Sloka & Translation

[ Apprehensions of ascetics residing at Chitrakuta -- fear of Khara brother of Ravana -- atrocities of rakshasas -- ascetics take leave of Rama and depart.]

प्रतिप्रयाते भरते वसन्रामस्तपोवने।

लक्षयामास सोद्वेगमथौत्सुक्यं तपस्विनाम्।।2.116.1।।


भरते Bharata, प्रतिप्रयाते had departed, रामः Rama, तपोवने in the grove of ascetics, अथ then, तपस्विनाम् of ascetics, सोद्वेगम् filled with apprehension, औत्सुक्यम् eagerness (with intense desire to leave that forest), लक्षयामास observed.

After Bharta, had departed, Rama who was living in the penancegrove of ascetics observed that the ascetics were filled with apprehensions, and were eager (to leave that forest).
ये तत्र चित्रकूटस्य पुरस्तात्तापसाश्रमे।

राममाश्रित्य निरतास्तानलक्षयदुत्सुकान्।।2.116.2।।


तत्र there, पुरस्तात् in front of, चित्रकूटस्य of Chitrakuta, तापसाश्रमे in the hermitage, रामम् Rama, आश्रित्य sought his protection, निरताः intent on staying, तान् them, उत्सुकान् anxious, अलक्षयत् observed.

Rama observed that the sages who earlier sought to stay with him near his hermitage
under his protection on chitrakuta were filled with anxiety (now).
नयनैर्ब्रुकुटीभिश्च रामं निर्दिश्य शङ्किताः।

अन्योन्यमुपजल्पन्त श्शनैश्चक्रुर्मिथः कथाः।।2.116.3।।


शङ्किताः suspicious, नयनैः with eyes, भृकुटीभिश्च by knitting their eyebrows, रामम् of Rama, निर्दिश्य glancing, अन्योन्यम् to each other, उपजल्पन्तः conversing, मिथः mutually,
कथाः incidents, चक्रुः narrated.

Those sages, glancing at Rama with suspicious eyes, knitting their eyebrows and murmering among themselves, conversed secretly.
तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य रामस्त्वात्मनि शङ्कितः।

कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदमृषिं कुलपतिं ततः।।2.116.4।।


ततः then, रामस्तु as for Rama, तेषाम् their, औत्सुक्यम् anxiety, आलक्ष्य having observed, स्या स्वात्मनि in his mind, शङ्कितः suspecting, कृताञ्जलिः with folded palms in reverence, कुलपतिम् the chief of the hermitage, ऋषिम् that sage, इदम् these words, उवाच said.

Having observed their anxiety, Rama apprehending somethig in his mind approached the chief of the hermitage with folded palms and said:
न कच्चिद्भगवन्किञ्चित्पूर्ववृत्तमिदं मयि।

दृश्यते विकृतं येन विक्रियन्ते तपस्विनः।।2.116.5।।


भगवत् O revered one, मयि in me, पूर्ववृत्तम् earlier conduct, किञ्चित् nothing, इदम् this, विकृतम् change, न दृश्यते कच्चित् not noticed, येन by what, तपस्विनः sages, विक्रियन्ते are perturbed.

O revered sire, have you seen any change in my conduct? For what reason are the sages looking perturbed?
प्रमादाच्चरितं कच्चित्किञ्चिन्नावरजस्य मे।

लक्ष्मणस्यर्षिभिदृष्टं नानुरूपमिवात्मनः।।2.116.6।।


मे अवरजस्य my younger brother's, लक्ष्मणस्य of Lakshmana, प्रमादात् through inadvertance, आत्मनः himself, नानुरूपं unbefitting, चरितम् conduct, ऋषिभिः by sages, दृष्टं कच्चित् has been seen.

Have the sages found my younger brother Lakshmana doing something unbecoming of him through inadvertence?
कच्चिच्छुश्रूषमाणा व श्शुश्रूषणपरा मयि।

प्रमदाऽभ्युचितां वृत्तिं सीता युक्तं न वर्तते।।2.116.7।।


वः to you, शुश्रूषमाणा engaged in serving, मयि in me, शुश्रूषणपरा devoted to service, सीता by Sita, प्रमदाभ्युचिताम् befitting a woman, वृत्तिम् conduct, युक्तम् properly, न वर्तते कच्छित् is not following.

