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.
परा त्वत्तो गतिर्वीर पृथिव्यां नोपपद्यते। परिपालय नः सर्वान् राक्षसेभ्यो नृपात्मज
O hero, there is no other refuge on earth apart from you; protect us all, O prince, from the Rākṣasas.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु काकुत्स्थस्तापसानां तपस्विनाम्। इदं प्रोवाच धर्मात्मा सर्वानेव तपस्विनः
Hearing this, the righteous son of Kakutstha spoke these words to all the ascetics devoted to austerity.
नैवमर्हथ मां वक्तुमाज्ञाप्योऽहं तपस्विनाम्। केवलेन स्वकार्येण प्रवेष्टव्यं वनं मया
You ought not to command me thus; I am not to be ordered by ascetics. I must enter the forest solely for my own duty.
विप्रकारमपाक्रष्टुं राक्षसैर्भवतामिमम्। पितुस्तु निर्देशकरः प्रविष्टोऽहमिदं वनम्
I have entered this forest, carrying out my father's command, to remove the harm done to you by the Rākṣasas.
भवतामर्थसिद्ध्यर्थमागतोऽहं यदृच्छया। तस्य मेऽयं वने वासो भविष्यति महाफलः
By chance I have come for the accomplishment of your purpose; for me, dwelling in the forest will bear great fruit.
तपस्विनां रणे शत्रून् हन्तुमिच्छामि राक्षसान्। पश्यन्तु वीर्यमृषयः सभ्रातुर्मे तपोधनाः
I wish to slay the Rākṣasa enemies of the ascetics in battle; let the sages, rich in austerity, witness my valor together with my brother.
दत्त्वा वरं चापि तपोधनानां धर्मे धृतात्मा सह लक्ष्मणेन। तपोधनैश्चापि सहार्यदत्तः सुतीक्ष्णमेवाभिजगाम वीरः
Having granted a boon also to the ascetics, the self-controlled one, steadfast in righteousness, together with Lakṣmaṇa, set out with the ascetics and went to Sutīkṣṇa.
thumb|सप्तमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तमः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the seventh sarga (canto).
रामस्तु सहितो भ्रात्रा सीतया च परंतपः। सुतीक्ष्णस्याश्रमपदं जगाम सह तैर्द्विजैः
Rāma, the scorcher of foes, accompanied by his brother and Sītā, went to the hermitage of Sutīkṣṇa along with those twice-born sages.
स गत्वा दूरमध्वानं नदीस्तीर्त्वा बहूदकाः। ददर्श विमलं शैलं महामेरुमिवोन्नतम्
Having traveled a long distance and crossed many rivers full of water, he saw a pure mountain, lofty like great Meru.