Rama, Seetha, and Lakshmana enter the great forest called Dandaka Forest and adore the eminent sages, who are in penance and hermitages in that forest. This canto is named as Aranya Kanda not just to show that Rama roved over just forests. The forests, as per Indian tradition, are the treasure houses of knowledge, and they are the ultimate in Vedic culture.
Thus, until Ayodhya Kanda Rama's exile is in aaryavarta , the place of noblemen, from River Ganges to Greece. Now Rama is stepping into an area called janasthana,meaning people's place. This janasthana is the place where Rama eradicated certain negative aspects of the then anarchic individualised dominions where jungle law was the only recourse and brought all of them under one roof. Though people lived there about along with sages and demons as well, demonic influence is said to be predominant, as per Ramayana or other Purana-s. These demons are narrated to be man-eaters, but not cannibals who eat their own tribesmen.Recent discoveries revealed that the first humans were cannibals.
The Science magazine reported about the excavations at Neanderthals Neander Valley, Germany. In the words of Alban Defleur of the Universite de la Mediterranee at Masrseilles, France, "The finding allows us for the first time to demonstrate the existence of the practice of cannibalism by European eanderthals." It is not clear from the excavations of Neanderthals, whether the cannibalism was practised for survival or as a ritual.And even at Alveston in the western English country of Gloucestershire, recently found are such human thighbones, which had been split down the middle to remove marrow. Archaeologists of Bristol University are saying that the evidence indicated the victims could have been disabled and deformed people in society. They have been murdered and eaten, and the radiocarbon dating suggests these finds are about 2000 years ago. This practice is attributed to some underworld cults during the later Iron Age. That being the situation in Europe, in the knowable history, in Ramayana that has happened in an unknown era, the rakshasa-s are narrated to be man-eaters, but not as cannibals.But the accounts given in Aranya Kanda and elsewhere, in ancient India the rakshasa-s ate up humans neither for their own survival nor for ritual but to exhibit their tyranny and their barbaric supremacy. They never reported to have eaten their own clansmen, but have a palate for other breed. Hence it is not exactly cannibalism, but a barbaric act to exert savage scare. This is what the sages advise Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana when departing towards Dandaka Aranya, and indirectly suggest eradicating such a savage atmosphere in peaceful forests.
When it comes to isms , it is said that the whole clash is between Vaishnavaites and Shaivites or Shaaktaites , because the raakshasa-s are invariably Shiva worshippers, where Vaishnavism is a later development. All the raakshasa-s or demons [in fact the term 'demon' do not suit them,] portrayed hereafter, are ardent worshippers of Shiva, and have every blessing from Shiva or Brahma. It is an ethnicity of its own which lived rich lives, pompous in attributes, wielded magical powers, and unabatedly performed anything that is beneficial for them.Their riches and glory will be reflected in Sundara Kanda, which will be burnt down by Hanuma, humbling this deleterious ethnicity, even before Rama's war with Ravana. Such an ethnic culture will be portrayed hereafter, in constant conflict with Rama, and Rama eradicating each and every member of such ethnicity that goes against any civility.
It is said that Rama performed diina jana rakshana in this Aranya Kaanda, Miserable People's Protection and mitra jana rakshana in the next canto Kishkindha Kaanda, i.e., Friendly People's Protection. The janasthana is the unexplored area by the then people of aaryavarta, where the raakshasa ethnicity prevailed and which certainly resisted any outside influences or culture, and which is why they are called raakshasa-s. The word raksha means protection, and they protect their own culture and ethnicity, and if any outsiders to join them, they shall be subservient.For e.g., Ravana does not tolerate the insult meted out by his sister Shuurpanakha at the hands of Lakshmana.Ravana, though persuaded by Maareecha not to encounter Rama, does not listen to any advises but wished to abduct Seetha, because he wanted to possess that beautiful woman, like all other beautiful, pompous objects like Kubera's wealth, Lanka, the golden city and Pushpaka aircraft etc. Ravana even baits Seetha with queen-hood, if only she subjugates to him, and all these dictatorial aspects reveal the pride and vanity of Rakshasa culture. But the term 'demon' used in paucity of equivalent term may not be taken to mean just as a wicked demon or a devil, but a powerful antagonistic culture or ethnic dominions of Rakshasas, in Janasthana.
