Chapter 9

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

सुतीक्ष्णेन अभ्यनुज्ञातम् प्रस्थितम् रघु नन्दनम्
हृद्यया स्निग्धया वाचा भर्तारम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

sutīkṣṇena abhyanujñātam prasthitam raghu nandanam
hṛdyayā snigdhayā vācā bhartāram idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

sutīkṣṇena abhi anujñātam: by Suteekshna, well permitted | prasthitam bhartāram raghu nandanam: who started, to her husband, to Raghu's, son, Rama | vaidehī snigdhayā vācā: Vaidehi, with friendly, words | idam abravīt: this, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

To Rama, the scion of Raghu and her husband, who started out when permitted by Sage Suteekshna, Vaidehi spoke this with friendly words. [3-9-1]

PURPORT

Seetha addresses Rama with this percept. "Wielding weaponry you are entering into an area where the demons are dense, and you intolerantly embark to kill them, thereupon we two get separated, which in turn is intolerable to you. So let us leave weapons back at hermitage and go to forests to see sages - Govindaraja. "The promise made to sages in eradicating demons is himsaatmaka , injurious; they can be won over by ahimsa , non-injurious methods also. None can avert Rama to make a promise, nor ask him to deviate from it. Aware of this stubbornness of Rama, her heart felt a foreboding, and that love-blind Seetha started telling in a friendlily manner, in view of her friendship with Rama, that may disrupt soon.
VERSE 2

अधर्मम् तु सुसूक्ष्मेण विधिना प्राप्यते महान्
निवृत्तेन च शक्यो अयम् व्यसनात् कामजाद् इह

adharmam tu susūkṣmeṇa vidhinā prāpyate mahān
nivṛttena ca śakyo ayam vyasanāt kāmajād iha

SYNONYMS

mahān, a dharmaḥ: gross injustice | su sūkśmeṇa vidhinā: very, abstruse, way | prāpyate: will be attained | ayam kāmajāt vyasanāt: this, by indulgence, by desire | iha śakyaḥ: in this world, it is possible | nivṛittena: to one who fends it off. |

TRANSLATION

"Gross unjust will accrue to any in an abstruse way if his indulgence is enkindled merely by his own desire, and in this world it is possible to fend them off, to have a recourse to justness... [3-9-2]

PURPORT

For the first word adharma of Gorakhpur version, there are other words available in other mms like yastu dharmam tu and ayam dharma . The critical editions and also Dharmaakuutam puts it as ayam dharmaH susuuksmeNa vidhinaa praapyate mahaan... Instead of adharma, ayam dharma is there, which changes the negative attitude to positive Then this ayam dharmaH translates as 'this dharma, the duty of a prince, which you are going to take-up in the wake of promise given to sages, i.e., killing demons, without a valid reason, that which is righteous to you, can be performed in a different way...'
VERSE 3

त्रीणि एव व्यसनानि अत्र कामजानि भवन्ति उत
मिथ्या वाक्यम् तु परमम् तस्मात् गुरुतरा उभौ

trīṇi eva vyasanāni atra kāmajāni bhavanti uta
mithyā vākyam tu paramam tasmāt gurutarā ubhau

SYNONYMS

mṛgayākśā: hunting game | divā svapnaḥ = day dreaming: sleeping in daytime | pari vāda: abusing others | striyaomadaḥ: indulgence in women | taurya trikam: artistic impulses, three of them | v ṛthā aṭyā ca: wasteful wandering, also | kāmajaḥ: desire produced | daśako guṇaḥ: ten, traits. |

TRANSLATION

"Only three self-gratifications, the definite products of desire, are there: one is speaking fallacious utterances, which itself is worse, and worst than the other two malefic self-gratifications, where the other two are the fascination for other's wife, and the cruelness without enmity... [3-9-3, 4a] Hunting, sleeping in daytime, abusing others, indulgence in women, three artistic impulses namely music, dance and drama, wasteful wandering, are the ten desire. Manu smriti.

