प्रविश्य तु महारण्यं दण्डकारण्यमात्मवान् | रामो ददर्श दुर्धर्षस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम् || ३-१-१
pravishya tu mahaaraNyam daNDakaaraNyam aatmavaan | raamo dadarsha durdharSha taapasa aashrama maNDalam || 3-1-1
On entering the impenetrable Dandaka forest that courageous and unassailable Rama saw a clusters of hermitages of sages. [3-1-1]
कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तं ब्राह्म्यां लक्ष्यासमावृतम् | यथा प्रदीप्तं दुर्दर्शं गगने सूर्यमण्डलम् || ३-१-२
kusha chiira parikShiptam braahMyaa lakShMyaa samaavR^itam | yathaa pradiiptam durdarsham gagane suurya maNDalam || 3-1-2
On looking at the rising red sun, the devotee is asking "Oh! Pooshan! God Sun, nourisher of the universe, the trueness of the Supreme is covered by your golden disk like vessel, [i.e., your Solar disk,] slide it aside, for as a truthful and righteous devotee, I visualize [that which is beyond your golden Solar disc.]
शरण्यं सर्वभूतानां सुसंमृष्टाजिरं सद | मृगैर्बहुभिराकीर्णं पक्षिसंमैः समातम् || ३-१-३
sharaNyam sarva bhuutaanaam su saMmR^iShTa ajiram sadaa | mR^igaiH bahubhiH aakiirNam paxi sanghaiH samaavR^itam || 3-1-3
Those hermitages have well-tidied thresholds on all sides, dense with many deer and teemed with many groups of birds, and they are the recourse for all living beings. [3-1-3]
पूजितं चोपनृत्तं च नित्यमप्सरसाम् गणैः | विशालैरग्निशरणैः स्रुग्भाण्डैरजिनैः कुशैः || ३-१-४ समिद्भिस्तोयकलशैः फलमूलश्च शोभितम् | आरण्यैः च महा वृक्षैः पुण्यैः स्वादु फलैर् वृतम् || ३-१-५
puujitam cha upanR^ittam cha nityam apsarasaam gaNaiH | vishaalaiH agni sharaNaiH sruk bhaaNDaiH ajinaiH kushaiH || 3-1-4 samidbhiH toya kalashaiH phala muulaiH cha shobhitam | aaraNyaiH cha mahaa vR^ikShaiH puNyaiH svaadu phalair vR^itam || 3-1-5
Those hermitages are always adored by groups of apsarasa-s with their continued dancing, their Holy Fireplaces are very broad, and are with oblation items, vessels, deerskins and sacred grass, and they are beaming forth with gigantic trees that yield sacred and palatable fruits, and with ritual fuels, and water vessels, tubers and fruits. [3-1-4, 5]
बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम् | पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया || ३-१-६
phalamuula ashanaiH daantaiH chiira kR^iShNaajina ambaraiH | suurya vaishvaanara aabhaiH cha puraaNaiH munibhir yutam || 3-1-7
Those hermitages are sacrosanct for Ritual fire is being worshiped with fire-oblations and sacrifices to the reverberating Vedic sounds, and they are enwrapped with lotus ponds with lotuses, and even with flowers of forest. [3-1-6]
फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैस्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरैः | सूर्यवैश्वानराभश्च पुराणैर्मुनिभिर्युतम् || ३-१-७
puNyaiH cha niyata aahaaraiH shobhitam parama R^iShibhiH | tat brahma bhavana prakhyam brahma ghoSha ninaaditam || 3-1-8
They have age-old saints with controlled senses who are clad in jute cloths and deerskin, and who subsist on fruits and tubers alone, ye their resplendence is like that that of the Sun-god or the Fire-god. [3-1-7]
पुण्यैश्च नियताहारैः शोभितं परमर्षिभिः | तद् ब्रह्मभवनप्रख्यां ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम् || ३-१-८
