Sloka & Translation

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

pratiprayātē bharatē vasanrāmastapōvanē.

lakṣayāmāsa sōdvēgamathautsukyaṅ tapasvinām৷৷2.116.1৷৷


bharatē Bharata, pratiprayātē had departed, rāmaḥ Rama, tapōvanē in the grove of ascetics, atha then, tapasvinām of ascetics, sōdvēgam filled with apprehension, autsukyam eagerness (with intense desire to leave that forest), lakṣayāmāsa observed.

After Bharta, had departed, Rama who was living in the penance-grove of ascetics observed that the ascetics were filled with apprehensions, and were eager (to leave that forest).
yē tatra citrakūṭasya purastāttāpasāśramē.

rāmamāśritya niratāstānalakṣayadutsukān৷৷2.116.2৷৷


tatra there, purastāt in front of, citrakūṭasya of Chitrakuta, tāpasāśramē in the hermitage, rāmam Rama, āśritya sought his protection, niratāḥ intent on staying, tān them, utsukān anxious, alakṣayat 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).
nayanairbrukuṭībhiśca rāmaṅ nirdiśya śaṅkitāḥ.

anyōnyamupajalpanta śśanaiścakrurmithaḥ kathāḥ৷৷2.116.3৷৷


śaṅkitāḥ suspicious, nayanaiḥ with eyes, bhṛkuṭībhiśca by knitting their eyebrows, rāmam of Rama, nirdiśya glancing, anyōnyam to each other, upajalpantaḥ conversing, mithaḥ mutually,
kathāḥ incidents, cakruḥ narrated.

Those sages, glancing at Rama with suspicious eyes, knitting their eye-brows and murmering among themselves, conversed secretly.
tēṣāmautsukyamālakṣya rāmastvātmani śaṅkitaḥ.

kṛtāñjaliruvācēdamṛṣiṅ kulapatiṅ tataḥ৷৷2.116.4৷৷


tataḥ then, rāmastu as for Rama, tēṣām their, autsukyam anxiety, ālakṣya having observed, syā svātmani in his mind, śaṅkitaḥ suspecting, kṛtāñjaliḥ with folded palms in reverence, kulapatim the chief of the hermitage, ṛṣim that sage, idam these words, uvāca said.

Having observed their anxiety, Rama apprehending somethig in his mind approached the chief of the hermitage with folded palms and said:
na kaccidbhagavankiñcitpūrvavṛttamidaṅ mayi.

dṛśyatē vikṛtaṅ yēna vikriyantē tapasvinaḥ৷৷2.116.5৷৷


bhagavat O revered one, mayi in me, pūrvavṛttam earlier conduct, kiñcit nothing, idam this, vikṛtam change, na dṛśyatē kaccit not noticed, yēna by what, tapasvinaḥ sages, vikriyantē are perturbed.

O revered sire, have you seen any change in my conduct? For what reason are the sages looking perturbed?
pramādāccaritaṅ kaccitkiñcinnāvarajasya mē.

lakṣmaṇasyarṣibhidṛṣṭaṅ nānurūpamivātmanaḥ৷৷2.116.6৷৷


mē avarajasya my younger brother's, lakṣmaṇasya of Lakshmana, pramādāt through inadvertance, ātmanaḥ himself, nānurūpaṅ unbefitting, caritam conduct, ṛṣibhiḥ by sages, dṛṣṭaṅ kaccit has been seen.

Have the sages found my younger brother Lakshmana doing something unbecoming of him through inadvertence?
kaccicchuśrūṣamāṇā va śśuśrūṣaṇaparā mayi.

pramadā.bhyucitāṅ vṛttiṅ sītā yuktaṅ na vartatē৷৷2.116.7৷৷


vaḥ to you, śuśrūṣamāṇā engaged in serving, mayi in me, śuśrūṣaṇaparā devoted to service, sītā by Sita, pramadābhyucitām befitting a woman, vṛttim conduct, yuktam properly, na vartatē kacchit is not following.

Has Sita devoted in her service to me and engaged in serving you failed to follow the conduct befitting a woman?
atharṣirjarayā vṛddhastapasā ca jarāṅ gataḥ.

vēpamāna ivōvāca rāmaṅ bhūtadayāparam৷৷2.116.8৷৷


atha then, jarayā in old age, vṛddhaḥ grown old, tapasā ca also in austerities, jarām old age, gataḥ attained, ṛṣiḥ ascetic, vēpamāna iva as though trembling, bhūtadayāparam compassionate to all beings, rāmam to Rama, uvāca said.