PURPORT

Seetha is foretelling the triggering points in the course of Ramayana. The addictions or self-gratifying acts are defined as:
VERSE 4

मिथ्या वाक्यम् न ते भूतम् न भविष्यति राघव

mithyā vākyam na te bhūtam na bhaviṣyati rāghava

SYNONYMS

b, 5a| mithyā vākyam na te bhūtam: fallacious, [habit of ] telling, not, to you, it was there | na bhaviśyati: nor, it will be in future | dharma nāśanam: virtue, ruinous | abhilaṣaṇam pareṣām strīṇām: desiring, other's, women | kutaḥ: wherefrom [it will be there to you.] |

TRANSLATION

"The habit of telling specious words is not there with you in the past nor it will be there in future, oh, Raghava, then wherefrom the virtue-ruining desire for other's women can be there... [3-9-4b, 5a]

VERSE 5

तव नास्ति मनुष्येन्द्र न च आभूत् ते कदाचन

tava nāsti manuṣyendra na ca ābhūt te kadācana

SYNONYMS

b, 6| manuṣya indra: men's, king | tava: to you | etat: all this [desiring other's woman] | na asti: in you, not, is there [so far] | kadācana na ābhūt: earlier, nor, it was there | tathā manasi api kvacit na vidyate: like that, [in any corner] of your heart, even, not, observable | nṛipa atmaja = oh, king's, son: oh, prince | [tvam: you] | nitym eva sva dāra nirataḥ ca: always, thus, in your own, wife, interested, alone. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, king, earlier this vile desire for other's women is absent in you, nor it is there now, unobserved is such a desire in any corner of your heart oh, prince, for you are always interested in your own wife... [3-9-5, 6]

VERSE 7

धर्मिष्टः सत्य सन्धः च पितुः निर्देश कारकः
त्वयि धर्मः च सत्यम् च त्वयि सर्वम् प्रतिष्टितम्

dharmiṣṭaḥ satya sandhaḥ ca pituḥ nirdeśa kārakaḥ
tvayi dharmaḥ ca satyam ca tvayi sarvam pratiṣṭitam

SYNONYMS

dharmiṣṭaḥ satya sandhaḥ ca: righteous, truth, adherent of, also | pituḥ nirdeśa kārakaḥ: father's, orders, obligor | tvayi dharma ca satyam ca: in you, is virtue, truth, also | sarvam tvayi pratiṣṭitam: all, in you, are established. |

TRANSLATION

"You are conscientious, adherent of truth, and obliging father's orders, and in you virtue and truth, nay everything is established in you... [3-9-7]

VERSE 8

तच्च सर्वम् महाबाहो शक्यम् वोढुम् जितेइन्द्रियैः
तव वश्य इन्द्रियत्वम् च जानामि शुभदर्शन

tacca sarvam mahābāho śakyam voḍhum jiteindriyaiḥ
tava vaśya indriyatvam ca jānāmi śubhadarśana

SYNONYMS

tat ca sarvam: that, also, all | mahābāhuḥ: dextrous one | jita indriyaiḥ: controlled, senses | voḍhum: to shoulder | śakyam: is possible | śubha darśana: oh, graceful, to gaze at | tava vaśya indriyatvam: your, control, on senses | ca jānāmi: also, I know. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, dextrous one, all this can possibly be shouldered by one with controlled senses, and oh, graceful one for a gaze, I am also aware of your sense control... [3-9-8]

PURPORT

The compound mahaabaahoshakyam is also cleaved as mahaa baaho a + shakyam , meaning that 'your attributes are impossible to be known even by the self-controlled sages, but they are known to me...' so says Seetha.
VERSE 9

तृतीयम् यद् इदम् रौद्रम् पर प्राण अभिहिंसनम्
निर्वैरम् क्रियते मोहात् तत् च ते समुपस्थितम्

tṛtīyam yad idam raudram para prāṇa abhihiṃsanam
nirvairam kriyate mohāt tat ca te samupasthitam