Has Sita devoted in her service to me and engaged in serving you failed to follow the conduct befitting a woman?
अथर्षिर्जरया वृद्धस्तपसा च जरां गतः।

वेपमान इवोवाच रामं भूतदयापरम्।।2.116.8।।


अथ then, जरया in old age, वृद्धः grown old, तपसा च also in austerities, जराम् old age, गतः attained, ऋषिः ascetic, वेपमान इव as though trembling, भूतदयापरम् compassionate to all beings, रामम् to Rama, उवाच said.

Hearing those words, an ascetic old in age and austerities, as though trembling said to Rama who is compassionate to all beings:
कुतः कल्याणसत्त्वायाः कल्याणाभिरतेस्तथा।

चलनं तात वैदेह्यास्तपस्विषु विशेषतः।।2.116.9।।


तात O dear child, कल्याणसत्त्वायाः of a lady of auspicious nature, तथा also, कल्याणाभिरतेः ever engaged in performing auspicious deeds, वैदेह्याः Sita's, चलनम् violation of duty, विशेषतः especially, तपस्विषु in respect of ascetics, कुतः how ?

O dear child, how can goodnatured Sita who is always engaged in performing auspicious deeds, especially towards ascetics be associated with violation of duty?
त्वन्निमित्तमिदं तावत्तापसान्प्रतिवर्तते।

रक्षोभ्यस्तेन संविग्नाः कथयन्ति मिथः कथाः।।2.116.10।।


त्वन्निमित्तम् for your sake, रक्षोभ्यः on account of rakshasas, तापसान् to ascetics, इदम् this fear, प्रतिवर्तते तावत् is arising, तेन by that, संविग्नाः they are scared, मिथ: mutually, कथाः incidents, कथयन्ति are exchanging.

There is apprehension for ascetics from the demons on acount of your presence here. That is why they are conversing with one another about the likely fallout.
रावणावरजः कश्चित् खरो नामेह राक्षसः।

उत्पाट्य तापसान्सर्वाञ्जनस्थाननिकेतनान्।।2.116.11।।

धृष्टश्च जितकाशी च नृशंसः पुरुषादकः।

अवलिप्तश्च पापश्च त्वां च तात न मृष्यते।।2.116.12।।


तात O dear child, इह here, रावणावरजः Ravana's brother, धृष्टश्च impudent, जितकाशी च appearing victorious, नृशंसः cruel one, पुरुषादकः cannibal, अवलिप्तश्च haughty, पापश्च a sinner, खरो नाम by name Khara, जनस्थाननिकेतनान् residents of 'Janasthanam', सर्वान् all, तापसान् ascetics, उत्पाट्य having uprooted, त्वां च you also, न मृष्यते will not pardon.

O dear child, Khara, one of the brothers of Ravana is dwelling in nearby 'Janasthana'. He is impudent, reportedly winner of battles, cruel, sinful, a maneater and haughty.
He has uprooted all the ascetics from Janasthana. He will not tolerate even you.
त्वं यदाप्रभृति ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रमे तात वर्तसे।

तदाप्रभृति रक्षांसि विप्रकुर्वन्ति तापसान्।।2.116.13।।


तात O dear child, त्वम् you, यदाप्रभृति from the time, अस्मिन् आश्रमे in this hermitage, वर्तसे started residing, तदाप्रभृति since that time, रक्षांसि rakshasas, तापसान् the ascetics,
विप्रकुर्वन्ति are tormenting.

O dear child, ever since you started residing in this hermitage rakshasas have been tormenting the ascetics.
दर्शयन्ति हि बीभत्सैः क्रूरैर्भीषणकैरपि।

नानारूपैर्विरूपैश्च रूपैर्विकृतदर्शनैः।।2.116.14।।


बीभत्सैः in distorted appearance, क्रूरैः by cruel, भीषणकैरपि by frightening, नानारूपैः in various forms, विरूपैश्च by deformaed appearance, विकृतदर्शनैः detestable looks, रूपैः in forms, दर्शयन्ति they exhibit.