brahma vidbhiH mahaa bhaagaiH braahmaNaiH upashobhitam | tat dR^iShTvaa raaghavaH shriimaan taapasa aashrama maNDalam || 3-1-9 abhyagacChat mahaatejaa vijyam kR^itvaa mahad dhanuH |
Rama has seen such a cluster of hermitages that is glistening forth just by the presence of holy saints whose sustenance is constrained, and that hermitage is distinctive like Brahma's abode, reverberating with the sounds of that Brahma's Vedic chants alone. [3-1-8]
ब्रह्मविर्भिर्महाभागैर्ब्राह्मणैरुपशोभितम् | तद्दृष्ट्वा राघवः श्रीमांस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम् || ३-१-९ अभ्यगच्छन्महातेजा विज्यं कृत्वा महद्धनुः |
divya j~naana upapannaaH te raamam dR^iShTvaa maharShayaH || 3-1-10 abhijagmuH tadaa priitaa vaidehiim cha yashasviniim |
That glorious and great resplendent Rama on seeing those precincts of hermitage that is graced with highly blest Brahmans, the knowers of Brahma, neared it, unstringing the bowstring of his great bow. [3-1-9-10a]
दिव्यज्ञानोपपन्नास्ते रामं दृष्ःट्वा महर्षयः || ३-१-१० अभिजग्मुस्तदा प्रीता वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम् |
te tu somam iva udyantam dR^iShTvaa vai dharmachaariNam || 3-1-11 laxmaNam ca eva dR^iShTvaa tu vaidehiim cha yashashviniim | ma~Ngalaani prayu~njaanaaH pratyagR^ihNaan dR^iDha vrataaH || 3-1-12
Those great sages, the possessors of divine knowledge, are gladdened on seeing Rama and illustrious Seetha, and they moved towards them welcomingly. [3-1-10-11a]
ते तु सोममिवोद्यन्तं द्इष्ट्वा वै धर्मचारिणम् || ३-१-११ लक्ष्मणं चैव दृष्ट्वातु वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम् | मङ्गलानि प्रयञ्जानाः प्रत्यगृह्णान् दृढव्रताः || ३-१-१२
ruupa saMhananam lakShmiim saukumaaryam suveShataam | dadR^ishur vismita aakaaraa raamasya vana vaasinaH || 3-1-13
But those sages who are austerely committed to vows, on their seeing Rama, the treader on the path of rectitude, and who is now arising like moon, and at Lakshmana and at glorious Seetha as well, rendered Vedic blessings and welcomed the trio. [3-1-11a-12]
रूपसंहननं लक्ष्मीं सौकुमार्यं सुवेषताम् | ददृशुर्विस्मिताकारा रामस्य वनवासिनः || ३-१-१३
Or
Those forest-dwelling sages saw the physical built, its augustness and gracefulness, and his fine attire remaining in astonished postures. [3-1-13]
वैदेहीं लक्ष्मणं रामं नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव | आश्चरभूतान् ददृशुः सर्वे ते पनवासिनः || ३-१-१४
Or
The forest-dwellers saw Rama, Seetha, and Lakshmana without a wink on their own eyes [as though the Vishnu along with Goddess Lakshmi and Thousand headed-serpent, aadi sheSha are coming from their abode vaikunTha to this hermitage, for this hermitage is like Brahma's abode, as already said, thus the sages lost their wink. And loosing any single wink will loose the sight of these divinities from vaikunTha; hence their unannounced arrival caused surprise in them, which further caused a wink-less state [3-1-14]
आत्रैनं हि महाभागाः सर्वभूतहिते रताः | अतिथिं पर्णशालायां राघवं संन्यवेशयन् || ३-१-१५
atra enam hi mahaabhaagaaH sarva bhuuta hite rataaH | atithim parNashaalaayaam raaghavam saMnyaveshayan || 3-1-15
Those august sages that are interested in the well being of all beings have indeed accommodated Rama in that hermitage, as Rama is their guest a priori. [3-1-15]