SYNONYMS

nir vairam: without, enmity | yat idam raudram: that which, this, dangerous | para prāṇa abhi himsanam: other's, lives, torturing | kriyate mohāt: will be done, unwarily | tat ca tṛitīyam [vyasanam] te samupasthitam: that, even, the third [tendency,] to you, [suddenly] chanced before you. |

TRANSLATION

"That third tendency to torture others' lives without enmity, that which will usually be effectuated unwarily, has now suddenly chanced before you... [3-9-9]

VERSE 10

प्रतिज्ञातः त्वया वीर दण्डकारण्य वासिनाम्
ऋषीणाम् रक्षणार्थाय वधः संयति रक्षसाम्

pratijñātaḥ tvayā vīra daṇḍakāraṇya vāsinām
ṛṣīṇām rakṣaṇārthāya vadhaḥ saṃyati rakṣasām

SYNONYMS

vīra: o, valiant one | dandaka araṇya vāsinām: Dandaka, forest, dwellers | ṛṣīṇām: of sages | rakśaṇa arthāya: safeguarding, intending to | samyati rakśasām vadhaḥ: in a fight, of demons, elimination | tvayā pratijñātaḥ: by you promised. |

TRANSLATION

"Intending to safeguard the sages you have promised the dwellers in Dandaka forest, oh, valiant one, that you would eliminate demons in a fight... [3-9-10]

VERSE 11

एतन् निमित्तम् च वनम् दण्डका इति विश्रुतम्
प्रस्थितः त्वम् सह भ्रात्रा धृत बाण शराअसनः

etan nimittam ca vanam daṇḍakā iti viśrutam
prasthitaḥ tvam saha bhrātrā dhṛta bāṇa śarāasanaḥ

SYNONYMS

etat nimittam ca: in this, respect, only | tvam dhṛta bāṇa śarāasanaḥ: you, wielding, arrows, bow | saha bhrātrā: along with, your brother | dandakā iti vi śrutam: Dandaka, thus, well known | vanam: forest | prasthitaḥ: started to. |

TRANSLATION

"Only in this respect you have started towards the well-known Dandaka forest along with your brother, and wielding bow and arrows...[3-9-11]

VERSE 12

ततः त्वाम् प्रस्थितम् दृष्ट्वा मम चिन्त आकुलम् मनः
त्वत् वृत्तम् चिन्तयन्त्या वै भवेत् निःश्रेयसम्
हितम्

tataḥ tvām prasthitam dṛṣṭvā mama cinta ākulam manaḥ
tvat vṛttam cintayantyā vai bhavet niḥśreyasam
hitam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ tvām prasthitam dṛṣṭvā: then, you, on starting, on seeing | mama manaḥ cinta ākulam: my, mind, with apprehension, is upset | tvat vṛttam cintayantyā vai: your, bearing, on reflecting, verily | bhavet niḥ śreyasam hitam: will be, no, beneficial, good. |

TRANSLATION

"Then on seeing your starting my mind is apprehensively upset, on verily reflecting about your bearing there appears to be no beneficial good for you... [3-9-12]

PURPORT

This last compound of second foot where nisH shreyasam hitam is available in Gorakhpur version. In Eastern version it is bhaven niHshreyasam hi tat and in other older scripts it is: tvaam caiva prasthitam dR^iShTvaa raama cintaaluma manaH| sarvataH cintayantyaa me tava niHshreyasam nR^ipa|| Dharmaakuutam puts this wording as: niHshreyasam mahat. It is similar in critical editions also bhaven niHshreyasa.n hitam Dharmaakuutam defines this expression as, anena bhartR^iu hitakaariNyaa bhaaryayaa shreyo bhavatiiti suucitam|| In any way, Seetha's contemplation is, "you abide by your oath given to sages, and thus kill the demons. But without a cause you do not proceed to eliminate. If a cause for quarrel is to be there, that will be due to me. If I become the cause and depart you, you cannot survive without me, for you are not a polygamist. So how all these factors like your promise, monogamy, and eliminating demons, can be resolved by you? Thus I am thinking along with the associated troubles which you are going to undergo..."
VERSE 13

