Chapter 16
Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
वसतः तस्य तु सुखम् राघवस्य महात्मनः
शरद् व्यपाये हेमंतऋतुर् इष्टः प्रवर्तत
vasataḥ tasya tu sukham rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ
śarad vyapāye hemaṃtaṛtur iṣṭaḥ pravartata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Pleasant hemantha R^itu , pre-winter season has set in after the passage of sharat R^itu , post-rainy season at Panchavati where the noble souled Rama is staying comfortably. [4-16-1]
स कदाचित् प्रभातायाम् शर्वर्याम् रघुनंदनः
प्रययाव अभिषेकार्थम् रम्यम् गोदावरीम् नदीम्
sa kadācit prabhātāyām śarvaryām raghunaṃdanaḥ
prayayāva abhiṣekārtham ramyam godāvarīm nadīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On some day when night faded into dawn Rama started for the delightful River Godavari for a bath. [4-16-2]
प्रह्वः कलश हसतः तम् सीतया सह वीर्यवान्
पृष्ठतो अनुव्रजन् भ्राता सौमित्रिर् इदम् अब्रवीत्
prahvaḥ kalaśa hasataḥ tam sītayā saha vīryavān
pṛṣṭhato anuvrajan bhrātā saumitrir idam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
His valorous brother Saumitri following him humbly with a handy vessel, along with Seetha, spoke this to Rama. [4-16-3]
अयम् स कालः संप्राप्तः प्रियो यः ते प्रियंवद
अलंकृत इव आभाति येन संवत्सरः शुभः
ayam sa kālaḥ saṃprāptaḥ priyo yaḥ te priyaṃvada
alaṃkṛta iva ābhāti yena saṃvatsaraḥ śubhaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Adorned by which season the promising year will be bright, oh, pleasant conversationalist, and which season will also be pleasant to you, that hemanta season has set in. [4-16-4]
नीहार परुषो लोकः पृथिवी सस्य मालिनी
जलानि अनुपभोग्यानि सुभगो हव्य वाहनः
nīhāra paruṣo lokaḥ pṛthivī sasya mālinī
jalāni anupabhogyāni subhago havya vāhanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"These days the dew is harsh to the bodies of people, earth is overlaid with crops, water is unenjoyable, but fire is delightful. [4-16-5]
नव आग्रयण पूजाभिर् अभ्यर्च्य पितृ देवताः
कृत आग्रयणकाः काले सन्तो विगत कल्मषाः
nava āgrayaṇa pūjābhir abhyarcya pitṛ devatāḥ
kṛta āgrayaṇakāḥ kāle santo vigata kalmaṣāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On appeasing manes with worships during northern solstice and even on performing solstitial rituals in time, the righteous people are becoming free from evils. [4-16-6]
PURPORT
प्राज्यकामा जनपदाः संपन्नतर गो रसाः
विचरन्ति महीपाला यात्र अर्थम् विजिगीषवः
prājyakāmā janapadāḥ saṃpannatara go rasāḥ
vicaranti mahīpālā yātra artham vijigīṣavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Amply fulfilled are the desires of the villagers with the affluence of milch cows and dairy, and the vanquishing kings are make moves for the purposes of their further vanquishes. [4-16-7]
सेवमाने दृढम् सूर्ये दिशम् अन्तक सेविताम्
विहीन तिलका इव स्त्री न उत्तरा दिक् प्रकाशते
sevamāne dṛḍham sūrye diśam antaka sevitām
vihīna tilakā iva strī na uttarā dik prakāśate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"While the sun is steadfastly attending the direction of Time-god Yama, namely southern horizon, the northern direction is not brilliant like a woman who lost the vermilion mark on her forehead. [4-16-8]
PURPORT
प्रकृत्या हिम कोश आढ्यो दूर सूर्याः च सांप्रतम्
यथार्थ नामा सुव्यक्तम् हिमवान् हिमवान् गिरिः
prakṛtyā hima kośa āḍhyo dūra sūryāḥ ca sāṃpratam
yathārtha nāmā suvyaktam himavān himavān giriḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By their very nature Himalayas are the depositories of snow, and presently distanced from the sun they are very obviously snowy true to their name. [4-16-9]
अत्यन्त सुख संचारा मध्याह्ने स्पर्शतः सुखाः
दिवसाः सुभग आदित्याअः छ्हाया सलिल दुर्भगाः
atyanta sukha saṃcārā madhyāhne sparśataḥ sukhāḥ
divasāḥ subhaga ādityāaḥ chhāyā salila durbhagāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By the way of touch the mid days are comfortable and in these days the daytime is very much comfortable for sauntering, thus the sun in daytimes is genial and ungenial are the shades and waters. [4-16-10]
मृदु सूर्याः सनीहाराः पटु शीताः समारुताः
शून्य अरण्या हिम ध्वस्ता दिवसा भान्ति सांप्रतम्
mṛdu sūryāḥ sanīhārāḥ paṭu śītāḥ samārutāḥ
śūnya araṇyā hima dhvastā divasā bhānti sāṃpratam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Overwhelmed by snow presently the noontimes are with soft sun, with bitter cold, with mists and wintry breezes, and with them the forests too are bleak in their sheen. [4-16-11]
निवृत्त आकाश शयनाः पुष्यनीता हिम अरुणाः
शीता वृद्धतर आयामः त्रि यामा यान्ति सांप्रतम्
nivṛtta ākāśa śayanāḥ puṣyanītā hima aruṇāḥ
śītā vṛddhatara āyāmaḥ tri yāmā yānti sāṃpratam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Precluded is the reclining under open sky as the nights are led by the Pushya constellation, they will now be with brownish-grey fog and chilly, and prolonged are the lengths of nights whereby the three watches of night will be quickly slipping away.