Rama does much good in jansthana in wiping out those cultures of greedily dictatorial, magically overpowering, and ruinous to other forms of civility. In fact this Aranya Kanda is not explained in vivid terms by the ancient commentators, and if things are probed deeper in this book, Aranya Kanda, Rama did more social work than miracles.Hence much can be explored into this Aranya Kaanda, the Book of Forest, in terms of sociological, demographically and ethnological pursuits of Rama to establish one great orderly civil empire under one emperor, that is what we call Rama Raajya. Further, it will be narrated that Rama killed these Rakshasas in thousands, which is objected by materialists as how can an archer eliminate so many thousands of Rakshasas, with just a bow and arrows.It may be remembered that Sage Viswamitra accords many kinds of missiles to Rama, after the killing of Tataka, the demoness, in Bala Kanda.It may not be surprising for this generation to know that a single trigger can create havoc of Hiroshima or Nagasaki, and then in all its probability Rama also might have triggered in the same way, with the missiles endowed by Sage Viswamitra.
ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः
प्रविश्य तु महारण्यं दण्डकारण्यमात्मवान् |
रामो ददर्श दुर्धर्षस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम् || ३-१-१
1. aatmavaan = courageous one; durdharSa = unassailable one; raamaH = Rama; maha araNyam danDaka araNyam = impenetrable, forest, Dandaka forest; pravishya = having entered; taapasa aashrama maNDalam = hermits', hermitages, clusters; dadarsha = seen.
On entering the impenetrable Dandaka forest that courageous and unassailable Rama saw a clusters of hermitages of sages. [3-1-1]
The word aatmavaan is the question Valmiki put to Narada at the start of the epic in Bala Kanda, as the first word of verse 1-1-4. The courage and invincibility are reflected in the opening verse of this canto, since Rama has to perform diina jana or sajjana rakshaNa i.e., saving the helpless or goodly men, viz. in the present context, the sages. The sages are to be saved from the onslaught of demons, which requires, both courage and un-invincibility. Apart from the above aatmavaan normally means sagacious one.
कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तं ब्राह्म्यां लक्ष्यासमावृतम् |
यथा प्रदीप्तं दुर्दर्शं गगने सूर्यमण्डलम् || ३-१-२
2. kusha chiira parikshiptam = darbha, [sacred grass,] jute cloths, overspread with; braahmyaa lakshmyaa samaavritam = by brahminic [Vedic,] splendour, pervading; yathaa = like; pradiiptam = well, glowing; durdarsham = not, seeable; gagane suurya maNDalam = in sky, solar, arena.
Overspread with Darbha, the sacred grass, and jute clothing, well pervaded with Vedic splendour and well glowing like the un-seeable solar arena in the sky, with naked eye. [3-1-2]
This connotes Vedic import in saying that Supreme is far beyond from Solar orbit. In iishaavaasyopanishad , at hymn 15, we hear the following mantra , hymn:
Om hirNmayeN paatreN satyasya apihitam mukham |
tat tvam puuShan apaavR^iNu satya dharmaaya dR^iShTaye ||
hiraNmayeNa + paatreNa= by golden, disc like vessel; satyasya= of the truth; apihitam= closed;
mukham= face of; tat + tvat= that, you, apaavR^iNu= slide aside; satya + dharmaaya=
I as truthful, righteous one; dR^iSTaye= to visualise, [that which is beyond you.]
On looking at the rising red sun, the devotee is asking "Oh! Pooshan! God Sun, nourisher of the universe, the trueness of the Supreme is covered by your golden disk like vessel, [i.e., your Solar disk,] slide it aside, for as a truthful and righteous devotee, I visualize [that which is beyond your golden Solar disc.]
This is said to be the coming of Supreme into lower abode of Solar orbit from His Supreme abode, say vaikuNTHa. Now Rama and Seetha are passing through this dazzling Solar-orbit like hermitage, to present themselves before the true devotees, and even to eradicate vice on earth. This appearance is without any prayers from the devotee, as contained in the above Vedic hymn. God reveals Himself
शरण्यं सर्वभूतानां सुसंमृष्टाजिरं सद |
मृगैर्बहुभिराकीर्णं पक्षिसंमैः समातम् || ३-१-३
3. sharaNyam sarva bhuutaanaam = recourse, for all, living beings; su sam mR^iSTa = well, all over, tidied; ajiram = thresholds [of hermitages]; sadaa = always; mR^igaiH bahubhiH aakiirNam = with deer, many, dense with; pakshi sanghaiH = bird, groups; sama aavritam = well, teemed with.