न हि मे रोचते वीरः गमनम् दण्डकान् प्रति
कारणम् तत्र वक्ष्यामि वदन्त्याः श्रूयताम् मम

na hi me rocate vīraḥ gamanam daṇḍakān prati
kāraṇam tatra vakṣyāmi vadantyāḥ śrūyatām mama

SYNONYMS

vīraḥ: oh, brave one | dandakān prati gamanam na hi me rocate: Dandaka, towards, going, not, verily, to me, delightful | kāraṇam tatra vakśyāmi: cause, in that respect, I tell | vadantyāḥ śrūyatām mama: as I tell, you may listen, of my [talk.] |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, brave one, your going towards Dandaka forest is not delightful to me, I tell the cause for that and listen to it as I tell...[3-9-13]

VERSE 14

त्वम् हि बाण धनुष्पाणिः भ्रात्रा सह वनम् गतः
दृष्ट्वा वन चरान् सर्वान् कच्चित् कुर्याः शर व्ययम्

tvam hi bāṇa dhanuṣpāṇiḥ bhrātrā saha vanam gataḥ
dṛṣṭvā vana carān sarvān kaccit kuryāḥ śara vyayam

SYNONYMS

|tvam hi bāṇa dhanusḥ pāṇiḥ: you [with,] indeed, arrows, bow | bhrātrā saha: brother, along with | vanam gataḥ: forest, on entering | dṛṣṭvā vana carān: on seeing, forest, ramblers | sarvān: all of them | kaccit kuryāḥ: something, you do isn't it | śara: arrow | vyayam: depletion. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed on entering the forest along with your brother, and wielding bow and arrows, seeing the forest ramblers there, won't you deplete arrows on all of them... [3-9-14]

VERSE 15

क्षत्रियाणाम् इह धनुर् हुताशस्य इन्धनानि च
समीपतः स्थितम् तेजो बलम् उच्छ्ह्रयते भृशम्

kṣatriyāṇām iha dhanur hutāśasya indhanāni ca
samīpataḥ sthitam tejo balam ucchhrayate bhṛśam

SYNONYMS

kśatriyāṇām: for Kshatriya-s | samīpataḥ sthitam dhanuḥ: in within the reach, available, bow | huta aśasya: for a burning fire | indhanāni ca: fuel, even | tejaḥ: luminosity | balam: strength | ucchrayate: enhances | bhṛśam: immensely. |

TRANSLATION

"The bow of warrior and the fuel of a burning fire if available within their reach, they immensely enhance their strength... [3-9-15]

VERSE 16

पुरा किल महाबाहो तपस्वी सत्य वाक् शुचिः
कस्मिन् चित् अभवत् पुण्ये वने रत मृग द्विजे

purā kila mahābāho tapasvī satya vāk śuciḥ
kasmin cit abhavat puṇye vane rata mṛga dvije

SYNONYMS

mahābāhuḥ: oh dextrous one | purā: once | puṇye rata mṛiga dvije: in a merited [forest,] wonted by, animals, birds | kasmincit vane: in some, forest | satya vāk śuciḥ tapasvī abhavat kila: true, worded, pious, sage, was there, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Once upon a time, oh, dextrous one, there was a pious and true worded hermit in some merited forest that was wonted by animals and birds... [3-9-16]

VERSE 17

तस्य एव तपसो विघ्नम् कर्तुम् इन्द्रः शचीपतिः
खड्ग पाणिः अथ आगच्छ्हत् आश्रमम् भट रूप
धृक्

tasya eva tapaso vighnam kartum indraḥ śacīpatiḥ
khaḍga pāṇiḥ atha āgacchhat āśramam bhaṭa rūpa
dhṛk

SYNONYMS

atha: then | śacīpatiḥ: Indra | tasya eva tapasaḥ vighnam kartum: his, that, ascesis, hindrance, to cause | bhaṭa rūpa dhṛt: soldier, guise, on donning | khaḍga pāniḥ: sword, handling | āgacchat āśramam: came, to hermitage. |