They appear in various distorted forms now rapacious, now fearful, now deformed.
अप्रशस्तैशुचिभिस्सम्प्रयोज्य च तापसान्।

प्रतिध्नन्त्यपरान्क्षिप्रमनार्याः पुरतः स्थिताः।।2.116.15।।


अनार्याः the wicked rakshasas, पुरतः in front of, स्थिताः standing, तापसान् ascetics, अप्रशस्तै: forbidden, अशुचिभिः dirty things, सम्प्रयोज्य employing, अपरान् some other ascetics, प्रतिघ्नन्ति are killing.

Those wicked rakshasas employ forbidden and dirty means against ascetics and kill them by suddenly appearing in front of them.
तेषु तेष्वाश्रमस्थानेष्वबुद्धमवलीय च।

रमन्ते तापसां स्तत्र नाशयन्तोऽल्पचेतसः।।2.116.16।।


अल्पचेतसः debased ones, तेषु तेषु in different, स्थानेषु in ashram sites, अबुद्धम् without being perceived, अवलीय च after concealing themselves, तत्र there, तापसान् the ascetics, नाशयन्तः while destroying, रमन्ते are taking delight.

These debased rakshasas, concealing themselves in various ashram sites take
delight in harassing and killing the ascetics.
अपक्षिपन्ति स्रुग्भाण्डानग्नीस्निञ्चन्ति वारिणा।

कलशांश्च प्रमध्नन्ति हवने समुपस्थिते।।2.116.17।।


हवने the sacrifices, समुपस्थिते are about to commence, स्रुग्भाण्डान् the sacrificial ladels and vessels containing sacrificial materials, अवक्षिपन्ति throw away, वारिणा with water, अग्नीन् the fire for oblation, सिञ्चन्ति are drenching, कलशांश्च waterpots, प्रमदेन्तीध्नन्ति destroy.

When sacrifices are about to start, they throw away the sacrificial ladels and vessels containing sacrificial materials and sprinkle water on sacrificial fire. They also break down the earthen vessels used in the sacrifice.
तैर्दुरात्मभिरामृष्टानाश्रमान्प्रजिहासवः।

गमनायान्यदेशस्य चोदयन्त्यृषयोऽद्य माम्।।2.116.18।।


अद्य now, ऋषयः sages, दुरात्मभिः by those beings of wicked nature, तैः by those rakshasas, अमृष्टान् infested with, आश्रमान् the hermitages, प्रजिहासवः those who want to flee, अन्यदेशस्य to another region, गमनाय to go, माम् me, चोदयन्ति are urging.

Now all these sages are urging me to abandon this hermitage infested by these wicked rakshasas and move to another region.
तत्पुरा राम शारीरामुपहिंसां तपस्विषु।

दर्शयन्ति हि दुष्टास्ते त्यक्ष्याम इममाश्रमम्।।2.116.19।।


राम O Rama, ते दुष्टाः those vile creatures, तपस्विषु to these sages, शारीराम् physical, उपहिंसाम् violence, पुरा दर्शयन्ति हि they show in the begining, तत् for that reason, इमम् आश्रमम् this ashram, त्यक्ष्यामः we are going to quit.

O Rama, those vile creatures resort to physical violence against ascetics, we have therefore, resolved to quit this ashram.
बहुमूलफलं चित्रमविदूरादितो वनम्।

पुराणाश्रममेवाहं श्रयिष्ये सगणः पुनः।।2.116.20।।


इतः from here, अविदूरात् not very far, बहुमूलफलम् abounding in roots and fruits, चित्रम् वनम् lovely woods, अहम् I, पुनः again, सगणः with my companions, पुराणाश्रममेव the ancient ashram, श्रयिष्ये I will seek shelter.