PURPORT
रवि संक्रान्त सौभाग्यः तुषार अरुण मण्डलः
निःश्वास अन्ध इव आदर्शाः चंद्रमा न प्रकाशते
ravi saṃkrānta saubhāgyaḥ tuṣāra aruṇa maṇḍalaḥ
niḥśvāsa andha iva ādarśāḥ caṃdramā na prakāśate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Transgressed is the destiny of moon by the sun as moon lost the chance of keeping people happy with his lustrousness in these days, thus the lustreless moon remained in a blushing sphere with fog, just like a mirror blinded by the fog of a suspire. [4-16-13]
ज्योत्स्ना तुषार मलिना पौर्णमास्याम् न राजते
सीता इव च आतप श्यामा लक्ष्यते न तु शोभते
jyotsnā tuṣāra malinā paurṇamāsyām na rājate
sītā iva ca ātapa śyāmā lakṣyate na tu śobhate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even on a full moon day the moonlight is unbright blemished by mist, and it is appearing like brightly Seetha becoming swarthy by sun's heat, but not brightly. [4-16-14]
प्रकृत्या शीतल स्पर्शो हिम विद्धाः च सांप्रतम्
प्रवाति पश्चिमो वायुः काले द्वि गुण शीतलः
prakṛtyā śītala sparśo hima viddhāḥ ca sāṃpratam
pravāti paścimo vāyuḥ kāle dvi guṇa śītalaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The western breeze by itself will be cool to touch, but presently charged with snow it is wafting doubly chilly in the early hours. [4-16-15]
PURPORT
बाष्प च्छ्हन्नानि अरण्यानि यव गोधूमवंति च
शोभन्ते अभ्युदिते सूर्ये नदद्भिः क्रौन्च सारसैः
bāṣpa cchhannāni araṇyāni yava godhūmavaṃti ca
śobhante abhyudite sūrye nadadbhiḥ kraunca sārasaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Covered with the dew the forests that already covered with crop fields of barley and wheat are beaming forth, together with the callings of waterfowls, at the rise of the sun. [4-16-16]
PURPORT
खर्जूर पुष्प आकृतिभिः शिरोभिः पूर्ण तण्डुलैः
शोभन्ते किंचिद् आलंबाः शालयः कनक प्रभाः
kharjūra puṣpa ākṛtibhiḥ śirobhiḥ pūrṇa taṇḍulaiḥ
śobhante kiṃcid ālaṃbāḥ śālayaḥ kanaka prabhāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The paddy crops in fields are gleaming forth with golden lustre, and their heads full with grain and a little bent down are shapely like the flowers of date-fruit. [4-16-17]
PURPORT
मयूखैः उपसर्पद्भिः हिम नीहार संवृतैः
दूरम् अभ्युदितः सूर्यः शशांक इव लक्ष्यते
mayūkhaiḥ upasarpadbhiḥ hima nīhāra saṃvṛtaiḥ
dūram abhyuditaḥ sūryaḥ śaśāṃka iva lakṣyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Though he came up long back, and though his beams are spreading around, besieged by snowy mist the sun is appearing as moon. [4-16-18]
PURPORT
अग्राह्य वीर्यः पूर्वाह्णे मध्याह्ने स्पर्शतः सुखः
संरक्तः किंचिद् आपाण्डुः आतपः शोभते क्षितौ
agrāhya vīryaḥ pūrvāhṇe madhyāhne sparśataḥ sukhaḥ
saṃraktaḥ kiṃcid āpāṇḍuḥ ātapaḥ śobhate kṣitau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Inappreciable is the warmth of sun in the mornings, but comfortable for touch at noontimes, since the reddish but a little palish sunshine is radiating on earth. [4-16-19]
PURPORT
अवश्याय निपातेन किंचित् प्रक्लिन्न शाद्वला
वनानाम् शोभते भूमिर् निविष्ट तरुण आतपा
avaśyāya nipātena kiṃcit praklinna śādvalā
vanānām śobhate bhūmir niviṣṭa taruṇa ātapā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The pasturelands are a little moistened with the fall of dewdrops, but the fields of forest are enlivened by the radiance of tender sun's warmth. [4-16-20]
PURPORT
स्पृशन् तु सुविपुलम् शीतम् उदकम् द्विरदः सुखम्
अत्यन्त तृषितो वन्यः प्रतिसंहरते करम्
spṛśan tu suvipulam śītam udakam dviradaḥ sukham
atyanta tṛṣito vanyaḥ pratisaṃharate karam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On easily touching very clear and cold water with its very broad trunk that intensely thirsty wild elephant is backing away its trunk for the water is that cold. [4-16-21]
PURPORT
एते हि समुपासीना विहगा जलचारिणः
न अवगाहन्ति सलिलम् अप्रगल्भा इव आवहम्
ete hi samupāsīnā vihagā jalacāriṇaḥ
na avagāhanti salilam apragalbhā iva āvaham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"These waterfowls that are sitting nearby are not entering into waters like cowards not entering battlefields. [4-16-22]
PURPORT
अवश्याय तमो नद्धा नीहार तमसा आवृताः
प्रसुप्ता इव लक्ष्यन्ते विपुष्पा वन राजयः
avaśyāya tamo naddhā nīhāra tamasā āvṛtāḥ
prasuptā iva lakṣyante vipuṣpā vana rājayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Subdued by snowy darkness, enclosed in misty gloom, and reft of flowers these forest ranges appear like those that are asleep. [4-16-23]
PURPORT
बाष्प संचन्न सलिला रुत विज्ञेय सारसाः
हिमाअर्द्र वालुकैः तीरैः सरितो भान्ति सांप्रतम्
bāṣpa saṃcanna salilā ruta vijñeya sārasāḥ
himāardra vālukaiḥ tīraiḥ sarito bhānti sāṃpratam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Now the rivers are imperceptible as their water is overspread with dewdrops, but their water-birds are perceptible only by their callings, thus making that river perceptible, and such rivers are now glistening with moist sandbanks and shores. [4-16-24]
PURPORT
तुषार पतनात् चैव मृदुत्वात् भास्करस्य च
शैत्यात् अग अग्रस्थम् अपि प्रायेण रसवत् जलम्
tuṣāra patanāt caiva mṛdutvāt bhāskarasya ca
śaityāt aga agrastham api prāyeṇa rasavat jalam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Owing to the fall of snow, further owing to the softness and coldness of sun, the water deep down the wells is generally agreeable for drinking. [4-16-25]
PURPORT
जरा जर्जरितैः पत्रैः शीर्ण केसर कर्णिकैः
नाल शेषा हिम ध्वस्ता न भान्ति कमलाकराः
jarā jarjaritaiḥ patraiḥ śīrṇa kesara karṇikaiḥ
nāla śeṣā hima dhvastā na bhānti kamalākarāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Lotus lakes are left alone with stalks of lotuses as their petals are aged and withered, decrepit are the fibrils and carpels, thus impaired by cold they are ungracious in look. [4-16-26]
PURPORT
अस्मिन् तु पुरुषव्याघ्र काले दुःख समन्वितः
तपश्चरति धर्मात्मा त्वत् भक्त्या भरतः पुरे
asmin tu puruṣavyāghra kāle duḥkha samanvitaḥ
tapaścarati dharmātmā tvat bhaktyā bharataḥ pure
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"But during this time, oh, manly-tiger, ushered by anguish that virtue souled one Bharata must be practising ascesis in city with adoration to you. [4-16-27]
त्यक्त्वा राज्यम् च मानम् च भोगांश्च विविधान् बहून्
तपस्वी नियताहारः शेते शीते महीतले
tyaktvā rājyam ca mānam ca bhogāṃśca vividhān bahūn
tapasvī niyatāhāraḥ śete śīte mahītale
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On forsaking kingdom and pride of becoming the king of Ayodhya as well, and varied and various pleasures too, he is in self-denial, and with his food regulated he sleeps on chilly surface of earth. [4-16-28]
PURPORT
सो।अपि वेलाम् इमाम् नूनम् अभिषेक अर्थम् उद्यतः
वृतः प्रकृतिभिर् नित्यम् प्रयाति सरयूम् नदीम्
so|api velām imām nūnam abhiṣeka artham udyataḥ
vṛtaḥ prakṛtibhir nityam prayāti sarayūm nadīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even he might always be getting up at this time of the day and proceeding to River Sarayu for a bath surrounded by ministers, definite is that. [4-16-29]
अत्यन्त सुख संवृद्धः सुकुमारो हिमार्दितः
कथम् तु अपर रात्रेषु सरयूम् अवगाहते
atyanta sukha saṃvṛddhaḥ sukumāro himārditaḥ
katham tu apara rātreṣu sarayūm avagāhate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"But how can he who is brought up in high comfort, a delicate one too, enter the cold-wet waters of River Sarayu, in these small hours. [4-16-30]