TRANSLATION

"Then Indra came to that hermitage handling a sword, and donning a soldier's guise, to cause hindrance to that hermit's ascesis... [3-9-17]

VERSE 18

तस्मिन् तत् आश्रम पदे निहितः खड्ग उत्तमः
स न्यास विधिना दत्तः पुण्ये तपसि तिष्ठतः

tasmin tat āśrama pade nihitaḥ khaḍga uttamaḥ
sa nyāsa vidhinā dattaḥ puṇye tapasi tiṣṭhataḥ

SYNONYMS

tasmin tat āśrama pade: there, in that, hermitage | puṇye tapasi tiṣṭataḥ: in ascesis, to sage, one lasting in | saḥ khaḍga uttamaḥ nihitaḥ: he, that best, sword, kept with sage | nyāsa vidhinā dattaḥ: in a redeemable, basis, it is given. |

TRANSLATION

"Indra gave that best sword to store, there in that hermitage to that sage who is lasting in his ascesis, on a redeemable basis... [3-9-18]

VERSE 19

स तत् शस्त्रम् अनुप्राप्य न्यास रक्षण तत्परः
वने तु विचरति एव रक्षन् प्रत्ययम् आत्मनः

sa tat śastram anuprāpya nyāsa rakṣaṇa tatparaḥ
vane tu vicarati eva rakṣan pratyayam ātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ tu: he, but | tat śastram anuprāpya: he, that, weapon, on receiving | rakśan pratyayam ātmanaḥ: to safeguard, confidence reposed, in him | nyāsa rakśaṇa tatparaḥ: entrustment, guarding, duteous one | vane tu: in forest, but | [sa āyudhaḥ: with weapon | ] vicarati eva: moved about, thus. |

TRANSLATION

"On receiving that sword, he who is duteous in guarding the entrustment, moved about in the forest always handling the sword, to safeguard the confidence reposed in him... [3-9-19]

VERSE 20

यत्र गच्छ्हति उपादातुम् मूलानि च फलानि च
न विना याति तम् खड्गम् न्यास रक्षण तत्परः

yatra gacchhati upādātum mūlāni ca phalāni ca
na vinā yāti tam khaḍgam nyāsa rakṣaṇa tatparaḥ

SYNONYMS

nyāsa rakśana tatparaḥ: entrustment, to guard, one who is dedicated to | upādātum mūlāni ca phalāni ca: to obtain, tubers, even, fruits, too | tam yatra gacchati: he, wherever, goes | na khadgam vinā: not, sword, without | yāti: goes, he. |

TRANSLATION

"Wherever that dedicated guardian of that entrustment goes, even to obtain tubers or fruits, he did not go without that sword... [3-9-20]

VERSE 21

नित्यम् शस्त्रम् परिवहन् क्रमेण स तपोधनः
चकार रौद्रीम् स्वाम् बुद्धिम् त्यक्त्वा तपसि निश्चयम्

nityam śastram parivahan krameṇa sa tapodhanaḥ
cakāra raudrīm svām buddhim tyaktvā tapasi niścayam

SYNONYMS

nityam śastram parivahan: always, sword, on carrying | krameṇa: slowly | saḥ tapaḥ dhanaḥ: he, [by ascesis rich one] that hermit | cakāra raudrīm svām buddhim: made, infuriated, own, faculty | tyaktvā tapasi niścayam: loosing, in penance, determination. |

TRANSLATION

"Carrying that sword always, that hermit slowly made his own faculty infuriated, loosing determination in ascesis... [3-9-21]

VERSE 22

ततः स रौद्र अभिरतः प्रमत्तो अधर्म कर्षितः
तस्य शस्त्रस्य संवासात् जगाम नरकम् मुनिः

tataḥ sa raudra abhirataḥ pramatto adharma karṣitaḥ
tasya śastrasya saṃvāsāt jagāma narakam muniḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | tasya śastrasya samvāsāt: with that, weapon's, constant association | raudra abhirataḥ: in cruelty, delighted | saḥ muniḥ: he, that sage | pramattaḥ: inadvertent | adharma karśitaḥ: un-virtue, smitten by | jagāma narakam: went to, hell. |

