Chapter 74
Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
तौ कबन्धेन तम् मार्गम् पम्पाया दर्शितम् वने
आतस्थतुः दिशम् गृह्य प्रतीचीम् नृ वर आत्मजौ
tau kabandhena tam mārgam pampāyā darśitam vane
ātasthatuḥ diśam gṛhya pratīcīm nṛ vara ātmajau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Both the sons of that best king Dasharatha, on taking up westerly path in that forest travelled on the passage to Pampa as shown by Kabandha. [3-74-1]
तौ शैलेषु आचित अनेकान् क्षौद्र कल्प फल द्रुमान्
वीक्षन्तौ जग्मतुः द्रष्टुम् सुग्रीवम् राम लक्ष्मणौ
tau śaileṣu ācita anekān kṣaudra kalpa phala drumān
vīkṣantau jagmatuḥ draṣṭum sugrīvam rāma lakṣmaṇau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those two, Rama and Lakshmana, while seeing several of the ticketed trees on mountains which have nectarous fruits on them moved forward to see Sugreeva. [3-74-2]
कृत्वा च शैल पृष्ठे तु तौ वासम् रघु नन्दनौ
पंपायाः पश्चिमम् तीरम् राघवौ उपतस्थतुः
kṛtvā ca śaila pṛṣṭhe tu tau vāsam raghu nandanau
paṃpāyāḥ paścimam tīram rāghavau upatasthatuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those two legatees of Raghu on making a sojourn on the mountaintop, they the Raghava-s drew nigh of the moorland on the westward of Pampa Lake. [3-74-3]
तौ पुष्करिण्याः पंपायाः तीरम् आसाद्य पश्चिमम्
अपश्यताम् ततः तत्र शबर्या रम्यम् आश्रमम्
tau puṣkariṇyāḥ paṃpāyāḥ tīram āsādya paścimam
apaśyatām tataḥ tatra śabaryā ramyam āśramam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then on getting at the westward moorland of that lotus-lake Pampa, there those two have spotted the idyllic hermitage of Shabari. [3-74-4]
तौ तम् आश्रमम् आसाद्य द्रुमैः बहुभिः आवृतम्
सु रम्यम् अभिवीक्षन्तौ शबरीम् अभ्युपेयतुः
tau tam āśramam āsādya drumaiḥ bahubhiḥ āvṛtam
su ramyam abhivīkṣantau śabarīm abhyupeyatuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On getting at that hermitage and on perusing at that picturesque environ that is wreathed round with several picturesque trees, those two came nigh of Shabari. [3-74-5]
तौ दृष्ट्वा तु तदा सिद्धा समुत्थाय कृतांजलिः
पादौ जग्राह रामस्य लक्ष्मणस्य च धीमतः
tau dṛṣṭvā tu tadā siddhā samutthāya kṛtāṃjaliḥ
pādau jagrāha rāmasya lakṣmaṇasya ca dhīmataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On seeing them that sublimated yogi Shabari instinctively made palm-fold, got up imperatively, and then she braced the feet of Rama, and even that of sagacious Lakshmana, impressively. [3-74-6]
पाद्यम् आचमनीयम् च सर्वम् प्रददात् यथा विधि
ताम् उवाच ततो रामः श्रमणीम् धर्म संस्थिताम्
pādyam ācamanīyam ca sarvam pradadāt yathā vidhi
tām uvāca tato rāmaḥ śramaṇīm dharma saṃsthitām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
She gave them water for feet-wash and mouthwash, and other viands customarily affordable to visitants, and then Rama asked after that anchoress who is unflinchingly abiding in her duty. [3-74-7]
कच्चित् ते निर्जिता विघ्नाः कच्चित् ते वर्धते तपः
कच्चित् ते नियतः कोप आहारः च तपोधने
kaccit te nirjitā vighnāḥ kaccit te vardhate tapaḥ
kaccit te niyataḥ kopa āhāraḥ ca tapodhane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, ascetically wealthy lady, perchance your deterrents in ascesis are completely overcome, somehow... your ascetic practises culminating, someway... your annoyances and ailments are adjusted, somewhat... isn't it! [3-74-8]
PURPORT
कच्चित् ते नियमाः प्राप्ताः कच्चित् ते मनसः सुखम्
कच्चित् ते गुरु शुश्रूषा सफला चारु भाषिणि
kaccit te niyamāḥ prāptāḥ kaccit te manasaḥ sukham
