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.
त्वामासाद्य महात्मानं धर्मज्ञं धर्मवत्सलम्। अर्थित्वान्नाथ वक्ष्यामस्तच्च नः क्षन्तुमर्हसि
Having come to you, the great-souled, the knower and lover of righteousness, we seek your aid, O protector; please forgive us for this request.
अधर्मः सुमहान् नाथ भवेत् तस्य तु भूपतेः। यो हरेद् बलिषड्भागं न च रक्षति पुत्रवत्
A great unrighteousness, O protector, would be committed by a king who takes a sixth part of the produce but does not protect his people as his own children.
युञ्जानः स्वानिव प्राणान् प्राणैरिष्टान् सुतानिव। नित्ययुक्तः सदा रक्षन् सर्वान् विषयवासिनः
He who, ever devoted, protects all his subjects as his own life, or as beloved sons, with all his strength, attains true kingship.
प्राप्नोति शाश्वतीं राम कीर्तिं स बहुवार्षिकीम्। ब्रह्मणः स्थानमासाद्य तत्र चापि महीयते
Such a king, O Rāma, attains lasting fame for many years, reaches the abode of Brahmā, and is honored there.
यत् करोति परं धर्मं मुनिर्मूलफलाशनः। तत्र राज्ञश्चतुर्भागः प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षतः
Whatever supreme righteousness an ascetic living on roots and fruits performs, a fourth part of that accrues to the king who protects his people with righteousness.
सोऽयं ब्राह्मणभूयिष्ठो वानप्रस्थगणो महान्। त्वन्नाथोऽनाथवद् राम राक्षसैर्हन्यते भृशम्
This great community of forest-dwelling ascetics, mostly brāhmaṇas, though under your protection, O Rāma, is being grievously slain by rākṣasas as if unprotected.
एहि पश्य शरीराणि मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्। हतानां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्बहूनां बहुधा वने
Come, see the bodies of many noble-minded sages, slain in various ways by fierce rākṣasas in the forest.
पम्पानदीनिवासानामनुमन्दाकिनीमपि। चित्रकूटालयानां च क्रियते कदनं महत्
A great slaughter is being committed among those dwelling by the Pampā river, the Anumandākinī, and those residing at Citrakūṭa.
एवं वयं न मृष्यामो विप्रकारं तपस्विनाम्। क्रियमाणं वने घोरं रक्षोभिर्भीमकर्मभिः
Thus, we cannot endure the terrible harm being done in the forest to ascetics by rākṣasas engaged in dreadful deeds.
ततस्त्वां शरणार्थं च शरण्यं समुपस्थिताः। परिपालय नो राम वध्यमानान् निशाचरैः
Therefore, seeking refuge, we have come to you, the worthy protector; protect us, O Rāma, who are being slain by night-roaming beings.