Sarga 1

प्रविश्य तु महारण्यं दण्डकारण्यमात्मवान्। ददर्श रामो दुर्धर्षस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम्।।3.1.1।।

The invincible and selfpossessed Rama entered the great forest of Dandaka and saw there a multitude ...

कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तं ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या समावृतम्। यथा प्रदीप्तं दुर्दर्शं गगने सूर्यमण्डलम्।।3.1.2।।

They (the hermitages) were strewn all over with kusa grass and robes by bark with auspicious sacrifi...

शरण्यं सर्वभूतानां सुसम्मृष्टाजिरं सदा। मृगैर्बहुभिराकीर्णं पक्षिसङ्घैस्समावृतम्।।3.1.3।।

The courtyards (of the hermitages) were cleanswept, sprinkled with water and decorated. They provide...

पूजितं च प्रनृत्तं च नित्यमप्सरसां गणैः। विशालैरग्निशरणैः स्रुग्भाण्डैरजिनैः कुशैः।।3.1.4।। समिद्भिस...

The hermitages looked glorified with dances by celestial damsels. They were adorned with vast fire ...

पूजितं च प्रनृत्तं च नित्यमप्सरसां गणैः। विशालैरग्निशरणैः स्रुग्भाण्डैरजिनैः कुशैः।।3.1.4।। समिद्भिस...

The hermitages looked glorified with dances by celestial damsels. They were adorned with vast fire ...

बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्। पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया।।3.1.6।। फल...

The hermitages where various sacrificial offerings were made reverberated with Vedic chantings. Flow...

बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्। पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया।।3.1.6।। फल...

The hermitages where various sacrificial offerings were made reverberated with Vedic chantings. Flow...

पुण्यैश्च नियताहारैः शोभितं परमर्षिभिः। तद्ब्रह्मभवनप्रख्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्।।3.1.8।।

The hermitages echoing with the sounds of Vedic recitations and resembling the very abode of Brahma...

ब्रह्मविद्भिर्महाभागैर्ब्राह्मणैरुपशोभितम्। तद्दृष्ट्वा राघवः श्रीमांस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम्।।3.1.9।। अभ्...

The illustrious, effulgent Rama saw groups of hermitages adorned with venerable brahmins, with knowl...

दिव्यज्ञानोपपन्नास्ते रामं दृष्ट्वा महर्षयः।।3.1.10।। अभ्यगच्छन्स्तदा प्रीता वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम्।

On seeing Rama with illustrious Sita, the great sages, richly endowed with divine knowledge, went fo...

ते तं सोममिवोद्यन्तं दृष्ट्वा वै धर्मचारिणम्।।3.1.11।। लक्ष्मणं चैव दृष्ट्वा तु वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम्...

The sages, steadfast in their vows, saw Rama who was shining like the rising Moon, Lakshmana and the...

ते तं सोममिवोद्यन्तं दृष्ट्वा वै धर्मचारिणम्।।3.1.11।। लक्ष्मणं चैव दृष्ट्वा तु वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम्...

The sages, steadfast in their vows, saw Rama who was shining like the rising Moon, Lakshmana and the...

रूपसंहननं लक्ष्मीं सौकुमार्यं सुवेषताम्। ददृशुर्विस्मिताकारा रामस्य वनवासिनः।।3.1.13।।

Those sages living in the forest were wonderstruck to see the handsome, graceful, delicate and well...

वैदेहीं लक्ष्मणं रामं नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव। आश्चर्यभूतान्ददृशुः सर्वे ते वनचारिणः।।3.1.14।।

All the foresters looked at the wonderful figures of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana with unblinking eyes.

अत्रैनं हि महाभागा स्सर्वभूतहिते रताः। अतिथिं पर्णशालायां राघवं संन्यवेशयन्।।3.1.15।।

Ever engaged in the welfare of all beings, the sages made Rama, their guest, sit in their leafy hut.

ततो रामस्य सत्कृत्य विधिना पावकोपमाः। आजह्रुस्ते महाभागाः सलिलं धर्मचारिणः।।3.1.16।।

The great sages comparable to the firegod and followers of righteousness honoured Rama according to...

पुष्पं मूलं फलं सर्वमाश्रमं च महात्मनः। निवेदयित्वा धर्मज्ञास्ते ततः प्राञ्जलयोऽब्रुवन्।।3.1.17।।

The sages who were knowers of dharma saluted the noble Rama, offered fruits, roots and flowers avail...

धर्मपालो जनस्यास्य शरण्यस्त्वं महायशाः। पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च राजा दण्डधरो गुरुः।।3.1.18।।

O king of great reputation, you are the refuge of the people, a protector of dharma, a chastiser of ...

इन्द्रस्येह चतुर्भागः प्रजा रक्षति राघव। राजा तस्माद्वरान्भोगान्रम्यान् भुङक्तेलोकनमस्कृतः।।3.1.19।।

O Rama, in this world a king is considered the fourth part of Indra as he protects the people. There...

ते वयं भवता रक्ष्या भवद्विषयवासिनः। नगरस्थो वनस्थो वा त्वं नो राजा जनेश्वरः।।3.1.20।।

Since we are the residents of your territory we deserve to be protected by you. Whether you live in ...

न्यस्तदण्डा वयं राजञ्जितक्रोधा जितेन्द्रियाः। रक्षणीयास्त्वया शश्वदगर्भभूतास्तपोधनाः।।3.1.21।।

O king, we have conquered our anger and have controlled our senses. We ascetics have cast aside all ...

एवमुक्त्वा फलैर्मूलैः पुष्पैर्वन्यैश्च राघवम्। अन्यैश्च विविधाहारैः सलक्ष्मणमपूजयन्।।3.1.22।।

Having said so, the ascetics offered with reverence fruits, roots, flowers and other forest product...