Summary
Rama arrives at the hermitage of Sage Suteekshna, as directed by Sage Sharabhanga in the previous chapter and asks the sage to show a place to dwell. Suteekshna asks Rama to stay at his own hermitage, which has no other problems than the wild animals that come in herds and make blaring noises. Rama wishes to kill those animals that hamper the tranquility of hermits living therein, but having observed the kindness of Suteekshna towards those wild animals, however disturbing they may be, Rama refrains to kill them, and would like to go to any other place than this. They spend that night there.
Chapter [Sarga] 7 in Detail
raamah tu sahitah bhraatraa siitayaa ca para.mtapah |
sutiikshnasya aashrama padam jagaama saha taih dvijaih || 3-7-1
Rama, the enemy-scorcher, has gone towards the threshold of the hermitage of Sage Suteekshna along with his brother Lakshmana and Seetha, also along with those Brahmans who accompanied him all the way. [4-7-1]
sa gatvaa diirgham adhvaanam nadiih tiirtvaa bahu udakaah |
dadarsha vimalam shailam mahaa merum iva unnatam || 3-7-2
He traveling on a long way, and on crossing rivers with plenty of waters has seen a tranquil mountain towering like great Mt. Meru. [3-7-2]
tatah tad ikshvaaku varau satatam vividhaih drumaih |
kaananam tau vivishatuh siitayaa saha raaghavau || 3-7-3
Then those best ones from Ikshvaku dynasty, those two Raghava-s along with Seetha have entered the forest which will always be full with diverse trees. [3-7-3]
pravistah tu vanam ghoram bahu puspa phala drumam |
dadarsha aashramam ekaante ciira maalaa pariskritam || 3-7-4
Entering that perilous forest with its many a flower and fruit bearing trees, they have seen the hermitage in a reclusive place adorned with rows of jute cloths as though garlanding it. [3-7-4]
tatra taapasam aasiinam mala pankaja dhaarinam |
raamah sutiikshnam vidhivat tapodhanam abhaasata || 3-7-5
There on seeing the ascetically rich Sage Suteekshna sitting in yogic posture with his body bearing lotus-like blotches of soil, Rama dutifully spoke to him. [3-7-5]
apavitro va pavitro va sarva avastham gato api va |
yah smaret punýarikaksam sa bahya abhyantarah sucih ||
raamo.aham asmi bhagavan bhavantam drastum aagatah |
tat maa abhivada dharmajna maharse satya vikrama || 3-7-6
"Oh! godly sage I am Rama, I have come to see you, hence oh, knower of virtue, oh, great sage, oh, one with truthfulness as your courage, please talk to me..." [3-7-6]
sa niriiksya tatah dhiiro raamam dharmabhritaam varam |
samaashlisya ca baahubhyaam idam vacanam abraviit || 3-7-7
Then that sage having seen that brave and best proponent of virtue, Rama, embraced him with both of his hands, and spoke this sentence. [3-7-7]
svaagatam te raghu shrestha raama satyabhritaam vara |
aashramao ayam tvayaa aakraantah sanaatha iva saa.mpratam || 3-7-8
"Welcome to you Rama, best of Raghu dynasty and the best patron of truth, and when you presently caught this hermitage unprepared this has become a well-lorded one... [3-7-8]
pratiikshamaanah tvaam eva na aarohe aham mahaayashah |
deva lokam ito viira deham tyaktvaa mahiitale || 3-7-9
citrakuutam upaadaaya raajya bhrasto asi me shrutah |
"I am awaiting for you only, oh, greatly renowned one, without my ascent to heavens by casting off this body on the earth's plane, oh, brave one, for I have heard that you have arrived at Chitrakuta after you are repudiated from your kingdom... [3-7-9]
iha upayaatah kaakutsthah devaraajah shatatakratuh || 3-7-10
upaagamya cha me devo mahaadevah sura iishvarah |
sarvaan lokaan jitaan aaha mama punyena karmanaa || 3-7-11
"The king of gods and the chief invitee in hundred sacrifices Indra approached me, and that great deity said me that I have conquered all the worlds by my meritorious deeds... [3-7-10, 11]
tesu deva risi justesu jiteshu tapasaa mayaa |
