Rama after killing demon Viradha enters the hermitage of Sage Sharabhanga, as advised by the dying demon Viradha in the previous episode. Sage Sharabhanga refuses the invitation of Indra to come to heaven, but awaits the arrival of Rama to see him with his own eyes. After seeing Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana, and also showing next course of their journey, that Sage enters the yogic fire and ascends to Brahma's abode.
Chapter [Sarga] 5 in Detail
hatvaa tu tam bhiima balam viraadham raaksasam vane |
tatah siitaam parisvajya samaashvaasya ca viiryavaan || 3-5-1
abraviit bhraataram raamo lakshmanam diipta tejasam |
After killing that stupendously mighty demon Viradha in forest, then Rama comfortingly embraced Seetha, and spoke to his brother Lakshmana who is beaming forth with resplendence. [3-5-1]
kastam vanam idam durgam na ca smo vana gocaraah || 3-5-2
abhigacchaamahe shiighram sharabhangam tapo dhanam |
”Difficult is this impassable forest, nor we are forest inhabitants either... let’s go quickly to that ascetically rich sage Sharabhanga..." [3-5-2b, 3a]
aashramam sharabhangasya raaghavo.abhijagaama ha || 3-5-3
tasya deva prabhaavasya tapasaa bhaavita aatmanah |
samiipe sharabha.ngasya dadarsha mahat adbhutam ||3-5-4
On his approach at the hermitage of Sage Sharabhanga, a sage with a divine effect and the one with a purified soul, saw a great wonder at the nearby of that hermitage of Sharabhanga. [3-5-3b, 4]
vibhraajamaanam vapusaa suurya vaishvaanara prabham |
ratha pravaram aaruudham aakaashe vibudha anugam || 3-5-5
asa.msprishantam vasudhaam dadarsha vibudha iishvaram |
sa.mprabha aabharanam devam virajo a.mbara dhaarinam || 3-5-6
tat vidhaih eva bahubhir puujyamaanam mahaatmabhih |
Rama has seen Indra, the lord of three worlds, with a radiant body that has the coupled radiance of Sun and Fire, mounted on a great chariot that does not touch the earth, wearing greatly brilliant ornaments and attired in spotless dress, while the other divinities are attending, and many more selfsame great-souls are worshipping him. [3-5-5, 6, 7a]
haritaih vaajibhir yuktam a.ntariksa gatam ratham || 3-5-7
dadarsha aduuratah tasya taruna aaditya sa.nnibham |
paandura abhra ghana prakhyam candra mandala sa.nnibham || 3-5-8
Rama saw at his very nearby a chariot yoked with green horses that traverses in firmament, which in its splendor is either like the noontime sun, or a cluster of silver clouds, or like the silvern [made of silver] sphere of the moon. [3-5-7b, 8]
apashyat vimalam chatram citra maalya upashobhitam |
caamara vyajane ca agrye rukma dande mahaadhane || 3-5-9
grihiite vara naariibhyaam dhuuyamaane ca muurdhani |
He saw the stainless parasol [a lightweight umbrella used as a sunshade] of Indra, marvelously garlanded and shining forth, and the exemplary and invaluable royal fanning instruments with golden handles, which two best female celestials are handling and fanning at Indra's head sides with them. [3-5-9, 10a]
gandharva amara siddhaah ca bahavah parama risayah || 3-5-10
antariksa gatam devam giirbhir agryaabhir aidiyan |
And the celestials like Gandharva-s, Amara-s, Siddhaa-s and very many great sages as well are extolling Indra who is abiding in firmament. [3-5-10b, 11a]
saha sa.mbhaasamaane tu sharabha.ngena vaasave || 3-5-11
dristvaa shata kratum tatra raamo laksmanam abraviit |
On seeing Indra speaking there to sage Sharabhanga, Rama spoke to Lakshmana. [3-5-11b, 12a]
raamo.atha ratham uddishya bhraatur darshayata adbhutam || 3-5-12
archismantam shriyaa justam adbhutam pashya laxmana |
pratapantam iva aadityam antariksha gatam ratham || 3-5-13
Rama then on pointing out the chariot expressed his own amazement saying, “Lakshmana see this wonderful chariot that includes effulgence and auspiciousness as well, and that abides in firmament, and highly luminous like the Sun... [3-5-12b, 13]
ye hayaah puru huutasya puraa shakrasya nah shrutaah |
antariksa gataa divyaah te ime harayo dhruvam || 3-5-14
"Of which horses we have earlier heard from our teachers telling that they belong to Indra, the Chief Invitee in Vedic rituals, they are these divinely green horses that now abide in the firmament, and definitely these must be Indra’s horses... [3-5-14]