ततो रामस्य सत्कृत्य विधिना पावकोपमाः | अजह्रुस्ते महाभागाः सलिलं धर्मचारिणः || ३-१-१६
tato raamasya satkR^itya vidhinaa paavaka upamaaH | aajahruH te mahaabhaagaaH salilam dharmachaariNaH || 3-1-16
Then those august sages who are similar to sacred fire in glow have procedurally accorded guestship to Rama, and fetched water for him. [3-1-17]
मङ्गलानि प्रयुञ्जना मुदा परमया युताः | मूलं पुष्पं फलं सर्वमाश्रमं च महात्मनः || ३-१-१७ निवेदयित्वा ध्र्मज्ञास्ते तु प्राञ्जलयोऽब्रुवन् |
maMgalaani prayu~njaanaa mudaa paramayaa yutaa | muulam puShpam phalam sarvam aashramam cha mahaatmanaH || 3-1-17 nivedayiitvaa dharmaj~naaH te tu praaMjalayo.abruvan |
On sounding out Vedic blessings those virtuous sages have offered flowers, fruits and tubers, and even the entire hermitage to that great soul Rama, and then with their palms adjoined. [3-1-17-18a]
धर्मपालो जनस्यास्य शरण्यश्च महायशाः || ३-१-१८ पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च राजा दण्डधरो गुरुः |
dharmapaalo janasya asya sharaNyaH cha mahaayashaaH || 3-1-18 puujaniiyaH cha maanyaH cha raajaa daNDadharo guruH |
"The king will have great renown for he is the ruler of the righteousness of these people, a protector, a respectable and adorable one, and as he wields the sceptre of justice, he is a revered one too... [3-1-18-19a]
इन्द्रस्यव चतुर्भागः प्रजा रक्षति राघव || ३-१-१९ राजा तस्माद् वरान् भोगान् रम्यान् भुङ्कै नम |
indrasya eva chaturbhaagaH prajaa rakShati raaghava || 3-1-19 raajaa tasmaad varaan bhogaan raMyaan bhu~Nk{}te namaskR^itaH |
"The fourth part of Indra is the protector of people, called the king, and hence Oh! Raghava, the king is hailed, and hence he enjoys best and delightful fortune... [3-1-19b-20a]
ते वयं भवता रक्ष्या भवद्विषयवासिनः | नगरस्थो वनस्थोवा त्वं नो राजा जनेश्वरः || ३-१-२०
te vayam bhavataa rakShyaa bhavad viShaya vaasinaH | nagarastho vanastho vaa tvam naH raajaa janeshvaraH || 3-1-20
"You alone have to protect us as we are the subjects living in your kingdom..May you be in the capital... or in the forest...you are our king... [3-1-20b,c]
न्यस्तदण्डा वयं राजञ्जितक्रोधा जित्रेन्द्रियाः | रक्षणीयास्त्वया श्श्वद्गर्भभूतास्तपोधनाः || ३-१-२१
nyasta daNDaa vayam raajan jita krodhaa jitendriyaaH | rakShaNiiyaaH tvayaa shashvad garbha bhuutaaH tapodhanaaH || 3-1-21
"We gave-up punishments, either physically or by the power of curses, conquered are our anger and senses, and our ascesis is the only wealth of ours, thus oh! King, we are to be protected by you, like the foetus inside a womb... [3-1-21]
एवमुक्त्वा फलैर्मुलैह् पुष्पैरन्यैश्च राघवम् | वन्यैश्च विविधाहारैः सलक्ष्मणमपूजयन् || ३-१-२२
evam uktvaa phalair muulaiH puShpair anyaiH cha raaghavam | vanyaiH cha vividha aahaaraiH sa lakShmaNam apuujayan || 3-1-22
Thus saying they worshipped Raghava along with Lakshmana, on giving fruits, tubers, flowers and other varieties of forest foods. [3-1-22]
तथान्ये तापसाः सिद्धा रामं वैश्वानरोपमाः | न्यायवृत्ता यथान्यायं तर्पयामासुरीश्वरम् || ३-१-२३
tathaa.anye taapasaaH siddhaa raamam vaishvaanara upamaaH | nyaaya vR^ittaa yathaa nyaayam tarpayaamaasur iishvaram || 3-1-23
Thus other saints and sages who are the followers of the virtue, and similar to the Sacred Fire adored Rama, the king, according to the wont of custom. [3-1-23]
