Chapter 9
Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
सुतीक्ष्णेन अभ्यनुज्ञातम् प्रस्थितम् रघु नन्दनम्
हृद्यया स्निग्धया वाचा भर्तारम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
sutīkṣṇena abhyanujñātam prasthitam raghu nandanam
hṛdyayā snigdhayā vācā bhartāram idam abravīt
SYNONYMS
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
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
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
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
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
SYNONYMS
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]
SYNONYMS
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]
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
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]
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
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
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
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]
प्रतिज्ञातः त्वया वीर दण्डकारण्य वासिनाम्
ऋषीणाम् रक्षणार्थाय वधः संयति रक्षसाम्
pratijñātaḥ tvayā vīra daṇḍakāraṇya vāsinām
ṛṣīṇām rakṣaṇārthāya vadhaḥ saṃyati rakṣasām
SYNONYMS
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]
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
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]
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
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
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
TRANSLATION
"Carrying that sword always, that hermit slowly made his own faculty infuriated, loosing determination in ascesis... [3-9-21]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
क्षत्रियाणाम् तु वीराणाम् वनेषु नियतात्मनाम्
धनुषा कार्यम् एतावत् आर्तानाम् अभिरक्षणम्
kṣatriyāṇām tu vīrāṇām vaneṣu niyatātmanām
dhanuṣā kāryam etāvat ārtānām abhirakṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
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
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे नवमः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe navamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
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.