kaccit te guru śuśrūṣā saphalā cāru bhāṣiṇi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, suave speaker, mayhap your sacred commitments are achieved, anywise... appeased is your self, anyway... and your subservience to your mentors brought to fruition, perchance... isn't it!" Thus Rama enquired with Shabari. [3-74-9]
रामेण तापसी पृष्ठा सा सिद्धा सिद्ध सम्मता
शशंस शबरी वृद्धा रामाय प्रति अवस्थिता
rāmeṇa tāpasī pṛṣṭhā sā siddhā siddha sammatā
śaśaṃsa śabarī vṛddhā rāmāya prati avasthitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When Rama asked her in this way she that Shabari who is a senescent anchoress, sublimated yogin and an adherent to the sublimated yogis of higher rank, informed Rama remaining in his vis-�-vis. [3-74-10]
अद्य प्राप्ता तपः सिद्धिः तव संदर्शनात् मया
अद्य मे सफलम् जन्म गुरवः च सुपूजिताः
adya prāptā tapaḥ siddhiḥ tava saṃdarśanāt mayā
adya me saphalam janma guravaḥ ca supūjitāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Just now, on your pleasing manifestation before me my ascesis is accomplished, and now only my birth is fructified, and now only my subservience to my mentors is well hallowed... [3-74-11]
PURPORT
अद्य मे सफलम् तप्तम् स्वर्गः चैव भविष्यति
त्वयि देव वरे राम पूजिते पुरुषर्षभ
adya me saphalam taptam svargaḥ caiva bhaviṣyati
tvayi deva vare rāma pūjite puruṣarṣabha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, best one among men, now all my ascesis is fructified when I personally worshiped you, who are none other than the best god among gods, thus the heaven will also be there for me... [3-74-12]
PURPORT
तव अहम् चक्षुषा सौम्य पूता सौम्येन मानद
गमिष्याम्यक्षयांलोकांस्वत्प्रसादादरिन्दम यद्वा
गमिष्यामि अक्षयान् लोकान् त्वत् प्रसादात् अरिंदम
tava aham cakṣuṣā saumya pūtā saumyena mānada
gamiṣyāmyakṣayāṃlokāṃsvatprasādādarindama - yadvā -
gamiṣyāmi akṣayān lokān tvat prasādāt ariṃdama
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, kind one, your blessed sight has sanctified me... and oh, endower of respect, by your beneficence I wish to go to those returnless worlds because I have subjugated those enemies of yours, viz., ari SaD varga-s in me, and I think my prayer to you is justified because you are a subjugator of such enemies... [3-74-13]
PURPORT
चित्रकूटम् त्वयि प्राप्ते विमानैः अतुल प्रभैः
इतः ते दिवम् आरूढा यान् अहम् पर्यचारिषम्
citrakūṭam tvayi prāpte vimānaiḥ atula prabhaiḥ
itaḥ te divam ārūḍhā yān aham paryacāriṣam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Divine aircrafts of unequalled refulgence have lifted those disciples of Sage Matanga in whose tendance I was, to welkin on your arriving at Chitrakuta... [3-74-14]
तैः च अहम् उक्ता धर्म ज्ञैः महाभागैः महर्षिभिः
आगमिष्यति ते रामः सु पुण्यम् इमम् आश्रमम्
taiḥ ca aham uktā dharma jñaiḥ mahābhāgaiḥ maharṣibhiḥ
āgamiṣyati te rāmaḥ su puṇyam imam āśramam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Those knowers of probity, highly providential, and eminent-saints have told me, 'Rama will come to this highly blest hermitage of yours along with Soumitri... and you have to cordially welcome them as your guests, and on your seeing him you will go to best worlds, where merit remains undiminished...' [3-74-15, 16]
PURPORT
एवम् उक्ता महाभागैः तदा अहम् पुरुषर्षभ
मया तु विविधम् वन्यम् संचितम् पुरुषर्षभ
evam uktā mahābhāgaiḥ tadā aham puruṣarṣabha