mat prasaadaat sa bhaaryah tvam viharasva sa lakshmanah || 3-7-12
"Let me bequeath those worlds that are cherished by gods and sages alike, but which are won over by me by my ascesis, and you enjoy in them with your wife and with your brother Lakshmana... [3-7-12]
tam ugra tapasam diiptam maharsim satya vaadinam |
pratyuvaaca aatmavaan raamo brahmaanam iva vaasavah || 3-7-13
That self-respecting Rama replied the radiant sage with intense asceticism, a great soul and an advocate of truth by himself, as Indra would reply to Brahma. [3-7-13]
aham eva aaharisyaami svayam lokaan mahaamune |
aavaasam tu aham icchaami pradistam iha kaanane || 3-7-14
"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... [3-7-14]
bhavaan sarvatra kushalah sarvabhuuta hite ratah |
aakhyaatah sharabha.ngena gautamena mahaatmanaa || 3-7-15
"You are an expert in all affairs, and you are interested in the welfare of all the beings, so said the great souled Sage Sharabhanga of Sage Gautama's dynasty..." [So said Rama to the sage.] [3-7-15]
evam uktah tu raamena maharsih loka vishrutah |
abraviit madhuram vaakyam harsena mahataa yutah || 3-7-16
When said thus by Rama, that great sage with world renown spoke sweet worded sentence with great pleasure. [3-7-16]
ayam eva aashramo raama gunavaan ramyataam iti |
risi sa.ngha anucaritah sadaa muula phalair yutah || 3-7-17
"You can take delight in this good featured hermitage alone, for groups of sages will always be moving here, and this always contains tubers and fruits..." Thus said Sage Suteekshna. [3-7-17]
imam aashramam aagamya mriga sa.nghaa mahiiyasah |
ahatvaa pratigacchanti lobhayitvaa akutobhayaah || 3-7-18
"But herds of very large animals will be coming to this hermitage, they return after scaring us, of course without killing anyone, and they fear none... [3-7-18]
naa anyo doso bhavet atra mrigebhyah anyatra viddhi vai |
tat shrutvaa vacanam tasya maharseh lakshmanaagrajah || 3-7-19
uvaaca vacanam dhiiro vigrihya sa sharam dhanuh |
"Know that no other problem is there other than the animals..." So said the sage. On hearing those words of that great sage, that brave elder brother of Lakshmana taking bow and arrow said this sentence. [3-7-19, 20a]
taan aham sumahaabhaaga mrigasa.nghaan samaagataan || 3-7-20
hanyaam nishita dhaarena sharena nata parvanaa |
"I will eradicate them, oh, greatly blessed one, those animals that will come collectively in herds with sharp edged, curve-end arrows... [3-7-20b, 21a]
bhavaan tatra abhisajyeta kim syaat kricchra taram tatah || 3-7-21
etasmin aashrame vaasam ciram tu na samarthaye |
"But you may be more interested in those animals mercifully, then what will be there more painful to you, hence I deem our staying in this hermitage for along will be unbefitting..." So said Rama. [3-7-21b, 22a]
tam evam uktvaa uparamam raamah sa.mdhyaam upaagamat || 3-7-22
anvaasya pashcimaam sa.ndhyaam tatra vaasam akalpayat |
sutiikshnasya aashrame ramye siitayaa lakshmanena cha || 3-7-23
On saying thus to the sage then Rama came by the twilight, and he paused at it. On worshipping the westward vesper [evening] time, Rama arranged a stay for himself along with Seetha and Lakshmana, there in that delightful hermitage of Sage Suteekshna. [3-7-22b, 23]
tatah shubham taapasa annam
svayam sutiikshnah purusarsabhaabhyaam |
taabhyaam susatkritya dadau mahaatmaa
sa.ndhyaa nivrittau rajaniim samiikshya || 3-7-24
Then the great soul Sage Suteekshna on completing his evening rituals and on observing the fall of night he himself courteously served food that is auspicious and worthy of sages to two of the best men, Rama and Lakshmana. [3-7-23]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayanae aadi kaavye aranya kaande saptamah sargah
Thus, this is the 7th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate