Sarga 5

हत्वा तु तं भीमबलं विराधं राक्षसं वने। ततस्सीतां परिष्वज्य समाश्वास्य च वीर्यवान्।।3.5.1।। अब्रवील्ल...

On killing Viradha, the demon of terrific strength, heroic Rama embraced Sita, consoled her and said...

कष्टं वनमिदं दुर्गं न च स्म वनगोचराः।।3.5.2।। अभिगच्छामहे शीघ्रं शरभङ्गं तपोधनम्।

This wild forest with which we have not been acquainted earlier is difficult to pass. (Hence) let u...

आश्रमं शरभङ्गस्य राघवोऽभिजगाम ह।।3.5.3।। तस्य देवप्रभावस्य तपसा भावितात्मनः। समीपे शरभङ्गस्य ददर्श म...

Rama went to the hermitage of Sarabhanga, a sage with divine grace who had realised the supreme (by ...

आश्रमं शरभङ्गस्य राघवोऽभिजगाम ह।।3.5.3।। तस्य देवप्रभावस्य तपसा भावितात्मनः। समीपे शरभङ्गस्य ददर्श म...

Rama went to the hermitage of Sarabhanga, a sage with divine grace who had realised the supreme (by ...

विभ्राजमानं वपुषा सूर्यवैश्वानरोपमम्। अवरुह्यरथोत्सङ्गादाकाशे विबुधानुगम।।3.5.5।। असंस्पृशन्तं वसुधा...

Rama saw the lord of the gods (Indra) in the sky getting off the chariot, with his body shining brig...

विभ्राजमानं वपुषा सूर्यवैश्वानरोपमम्। अवरुह्यरथोत्सङ्गादाकाशे विबुधानुगम।।3.5.5।। असंस्पृशन्तं वसुधा...

Rama saw the lord of the gods (Indra) in the sky getting off the chariot, with his body shining brig...

हरिभिर्वाजिभिर्युक्तमन्तरिक्षगतं रथम्।।3.5.7।। ददर्शादूरतस्तस्य तरुणादित्यसन्निभम्। पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्र...

Not far from that place, Rama saw a chariot, yoked with tawnycoloured horses, shining like the morni...

हरिभिर्वाजिभिर्युक्तमन्तरिक्षगतं रथम्।।3.5.7।। ददर्शादूरतस्तस्य तरुणादित्यसन्निभम्। पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्र...

Not far from that place, Rama saw a chariot, yoked with tawnycoloured horses, shining like the morni...

अपश्यद्विमलं छत्रं चित्रमाल्योपशोभितम्। चामरव्यजने चाग्र्ये रुक्मदण्डे महाधने।।3.5.9।। गृहीते वरनारी...

Rama saw a pure white umbrella with a highly expensive golden staff, decorated with variegated flowe...

गन्धर्वामरसिद्धाश्च बहवः परमर्षयः।।3.5.10।। अन्तरिक्षगतं देवं वाग्भिरग्य्राभिरीडिरे।

Many celestial singers of heaven, gods, great sages and siddhas sang with the choicest words the glo...

सह सम्भाषमाणे तु शरभङ्गेन वासवे।।3.5.11।। दृष्ट्वा शतक्रतुं तत्र रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।

While Indra was conversing with Sarabhanga, Rama saw him and said to Lakshmana.

रामोऽथ रथमुद्दिश्य लक्ष्मणायप्रदर्शयन्।।3.5.12।। अर्चिष्मन्तं श्रिया जुष्टमद्भुतं पश्य लक्ष्मण। प्रत...

Pointing at the chariot, Rama said, Lakshmana, see this wonderful, effulgent chariot endowed with gr...

रामोऽथ रथमुद्दिश्य लक्ष्मणायप्रदर्शयन्।।3.5.12।। अर्चिष्मन्तं श्रिया जुष्टमद्भुतं पश्य लक्ष्मण। प्रत...

Pointing at the chariot, Rama said, Lakshmana, see this wonderful, effulgent chariot endowed with gr...

ये हयाः पुरुहूतस्य पुरा शक्रस्य नश्श्रुताः। अन्तरिक्षगता दिव्यास्त इमे हरयो ध्रुवम्।।3.5.14।।

The horses of Indra, who is often invoked (during sacrificial rituals) and about whom we have heard...

