and righteous sage named Suteekshna, who lives in the forest with discipline; he will bring you greater benefit.
सुतीक्ष्णमभिगच्छ त्वं शुचौ देशे तपस्विनम्। रमणीये वनोद्देशे स ते वासं विधास्यति
Go to Suteekshna, the ascetic, in his pure abode, in the delightful region of the forest; he will arrange your dwelling.
इमां मन्दाकिनीं राम प्रतिस्रोतामनुव्रज। नदीं पुष्पोडुपवहां ततस्तत्र गमिष्यसि
Follow this Mandākinī river, O Rāma, against its current; this river carries flowers and stars, and then you will reach your destination.
एष पन्था नरव्याघ्र मुहूर्तं पश्य तात माम्। यावज्जहामि गात्राणि जीर्णां त्वचमिवोरगः
This is the path, O tiger among men; watch me for a moment, dear one, until I shed my limbs like a serpent casts off its old skin.
ततोऽग्निं स समाधाय हुत्वा चाज्येन मन्त्रवत् । शरभङ्गो महातेजाः प्रविवेश हुताशनम्
Then, having kindled the fire and offered ghee with proper mantras, the radiant Śarabhaṅga entered the sacrificial fire.
तस्य रोमाणि केशांश्च तदा वह्निर्महात्मनः। जीर्णां त्वचं तदस्थीनि यच्च मांसं च शोणितम्
At that moment, the fire consumed the hair and body of the great-souled sage, his old skin, bones, flesh, and blood.
स च पावकसंकाशः कुमारः समपद्यत। उत्थायाग्निचयात् तस्माच्छरभङ्गो व्यरोचत
He then became like a blazing youth, rising from the fire altar, and Śarabhaṅga shone forth.
स लोकानाहिताग्नीनामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्। देवानां च व्यतिक्रम्य ब्रह्मलोकं व्यरोहत
Surpassing the worlds of those who maintain sacred fires, the great sages, and the gods, he ascended to Brahma's world.
स पुण्यकर्मा भुवने द्विजर्षभः पितामहं सानुचरं ददर्श ह। पितामहश्चापि समीक्ष्य तं द्विजं ननन्द सुस्वागतमित्युवाच ह
That virtuous sage, a foremost Brahmin in the world, saw the Lord of Creators with his attendants; and the Lord, seeing that Brahmin, rejoiced and welcomed him warmly.
thumb|षष्ठः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे षष्ठः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the sixth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Araṇyakaṇḍa.
शरभङ्गे दिवं प्राप्ते मुनिसङ्घाः समागताः। अभ्यगच्छन्त काकुत्स्थं रामं ज्वलिततेजसम्
When Śarabhaṅga ascended to heaven, assemblies of sages gathered and approached Rāma of the Kakutstha line, radiant with blazing energy.
वैखानसा वालखिल्याः सम्प्रक्षाला मरीचिपाः। अश्मकुट्टाश्च बहवः पत्राहाराश्च तापसाः
There were Vaikhānasa and Vālakhilya sages, Samprakṣālas, Marīcipas, many Ashmakuṭṭas, and ascetics who lived on leaves.
दन्तोलूखलिनश्चैव तथैवोन्मज्जकाः परे। गात्रशय्या अशय्याश्च तथैवानवकाशिकाः
There were also those who used their teeth as mortars, others who remained immersed, those who slept on the ground or did not sleep, and those who dwelled in open spaces.
मुनयः सलिलाहारा वायुभक्षास्तथापरे। आकाशनिलयाश्चैव तथा स्थण्डिलशायिनः
There were sages who lived on water, others who subsisted on air, some who resided in the sky, and those who lay on bare earth.
तथोर्ध्ववासिनो दान्तास्तथाऽऽर्द्रपटवाससः। सजपाश्च तपोनिष्ठास्तथा पञ्चतपोऽन्विताः
There were those who dwelled upright, those who had subdued their senses, those clad in wet garments, those devoted to recitation, steadfast in austerity, and those practicing the fivefold penance.
अभिगम्य च धर्मज्ञा रामं धर्मभृतां वरम्। ऊचुः परमधर्मज्ञमृषिसङ्घाः समागताः
Having approached Rāma, the foremost upholder of righteousness, the assembled sages, well-versed in dharma, spoke to him, the supreme knower of righteousness.
त्वमिक्ष्वाकुकुलस्यास्य पृथिव्याश्च महारथः। प्रधानश्चापि नाथश्च देवानां मघवानिव
You are the mighty chariot-warrior of the Ikṣvāku line and of this earth, the foremost and protector, like Maghavan among the gods.
विश्रुतस्त्रिषु लोकेषु यशसा विक्रमेण च। पितृव्रतत्वं सत्यं च त्वयि धर्मश्च पुष्कलः
You are renowned in the three worlds for your fame and valor; in you are found devotion to your father, truthfulness, and abundant righteousness.