ime ca purusa vyaaghra ye tisthanti abhitah disham |
shatam shatam kundalino yuvaanah khadga paanayah || 3-5-15
vistiirna vipula uraskaah parighaayata baahavah |
shonaa.mshu vasanaah sarve vyaaghra iva duraasadaah || 3-5-16
uro deshesu sarvesaam haaraa jvalana sa.nnibhaah |
ruupam bibhrati saumitre pa.nca vi.mshati vaarsikam || 3-5-17
“And oh, manly-tiger Lakshmana, those that are there in hundreds and hundreds around Indra, those youthful ones with their ear-ornaments and swords in hands, with wide and broad chests, with club shaped arms, and clad in glimmering red garments, all are like tigers, all are unapproachable, all of them are wearing ornamental chains on their chest-place that are akin to flaring fires, and in their appearance, Saumitri, they always bear a look of twenty-five-year-olds... [3-5-15, 16, 17]
etaddhi kila devaanaam vayo bhavati nityadaa |
yathaa ime purusa vyaaghraa drishyante priya darshanaah || 3-5-18
"The age factor of gods remains constant at the age that appears for these nice-looking Tigerly-men, so they say... for gods are immortals and they will be ever young... [3-5-18]
iha eva saha vaidehyaa muhuurtam tistha laksmana |
yaavat jaanaami aham vyaktam ka esa dyutimaan rathe || 3-5-19
"Stay for a moment Lakshmana along with Vaidehi, until I know clearly about that resplendent one on that chariot... [3-5-19]
tam evam uktvaa saumitrim iha eva sthiiyataam iti |
abhicakraama kaakutsthah sharabha.nga aashramam prati || 3-5-20
On saying to Lakshmana ‘stay there only...’ Rama proceeded towards the hermitage of Sage Sharabhanga.. [3-5-20]
tatah samabhigacchantam preksya raamam shacii patih |
sharabhangam anujnaapya vibudhaan idam abraviit || 3-5-21
Then, on seeing Rama arriving there, Indra, bade farewell to Sage Sharabhanga and said this to the celestials attending him. [3-5-21]
iha upayaati asau raamo yaavan maam na abhibhaasate |
nisthaam nayata taavat tu tato maa drastum arhati || 3-5-22
jitavantam kritaartham hi tadaa aham aciraad imam |
karma hi anena kartavyam mahat anyaih suduskaram || 3-5-23
"Here comes that Rama...before he talks to me, you lead him towards his vow, after completing the result of his incarnation, then only he is eligible to see me... Let him be a victorious and accomplished one, then I will see him very soon...for that will happen very soon... A great deed is to be verily performed by him that is highly impossible for others... [3-5-22, 23]
atha vajrii tam aama.ntrya maanayitvaa ca taapasam |
rathena haya yuktena yayau divam arindamah || 3-5-24
Then that Enemy-destroyer Indra adoringly bade farewell to the sage, and traveled to heavens by the chariot with its green horses. [3-5-24]
prayaate tu sahasraakse raaghavah saparicchadah |
agni hotram upaasiinam sharabha.ngam upaagamat || 3-5-25
On the transit of that Thousand-eyed Indra, Raghava with his adherents [namely Lakshmana and Seetha,] came nearby the Sage Sharabhanga, who is sitting nearby the altar of fire. [3-5-25]
tasya paadau ca sa.mgrihya raamah siitaa ca laksmanah |
niseduh tad anujnaataa labdha vaasaa nima.ntritaah || 3-5-26
Touching the feet of that Sage Sharabhanga Rama along with Seetha and Lakshmana and duly permitted and invited by that Sage Sharabhanga they sat there, as they obtained a shelter. [3-5-26]
tatah shakra upayaanam tu paryapricchata raaghavah |
sharabha.ngah ca tat sarvam raaghavaaya nyavedayat || 3-5-27
Then, Raghava enquired with sage about the arrival of Indra and Sage Sharabhanga narrated all that to him. [3-5-27]
maam esa varado raama brahma lokam niniisati |
jitam ugrena tapasaa duspraapam akrita aatmabhih || 3-5-28
"Oh! Rama, that boon-giver Indra wishes to take me to Brahma's abode, which is achieved by me by my arduous ascesis and that which is unattainable for them with their souls unconquered... [3-5-28]
aham jnaatvaa nara vyaaghra vartamaanam aduuratah |
brahma lokam na gacchaami tvaam adristvaa priya atithim || 3-5-29
"On knowing that you are course is nearby, oh! Manly-tiger, and without seeing my dear guest I do not wish to go to Brahma's abode... [3-5-29]
tvayaa aham purusavyaaghra dhaarmikena mahatmanaaa |