TRANSLATION

"Then with the constant association of that weapon that sage gradually became inadvertent, and smitten by vice he went to hell... [3-9-22]

VERSE 23

एवम् एतत् पुरा वृत्तम् शस्त्र संयोग कारणम्
अग्नि संयोगवत् हेतुः शस्त्र संयोग उच्यते

evam etat purā vṛttam śastra saṃyoga kāraṇam
agni saṃyogavat hetuḥ śastra saṃyoga ucyate

SYNONYMS

purā etatat: once, all this | śastra samyoga kāraṇam = by veapon's, [constant] association, reason of: falling in to hell | vṛttam: happened | śastra samyoga: with weapon, association | agni samyogavat hetuḥ: with fire, associating, sequel of | ucyate: said to be [as good as.] |

TRANSLATION

"Thus, all this happened earlier, only owing the reason of associating with a weapon constantly, and the sequel of constant association with weapon is as good as constant association with fire... [3-9-23]

VERSE 24

स्नेहात् च बहुमानात् च स्मारये त्वाम् न शिक्षये
न कथंचन सा कार्या गृहीत धनुषा त्वया

snehāt ca bahumānāt ca smāraye tvām na śikṣaye
na kathaṃcana sā kāryā gṛhīta dhanuṣā tvayā

SYNONYMS

, 25| snehāt ca: in affinity, also | bahumānāt ca: in respect, also | smāraye tvām: reminding you | na śikśaye: not, tutoring | gṛhīta dhanuṣā tvayā: wielding, bow, by you | vinā vairam: without, enmity | daṇḍaka āśritān rākśasān: Dandaka forest, dwellers, demons | hantum: to kill | sā buddhiḥ: that, thought | kathamcana: in anyway | na kāryā: not, to be done [improper] | vīra: brave one | aparādham vinā: offence, without | lokān hantum na kāmaye: people, to kill, not, desirable. |

TRANSLATION

"In affinity and in respect I am reminding but not tutoring you, and in anyway improper is that thought of yours to wield your bow to kill the demons dwelling in Dandaka without any enmity, oh, brave one, undesirable is the killing of offenceless... [3-9-24, 25]

VERSE 26

क्षत्रियाणाम् तु वीराणाम् वनेषु नियतात्मनाम्
धनुषा कार्यम् एतावत् आर्तानाम् अभिरक्षणम्

kṣatriyāṇām tu vīrāṇām vaneṣu niyatātmanām
dhanuṣā kāryam etāvat ārtānām abhirakṣaṇam

SYNONYMS

vaneṣu niyata ātmanām: in forests, who are inclined, heartily | vīrāṇām kśatriyāṇām: for valiant, Kshatriya-s | ārtānām abhirakśaṇam: sufferers, safeguarding | etāvat: to this point | dhanuṣā kāryam: of bow, is the purpose. |

TRANSLATION

"For the valiant Kshatriya-s who are inclined in forests heartily, the purpose of the bow is this much 'safeguarding the sufferers...' [3-9-26]

PURPORT

There are some conflicting reviews on this stanza. It is said in the first foot vaneSu niyata aatmaanaam But older mms contain sva dharmeSu nirata aatmaanaam will be found, while Dharmaakuutam and Eastern versions have it as vaneSu nirata only. This Gorakhpur version and critical editions are having as vaneSu niyata The meaning in other versions is that Kshatriya-s should delight in their class-oriented righteousness, even when in forests. Thus Seetha's thinking is that they should live like hermits in forests, without resorting to the warring attributes of Kshatriya class. In the second foot she says that the function of bow is limited to 'safeguard the suffering lot...' In the next chapter at 3-10-3, Rama retorts with the same expression in answering Seetha.
VERSE 27

क्व च शस्त्रम् क्व च वनम् क्व च क्षात्रम् तपः क्व च
व्याविद्धम् इदम् अस्माभिः देश धर्मः तु
पूज्यताम्

kva ca śastram kva ca vanam kva ca kṣātram tapaḥ kva ca
vyāviddham idam asmābhiḥ deśa dharmaḥ tu
pūjyatām

SYNONYMS

kva ca śastram: where, the weapon | kva ca vanam: where, the forest | kva ca kṣātram: where, Kshatriya principles | tapaḥ kva ca: where, the sageness | vyāviddham idam: inconsistent, is this | asmābhiḥ: by us | deśa dharmaḥ tu: country's order, alone | pūjyatām: be esteemed. |

TRANSLATION

"Where that weapon? Where this forest? Where the principles of Kshatriya? And where is sageness? All this is inconsistent... let us esteem the laws of the land... [3-9-27]

VERSE 28

तदार्य कलुषा बुद्धिः जायते शस्त्र सेवनात्
पुनर् गत्वात् तत् अयोध्यायाम् क्षत्र धर्मम् चरिष्यसि

tadārya kaluṣā buddhiḥ jāyate śastra sevanāt
punar gatvāt tat ayodhyāyām kṣatra dharmam cariṣyasi

SYNONYMS

śastra sevanāt: weapon, who admire | buddhiḥ kadārya kaluśā jāyate: mind, with avariciousness, maligned, it becomes | punaḥ gatvāt ayodhyāyām: again, on going, to Ayodhya | kśatra dharmam cariṣyasi: Kshatriya, tenets, you can follow. |

TRANSLATION

"Weapon admiring mind becomes maligned with avariciousness, you may therefore follow the tenet of Kshatriya-s on going to Ayodhya again... [3-9-28]

VERSE 29

अक्षया तु भवेत् प्रीतिः श्वश्रू श्वशुरयोः मम
यदि राज्यम् हि संन्यस्य भवेत् त्वम् निरतो मुनिः

akṣayā tu bhavet prītiḥ śvaśrū śvaśurayoḥ mama
yadi rājyam hi saṃnyasya bhavet tvam nirato muniḥ

SYNONYMS

a kśayā tu bhavet prītiḥ: un, diminishing, will be, satisfaction | śvaśrū: to father-in-law | śvaśurayoḥ: to mothers-in-law | mama: of mine | yadi rājyam parityajya: even if, kingdom, is forfeit | tvam bhavet nirataḥ muniḥ: you have, become, devout, sage. |

TRANSLATION

"Everlasting satisfaction will be there to my father-in-law and mothers-in-laws, on your becoming a devout sage even after forfeiture of kingdom... [3-9-29]

VERSE 30

धर्मात् अर्थः प्रभवति धर्मात् प्रभवते सुखम्
धर्मेण लभते सर्वम् धर्म सारम् इदम् जगत्

dharmāt arthaḥ prabhavati dharmāt prabhavate sukham
dharmeṇa labhate sarvam dharma sāram idam jagat

SYNONYMS

dharmāt arthaḥ prabhavati: from virtuousness, prosperity, emanates | dharmāt prabhavate sukham: from righteousness, originates, happiness | dharmeṇa labhate sarvam: by honourableness, achieved, are all | dharma sāram idam jagat: probity's, essence, this universe is. |

TRANSLATION

"From virtuousness prosperity emanates, from righteousness happiness, and by honourableness all are achieved, and this universe is the essence of probity... [3-9-30]

VERSE 31

आत्मानम् नियमैः तैः तैः कर्षयित्वा प्रयत्नतः
प्राप्यते निपुणैः धर्मो न सुखात् लभते सुखम्

ātmānam niyamaiḥ taiḥ taiḥ karṣayitvā prayatnataḥ
prāpyate nipuṇaiḥ dharmo na sukhāt labhate sukham

SYNONYMS

nipuṇaiḥ: by experts | ātmānam: their own selves | taiḥ taiḥ: with those, those | niyamaiḥ: principles | prayatnataḥ: making efforts | karṣayitvā: by exhausting | dharmaḥ = dharma: sublimity | prāpyate: will be realized | na sukhāt labhyate sukham: not, by pleasuring, achievable, is pleasure. |