PURPORT
पद्मपत्रेक्षणः श्यामः श्रीमान् निरुदरो महान्
धर्मज्ञः सत्यवादी च ह्री निषेधो जितेन्द्रियः
padmapatrekṣaṇaḥ śyāmaḥ śrīmān nirudaro mahān
dharmajñaḥ satyavādī ca hrī niṣedho jitendriyaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That lotus-petal eyed one with blue-black complexion is an imposing one with lion-like waist, being the noblest he is knower of dharma thus an advocate of truth, and thus intolerant of ignominy, and as a self-restrained one he talks dearly and sweetly, and he is dextrous and an enemy-destroyer, such as he is, that Bharata on forgoing all of his various pleasures he is devoted to you, as you alone are his adorable brother. [4-16-31, 32]
PURPORT
जितः स्वर्गः तव भ्रात्रा भरतेन महात्मना
वनस्थम् अपि तापस्ये यः त्वाम् अनुविधीयते
jitaḥ svargaḥ tava bhrātrā bharatena mahātmanā
vanastham api tāpasye yaḥ tvām anuvidhīyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even though you are in forests far away from him, he is following you in the practise of austerities, and such a brother of yours, that great-souled Bharata has refused ascent to heaven. [4-16-33]
PURPORT
न पित्र्यम् अनुवर्न्तन्ते मातृकम् द्विपदा इति
ख्यातो लोक प्रवादो अयम् भरतेन अन्यथा कृतः
na pitryam anuvarntante mātṛkam dvipadā iti
khyāto loka pravādo ayam bharatena anyathā kṛtaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" Humans do not derive father's attitude but they take of their mothers' is the well-know maxim in the world, but Bharata rendered it otherwise. [4-16-34]
PURPORT
भर्ता दशरथो यस्याः साधुः च भरतः सुतः
कथम् नु सा अम्बा कैकेयी तादृशी क्रूरदर्शिनी
bhartā daśaratho yasyāḥ sādhuḥ ca bharataḥ sutaḥ
katham nu sā ambā kaikeyī tādṛśī krūradarśinī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Whose husband is Dasharatha and whose son is gentle Bharata, how then can she, our mother Kaikeyi, is with this sort of cruel disposition, indeed " Thus Lakshmana spoke to Rama on their way to River Godavari. [4-16-35]
PURPORT
इति एवम् लक्ष्मणे वाक्यम् स्नेहात् वदति धर्मिके
परिवादम् जनन्यः तम् असहन् राघवो अब्रवीत्
iti evam lakṣmaṇe vākyam snehāt vadati dharmike
parivādam jananyaḥ tam asahan rāghavo abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When that upright Lakshmana is speaking those words that way out of his fondness towards Rama, Raghava spoke to Lakshmana, intolerant of that slanderous talk about their mother. [4-16-36]
न ते अम्बा मध्यमा तात गर्हितव्या कथंचन
ताम् एव इक्ष्वाकु नाथस्य भरतस्य कथाम् कुरु
na te ambā madhyamā tāta garhitavyā kathaṃcana
tām eva ikṣvāku nāthasya bharatasya kathām kuru
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"In any way, dear Lakshmana, you are not supposed to deplore another mother of ours, but you go on telling the topics of Bharata, the king of Ikshvaku-s. [4-16-37]
निश्चिता एव हि मे बुद्धिः वन वासे दृढ व्रता
भरत स्नेह संतप्ता बालिशी क्रियते पुनः
niścitā eva hi me buddhiḥ vana vāse dṛḍha vratā
bharata sneha saṃtaptā bāliśī kriyate punaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My mind is indeed set to dwell only in forest, and it is firmly avowed, but while yearning for Bharata's fellowship my fascination to reunite with him is recurring again. [4-16-38]
संस्मरामि अस्य वाक्यानि प्रियाणि मधुराणि च
हृद्यानि अमृत कल्पानि मनः प्रह्लादानि च
saṃsmarāmi asya vākyāni priyāṇi madhurāṇi ca
hṛdyāni amṛta kalpāni manaḥ prahlādāni ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I reminisce his words well, that are genial, sweet, heartily, ambrosial and that will gladden the heart. [4-16-39]