mayā tu vividham vanyam saṃcitam puruṣarṣabha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, best one among men Rama, thus I was told by those highly providential sages, oh, best one among men, oh, manly tiger, and I have gleaned various forest fruits and eatables that occur on the moorlands of Pampa Lake for your sake..." So said Shabari to Rama. [3-74-17]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When that graceful souled Rama is addressed thus by Shabari, he that Raghava enquiringly said this to that Shabari who is never ever debarred from esoteric knowledge and gnosis. [3-74-18b, 19a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Your and your preceptors' effectiveness is heard in effect from the wraith of the great souled Danu's son, Kabandha, and if you feel showing it like I wish to clearly see it, personally..." Thus Rama asked her to show hermitage. [3-74-19b, 20a]
PURPORT
एतत् तु वचनम् श्रुत्वा राम वक्त्रात् विनिःसृतम्
etat tu vacanam śrutvā rāma vaktrāt viniḥsṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing those words voiced by Rama, Shabari started to show that unique woodland to both of them. [3-74-20]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama the delight of Raghu's lineage... this one comparable to a crammed cloud that would be ever ready to yield much cherished cloudbursts, and compacted with animals and birds that are ever ready to enjoy seasonable rains, is that hermitage to which you have come, that way this woodland is well known as Matanga, meaning a cloud, or an elephant, or an elephantine cloud that showers blessings on all... and oh, highly resplendent Rama, you may see this nest, snuggery, where those contemplative souls, my teachers, used to conduct oblations into the Ritual-fires, orienting and worshipping them with Vedic hymns... [3-74-21b, 22]
PURPORT
इयम् प्रत्यक् स्थली वेदी यत्र ते मे सुसत्कृताः
पुष्प उपहारम् कुर्वन्ति श्रमात् उद् वेपिभिः करैः
iyam pratyak sthalī vedī yatra te me susatkṛtāḥ
puṣpa upahāram kurvanti śramāt ud vepibhiḥ karaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Where those great sages that are highly revered by me used to offer flowers with their extremely doddery hands in the worship the Altar of Fire, this alone is that Altar of Fire raised at western end... [3-74-23]
PURPORT
तेषाम् तपः प्रभावेन पश्य अद्य अपि रघूत्तम
द्योतयन्ति दिशः सर्वाः श्रिया वेद्यः अतुल प्रभाः
teṣām tapaḥ prabhāvena paśya adya api raghūttama
dyotayanti diśaḥ sarvāḥ śriyā vedyaḥ atula prabhāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, best one from Raghu-s, by the efficacy of the ascesis of my teachers these Altars of Fire are with incomparable irradiance, and even now they are irradiating all of the directions with solemnity... see them... [3-74-24]
अशक्नुवद्भिस्तैर्गन्तुमुपवासश्रमालसैः यद्वा
अशक्नुवद्भिः तैः गन्तुम् उपवास श्रम आलसैः
चिन्तिते अभ्यागतान् पश्य समेतान् सप्त सागरान्
aśaknuvadbhistairgantumupavāsaśramālasaiḥ - yadvā -
aśaknuvadbhiḥ taiḥ gantum upavāsa śrama ālasaiḥ
cintite abhyāgatān paśya sametān sapta sāgarān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Enervated by dieting and straining they were incapable to go for sea bathing, and just at their thought process all the seven seas came close by, in coalescence... see them... [3-74-25]
PURPORT
कृत अभिषेकैः तैः न्यस्ता वल्कलाः पादपेषु इह
अद्य अपि न विशुष्यन्ति प्रदेशे रघुनंदन
kṛta abhiṣekaiḥ taiḥ nyastā valkalāḥ pādapeṣu iha
adya api na viśuṣyanti pradeśe raghunaṃdana
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On performing holy baths those sages have spread their jute cloths on those trees with their own doddering hands here at this place and oh, Raghu's legatee, those cloths did not dry even now by the touch of their hands... [3-74-26]
