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.
ततस्तदिक्ष्वाकुवरौ सततं विविधैर्द्रुमैः। काननं तौ विविशतुः सीतया सह राघवौ
Then the two descendants of Raghu, always together, entered the forest filled with various trees, along with Sītā.
प्रविष्टस्तु वनं घोरं बहुपुष्पफलद्रुमम्। ददर्शाश्रममेकान्ते चीरमालापरिष्कृतम्
Entering the dreadful forest with many flowering and fruit-laden trees, he saw a hermitage in a secluded spot, adorned with garlands of bark-cloth.
तत्र तापसमासीनं मलपङ्कजधारिणम्। रामः सुतीक्ष्णं विधिवत् तपोधनमभाषत
There Rāma addressed Sutīkṣṇa, the ascetic rich in austerity, who was seated, bearing the marks of penance and filth, according to custom.
रामोऽहमस्मि भगवन् भवन्तं द्रष्टुमागतः। तन्माभिवद धर्मज्ञ महर्षे सत्यविक्रम
I am Rāma, O venerable one, come to see you; therefore, speak to me, O knower of righteousness, great sage of true valor.
स्वागतं ते रघुश्रेष्ठ राम सत्यभृतां वर। आश्रमोऽयं त्वयाऽऽक्रान्तः सनाथ इव साम्प्रतम्
Welcome to you, best of the Raghus, Rāma, foremost among the upholders of truth; this hermitage, now entered by you, is as if protected by a lord.
प्रतीक्षमाणस्त्वामेव नारोहेऽहं महायशः। देवलोकमितो वीर देहं त्यक्त्वा महीतले
Awaiting only you, O greatly renowned one, I have not ascended to the world of the gods, having left my body on earth.
चित्रकूटमुपादाय राज्यभ्रष्टोऽसि मे श्रुतः। इहोपयातः काकुत्स्थ देवराजः शतक्रतुः
I have heard that, deprived of your kingdom and having taken up residence at Citrakūṭa, you, O Kakutstha, have come here, and even Indra, the lord of gods, has come.
उपागम्य च मे देवो महादेवः सुरेश्वरः। सर्वाल्ँ लोकाञ्जितानाह मम पुण्येन कर्मणा
And the god, the great lord, the ruler of the gods, having approached me, said that by my merit I have conquered all the worlds.
तेषु देवर्षिजुष्टेषु जितेषु तपसा मया। मत्प्रसादात् सभार्यस्त्वं विहरस्व सलक्ष्मणः
In this place, honored by gods and sages, which I have won through austerity, by my favor, you may dwell here with your wife and with Lakṣmaṇa.
तमुग्रतपसं दीप्तं महर्षिं सत्यवादिनम्। प्रत्युवाचात्मवान् रामो ब्रह्माणमिव वासवः
To that great sage, blazing with severe austerity, truthful in speech, Rāma, self-possessed, replied as Indra would to Brahmā.