धर्मादर्थः प्रभवति धर्मात् प्रभवते सुखम्। धर्मेण लभते सर्वं धर्मसारमिदं जगत्
From righteousness comes wealth, from righteousness comes happiness; by righteousness one obtains everything—this world is founded on righteousness.
आत्मानं नियमैस्तैस्तैः कर्षयित्वा प्रयत्नतः। प्राप्तये निपुणैर्धर्मो न सुखाल्लभते सुखम्
By subjecting oneself to various disciplines with effort, one attains righteousness through skill; happiness is not gained by pleasure.
नित्यं शुचिमतिः सौम्य चर धर्मं तपोवने। सर्वं तु विदितं तुभ्यं त्रैलोक्यामपि तत्त्वतः
Always keep your mind pure, gentle one, and practice righteousness in this forest of austerities; all is known to you, even the truth of the three worlds.
स्त्रीचापलादेतदुपाहृतं मे धर्मं च वक्तुं तव कः समर्थः। विचार्य बुद्ध्या तु सहानुजेन यद् रोचते तत् कुरु माचिरेण
This was brought to me through a woman's fickleness; who is competent to instruct you in righteousness? Consider with your brother what pleases you, and do that without delay.
thumb|दशमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे दशमः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the tenth chapter.
वाक्यमेतत् तु वैदेह्या व्याहृतं भर्तृभक्तया। श्रुत्वा धर्मे स्थितो रामः प्रत्युवाचाथ जानकीम्
This speech was spoken by Vaidehī out of devotion to her husband; hearing it, Rāma, steadfast in righteousness, replied to Jānakī.
हितमुक्तं त्वया देवि स्निग्धया सदृशं वचः। कुलं व्यपदिशन्त्या च धर्मज्ञे जनकात्मजे
You have spoken what is beneficial, O lady, words full of affection, befitting one of noble family and versed in righteousness, O daughter of Janaka.
किं नु वक्ष्याम्यहं देवि त्वयैवोक्तमिदं वचः। क्षत्रियैर्धार्यते चापो नार्तशब्दो भवेदिति
What indeed shall I say, O lady, when you yourself have spoken these words: 'The bow is borne by Kṣatriyas, so that the cry of distress may not arise'?
ते चार्ता दण्डकारण्ये मुनयः संशितव्रताः। मां सीते स्वयमागम्य शरण्यं शरणं गताः
Those afflicted ones, the sages of Daṇḍaka forest, firm in their vows, O Sītā, have come to me themselves, seeking refuge in me, the protector.
वसन्तः कालकालेषु वने मूलफलाशनाः। न लभन्ते सुखं भीरु राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः
Dwelling in the forest according to the seasons, living on roots and fruits, they do not find happiness, O timid one, because of the Rākṣasas with cruel deeds.
भक्ष्यन्ते राक्षसैर्भीमैर्नरमांसोपजीविभिः। ते भक्ष्यमाणा मुनयो दण्डकारण्यवासिनः
The fierce rākṣasas, who subsist on human flesh, devour the ascetics dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest.
अस्मानभ्यवपद्येति मामूचुर्द्विजसत्तमाः। मया तु वचनं श्रुत्वा तेषामेवं मुखाच्च्युतम्
The foremost of twice-born ones said to me, 'Let us rely upon you.' Hearing these words spoken by them,
कृत्वा वचनशुश्रूषां वाक्यमेतदुदाहृतम्। प्रसीदन्तु भवन्तो मे ह्रीरेषा तु ममातुला
Having listened attentively to their words, I spoke this: 'May you all be gracious to me; this is a profound sense of modesty within me.'
यदीदृशैरहं विप्रैरुपस्थेयैरुपस्थितः। किं करोमीति च मया व्याहृतं द्विजसंनिधौ
When I was approached by such brahmins as guests, I asked in their presence, 'What should I do?'
अर्दिताः स्म भृशं राम भवान् नस्तत्र रक्षतु। होमकाले तु सम्प्राप्ते पर्वकालेषु चानघ
We are greatly afflicted, O Rāma; may you protect us there. Especially at the time of offerings and on festival days, O sinless one,
धर्षयन्ति सुदुर्धर्षा राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः। राक्षसैर्धर्षितानां च तापसानां तपस्विनाम्
The exceedingly formidable rākṣasas, eaters of flesh, harass us. The ascetics, devoted to austerity, are oppressed by the rākṣasas.
