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.
अहमेवाहरिष्यामि स्वयं लोकान् महामुने। आवासं त्वहमिच्छामि प्रदिष्टमिह कानने
O great sage, I myself will conquer the worlds; but I desire a dwelling here in the forest, as you have indicated.
भवान् सर्वत्र कुशलः सर्वभूतहिते रतः। आख्यातं शरभङ्गेन गौतमेन महात्मना
You are skilled in all matters, devoted to the welfare of all beings; this has been told to me by the noble Śarabhaṅga and Gautama.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण महर्षिर्लोकविश्रुतः। अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं हर्षेण महता युतः
Thus addressed by Rāma, the great sage renowned in the world spoke sweet words, filled with great joy.
अयमेवाश्रमो राम गुणवान् रम्यतामिति। ऋषिसंघानुचरितः सदा मूलफलैर्युतः
This very hermitage, O Rāma, is virtuous and delightful, always frequented by groups of sages, and abounds with roots and fruits.
इममाश्रममागम्य मृगसंघा महीयसः। अहत्वा प्रतिगच्छन्ति लोभयित्वाकुतोभयाः
Coming to this hermitage, the great herds of deer, having tempted but not harmed, depart without fear.
नान्यो दोषो भवेदत्र मृगेभ्योऽन्यत्र विद्धि वै। तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य महर्षेर्लक्ष्मणाग्रजः
Know that there is no other fault here except from the deer; hearing these words of the great sage, the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa—
उवाच वचनं धीरो विगृह्य सशरं धनुः। तानहं सुमहाभाग मृगसंघान् समागतान्
The steadfast one, grasping his bow with arrows, spoke these words: 'O most fortunate one, I will slay these assembled herds of deer.'
हन्यां निशितधारेण शरेणानतपर्वणा। भवांस्तत्राभिषज्येत किं स्यात् कृच्छ्रतरं ततः
'With a sharp, keen arrow, I would kill them; but if you were to heal them there, what hardship would be greater than that?'
एतस्मिन्नाश्रमे वासं चिरं तु न समर्थये। तमेवमुक्त्वोपरमं रामः संध्यामुपागमत्
'I am not able to dwell long in this hermitage.' Having spoken thus, Rāma ceased and performed the evening twilight rites.
अन्वास्य पश्चिमां संध्यां तत्र वासमकल्पयत् । सुतीक्ष्णस्याश्रमे रम्ये सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च
Having performed the evening twilight rites there, he arranged to stay in the beautiful hermitage of Sutikṣṇa, together with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.