TRANSLATION

"Experts will make efforts to exhaust their own selves with those and those principles, thus they realise sublimity... unachievable is pleasure by pleasuring alone... [3-9-31]

VERSE 32

नित्यम् शुचि मतिः सौम्य चर धर्मम् तपो वने
सर्वम् हि विदितम् तुभ्यम् त्रैलोक्यम् अपि तत्त्वतः

nityam śuci matiḥ saumya cara dharmam tapo vane
sarvam hi viditam tubhyam trailokyam api tattvataḥ

SYNONYMS

saumya: oh, gentle one | nityam śuci matiḥ: always, with pure, mind | tapaḥ vane: in sagely, forests | dharmam cara: righteousness, tread | trailokyam sarvam api: about three worlds, all, even | tubhyam tattvataḥ viditam: to you, in its nuances, known. |

TRANSLATION

"Always tread along the righteousness with a pure mind, oh, gentle one, and specially in these sagely forests... you know everything in all the three worlds, in all its nuances... [3-9-32]

VERSE 33

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे नवमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe navamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

strī cāpalāt etat udāhritam me: women's, wavering, all this, cited, by me | dharmam ca vaktum tava: of righteousness, to speak, to you | kaḥ samartha: who is, capable | vicārya buddhyā: ponder, mindfully | saha anujena: with, your brother | yat rocate: what, appropriate | tat kuru: that, you do | ma acireṇa: not, belatedly. |

TRANSLATION

"I cite all this with my womanly waver, and who is capable to talk to you about dharma? Ponder mindfully along with your brother, and what that is appropriate, you do it...but not belatedly... [3-9-33] This particular chapter is an interesting juncture in Ramayana, where Seetha reminds about the question of triggering cause for Rama's waging a war against demons. Seetha's doubt is well explained in Dharmaakuutam, the encyclopaedic commentary on Ramayana. A number of pages are allotted there for this chapter, and it is said there, that if Seetha is said to be self-contradictory in telling Rama that bow and arrows are a must to Kshatriya-s to protect the helpless when saying 'safeguard the sufferers, then only Kshatriya-s should use their bow..." as at verse 3-9-26 above, and also questioning immediately at 3-9-27, 'where the Kshatriya dharma, where the hermit's way of living...' etc., dharmaakuutam says not so. She is not contradicting herself in her statements, but asking Rama to have a cause, without resorting to weaponry against those demons, in a straightforward way. ataH tad rakShaNaaya aayudhamna graahyam iti etad abhipraayakatvaat || She is inquisitive to know why Rama alone shall raise the bow and arrows against some demons hurting some sages. These sages are having super powers and Indra like celestial chiefs are coming to these sages to take them to heaven with their mortal bodies. Can't they eliminate these demons? But these super hermits are not going to heaven, which is the minimum ambition of any penance, but requesting Rama to protect them from demons. And Rama obligingly started to wage this unilateral war, where any war requires a triggering point. Can't the super sages eliminate these demons, with their powers acquired by their penances? This is the question of Seetha. For this, Rama replies so convincingly in the next chapter, saying that the sages cannot issue forth a curse at the demons, in the course of their penance. Sage Vishvamitra, though being a furious sage, once sought the help of Rama to counter the Demoness Tataka. And Rama rendered it. Now also these sages do not waste their powers at the mischievous demons, but ask Rama to safeguard their interests, for Rama is the king, whether he may be in capital or in forests. Secondly, Rama is subjected to the throne of Ayodhya, now being held by his brother Bharata, and as a loyalist to that throne, Ram should act in accordance with the rules of his kingdom. This area Dandaka forests is under the ambit of their own kingdom. So Rama has to perform the deeds suitable to their kingdom. When killing Vali, Rama speaks to Vali -- "all this area is under our kingdom, now held by Bharata, and it is my duty to act in accordance with the decree of that throne..." "Regarding the cause, Seetha's doubt comes true and she alone becomes the ultimate cause for Rama, to wage the final war with Ravana.