इमे च पुरुषव्याघ्रा ये तिष्ठ्न्त्यभितो रथम्। शतं शतं कुण्डलिनो युवानः खङ्गपाणयः।।3.5.15।। विस्तीर्णव...

O Lakshmana around the chariot stand hundreds of finest young men of about twentyfive years. Clad i...

इमे च पुरुषव्याघ्रा ये तिष्ठ्न्त्यभितो रथम्। शतं शतं कुण्डलिनो युवानः खङ्गपाणयः।।3.5.15।। विस्तीर्णव...

O Lakshmana around the chariot stand hundreds of finest young men of about twentyfive years. Clad i...

इमे च पुरुषव्याघ्रा ये तिष्ठ्न्त्यभितो रथम्। शतं शतं कुण्डलिनो युवानः खङ्गपाणयः।।3.5.15।। विस्तीर्णव...

O Lakshmana around the chariot stand hundreds of finest young men of about twentyfive years. Clad i...

एतद्दि किल देवानां वयो भवति नित्यदा। यथेमे पुरुषव्याघ्रा दृश्यन्ते प्रियदर्शनाः।।3.5.18।।

These tigers among men have cheerful countenacess from which it can be deduced that the age of the g...

इहैव सह वैदेह्या मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ लक्ष्मण। यावज्जानाम्यहं व्यक्तं क एष द्युतिमान्रथे।।3.5.19।।

Lakshmana, stay here with Sita awhile, until I ascertain who this dazzling being on the chariot is.

तमेवमुक्त्वा सौमित्रिमिहैव स्थीयतामिति। अभिचक्राम काकुत्स्थ श्शरभङ्गाश्रमं प्रति।।3.5.20।।

Instructing Lakshmana to wait , Rama went towards Sarabhanga's hermitage.

ततस्समभिगच्छन्तं प्रेक्ष्य रामं शचीपतिः। शरभङ्गमनुप्राप्य विविक्त इदमब्रवीत्।।3.5.21।।

Then Indra (husband of Sachi) having seen Rama coming towards him, approached Sarabhanga and said th...

इहोपयात्यसौ रामो यावन्मां नाभिभाषते। निष्ठां नयतु तावत्तु ततो मा द्रष्टुमर्हति।।3.5.22।। जितवन्तं कृ...

Here comes Rama. Before he talks to me, take me to some other place from where he may not be able to...

इहोपयात्यसौ रामो यावन्मां नाभिभाषते। निष्ठां नयतु तावत्तु ततो मा द्रष्टुमर्हति।।3.5.22।। जितवन्तं कृ...

Here comes Rama. Before he talks to me, take me to some other place from where he may not be able to...

इति वज्री तमामन्त्र्य मानयित्वा च तापसम्। रथेन हययुक्तेन ययौ दिवमरिन्दमः।।3.5.24।।

This way honouring the sage Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, took leave of him and went to heaven ...

प्रयाते तु सहस्राक्षे राघवस्सपरिच्छदः। अग्निहोत्रमुपासीनं शरभङ्गमुपागमत्।।3.5.25।।

When Indra departed like that, Rama with his retinue (Sita and Lakshmana) went to Sarabhanga who was...

तस्य पादौ च सङ्गृह्य रामस्सीता च लक्ष्मणः। निषेदुस्समनुज्ञाता लब्धवासा निमन्त्रिताः।।3.5.26।।

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana prostrated at Sarabhanga's feet. After being permitted to sit, they were in...

ततश्शक्रोपयानं तु पर्यपृच्छत्स राघवः। शरभङ्गश्च तत्सर्यं राघवाय न्यवेदयत्।।3.5.27।।

Thereafter on Rama's query Sarabhanga told him all about Indra's visit:

मामेष वरदो राम ब्रह्मलोकं निनीषति। जितमुग्रेण तपसा दुष्प्रापमकृतात्मभिः।।3.5.28।।

O Rama, Indra, the bestower of boons, wants to take me to the world of Brahma, earned by me through...