Hearing those words, an ascetic old in age and austerities, as though trembling said to Rama who is compassionate to all beings:
kutaḥ kalyāṇasattvāyāḥ kalyāṇābhiratēstathā.

calanaṅ tāta vaidēhyāstapasviṣu viśēṣataḥ৷৷2.116.9৷৷


tāta O dear child, kalyāṇasattvāyāḥ of a lady of auspicious nature, tathā also, kalyāṇābhiratēḥ ever engaged in performing auspicious deeds, vaidēhyāḥ Sita's, calanam violation of duty, viśēṣataḥ especially, tapasviṣu in respect of ascetics, kutaḥ how ?

O dear child, how can good-natured Sita who is always engaged in performing auspicious deeds, especially towards ascetics be associated with violation of duty?
tvannimittamidaṅ tāvattāpasānprativartatē.

rakṣōbhyastēna saṅvignāḥ kathayanti mithaḥ kathāḥ৷৷2.116.10৷৷


tvannimittam for your sake, rakṣōbhyaḥ on account of rakshasas, tāpasān to ascetics, idam this fear, prativartatē tāvat is arising, tēna by that, saṅvignāḥ they are scared, mitha: mutually, kathāḥ incidents, kathayanti 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 fall-out.
rāvaṇāvarajaḥ kaścit kharō nāmēha rākṣasaḥ.

utpāṭya tāpasānsarvāñjanasthānanikētanān৷৷2.116.11৷৷

dhṛṣṭaśca jitakāśī ca nṛśaṅsaḥ puruṣādakaḥ.

avaliptaśca pāpaśca tvāṅ ca tāta na mṛṣyatē৷৷2.116.12৷৷


tāta O dear child, iha here, rāvaṇāvarajaḥ Ravana's brother, dhṛṣṭaśca impudent, jitakāśī ca appearing victorious, nṛśaṅsaḥ cruel one, puruṣādakaḥ cannibal, avaliptaśca haughty, pāpaśca a sinner, kharō nāma by name Khara, janasthānanikētanān residents of 'Janasthanam', sarvān all, tāpasān ascetics, utpāṭya having uprooted, tvāṅ ca you also, na mṛṣyatē 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 man-eater and haughty.
He has uprooted all the ascetics from Janasthana. He will not tolerate even you.
tvaṅ yadāprabhṛti hyasminnāśramē tāta vartasē.

tadāprabhṛti rakṣāṅsi viprakurvanti tāpasān৷৷2.116.13৷৷


tāta O dear child, tvam you, yadāprabhṛti from the time, asmin āśramē in this hermitage, vartasē started residing, tadāprabhṛti since that time, rakṣāṅsi rakshasas, tāpasān the ascetics,
viprakurvanti are tormenting.

O dear child, ever since you started residing in this hermitage rakshasas have been tormenting the ascetics.
darśayanti hi bībhatsaiḥ krūrairbhīṣaṇakairapi.

nānārūpairvirūpaiśca rūpairvikṛtadarśanaiḥ৷৷2.116.14৷৷


bībhatsaiḥ in distorted appearance, krūraiḥ by cruel, bhīṣaṇakairapi by frightening, nānārūpaiḥ in various forms, virūpaiśca by deformaed appearance, vikṛtadarśanaiḥ detestable looks, rūpaiḥ in forms, darśayanti they exhibit.

They appear in various distorted forms now rapacious, now fearful, now deformed.
apraśastaiśucibhissamprayōjya ca tāpasān.

pratidhnantyaparānkṣipramanāryāḥ purataḥ sthitāḥ৷৷2.116.15৷৷


anāryāḥ the wicked rakshasas, purataḥ in front of, sthitāḥ standing, tāpasān ascetics, apraśastai: forbidden, aśucibhiḥ dirty things, samprayōjya employing, aparān some other ascetics, pratighnanti are killing.

Those wicked rakshasas employ forbidden and dirty means against ascetics and kill them by suddenly appearing in front of them.
tēṣu tēṣvāśramasthānēṣvabuddhamavalīya ca.

ramantē tāpasāṅ statra nāśayantō.lpacētasaḥ৷৷2.116.16৷৷


alpacētasaḥ debased ones, tēṣu tēṣu in different, sthānēṣu in ashram sites, abuddham without being perceived, avalīya ca after concealing themselves, tatra there, tāpasān the ascetics, nāśayantaḥ while destroying, ramantē are taking delight.

These debased rakshasas, concealing themselves in various ashram sites take
delight in harassing and killing the ascetics.
apakṣipanti srugbhāṇḍānagnīsniñcanti vāriṇā.

kalaśāṅśca pramadhnanti havanē samupasthitē৷৷2.116.17৷৷


havanē the sacrifices, samupasthitē are about to commence, srugbhāṇḍān the sacrificial ladels and vessels containing sacrificial materials, avakṣipanti throw away, vāriṇā with water, agnīn the fire for oblation, siñcanti are drenching, kalaśāṅśca water-pots, pramadēntīdhnanti 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.
tairdurātmabhirāmṛṣṭānāśramānprajihāsavaḥ.

gamanāyānyadēśasya cōdayantyṛṣayō.dya mām৷৷2.116.18৷৷


adya now, ṛṣayaḥ sages, durātmabhiḥ by those beings of wicked nature, taiḥ by those rakshasas, amṛṣṭān infested with, āśramān the hermitages, prajihāsavaḥ those who want to flee, anyadēśasya to another region, gamanāya to go, mām me, cōdayanti are urging.

