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.
ततः शुभं तापसयोग्यमन्नं स्वयं सुतीक्ष्णः पुरुषर्षभाभ्याम्। ताभ्यां सुसत्कृत्य ददौ महात्मा संध्यानिवृत्तौ रजनीं समीक्ष्य
Then Sutikṣṇa himself, the great-souled one, after properly honoring the two best of men, gave them pure food suitable for ascetics, upon the close of twilight, seeing that night had come.
thumb|अष्टमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टमः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the eighth sarga be heard.
रामस्तु सहसौमित्रिः सुतीक्ष्णेनाभिपूजितः। परिणाम्य निशां तत्र प्रभाते प्रत्यबुध्यत
Rāma, together with Saumitri, having been duly honored by Sutikṣṇa, spent the night there and awoke at dawn.
उत्थाय च यथाकालं राघवः सह सीतया। उपस्पृश्य सुशीतेन तोयेनोत्पलगन्धिना
Rāghava, rising at the proper time with Sītā, performed purification with cool water fragrant with lotuses.
अथ तेऽग्निं सुरांश्चैव वैदेही रामलक्ष्मणौ। काल्यं विधिवदभ्यर्च्य तपस्विशरणे वने
Then, in that forest, refuge of ascetics, Vaidehī, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa, at dawn, duly worshipped the fire and the deities.
उदयन्तं दिनकरं दृष्ट्वा विगतकल्मषाः। सुतीक्ष्णमभिगम्येदं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रुवन्
Seeing the sun rising, their sins dispelled, they approached Sutikṣṇa and spoke these gentle words.
सुखोषिताः स्म भगवंस्त्वया पूज्येन पूजिताः। आपृच्छामः प्रयास्यामो मुनयस्त्वरयन्ति नः
We have been happily hosted by you, O revered one, honored with your veneration; we take leave, for the sages urge us onward.
त्वरामहे वयं द्रष्टुं कृत्स्नमाश्रममण्डलम्। ऋषीणां पुण्यशीलानां दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्
We hasten to see the entire circle of hermitages, of those sages of pure conduct who dwell in the Dandaka forest.
अभ्यनुज्ञातुमिच्छामः सहैभिर्मुनिपुंगवैः। धर्मनित्यैस्तपोदान्तैर्विशिखैरिव पावकैः
We wish to receive your permission, together with these foremost sages, ever steadfast in righteousness and subdued by austerity, blazing like arrows of fire.
तावदिच्छामहे गन्तुमित्युक्त्वा चरणौ मुनेः। ववन्दे सहसौमित्रिः सीतया सह राघवः
Having said, 'We wish to depart,' Rama, along with Saumitri and Sita, bowed at the feet of the sage.