रामः तु सह सौमित्रिः सुतीक्ष्णेन अभिपूजितः | परिणांय निशाम् तत्र प्रभाते प्रत्यबुध्यत || ३-८-१
raamaH tu saha saumitriH sutiikShNena abhipuujitaH |pariNaaMya nishaam tatra prabhaate pratyabudhyata || 3-8-1
Rama along with Soumitri is well revered by Sage Suteekhsna, spent that night there and awoken in the morning. [3-8-1]
उत्थाय च यथा कालम् राघवः सह सीतया | उपस्पृश्य सु शीतेन तोयेन उत्पल गंधिना || ३-८-२
utthaaya ca yathaa kaalam raaghavaH saha siitayaa |upaspR^ishya su shiitena toyena utpala gaMdhinaa || 3-8-2
Rama got up according to time along with Seetha and touched finely cool water with lotus-fragrance for morning bath. [3-8-2]
अथ ते अग्निम् सुराम् च एव वैदेही राम लक्ष्मणौ | काल्यम् विधिवत् अभ्यर्च्य तपस्वि शरणे वने || ३-८-३ उदयन्तम् दिनकरम् दृष्ट्वा विगत कल्मषाः | सुतीक्ष्णम् अभिगंय इदम् श्लक्ष्णम् वचनम् अब्रुवन् || ३-८-४
atha te agnim suraam ca eva vaidehii raama lakshmaNau |kaalyam vidhivat abhyarcya tapasvi sharaNe vane || 3-8-3udayantam dinakaram dR^iShTvaa vigata kalmaShaaH |sutiikshNam abhigaMya idam shlakshNam vacanam abruvan || 3-8-4
Then they all, Vaidehi, Rama and Lakshmana, on worshipping sacred fire and deities dutifully in the shelter of the sages in that forest and on seeing the dawning sun, they are reft of their blemishes, and then they approached Sage Suteekshna speaking this sentence gently. [3-8-3, 4]
सुखोषिताः स्म भगवन् त्वया पूज्येन पूजिताः | आपृच्छामः प्रयास्यामो मुनयः त्वरयन्ति नः || ३-८-५
tvaraamahe vayam draShTum kR^itsnam aashrama maNDalam |R^iShiiNaam puNya shiilaanaam daNDakaaraNya vaasinaam || 3-8-6
"We stayed here happily, oh, god, venerated by a venerable one like you, and here we come to ask your permission as we wish to journey on, as the sages are hastening us... [3-8-5]
त्वरामहे वयम् द्रष्टुम् कृत्स्नम् आश्रम मण्डलम् | ऋषीणाम् पुण्य शीलानाम् दण्डकारण्य वासिनाम् || ३-८-६
abhyanuj~naatum icChaamaH saha ebhiH munipu~NgavaiH |dharma nityaiH tapo daantaiH vishikhaiH iva paavakaiH || 3-8-7
"We make haste to see the habitats of hermitages in their entirety, and even wish to see the sages with meritorious selves living in Dandaka forest... [3-8-6]
अभ्यनुज्ञातुम् इच्छामः सह एभिः मुनिपुङ्गवैः | धर्म नित्यैः तपो दान्तैः विशिखैः इव पावकैः || ३-८-७
aviShahya aatapo yaavat suuryo na ati viraajate |amaargeNa aagataam lakshmiim praapya iva anvaya varjitaH || 3-8-8taavat icChaamahe gantum iti uk{}tvaa caraNau muneH |vavande saha saumitriH siitayaa saha raaghavaH || 3-8-9
"We wish to have your permission, and that of these eminent sages, who are ever virtuous, self-controlled by their ascesis, and who look like the veritable tongues of sacred fire... [3-8-7]
अविषह्य आतपो यावत् सूर्यो न अति विराजते | अमार्गेण आगताम् लक्ष्मीम् प्राप्य इव अन्वय वर्जितः || ३-८-८ तावत् इच्छामहे गन्तुम् इति उक्त्वा चरणौ मुनेः | ववन्दे सह सौमित्रिः सीतया सह राघवः || ३-८-९
tau sam spR^ishaMtau caraNau utthaapya munipuMgavaH |gaaDham aashliShya sasneham idam vacanam abraviit || 3-8-10
"We wish to proceed before sun attains an intolerable glare, like an unworthy person of unworthy lineage attains wealth in an improper way with much glare..." saying so Rama with Seetha and Lakshmana venerated at the feet of that sage Suteekshna. [3-8-8, 9]
तौ सम् स्पृशंतौ चरणौ उत्थाप्य मुनिपुंगवः | गाढम् आश्लिष्य सस्नेहम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् || ३-८-१०
