Sarga 10

वाक्यमेतत्तु वैदेह्या व्याहृतं भर्तृभक्तया। श्रुत्वा धर्मे स्थितो रामः प्रत्युवाचाथ मैथिलीम्।।3.10.1...

Having heard these words spoken by Sita who was devoted to her husband, replied Rama who was firm in...

हितमुक्तं त्वया देवि स्निग्धया सदृशं वचः। कुलं व्यपदिशन्त्या च धर्मज्ञे जनकात्मजे।।3.10.2।।

O daughter of Janaka, you are conversant with dharma. Whatever you have admonished out of affection ...

किन्तु वक्ष्याम्यहं देवि त्वयैवोक्तमिदं वचः। क्षत्रियैर्धार्यते चापो नार्तशब्दो भवेदिति।।3.10.3।।

But permit me, Devi, you have already stated, when a kshatriya holds a bow there will be no cry of d...

ते चार्ता दण्डकारण्ये मुनयस्संशितव्रताः। मां सीते स्वयमागम्य शरण्याश्शरणं गताः।।3.10.4।।

O Sita, the sages who perform rigorous penance in Dandaka forest came to me personally, seeking shel...

वसन्तो धर्मनिरता वने मूलफलाशनाः। न लभन्ते सुखं भीता राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः।।3.10.5।।

The sages living in the forest, eating roots and fruits and ever engaged in righteous activities are...

काले काले च निरता नियमैर्विविधैर्वने। भक्ष्यन्ते राक्षसैर्भीमैर्नरमांसोपजीविभिः।।3.10.6।।

The sages engrossed in various austerities in the forest have been victims to the dreadful demons li...

ते भक्ष्यमाणा मुनयो दण्डकारण्यवासिनः। अस्मानभ्यवपद्येति मामूचुर्द्विजसत्तमा।।3.10.7।।

The ascetics, the best of brahmins living in Dandaka forest being eaten up like that besought me to ...

मया तु वचनं श्रुत्वा तेषामेवं मुखाच्च्युतम्। कृत्वा चरणशुश्रूषां वाक्यमेतदुदाहृतम्।।3.10.8।।

On hearing the words that came from their mouth, I bowed at their feet and said:

प्रसीदन्तु भवन्तो मे ह्रीरेषा हि ममातुला। यदीदृशैरहं विप्रैरुपस्थेयैरुपस्थितः।।3.10.9।।

Be pleased That brahmins like you have approached me while I should have come to you has put me to ...

किं करोमीति च मया व्याहृतं द्विजसन्निधौ। सर्वैरेतैस्समागम्य वागियं समुदाहृता।।3.10.10।।

I enquired about what I could do for them. And all the brahmins in one voice said:.

राक्षसैर्दण्डकारण्ये बहुभिः कामरूपिभिः। अर्दितास्स्म दृढं राम भवान्नस्तत्र रक्षतु।।3.10.11।।

'O Rama, the demons who can assume any form at their will are mercilessly tormenting us in Dandaka f...

होमकालेषु सम्प्राप्ताः पर्वकालेषु चानघ। धर्षयन्ति सुदुर्धर्षा राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।।3.10.12।।

'O sinless one, these cannibals are invincible. They arrive at the time of our sacrificial rituals, ...

राक्षसैर्धर्षितानां च तापसानां तपस्विनाम्। गतिं मृगयमाणानां भवान्नः परमा गतिः।।3.10.13।।

'You are the supreme refuge for us ascetics, tormented by demons, helpless men in search of shelter.

कामं तपःप्रभावेन शक्ता हन्तुं निशाचरान्। चिरार्जितं तु नेच्छामस्तपः खण्डयितुं वयम्।।3.10.14।।

बहुविघ्नं तपो नित्यं दुश्चरं चैव राघव। तेन शापं न मुञ्चामो भक्ष्यमाणाश्च राक्षसैः।।3.10.15।।

'O Rama it is difficult to perform penance which is ever full of obstacles. Therefore, we do not pro...

तदर्ध्यमानान्रक्षोभिर्दण्डकारण्यवासिभिः। रक्ष नस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा त्वन्नाथा हि वयं वने।।3.10.16।।

'The demons, dwelling in the Dandaka forest are tormenting us. You alone are our lord in the forest....

मया चैतद्वचश्श्रुत्वा कार्त्स्न्येन परिपालनम्। ऋषीणां दण्डकारण्ये संश्रुतं जनकात्मजे।।3.10.17।।

O daughter of Janaka, on hearing the words of the sages I promised to undertake the entire protectio...

संश्रुत्य च न शक्ष्यामि जीवमानः प्रतिश्रवम्। मुनीनामन्यथा कर्तुं सत्यमिष्टं हि मे सदा।।3.10.18।।

Having promised the sages, I cannot do otherwise as long as I have life in me. To me truth is always...

अप्यहं जीवितं जह्यां त्वां वा सीते सलक्ष्मणाम्। न तु प्रतिज्ञां संश्रुत्य ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषतः।।3.1...

O Sita I may forfeit my life forsake, even Lakshmana and you but will not break the promise made spe...

तदवश्यं मया कार्यमृषीणां परिपालनम्। अनुक्तेनापि वैदेहि प्रतिज्ञाय तु किं पुनः।।3.10.20।।

Even before the sages requested me I should have protected them. What to speak of the promise I have...

मम स्नेहाच्च सौहार्दादिदमुक्तंत्वयाऽनघे। परितुष्टोऽस्म्यहं सीते न ह्यनिष्टोऽनुशिष्यते।।3.10.21।।

O sinless one all that has been said by you is out of your love and affection for me. I am pleased. ...

सदृशं चानुरूपं च कुलस्य तव चात्मनः। सधर्मचारिणी मे त्वं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी।।3.10.22।।

Your auspicious words are quite befitting your lineage. You are the follower of my dharma and so dea...

इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं महात्मा सीतां प्रियां मैथिलराजपुत्रीम्। रामो धनुष्मान्सह लक्ष्मणेन जगाम रम्याणि ...

Having said this to Sita, the princess of Mithila, Rama along with Lakshmana, bow in hand, moved abo...