samaagamya gamisyaami tridivam ca avaram param || 3-5-30
"Having met with you, a virtuous one and a great soul as you are, oh, manly-tiger, I wish to go through undesirable lesser heavens to Brahma's abode, the highest [3-5-30]
aksayaa nara shaarduula jitaalokaa mayaa shubhaah |
braahmyaah ca naaka pristhyaah ca pratigrihniisva maamakaan || 3-5-31
"Oh! Tigerly-man, non-diminishing are the abodes achieved by me either in Brahma's abode or yonder than paradise...you take them all...that are mine achieved by me ascesis...” So said Sage Sharabhanga to Rama. [3-5-31]
evam ukto naravyaaghrah sarva shaastra vishaaradah |
risinaa sharabha.ngena raaghavo vaakyam abraviit || 3-5-32
Thus said by the Sage Sharabhanga to that Manly-tiger Rama, being the scholar in all the scriptures he spoke this sentence to that sage. [3-5-32]
aham eva aaharisyaami sarvaan lokaan mahaamune |
aavaasam tu aham icchaami pradistam iha kaanane || 3-5-33
"I alone can gain all those worlds, oh! Great Saint, I now seek a place to dwell here in this forest as indicated by you... [Apparent meaning.] [3-5-33]
raaghavena evam uktah tu shakra tulya balena vai |
sharabha.ngo mahaapraajnah punar eva abraviit vacah || 3-5-34
Thus said by Raghava, who is like Indra in strength, that supremely intellectual Sage Sharabhanga again spoke this sentence this way. [3-5-34]
iha raama mahaatejaah sutiikshno nama dhaarmikah |
vasati aranye niyatah sa te shreyo vidhaasyati || 3-5-35
"Here, oh! Rama, a great resplendent sage named Suteekshna, lives in this forest...a virtuous and a self-disciplined one, and he will do something benignant to you... [3-5-35]
sutiiksnam abhigaccha tvam shucau deshe tapasvinam |
ramaniiye vanoddeshe sa te vaasam vidhaasyati || 3-5-36
"You approach Sage Suteekshna and to you he will arrange housing in his auspicious and pleasant place woods of hermits... [3-5-36]
imaam mandaakiniim raama pratisrotam anuvraja |
nadiim puspodupa vahaam tatah tatra gamisyasi || 3-5-37
" Following opposite to its flow you may follow this River Mandakini that carries flower-ferries, then you can reach there at Sage Suteekshna hermitage...] [3-5-37]
esa panthaa naravyaaghra muhuurtam pashya taata maam |
yaavat jahaami gaatraani jiirnaam tvacam iva uragah || 3-5-38
"This is the only way, oh, manly-tiger, and oh, sire, see me for a moment, till I forsake these body parts of mine, like a snake casting its withered molt [to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically]... [3-5-38]
tato agnim su samaadhaaya hutvaa ca aajyena ma.ntravit |
sharabha.ngo mahaatejaah pravivesha hutaashanam || 3-5-39
Then that hymnist on invoking the sacred fire and offering oblations with clarified butter into it, that radiant sage Sharabhanga entered that sacred fire. [3-5-39]
tasya romaani keshaam ca tadaa vahnih mahaatmanah |
jiirnam tvacam tad asthiini yat ca maa.msam ca shonitam || 3-5-40
The fire burnt down that great soul Sharabhanga from head-hair to body hair and thus his shrunk skin, bones and whatever flesh and blood are there, they are also burnt completely. [3-5-40]
sa ca paavaka sa.mkaashah kumaarah samapadyata |
utthaaya agnicayaat tasmaat sharabha.ngo vyarocata || 3-5-41
He that Sage Sharabhanga, then reappeared as a youngster in the semblance [resemble] of Fire, on resurrecting from that altar of fire he shone-forth. [3-5-41]
Comment: The age of celestial is always constant like twenty-five-year-olds, as said above by Rama at 3-5-17/18.
sa lokaan aahitaagniinaam risiinaam ca mahaatmanaam |
devaanaam ca vyatikramya brahma lokam vyarohata || 3-5-42
He that Sage Sharabhanga, transcending the ethereal worlds of fire-worshippers, of saints, of great souls, and also of divinities, has ascended to Brahma's abode. [3-5-42]
sa punya karmaa bhuvane dvijarsabhah
pitaamaham saanucaram dadarsha ha |
pitaamahah ca api samiiksya tam dvijam
nananda susvaagatam iti uvaaca ha || 3-5-43
He that meritorious and best Brahman Sharabhanga has seen Brahma in Brahma’s abode, and Brahma too, on seeing that Brahman happily spoke to him... "Welcome..." [3-5-43]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande panchamah sargah
Thus, this is the 5th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate