After the heavenward journey of Sage Sharabhanga, Rama is approached by others sages and hermits. They inform him about the atrocities of demons around that place. They all ask Rama to eradicate the menace and Rama avows to do so, in order to keep up the tranquility of those hermitages, and also to obliterate the menace of demons from earth.
Chapter [Sarga] 6 in Detail
sharabhange divam praapte muni sa.nghaah samaagataah |
abhyagacchanta kaakutstham raamam jvalita tejasam || 3-6-1
On Sage Sharabhanga attaining heaven, groups of sages assembled and approached Rama of Kakutstha dynasty, who is glowing with resplendence [splendor]. [3-6-1]
vaikhaanasaa vaalakhilyaah sa.mpraksaalaa mariicipaah |
ashma kuttaah ca bahavah patra aahaaraah ca taapasaah || 3-6-2
The sages called Vaikhaanasa-s, [who are born out of the nails of Prajapati, the first ruler of mankind,] also Vaalakhilyaa-s, [those born from his hair,] and those from the water of His feet-wash, and those that thrive on drinking rays of sun and moon alone, and those that pound with stones and others who thrive on leaves alone, are those sages... [3-6-2]
danta uluukhalinah ca eva tathaa eva un.hmajjakaah pare |
gaatra shayyaa ashayyaah ca tathaa eva anavakaashikaah || 3-6-3
Some of them use their own teeth to grid the grain they eat, and some who perform ascesis in neck-deep water, and some who sleep with their head resting on their shoulders or on chests without using any kind of bed, and some who do not use any kind of beds either, and some who meditate without any repose sitting in an enclosure without any leg-space. [3-6-3]
munayah salila aahaaraa vaayu bhaksaah tathaa apare |
aakaasha nilayaah ca eva tathaa sthandila shaayinah || 3-6-4
And some sages whose food is water alone, or air alone to some; like that some who meditate staying in sky and some who sleep on bare ground itself. [3-6-4]
tathaa uurthva vaasinah daantaah tathaa aardra pata vaasasah |
sa japaah ca tapo nityaah tathaa pa.nca tapo.anvitaah || 3-6-5
Thus some are dwellers on high-peaked places with their senses controlled, and some are wearers of wet cloths, always reciting name or hymn Japa and like that some who meditate with five kinds of fire around them. [3-6-5]
sarve braahmyaa shriyaa jyuktaa dridha yoga samaahitaah |
sharabha.nga aashrame raamam abhijagmuh ca taapasaah || 3-6-6
All have Vedic resplendence and firm yogic control, and they have arrived at the hermitage of Sage Sharabhanga for Rama. [3-6-6]
abhigamya ca dharmajnaa raamam dharma bhritaam varam |
uucuh parama dharmajnam risi sa.nghaah samaagataah || 3-6-7
Those virtuous sages coming together in groups neared Rama, the best beholder of virtue, and said to that supreme one in virtue. [3-6-7]
tvam iksvaaku kulasya asya prithivyaah ca mahaarathah |
pradhaanah ca api naathah ca devaanaam maghavaan iva || 3-6-8
"You are the supreme charioteer born in Ikshvaku dynasty hence you are the protector of earth under your control. As with Indra, the ruler of divinities you are a similar ruler for us. [3-6-8]
vishrutah trisu lokesu yashasaa vikramena ca |
pitri vratatvam satyam ca tvayi dharmah ca puskalah || 3-6-9
"You are well renowned in all the three worlds by your repute and valor, and in you abounding are the virtues like truthfulness and devotion to your father, and even righteousness too, is there. [3-6-9]
tvaam aasaadya mahaatmaanam dharmajnam dharma vatsalam |
arthitvaat naatha vaksyaamah tat ca nah ksantum arhasi || 3-6-10
"You are the great-souled one; knower of righteousness and a patron of virtue... such as you are, on approaching you we beg to state something for which we may please be excused... [3-6-10]
adhaarmah sumahaan naatha bhavet tasya tu bhuupateh |
yo haret bali sad bhaagam na ca raksati putravat || 3-6-11
"Oh! , very great a-dharma, wrongness, will occur to that king who takes the sixth part of the country's produce as cess, but does not safeguard his subjects like his own sons... [3-6-11]
yunjaanah svaan iva praanaan praanaih istaan sutaan iva |
nitya yuktah sadaa raksan sarvaan visaya vaasinah || 3-6-12
praapnoti shaashvatiim raama kiirtim sa bahu vaarsikiim |
brahmanah sthaanam aasaadya tatra ca api mahiiyate || 3-6-13
"A king shall treat all the subjects of kingdom as his own sons, and he shall protect them as though he is ready to save them at the cost of his own lives, and he who will always be endeavoring [to work with set purpose] in that manner will attain permanent renown lasting for many for many years to come, and thereby he attains a prosperous place even in Brahma's abode... [3-6-12, 3]
yat karoti param dharmam munih muula phala ashanah |
tatra raajnah catur bhaagah prajaa dharmena raksatah || 3-6-14
"He who righteously protects his subjects will get one fourth of the merit of great duty-bound deeds performed by each individual sage, say yajna-s, ascesis, meditation etc. performances. [3-6-14]
so ayam braahmana bhuuyistho vaanaprastha gano mahaan |
tvam naatho anaathavat raama raaksasaih hanyate bhrisham || 3-6-15
"O, Rama, though you are there as protector for the hermitages, suchlike this one, where the most reverent Brahmans are there numerously, they look as though forsaken, for they are being demolished by demons, devastatingly... [3-6-15]
ehi pashya shariiraani muniinaam bhaavita aatmanaam |
hataanaam raaksasaih ghoraih bahuunaam bahudhaa vane || 3-6-16
"Come and see many of the bodies of the sages, the contemplative souls, that are variously killed by ghastly demons in the forest... [3-6-16]
pampaa nadii nivaasaanaam anumandaakiniim api |
citrakuuta aalayaanaam ca kriyate kadanam mahat || 3-6-17
"At Pampa riverside, and alongside of River Mandakini and at the surroundings of Mt. Chitrakuta also, this hideous warfare is being done... [3-6-17]
evam vayam na mrisyaamo viprakaaram tapasvinaam |
kriyamaanam vane ghoram raksobhih bhiima karmabhih || 3-6-18
"Thus. we are not able to tolerate this injustice to the sages, being executed in this forest by the demons with fiendish deeds, in a ghastly manner... [3-6-18]
tatah tvaam sharanaartham ca sharanyam samupasthitaah |
paripaalaya nah raama vadhyamaanaan nishaacaraih || 3-6-19
"Therefore we present ourselves before you as you are our protector, for the purpose of your protecting us that are being killed by nightwalkers... please safe guard us... [3-6-19]
paraa tvattah gatih viira pridhivyam na upapadyate |
paripaalaya nah sarvaan raaxasebhyo nripaatmajah || 3-6-20
"Other than you, oh, valorous Rama, no way-out is deducible on this earth, hence oh, prince, protect all of us from the demons... [3-6-20]
etat shrutvaa tu kaakutsthah taapasaanaam tapasvinaam |
idam provaaca dharmaatmaa sarvaan eva tapasvinah || 3-6-21
On hearing all that is said by the sages of great penance, he that virtue souled Rama said this unto all of the sages. [3-6-21]
na evam arhatha maam vaktum aajnaapyah aham tapasvinaam |
kevalena sva kaaryena pravestavyam vanam mayaa || 3-6-22
"Unapt is this way of speaking to me...command me, for I am at your behest... just for my personal purpose I had to enter the forests.... [3-6-22]
viprakaaram apaakrastum raaxasaih bhavataam imam |
pituh tu nirdeshakarah pravisto aham idam vanam || 3-6-23
"I entered this forest as ordered by my father and even to obliterate the unconscionable state of yours owing to the misdeeds of demons. [3-6-23]
bhavataam artha siddhyartham aagato.aham yadricchayaa |
tasya me ayam vane vaaso bhavisyati mahaaphalah | 3-6-24
"Perchance I have come for the achievement of your purpose, such as I am, dwelling in this forest will immensely be fruitful to me... [3-6-24]
tapasvinaam rane shatruun hantum icchaami raaksasaan |
pashyantu viiryam risayah sah braatur me tapodhanaah || 3-6-25
"I wish to eliminate demons, the enemies of sages, in war... let the sages behold my valor, and my brother's valor in doing so..." Thus Rama promised the sages. [3-6-25]
dattvaa abhayam ca api tapo dhanaanaam
dharme dhriita aatmaa saha laksmanena |
tapo dhanaih ca api saha aarya dattah
sutiixnam eva abhijagaama viirah || 3-6-26
Thus giving his aegis to the sages, that valiant Rama who is firmly virtue-souled, journeyed towards Sage Suteekshna with Lakshmana and the sages, and along with the one given by Honorable Janaka, namely Seetha. [3-6-26]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande sasthah sargah
Thus, this is the 6h chapter in Aranya of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate