Rama Notices Anxiety Among the Sages in the Vicinity

प्रतिप्रयाते भरते वसन् रामः तपो वने | लक्षयाम् आस स उद्वेगम् अथ औत्सुक्यम् तपस्विनाम् || २-११६-१

pratiprayaate bharate vasan raamaH tapo vane | lakShayaam aasa sa udvegam atha autsukyam tapasvinaam || 2-116-1

Bharata having returned (to Ayodhya), Rama who was dwelling in the woods, observed anxiety accompanied by perturbation among the sages.

ये तत्र चित्र कूटस्य पुरस्तात् तापस आश्रमे | रामम् आश्रित्य निरताः तान् अलक्षयद् उत्सुकान् || २-११६-२

ye tatra citra kuuTasya purastaat taapasa aashrame | raamam aashritya nirataaH taan alakShayad utsukaan || 2-116-2

He saw there those ascetics-who were formerly quite pleased in that hermitage at Chitrakuta depending as they did on Rama- anxious.

नयनैर् भृकुटीभिः च रामम् निर्दिश्य शन्किताः | अन्योन्यम् उपजल्पन्तः शनैः चक्रुर् मिथः कथाः || २-११६-३

nayanair bhR^ikuTiibhiH ca raamam nirdishya shankitaaH | anyonyam upajalpantaH shanaiH cakrur mithaH kathaaH || 2-116-3

Pointing out to Rama through the movements of their eyes and eye-brows manifesting their anxiety, they whispered among themselves, narrating some legends in secret.

तेषाम् औत्सुक्यम् आलक्ष्य रामः तु आत्मनि शन्कितः | कृत अन्जलिर् उवाच इदम् ऋषिम् कुल पतिम् ततः || २-११६-४

teShaam autsukyam aalakShya raamaH tu aatmani shankitaH | kR^ita anjalir uvaaca idam R^iShim kula patim tataH || 2-116-4

Perceiving their distress, Rama was filled with apprehension about himself and with joined palms spoke the following words to a sage, the leader of that community of ascetics:

न कच्चिद् भगवन् किंचित् पूर्व वृत्तम् इदम् मयि | दृश्यते विकृतम् येन विक्रियन्ते तपस्विनः || २-११६-५

na kaccid bhagavan ki.ncit puurva vR^ittam idam mayi | dR^ishyate vikR^itam yena vikriyante tapasvinaH || 2-116-5

"O venerable sage! I fear that the conduct of my forefathers is not seen in me or there is some change for the worse in me, due to which the ascetics feel agitated."

प्रमादाच् चरितम् कच्चित् किंचिन् न अवरजस्य मे | लक्ष्मणस्य ऋषिभिर् दृष्टम् न अनुरूपम् इव आत्मनः || २-११६-६

pramaadaac caritam kaccit ki.ncin na avarajasya me | lakShmaNasya R^iShibhir dR^iShTam na anuruupam iva aatmanaH || 2-116-6

"Has my younger brother, the high-souled Lakshmana, through inadvertence, behaved unworthy of him while the sages were seeing?"

कच्चित् शुश्रूषमाणा वः शुश्रूषण परा मयि | प्रमदा अभ्युचिताम् वृत्तिम् सीता युक्तम् न वर्तते || २-११६-७

kaccit shushruuShamaaNaa vaH shushruuShaNa paraa mayi | pramadaa abhyucitaam vR^ittim siitaa yuktam na vartate || 2-116-7

"I hope that Seetha, who is serving you and who is keen in serving me, does not, I am afraid, behaved properly, according to the conduct suitable for women."

अथ ऋषिर् जरया वृद्धः तपसा च जराम् गतः | वेपमान इव उवाच रामम् भूत दया परम् || २-११६-८

atha R^iShir jarayaa vR^iddhaH tapasaa ca jaraam gataH | vepamaana iva uvaaca raamam bhuuta dayaa param || 2-116-8

Then, that grown-up sage, who was elderly both by age and penance, appeared trembling and spoke to Rama, who was ever compassionate to all beings, as follows:

कुतः कल्याण सत्त्वायाः कल्याण अभिरतेः तथा | चलनम् तात वैदेह्याः तपस्विषु विशेषतः || २-११६-९

kutaH kalyaaNa sattvaayaaH kalyaaNa abhirateH tathaa | calanam taata vaidehyaaH tapasviShu visheShataH || 2-116-9

"O, dear Rama! What is there for us the ascetics to fear above all from Seetha, who is natural in her disposition and is the follower of virtue?"

त्वन् निमित्तम् इदम् तावत् तापसान् प्रति वर्तते | रक्षोभ्यः तेन सम्विग्नाः कथयन्ति मिथः कथाः || २-११६-१०

tvan nimittam idam taavat taapasaan prati vartate | rakShobhyaH tena samvignaaH kathayanti mithaH kathaaH || 2-116-10

"It is on account of demons, who, through enmity to you, have begun to oppress the sages. Alarmed by it, they discuss with each other how they can best defend themselves."

रावण अवरजः कश्चित् खरो नाम इह राक्षसः | उत्पाट्य तापसान् सर्वान् जन स्थान निकेतनान् || २-११६-११ धृष्टः च जित काशी च नृशंसः पुरुष अदकः | अवलिप्तः च पापः च त्वाम् च तात न मृष्यते || २-११६-१२

raavaNa avarajaH kashcit kharo naama iha raakShasaH | utpaaTya taapasaan sarvaan jana sthaana niketanaan || 2-116-11 dhR^iShTaH ca jita kaashii ca nR^isha.nsaH puruSha adakaH | avaliptaH ca paapaH ca tvaam ca taata na mR^iShyate || 2-116-12

"O, darling! Here, a demon called Khara, Ravana's younger brother- who is a boaster, victorious in battle, cruel and eater of human flesh, haughty and sinful-having uprooted all the ascetics who dwell in Janasthana, is unable to endure you also."

त्वम् यदा प्रभृति ह्य् अस्मिन्न् आश्रमे तात वर्तसे | तदा प्रभृति रक्षांसि विप्रकुर्वन्ति तापसान् || २-११६-१३

darshayanti hi biibhatsaiH kruurair bhiiShaNakair api | naanaa ruupair viruupaiH ca ruupair asukha darshanaiH || 2-116-14

"My darling! From which time you came to dwell in this hermitage, from that time inwards, the demons continue to ill-treat the ascetics."

दर्शयन्ति हि बीभत्सैः क्रूरैर् भीषणकैर् अपि | नाना रूपैर् विरूपैः च रूपैर् असुख दर्शनैः || २-११६-१४

aprashastair ashucibhiH samprayojya ca taapasaan | pratighnanty aparaan kShipram anaaryaaH purataH sthitaH || 2-116-15

"They appear in grotesque and harmful forms, filling them with terror, in diverse forms and possessing ugly and unnatural demeanor."

अप्रशस्तैर् अशुचिभिः सम्प्रयोज्य च तापसान् | प्रतिघ्नन्त्य् अपरान् क्षिप्रम् अनार्याः पुरतः स्थितः || २-११६-१५

teShu teShu aashramasthaaneShu abuddham avaliiya ca | ramante taapasaamH tatra naashayanto alpa cetasaH || 2-116-16

"Flinging filthy and inauspicious objects on some of the ascetics, the wicked demons stand in front of them and kill some ascetics too."

तेषु तेषु आश्रमस्थानेषु अबुद्धम् अवलीय च | रमन्ते तापसामः तत्र नाशयन्तो अल्प चेतसः || २-११६-१६

apakShipanti srug bhaaNDaan agniin sincanti vaariNaa | kalashaamH ca pramR^idnanti havane samupasthite || 2-116-17

"Having themselves in those hermitages unnoticed, those evil-minded demons delight themselves in destroying the ascetics there."

अपक्षिपन्ति स्रुग् भाण्डान् अग्नीन् सिन्चन्ति वारिणा | कलशामः च प्रमृद्नन्ति हवने समुपस्थिते || २-११६-१७

tair duraatmabhir aaviShTaan aashramaan prajihaasavaH | gamanaaya anya deshasya codayanty R^iShayo adya maam || 2-116-18

"At the time of pouring oblations into the sacred fire, they scatter the sacrificial vessels, sprinkle the fires with water and break the water-pots."

तैर् दुरात्मभिर् आविष्टान् आश्रमान् प्रजिहासवः | गमनाय अन्य देशस्य चोदयन्त्य् ऋषयो अद्य माम् || २-११६-१८

tat puraa raama shaariiraam upahi.nsaam tapasviShu | darshayati hi duShTaaH te tyakShyaama imam aashramam || 2-116-19

"Resolved to leave these retreats that have been invaded by evil spirits, the ascetics today are urging me to go to another area."

तत् पुरा राम शारीराम् उपहिंसाम् तपस्विषु | दर्शयति हि दुष्टाः ते त्यक्ष्याम इमम् आश्रमम् || २-११६-१९

bahu muula phalam citram aviduuraad ito vanam | puraaNa aashramam eva aham shrayiShye sagaNaH punaH || 2-116-20

"O, Rama! Before those wicked beings indeed show bodily injury to the ascetics, we are abandoning this hermitage."

बहु मूल फलम् चित्रम् अविदूराद् इतो वनम् | पुराण आश्रमम् एव अहम् श्रयिष्ये सगणः पुनः || २-११६-२०

kharaH tvayy api ca ayuktam puraa taata pravartate | saha asmaabhir ito gagcchha yadi buddhiH pravartate || 2-116-21

"Not far from here, there is a colourful grove yielding many roots and fruits. I will take shelter again in that previous hermitage itself, along with an assembly of sages."

खरः त्वय्य् अपि च अयुक्तम् पुरा तात प्रवर्तते | सह अस्माभिर् इतो गग्च्छ यदि बुद्धिः प्रवर्तते || २-११६-२१

sakalatrasya sa.ndeho nityam yat tasya raaghava | samarthasya api hi sato vaaso duhkha iha adya te || 2-116-22

"O, darling! Khara, the demon will behave unjustly with you in the same way. If your mind feels so inclined, come along with us from here."

सकलत्रस्य संदेहो नित्यम् यत् तस्य राघव | समर्थस्य अपि हि सतो वासो दुह्ख इह अद्य ते || २-११६-२२

ity uktavantam raamaH tam raaja putraH tapasvinam | na shashaaka uttarair vaakyair avaroddhum samutsukam || 2-116-23

"O, Rama! To you, who live with your wife, though you are competent and ever watchful, there is a danger. Your stay here is conduced with misery now."

इत्य् उक्तवन्तम् रामः तम् राज पुत्रः तपस्विनम् | न शशाक उत्तरैर् वाक्यैर् अवरोद्धुम् समुत्सुकम् || २-११६-२३

abhinandya samaapR^igcchhya samaadhaaya ca raaghavam | sa jagaama aashramam tyaktvaa kulaiH kula patiH saha || 2-116-24

Rama the prince could not with his responsive words desist the said sage when he had spoken as aforesaid, eager as he was to leave the place.

अभिनन्द्य समापृग्च्छ्य समाधाय च राघवम् | स जगाम आश्रमम् त्यक्त्वा कुलैः कुल पतिः सह || २-११६-२४

raamaH sa.nsaadhya tu R^iShi gaNam anugamanaa | deshaat tasmaaccit kula patim abhivaadya R^iShim | samyak priitaiH tair anumata upadiShTa arthaH | puNyam vaasaaya sva nilayam upasampede || 2-116-25

Having greeted, bidding farewell and justifying his statement to Rama, that leader of the community departed, leaving the hermitage, along with a host of sages.

रामः संसाध्य तु ऋषि गणम् अनुगमना | देशात् तस्माच्चित् कुल पतिम् अभिवाद्य ऋषिम् | सम्यक् प्रीतैः तैर् अनुमत उपदिष्ट अर्थः | पुण्यम् वासाय स्व निलयम् उपसम्पेदे || २-११६-२५

aashramam tu R^iShi virahitam prabhuH | kShaNam api na jahau sa raaghavaH | raaghavam hi satatam anugataaH | staapasaaH ca R^iShi carita dhR^ita guNaaH || 2-116-26

Accompanying them for a distance from that place, bidding farewell to that group of sages, offering his salutation to that ascetic, the leader of the community and taking leave of them, who were well-pleased and having received their counsel, Rama returned to his dwelling, which was sacred to reside.

आश्रमम् तु ऋषि विरहितम् प्रभुः | क्षणम् अपि न जहौ स राघवः | राघवम् हि सततम् अनुगताः | स्तापसाः च ऋषि चरित धृत गुणाः || २-११६-२६

That Rama, the lord, did not leave even for a moment that hermitage that had been deserted by the sages. But some ascetics among them who had fixed their mind on Rama (who followed the conduct of the sages) constantly followed Rama.