तौ संस्पृशन्तौ चरणावुत्थाप्य मुनिपुंगवः। गाढमाश्लिष्य सस्नेहमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
As they touched his feet, the eminent sage raised them up, embraced them closely with affection, and spoke these words.
अरिष्टं गच्छ पन्थानं राम सौमित्रिणा सह। सीतया चानया सार्धं छाययेवानुवृत्तया
Go safely on your path, Rama, together with Saumitri and with Sita, who follows like a shadow.
पश्याश्रमपदं रम्यं दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्। एषां तपस्विनां वीर तपसा भावितात्मनाम्
Behold the delightful hermitage of those ascetics dwelling in the Dandaka forest, O hero, whose souls are purified by austerity.
सुप्राज्यफलमूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च। प्रशस्तमृगयूथानि शान्तपक्षिगणानि च
You will see forests rich in excellent fruits and roots, blossoming trees, herds of noble deer, and flocks of peaceful birds.
फुल्लपङ्कजखण्डानि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च। कारण्डवविकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च
You will see ponds and lakes with blooming clusters of lotuses, clear waters, and flocks of waterfowl scattered about.
द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टिरम्याणि गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च। रमणीयान्यरण्यानि मयूराभिरुतानि च
You will see charming sights and mountain streams, lovely forests resounding with the cries of peacocks.
गम्यतां वत्स सौमित्रे भवानपि च गच्छतु। आगन्तव्यं च ते दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाश्रमं प्रति
Go, child; Saumitri, you too should proceed. After seeing all this, you must return again to the hermitage.
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा काकुत्स्थः सहलक्ष्मणः। प्रदक्षिणं मुनिं कृत्वा प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे
Thus addressed, Kakutstha, together with Lakshmana, replied, 'So be it,' and, circling the sage, began their departure.
ततः शुभतरे तूणी धनुषी चायतेक्षणा। ददौ सीता तयोर्भ्रात्रोः खड्गौ च विमलौ ततः
Then Sita, whose eyes were wide, gave the two brothers their splendid quivers and bows, and also their shining swords.
आबध्य च शुभे तूणी चापे चादाय सस्वने। निष्क्रान्तावाश्रमाद् गन्तुमुभौ तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
Fastening the fine quivers and taking up their bows with a resounding noise, both Rama and Lakshmana left the hermitage to depart.
शीघ्रं तौ रूपसम्पन्नावनुज्ञातौ महर्षिणा। प्रस्थितौ धृतचापासी सीतया सह राघवौ
Swiftly, those two, endowed with handsome form and permitted by the great sage, set out, bearing bows and swords, together with Sita.
thumb|नवमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे नवमः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the ninth chapter be heard.
सुतीक्ष्णेनाभ्यनुज्ञातं प्रस्थितं रघुनन्दनम्। हृद्यया स्निग्धया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्
Having received Sutīkṣṇa's permission, the descendant of Raghu departed; with heartfelt and affectionate words, she spoke to her husband.
अधर्मं तु सुसूक्ष्मेण विधिना प्राप्यते महान्। निवृत्तेन च शक्योऽयं व्यसनात् कामजादिह
Indeed, by a very subtle method, great unrighteousness is attained; and by withdrawal, one can escape from misfortune born of desire and the like.
त्रीण्येव व्यसनान्यत्र कामजानि भवन्त्युत। मिथ्यावाक्यं तु परमं तस्माद् गुरुतरावुभौ
There are three misfortunes arising from desire; but false speech is the greatest, and the other two are heavier because of it.
परदाराभिगमनं विना वैरं च रौद्रता। मिथ्यावाक्यं न ते भूतं न भविष्यति राघव
Without enmity or cruelty, approaching another's wife, and false speech—these have never occurred in you, nor will they, O Rāghava.
कुतोऽभिलषणं स्त्रीणां परेषां धर्मनाशनम्। तव नास्ति मनुष्येन्द्र न चाभूत् ते कदाचन
How could there be desire for other women, which destroys righteousness? You have never had this, O king among men, nor has it ever arisen in you.
मनस्यपि तथा राम न चैतद् विद्यते क्वचित्। स्वदारनिरतश्चैव नित्यमेव नृपात्मज
Even in your mind, O Rāma, such a thought does not exist anywhere; you are always devoted to your own wife, O prince.
धर्मिष्ठः सत्यसंधश्च पितुर्निर्देशकारकः। त्वयि धर्मश्च सत्यं च त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्
Righteous, truthful, and obedient to your father's command; in you, both righteousness and truth are firmly established.
तच्च सर्वं महाबाहो शक्यं वोढुं जितेन्द्रियैः। तव वश्येन्द्रियत्वं च जानामि शुभदर्शन
All this, O mighty-armed one, can be borne by those who have conquered their senses; I know your self-control, O one of auspicious appearance.
प्रतिज्ञातस्त्वया वीर दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्। ऋषीणां रक्षणार्थाय वधः संयति रक्षसाम्
You have pledged, O hero, to protect the sages dwelling in the Dandaka forest, and to destroy the demons in battle.
एतन्निमित्तं च वनं दण्डका इति विश्रुतम्। प्रस्थितस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा धृतबाणशरासनः
For this reason, you are renowned as having departed for the Dandaka forest, together with your brother, carrying bow and arrows.
ततस्त्वां प्रस्थितं दृष्ट्वा मम चिन्ताकुलं मनः। त्वद्धृत्तं चिन्तयन्त्या वै भवेन्निःश्रेयसं हितम्
Then, seeing you depart, my mind became troubled with anxiety; thinking of your departure, I ponder what would be truly beneficial.
नहि मे रोचते वीर गमनं दण्डकान् प्रति। कारणं तत्र वक्ष्यामि वदन्त्याः श्रूयतां मम
I do not find pleasure, O hero, in your journey to Dandaka; I will tell you the reason—listen to what I say.
त्वं हि बाणधनुष्पाणिर्भ्रात्रा सह वनं गतः। दृष्ट्वा वनचरान् सर्वान् कच्चित् कुर्याः शरव्ययम्
You, holding bow and arrows, have gone to the forest with your brother; seeing all the forest-dwellers, may you not use your arrows against them.
क्षत्रियाणामिह धनुर्हुताशस्येन्धनानि च। समीपतः स्थितं तेजोबलमुच्छ्रयते भृशम्
For Kshatriyas, the bow is like fuel for the fire; when close at hand, their power and energy rise greatly.
पुरा किल महाबाहो तपस्वी सत्यवान् शुचिः। कस्मिंश्चिदभवत् पुण्ये वने रतमृगद्विजे
Once, O mighty-armed one, there was a virtuous, truthful, and pure ascetic, who lived in a holy forest, delighting in deer and birds.
तस्यैव तपसो विघ्नं कर्तुमिन्द्रः शचीपतिः। खड्गपाणिरथागच्छदाश्रमं भटरूपधृक्
To hinder his austerity, Indra, lord of Śacī, came to his hermitage, taking the form of a warrior and carrying a sword.
तस्मिंस्तदाश्रमपदे निहितः खड्ग उत्तमः। स न्यासविधिना दत्तः पुण्ये तपसि तिष्ठतः
There, in that hermitage, the excellent sword was placed; it was given according to the rule of deposit, while he remained engaged in holy austerity.
स तच्छस्त्रमनुप्राप्य न्यासरक्षणतत्परः। वने तु विचरत्येव रक्षन् प्रत्ययमात्मनः
Having obtained that weapon, he became intent on guarding the deposit; while wandering in the forest, he protected it, trusting in himself.