Now all these sages are urging me to abandon this hermitage infested by these wicked rakshasas and move to another region.
tatpurā rāma śārīrāmupahiṅsāṅ tapasviṣu.

darśayanti hi duṣṭāstē tyakṣyāma imamāśramam৷৷2.116.19৷৷


rāma O Rama, tē duṣṭāḥ those vile creatures, tapasviṣu to these sages, śārīrām physical, upahiṅsām violence, purā darśayanti hi they show in the begining, tat for that reason, imam āśramam this ashram, tyakṣyāmaḥ we are going to quit.

O Rama, those vile creatures resort to physical violence against ascetics, we have therefore, resolved to quit this ashram.
bahumūlaphalaṅ citramavidūrāditō vanam.

purāṇāśramamēvāhaṅ śrayiṣyē sagaṇaḥ punaḥ৷৷2.116.20৷৷


itaḥ from here, avidūrāt not very far, bahumūlaphalam abounding in roots and fruits, citram vanam lovely woods, aham I, punaḥ again, sagaṇaḥ with my companions, purāṇāśramamēva the ancient ashram, śrayiṣyē 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.
kharastvayyapi cāyuktaṅ purā tāta pravartatē.

sahāsmābhiritō gaccha yadi buddhiḥ pravartatē৷৷2.116.21৷৷


tāta O dear child!, kharaḥ Khara, tvayyapi ca with you also, ayuktam improperly, purā pravartatē behaves at the outset, buddhi: pravartatē yadi if you so like, itaḥ from here, asmābhiḥ saha along with us, gaccha you may go.

Dear child, Khara will also misbehave with you as usual. (Therefore), if you so decide you may come along with us.
sakalatrasya sandēhō nityaṅ yattasya rāghava.

samarthasyāpi hi satō vāsō duḥkhamihādya tē৷৷2.116.22৷৷


rāghava O Rama!, nityam always, yattasya since for a man, samarthasyāpi hi sataḥ even though
capable, sakalatrasya a man accompanied by his wife, tē to you, sandēhaḥ doubtful, adya now, iha here, vāsaḥ living, duḥkham 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.
ityuktavantaṅ staṅrāma rājaputrastapasvinam.

na śaśākōttarairvākyairavarōddhuṅ samutsukam৷৷2.116.23৷৷


rājaputraḥ son of a king, rāma Rama, iti thus, uktavantam saying this, samutsukam anxious, taṅ tapasvinam that sage, uttaraiḥ in the form of a reply, vākyaiḥ by words, avarōddhum to hold him back, na śaśāka 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.
abhinandya samāpṛcchya samādhāya ca rāghavam.

sa jagāmāśramaṅ tyaktvā kulaiḥ kulapatissaha৷৷2.116.24৷৷


saḥ kulapatiḥ that chief of ascetics, rāghavam to Rama, abhinandya having greeted, samāpṛcchya having taken leave, samādhāya having convinced, kulaissaha along with his group, āśramam hermitage, tyaktvā after abandoning, jagāma 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.
rāmaḥ saṅsādya ṛṣigaṇamanugamanāddēśāttasmātkulapatimabhivādya ṛṣim.

samyakprītaistairanumata upadiṣṭārthaḥ puṇyaṅ vāsāya svanilayamupasampēdē৷৷2.116.25৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, tasmāt dēśāt from that region, anugamanāt by following them for some distance, ṛṣigaṇam the sages, saṅsādhya bidding them farewell, kulapatim chief of the groups,
ṛṣim that sage, abhivādya having paid obeisance, samyak properly, prītaiḥ by the pleased, taiḥ by them, anumataḥ having been consented, upadiṣṭārthaḥ having grasped their instruction, vāsāya to reside, puṇyam holy, svaṅ nilayam his own hermitage, upasampēdē 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.
āśramamṛṣivirahitaṅ prabhuḥ kṣaṇamapina jahau sa rāghavaḥ.

rāghavaṅ hi satatamanugatā stāpasāścārṣacarita dhṛtaguṇāḥ৷৷2.116.26৷৷


prabhuḥ the lord, saḥ rāghavaḥ that Rama, ṛṣivirahitam deserted by the sages, āśramam hermitage, kṣaṇamapi for a moment also, na jahau did not leave, ārṣacaritē following the tradition of sages, dhṛtaguṇāḥ fixed in many virtues, tāpasāśca even the sages, satatam always, rāghavam to Rama, anugatāḥ hi 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ṣōḍaśōttaraśatatamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the hundredsixteenth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.