अहं ज्ञात्वा नरव्याघ्र वर्तमानमदूरतः। ब्रह्मलोकं न गच्छामि त्वामदृष्ट्वा प्रियातिथिम्।।3.5.29।।

O Rama, the best among men you are a very dear guest to me and knowing that you are near, I will not...

त्वयाऽहं पुरुषव्याघ्र धार्मिकेण महात्मना। समागम्य गमिष्यामि त्रिदिवं देवसेवितम्।।3.5.30।।

O Rama, the best of men (only) after seeing a great, virtuous soul like you shall I go to heaven, t...

अक्षया नरशार्दूल मया लोका जिताश्शुभा। ब्राह्म्याश्च नाकपृष्ठ्याश्च प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मामकान्।।3.5.31।।

O tiger among men, I have conquered heavenly abodes as well as the imperishable, auspicious worlds o...

एवमुक्तो नरव्याघ्रस्सर्वशास्त्र विशारदः। ऋषिणा शरभङ्गेण राघवो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।3.5.32।।

To these words of sage Sarabhanga Rama, the best of men, the knower of all sastras, the scion of the...

अहमेवाहरिष्यामि सर्वांल्लोकान्महामुने। आवासं त्वहमिच्छामि प्रदिष्टमिह कानने।।3.5.33।।

O great sage, I will earn all the worlds myself if you direct me. But I need a proper dwellingplace ...

राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु शक्रतुल्यबलेन वै। शरभङ्गो महाप्राज्ञः पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वचः।।3.5.34।।

To this request of Rama who was equal to Indra in strength, sagacious Sarabhanga said these words:

इह राम महातेजास्सुतीक्ष्णो नाम धार्मिकः। वसत्यरण्ये धर्मात्मा स ते श्रेयो विधास्यति।।3.5.35।।

Here dwells in this forest a brilliant saint, righteous and selfcontrolled, Sutikshna by name who wi...

सुतीक्ष्णमभिगच्छ त्वं शुचौ देशे तपस्विनम्। रमणीये वनोद्देशे स ते वासं विधास्यति।।3.5.36।।

You may approach sage, Sutikshna residing in a sacred spot. He will provide you a delightful place f...

इमां मन्दाकिनीं राम प्रतिस्रोतामनुव्रज। नदीं पुष्पोडुपवहां ततस्तत्र गमिष्यसि।।3.5.37।।

Proceed, O Rama in the reverse direction of the river Mandakini carrying flowers and floats. And yo...

एष पन्था नरव्याघ्र मुहूर्तं पश्य तात माम्। यावज्जहामि गात्राणि जीर्णां त्वचमिवोरगः।।3.5.38।।

O Rama, the best among men, this is the way. Look at me for a while, my dear, until I shed my limbs ...

ततोऽग्निं स समाधाय हुत्वा चाज्येन मन्त्रवित्। शरभङ्गो महातेजाः प्रविवेश हुताशनम्।।3.5.39।।

Then the effulgent Sarabhanga, knower of mantras (magical spells) kindled the fire with faggots and ...

तस्य रोमाणि केशांश्च तदा वह्निर्महात्मनः। जीर्णां त्वचं तथाऽस्थीनि यच्च मांसं सशोणितम्।।3.5.40।।

Then were consumed that highsouled Sarabhanga's hair on the body and on the head, the wornout skin, ...

स च पावकसङ्काशः कुमारस्समपद्यत। उत्थायाग्निचयात्तस्माच्छरभङ्गो व्यरोचत।।3.5.41।।

Sarabhanga then emerged youthful from that heap of fire, shining like a flame and looking very elega...

स लोकानाहिताग्नीनामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्। देवानां च व्यतिक्रम्य ब्रह्मलोकं व्यरोहत।।3.5.42।।

Sarabhanga then went beyond the worlds of the gods, of the great sages who constantly kindle sacrifi...

स पुण्यकर्मा भुवने द्विजर्षभः पितामहं सानुचरं ददर्श ह। पितामहश्चापि समीक्ष्य तं द्विजं ननन्द सुस्वाग...

Sarabhanga, performer of sacred deeds, saw Brahma with his followers৷৷ Brahma also seeing Sarabhanga...