गतिं मृगयमाणानां भवान् नः परमा गतिः। कामं तपःप्रभावेण शक्ता हन्तुं निशाचरान्
You are our supreme refuge as we seek a way out. By the power of austerity, we are indeed capable of destroying the night-dwellers,
चिरार्जितं न चेच्छामस्तपः खण्डयितुं वयम्। बहुविघ्नं तपो नित्यं दुश्चरं चैव राघव
But we do not wish to break the austerity we have long acquired. Austerity is always beset with many obstacles and is difficult to practice, O Rāghava.
तेन शापं न मुञ्चामो भक्ष्यमाणाश्च राक्षसैः। तदर्द्यमानान् रक्षोभिर्दण्डकारण्यवासिभिः
Therefore, even when being devoured by rākṣasas, we do not utter curses. Those ascetics dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest, afflicted by rākṣasas,
रक्ष नस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा त्वन्नाथा हि वयं वने। मया चैतद्वचः श्रुत्वा कात्स्न्र्येन परिपालनम्
Protect us, together with your brother, for we are under your guardianship in the forest. Having heard this entire speech from me,
ऋषीणां दण्डकारण्ये संश्रुतं जनकात्मजे। संश्रुत्य च न शक्ष्यामि जीवमानः प्रतिश्रवम्
The promise made to the sages in the Daṇḍaka forest, O daughter of Janaka, having pledged it, I cannot, while living, break my word.
मुनीनामन्यथा कर्तुं सत्यमिष्टं हि मे सदा। अप्यहं जीवितं जह्यां त्वां वा सीते सलक्ष्मणाम्
It is always my cherished truth not to act otherwise towards the sages. I would even abandon my life, or you, Sītā, along with Lakṣmaṇa,
न तु प्रतिज्ञा संश्रुत्य ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषतः। तदवश्यं मया कार्यमृषीणां परिपालनम्
But having made a promise, especially to the brāhmaṇas, I cannot forsake it. Therefore, I must certainly protect the sages.
अनुक्तेनापि वैदेहि प्रतिज्ञाय कथं पुनः। मम स्नेहाच्च सौहार्दादिदमुक्तं त्वया वचः
Even if it was not spoken, O Vaidehī, how could I again pledge? Out of affection and friendship, you have spoken these words to me.
परितुष्टोऽस्म्यहं सीते न ह्यनिष्टोऽनुशास्यते। सदृशं चानुरूपं च कुलस्य तव शोभने। सधर्मचारिणी मे त्वं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी
I am fully satisfied with you, Sītā; for one who is not worthy is not instructed. This is fitting and appropriate for your noble lineage, O beautiful one. You are my companion in righteousness, more precious to me than life itself.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं महात्मा सीतां प्रियां मैथिलराजपुत्रीम्। रामो धनुष्मान् सह लक्ष्मणेन जगाम रम्याणि तपोवनानि
Having thus spoken to his beloved Sītā, the daughter of the king of Mithilā, the great-souled Rāma, bearing his bow, together with Lakṣmaṇa, went to the delightful hermitages.
thumb|एकादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे एकादशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the eleventh chapter be heard. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Araṇyakaṇḍa, the eleventh chapter.
अग्रतः प्रययौ रामः सीता मध्ये सुशोभना। पृष्ठतस्तु धनुष्पाणिर्लक्ष्मणोऽनुजगाम ह
Rāma walked ahead, Sītā, radiant, was in the middle, and behind followed Lakṣmaṇa, holding his bow.
तौ पश्यमानौ विविधान् शैलप्रस्थान् वनानि च। नदीश्च विविधा रम्या जग्मतुः सह सीतया
They, observing various rocky slopes, forests, and delightful rivers, proceeded together with Sītā.
सारसांश्चक्रवाकांश्च नदीपुलिनचारिणः। सरांसि च सपद्मानि युतानि जलजैः खगैः
They saw cranes and chakravāka birds roaming the riverbanks, and lakes filled with lotuses, teeming with waterfowl.