कदा हि अहम् समेष्यामि भरतेन महात्मना
शत्रुघ्नेन च वीरेण त्वया च रघुनंदन
kadā hi aham sameṣyāmi bharatena mahātmanā
śatrughnena ca vīreṇa tvayā ca raghunaṃdana
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When can I really reunite, oh, Lakshmana, with great-souled Bharata, valorous Shatrughna, and with you and Seetha." Thus said Rama to Lakshmana. [4-16-40]
PURPORT
इति एवम् विलपन् तत्र प्राप्य गोदावरीम् नदीम्
चक्रे अभिषेकम् काकुत्स्थः सानुजः सह सीतया
iti evam vilapan tatra prāpya godāvarīm nadīm
cakre abhiṣekam kākutsthaḥ sānujaḥ saha sītayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus worrying that way while proceeding, there Rama reached River Godavari and performed bathing with his younger brother Lakshmana and along with Seetha. [4-16-41]
तर्पयित्वा अथ सलिलैः तैः पितॄन् दैवतानि च
स्तुवन्ति स्म उदितम् सूर्यम् देवताअः च तथा अनघाः
tarpayitvā atha salilaiḥ taiḥ pitṝn daivatāni ca
stuvanti sma uditam sūryam devatāaḥ ca tathā anaghāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then on offering water oblations to manes and gods that impeccant trinity extolled the rising sun and gods likewise. [4-16-42]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे षोडशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe ṣoḍaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On taking bath in the river along with Seetha and Lakshmana, Rama shone forth like All-controlling god Rudra, who will be radiant on taking bath along with his consort Paarvati and with his follower Nandi, the Holy Bull. [4-16-43] The portrayal of seasons in epics with all their delicacies is a disputed topic. Ramayana also deals much on these descriptions of seasons. Whether an epic avowed to reflect the Vedic import, as said at 1-4-6, vedopabR^ihmaNaarthaaya , and that which is pious and merited puNyam vedaischa samamatam at 1-1-98, should have accounts on seasons is the question. For this is said that relating niceties of season time and again, is in perfect accord with Veda, for the season and time are subservient to all Veda-s as per the ancillary of Veda, the Astrology, veda-anga : jyotiShya . Veda-s themselves say that the year is the soul of the horse of Ashvameda. uShaa vaa ashvasya medhasya shiraH | sa~Nvatsara aatmaashvasya medhasya | -- yajurveda bR^ihadaaraNyaka Hence time and season are the mind and soul of all Veda-s. Like this we find beautification of four seasons at four places, for e.g., hemanta spring is narrated in starting of Kishkindha. And vasanta post autumnal season is described in Kishkindha 43rd chapter, when Hanuma and others are in search for Seetha, and after their exit from the cave of Swayamprabha. varSa rainy season is portrayed in 28th chapter of Kishkindha. At every possible occasion, all the rituals, daily routines that are time oriented, do explain the importance of time than the importance of ritual or daily routine. It is said: vedopabR^ihmaNaartham pravR^itte asmin granthe veda vihita karma apekShita kaala visheSha nirNaayakatvaat kaala saadhaaraNa lakShaNa pratipaadanam eva tat tat R^itu varNana vyaajena kR^itam iti dharmopayoga sambhavaat | -- saayam kaalaadi cihna pratipaadanam iti etat sarvam karma anuShTaana upayukta kaala j~naapanaartham eva kR^itam iti dharma paryavasaanam sambhavati eva -- dharmaakuutam Thus dharma is upheld in all these narratives about the season and time, which aspect is upheld by the commentators and they too comment lengthily whenever a season or time factor occurs. Thus, this is the 16th chapter in Aranya Kanmda of Valmiki Ramayana,the First Epic poem of India.