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.
यूथबद्धांश्च पृषतान् मदोन्मत्तान् विषाणिनः। महिषांश्च वराहांश्च गजांश्च द्रुमवैरिणः
They saw herds of deer bound together, intoxicated and horned, as well as buffaloes, wild boars, elephants hostile to trees.
ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानं लम्बमाने दिवाकरे। ददृशुः सहिता रम्यं तटाकं योजनायुतम्
Having traveled a long distance as the sun was setting, they together saw a beautiful lake, ten yojanas wide.
पद्मपुष्करसम्बाधं गजयूथैरलंकृतम्। सारसैर्हंसकादम्बैः संकुलं जलजातिभिः
It was crowded with lotuses and water-lilies, adorned with herds of elephants, and filled with cranes, swans, and kadamba birds, teeming with aquatic species.
प्रसन्नसलिले रम्ये तस्मिन् सरसि शुश्रुवे। गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषो न तु कश्चन दृश्यते
In that charming lake with clear waters, the sound of singing and instruments was heard, yet no one was seen.
ततः कौतूहलाद् रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महारथः। मुनिं धर्मभृतं नाम प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे
Then, out of curiosity, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the great chariot-warrior, began to question the sage named Dharmabhṛt.
इदमत्यद्भुतं श्रुत्वा सर्वेषां नो महामुने। कौतूहलं महज्जातं किमिदं साधु कथ्यताम्
Hearing this most wondrous thing, all of us, O great sage, have become greatly curious; please tell us what this is.
तेनैवमुक्तो धर्मात्मा राघवेण मुनिस्तदा। प्रभावं सरसः क्षिप्रमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे
Thus addressed by Rāghava, the sage, whose soul was devoted to righteousness, promptly began to recount the power of the lake.
स हि तेपे तपस्तीव्रं माण्डकर्णिर्महामुनिः। दशवर्षसहस्राणि वायुभक्षो जलाशये
That great sage Māṇḍakarṇi performed intense austerity for ten thousand years, subsisting on air, while residing in the water.
ततः प्रव्यथिताः सर्वे देवाः साग्निपुरोगमाः। अब्रुवन् वचनं सर्वे परस्परसमागताः
Then all the gods, led by Agni, became disturbed and, gathering together, spoke among themselves.
अस्माकं कस्यचित् स्थानमेष प्रार्थयते मुनिः। इति संविग्नमनसः सर्वे तत्र दिवौकसः
This sage desires a place among us, thus all the dwellers of heaven were troubled in mind.