pashya aashrama padam raMyam daNDakaaraNya vaasinaam |eShaam tapasvinaam viira tapasaa bhaavita aatmanaam || 3-8-12
That eminent sage lifted them that are touching his feet, embraced them tightly, and said this sentence in all his friendliness. [3-8-10]
अरिष्टम् गच्छ पन्थानम् राम सौमित्रिणा सह | सीतया च अनया सार्धम् छाय एव अनुवृत्तया || ३-८-११
supraajya phala muulaani puShpitaani vanaani ca |prashasta mR^iga yuuthaani shaanta pakShi gaNaani ca || 3-8-13phulla paMkaja khaNDaani prasanna salilaani ca |kaaraNDava vikiirNaani taTaakaani saraaMsi ca || 3-8-14drakShyase dR^iShTi raMyaaNi giri prasravaNaani ca |ramaNiiyaani araNyaani mayuura abhirutaani ca || 3-8-15
"Proceed in an invulnerable way, Rama, along with Lakshmana, and with this Seetha while she follows you closely like a shadow... [3-8-11]
पश्य आश्रम पदम् रंयम् दण्डकारण्य वासिनाम् | एषाम् तपस्विनाम् वीर तपसा भावित आत्मनाम् || ३-८-१२
gaMyataam vatsa saumitre bhavaan api ca gacChatu |aagantavyam ca te dR^iShTvaa punaH eva aashramam prati || 3-8-16
"See the pleasant thresholds of the hermitages of the dwellers in the forests of Dandaka, oh! Valiant one, whose souls are consecrated just by their ascesis... [3-8-2]
सुप्राज्य फल मूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च | प्रशस्त मृग यूथानि शान्त पक्षि गणानि च || ३-८-१३ फुल्ल पंकज खण्डानि प्रसन्न सलिलानि च | कारण्डव विकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च || ३-८-१४ द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टि रंयाणि गिरि प्रस्रवणानि च | रमणीयानि अरण्यानि मयूर अभिरुतानि च || ३-८-१५
evam uk{}taH tathaa iti uk{}tvaa kaakutsthaH saha lakShmaNaH |pradakShiNam munim kR^itvaa prasthaatum upacakrame || 3-8-17
"See the well-flowered woodlands with well-grown fruits and tubers, with herds of best animals and peaceful bird flocks... tranquil waters with spreading clusters of bloomed lotuses and water-birds in the pools and lakes... eye-pleasing rapids from mountains and you can see pleasant forests loaded with the hearty screams of precooks... [3-8-13, 14, 15]
गंयताम् वत्स सौमित्रे भवान् अपि च गच्छतु | आगन्तव्यम् च ते दृष्ट्वा पुनः एव आश्रमम् प्रति || ३-८-१६
shiighram tau ruupasaMpannau anuj~naatau maharShiNaa |prasthitau dhR^ita chaapaa asii siitayaa saha raaghavau || 3-8-20
"My dear Rama, you may go and Soumitri you too also may go... but come again towards this hermitage after seeing all of them... [3-8-16]
एवम् उक्तः तथा इति उक्त्वा काकुत्स्थः सह लक्ष्मणः | प्रदक्षिणम् मुनिम् कृत्वा प्रस्थातुम् उपचक्रमे || ३-८-१७
Thus said by the sage, Rama in his turn said to him, "so be it..." and having performed circumambulations around the sage he started to journey on. [3-8-17]
ततः शुभतरे तूणी धनुषी च आयतेक्षणा | ददौ सीता तयोः भ्रात्रोः खड्गौ च विमलौ ततः || ३-८-१८
Then the broad eyed Seetha gave auspicious quivers and bows to those brothers and then spotless swords too. [3-8-18]
आबध्य च शुभे तूणी चापे च आदाय सस्वने | निष्क्रान्तौ आश्रमात् गन्तुम् उभौ तौ राम लक्ष्मणौ || ३-८-१९
Both of those two Rama and Lakshmana tied their beautiful quivers well on their backs, and took the twangy bows and exited from that hermitage to go on their way. [3-8-19]
शीघ्रम् तौ रूपसंपन्नौ अनुज्ञातौ महर्षिणा | प्रस्थितौ धृत चापा असी सीतया सह राघवौ || ३-८-२०
Those two Raghava-s, the handsome princes, have swiftly set out when permitted by that august sage, wielding bows and swords, and along with Seetha. [3-8-20]