देव कार्याणि कुर्वद्भिः यानि इमानि कृतानि वै
पुष्पैः कुवलयैः सार्थम् म्लानत्वम् न तु यान्ति वै
deva kāryāṇi kurvadbhiḥ yāni imāni kṛtāni vai
puṣpaiḥ kuvalayaiḥ sārtham mlānatvam na tu yānti vai
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Which garlands they have knotted together with black-lotuses and other flowers while they were worshiping gods, these are really those garlands, and indeed there is no discolouration to them... [3-74-27]
कृत्स्नम् वनम् इदम् दृष्टम् श्रोतव्यम् च श्रुतम् त्वया
तत् इच्छामि अभ्यनुज्ञाता त्यक्ष्यामि एतत् कलेवरम्
kṛtsnam vanam idam dṛṣṭam śrotavyam ca śrutam tvayā
tat icchāmi abhyanujñātā tyakṣyāmi etat kalevaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You have seen what is seeable and you have listened what is listenable of this woodland in its entirety... thereby I wish to become a permittee, where you alone are my permitter, as I wish to castaway this sheathe of soul, called my body... to make that soul to move nigh of my teachers feet... [3-74-28]
तेषाम् इच्छामि अहम् गन्तुम् समीपम् भावित आत्मनाम्
मुनीनाम् आश्रमो येषाम् अहम् च परिचारिणी
teṣām icchāmi aham gantum samīpam bhāvita ātmanām
munīnām āśramo yeṣām aham ca paricāriṇī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Of which sages this hermitage is, and of which sages I am also a maidservant, I soulfully go the proximity of those contemplative souls..." Thus, she appealed to Rama. [3-74-29]
धर्मिष्ठम् तु वचः श्रुत्वा राघवः सह लक्ष्मणः
प्रहर्सम् अतुलम् लेभे आश्चर्यम् इदम् च अब्रवीत्
dharmiṣṭham tu vacaḥ śrutvā rāghavaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ
praharsam atulam lebhe āścaryam idam ca abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama on hearing those duty-congruous words of Shabari along with Lakshmana, obtained a uniquely high rejoice and he also said, "astonishing is this..." [3-74-30]
PURPORT
ताम् उवाच ततो रामः शबरी संश्रित व्रताम्
अर्चितो अहम् त्वया भद्रे गच्छ कामम् यथा सुखम्
tām uvāca tato rāmaḥ śabarī saṃśrita vratām
arcito aham tvayā bhadre gaccha kāmam yathā sukham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Rama spoke to that Shabari who is firmed up in her faith towards her masters, "oh, saintly lady, you treated me with deference... thus may go to your cherished worlds, where you can solace yourself with your masters... [3-74-31]
इति एवम् उक्ता जटिला चीर कृष्ण अजिन अंबरा
अनुज्ञाता तु रामेण हुत्वा आत्मानम् हुत अशने
iti evam uktā jaṭilā cīra kṛṣṇa ajina aṃbarā
anujñātā tu rāmeṇa hutvā ātmānam huta aśane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus that way said by Rama in consent, she who is wearing tufty-matted hair, jute-cloths, and deerskin as her clothing, she offered herself as an oblation into Ritual-fire, and then like a flaring fire, she went to heaven alone. [3-74-32, 33a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Now she appeared as an angle bejewelled with angelic ornaments, wearing angle's wraparound and angelical flowery tassels, and bedaubed with suchlike cosmetics, and as with the scintillations of electric sparks she scintillated that province. [3-74-33b, 34]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे चतुः सप्ततितमः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe catuḥ saptatitamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Shabari who is a perfect yogin with perfected meditative concentration, now went to that sanctum locus where the blest souls of those sublime sages, namely her masters, saunter. [3-74-35]