Not very far from here stands an ancient ashram in a lovely forest abounding in roots and fruits and I with my companions will seek shelter there.
खरस्त्वय्यपि चायुक्तं पुरा तात प्रवर्तते।

सहास्माभिरितो गच्छ यदि बुद्धिः प्रवर्तते।।2.116.21।।


तात O dear child, खरः Khara, त्वय्यपि च with you also, अयुक्तम् improperly, पुरा प्रवर्तते behaves at the outset, बुद्धि: प्रवर्तते यदि if you so like, इतः from here, अस्माभिः सह along with us, गच्छ you may go.

Dear child, Khara will also misbehave with you as usual. (Therefore), if you so decide you may come along with us.
सकलत्रस्य सन्देहो नित्यं यत्तस्य राघव।

समर्थस्यापि हि सतो वासो दुःखमिहाद्य ते।।2.116.22।।


राघव O Rama, नित्यम् always, यत्तस्य since for a man, समर्थस्यापि हि सतः even though
capable, सकलत्रस्य a man accompanied by his wife, ते to you, सन्देहः doubtful, अद्य now, इह here, वासः living, दुःखम् is painful.

O Rama, even though you are always vigilant and capable in all possible ways to defend youself, a doubt arises in our mind. It is perilous for you to live here with your wife.
इत्युक्तवन्तं स्तंराम राजपुत्रस्तपस्विनम्।

न शशाकोत्तरैर्वाक्यैरवरोद्धुं समुत्सुकम्।।2.116.23।।


राजपुत्रः son of a king, राम Rama, इति thus, उक्तवन्तम् saying this, समुत्सुकम् anxious, तं तपस्विनम् that sage, उत्तरैः in the form of a reply, वाक्यैः by words, अवरोद्धुम् to hold him back, न शशाक was unable.

It was not possible for prince Rama to hold back by mere words that ascetic who was saying like this and was anxious to quit the hermitage.
अभिनन्द्य समापृच्छ्य समाधाय च राघवम्।

स जगामाश्रमं त्यक्त्वा कुलैः कुलपतिस्सह।।2.116.24।।


सः कुलपतिः that chief of ascetics, राघवम् to Rama, अभिनन्द्य having greeted, समापृच्छ्य having taken leave, समाधाय having convinced, कुलैस्सह along with his group, आश्रमम् hermitage, त्यक्त्वा after abandoning, जगाम went.

The leader of the group quit the hermitage along with his companions after paying respect to Rama, convincing him and taking leave of him.
रामः संसाद्य ऋषिगणमनुगमनाद्देशात्तस्मात्कुलपतिमभिवाद्य ऋषिम्।

सम्यक्प्रीतैस्तैरनुमत उपदिष्टार्थः पुण्यं वासाय स्वनिलयमुपसम्पेदे।।2.116.25।।


रामः Rama, तस्मात् देशात् from that region, अनुगमनात् by following them for some distance, ऋषिगणम् the sages, संसाध्य bidding them farewell, कुलपतिम् chief of the groups,
ऋषिम् that sage, अभिवाद्य having paid obeisance, सम्यक् properly, प्रीतैः by the pleased, तैः by them, अनुमतः having been consented, उपदिष्टार्थः having grasped their instruction, वासाय to reside, पुण्यम् holy, स्वं निलयम् his own hermitage, उपसम्पेदे approached.

Rama, followed the sages for some distance to bid them farewell. He paid obeisance to the chief of the group and having grasped the instruction of the highly pleased sages, he with their consent returned to his holy hermitage.
आश्रममृषिविरहितं प्रभुः क्षणमपिन जहौ स राघवः।

राघवं हि सततमनुगता स्तापसाश्चार्षचरित धृतगुणाः।।2.116.26।।


प्रभुः the lord, सः राघवः that Rama, ऋषिविरहितम् deserted by the sages, आश्रमम् hermitage, क्षणमपि for a moment also, न जहौ did not leave, आर्षचरिते following the tradition of sages, धृतगुणाः fixed in many virtues, तापसाश्च even the sages, सततम् always, राघवम् to Rama, अनुगताः हि followed remained.

Lord Rama, did not leave that hermitage deserted by the sages even for a moment. Those who had adopted the traditions of the sages and had acquired many virtues followed Rama.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षोडशोत्तरशततमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the hundredsixteenth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.