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.
ततः कर्तुं तपोविघ्नं सर्वदेवैर्नियोजिताः। प्रधानाप्सरसः पञ्च विद्युच्चलितवर्चसः
Then, to obstruct his austerity, all the gods appointed five chief apsarases, radiant as lightning.
अप्सरोभिस्ततस्ताभिर्मुनिर्दृष्टपरावरः। नीतो मदनवश्यत्वं देवानां कार्यसिद्धये
By those apsarases, the sage, who had seen the highest and lowest, was brought under the sway of passion, for the gods’ purpose to be fulfilled.
ताश्चैवाप्सरसः पञ्च मुनेः पत्नीत्वमागताः। तटाके निर्मितं तासां तस्मिन्नन्तर्हितं गृहम्
Those five apsarases became the wives of the sage; in the lake, a house was built for them, concealed within.
तत्रैवाप्सरसः पञ्च निवसन्त्यो यथासुखम्। रमयन्ति तपोयोगान्मुनिं यौवनमास्थितम्
There, the five apsarases dwell as they please, delighting the sage, who has embraced youth, with their ascetic practices and union.
तासां संक्रीडमानानामेष वादित्रनिःस्वनः। श्रूयते भूषणोन्मिश्रो गीतशब्दो मनोहरः
The sound of instruments, mixed with the jingling of ornaments, and enchanting songs, is heard from their playful activities.
आश्चर्यमिति तस्यैतद् वचनं भावितात्मनः। राघवः प्रतिजग्राह सह भ्रात्रा महायशाः
‘Wonderful!’—thus, the noble-minded Rāghava accepted the sage’s words, together with his illustrious brother.
एवं कथयमानः स ददर्शाश्रममण्डलम्। कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तं ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या समावृतम्
As he was speaking thus, he beheld the circle of hermitages, surrounded by kusa grass and bark garments, and filled with the divine radiance of Brahman.
प्रविश्य सह वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च राघवः। तदा तस्मिन् स काकुत्स्थः श्रीमत्याश्रममण्डले
Rāghava entered there together with Vaidehī and Lakṣmaṇa, into that splendid circle of hermitages.
उषित्वा स सुखं तत्र पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः। जगाम चाश्रमांस्तेषां पर्यायेण तपस्विनाम्
He stayed there comfortably, honored by the great sages, and then visited the hermitages of those ascetics in turn.
येषामुषितवान् पूर्वं सकाशे स महास्त्रवित् । क्वचित् परिदशान् मासानेकसंवत्सरं क्वचित्
He, the master of mighty weapons, had previously dwelt among them, sometimes for several months, sometimes for a whole year.