Those hermitages have well-tidied thresholds on all sides, dense with many deer and teemed with many groups of birds, and they are the recourse for all living beings. [3-1-3]
पूजितं चोपनृत्तं च नित्यमप्सरसाम् गणैः |
विशालैरग्निशरणैः स्रुग्भाण्डैरजिनैः कुशैः || ३-१-४
समिद्भिस्तोयकलशैः फलमूलश्च शोभितम् |
आरण्यैः च महा वृक्षैः पुण्यैः स्वादु फलैर् वृतम् || ३-१-५
4. apsarasam gaNaiH = with apsarasa [celestial dancers,] groups of; puujitam cha = it is adored also; nityam always [continued]; upanR^ittam cha = they are dancing near by, also; vishaalaiH agni sharaNaiH = with broad, Holy Fire, places; sruk bhaaNDaiH = with oblation items, vessels; ajinaiH = with deerskins; kushaiH samidbhiH toya kalashaiH = with sacred grass, ritual fuels, water, vessels; phala muulaiH cha = with fruits, tubers, also; shobhitam = beaming forth; araNyaiH puNyaiH svaadu phalaiH = of forests, sacred, palatable, with fruits; mahaa vR^ikshaiH vR^itam = with giant, trees, surrounding; [those hermitages are]; upashobhitam = enriched with.
Those hermitages are always adored by groups of apsarasa-s with their continued dancing, their Holy Fireplaces are very broad, and are with oblation items, vessels, deerskins and sacred grass, and they are beaming forth with gigantic trees that yield sacred and palatable fruits, and with ritual fuels, and water vessels, tubers and fruits. [3-1-4, 5]
The Vedic ritual demands three Fireplaces called tretaagni , three fires. They are dakshiNa agni Southern Fire; gaarhapatya agni Household Fire; aahavaniiya agni Invocation Fire. These three are lit day in and day out, symbolising that the fire in living beings has continuity. Wherever a Vedic ritual takes place the celestials will come to take their share of oblations and the celestial dancers dance thereabout in praise of the ritual. The oblation vessels are of particular nature and a long spoon is made of particular wood, to oblate clarified butter or milk etc., into the Alter of Fire. The deerskin is the prescribed seat for meditation. The sacrificial grass is the essential item of even in domestic rituals, symbolising that the human kind shall prosper like the interlaced and intermingled grass, where the starting or the end point is intractable.
बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम् |
पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया || ३-१-६
6. bali homa architam = sacrifice, fire-oblation, being worshipped; puNyam = sacrosanct; brahma ghoSa ninaaditam = Brahma's, sounds [Vedic sounds,] reverberating with; sa padmayaa padminyaa = with, lotuses, lotus-ponds; vanyaiH cha puSpaiH parikshiptam = of forests, also, with flowers, enwrapped with.
Those hermitages are sacrosanct for Ritual fire is being worshiped with fire-oblations and sacrifices to the reverberating Vedic sounds, and they are enwrapped with lotus ponds with lotuses, and even with flowers of forest. [3-1-6]
फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैस्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरैः |
सूर्यवैश्वानराभश्च पुराणैर्मुनिभिर्युतम् || ३-१-७
7. phala muula ashanaiH = fruit, tuber, feeding on; daanaiH = controlled senses; chiira = jute cloths; krishNa ajina = deerskin; ambaraiH = clothed with; suurya vaishvanara aabhaiH cha = Sun, Fire, in resplendence; puraaNaiH munibhiH yutam = age-old, saints, having in them [the hermitages.]
They have age-old saints with controlled senses who are clad in jute cloths and deerskin, and who subsist on fruits and tubers alone, ye their resplendence is like that that of the Sun-god or the Fire-god. [3-1-7]
This chiira is the Sanskrit word for the present day sari and it is still called as chiira in some parts of India.
पुण्यैश्च नियताहारैः शोभितं परमर्षिभिः |
तद् ब्रह्मभवनप्रख्यां ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम् || ३-१-८
8. punyaiH cha niyata aahaaraiH = holy, also, constrained, sustenance; shobhitam parama R^iSibhiH = glistened forth, by greatly, saints; brahma bhavana prakhyam = Brahma's, Abode, distinctive; brahma ghoSa ni naaditam = Brahma's sounds, [Vedic chants,] well, reverberating; tat = such a [hermitage; raamaH dadarsha = Rama, has seen.]
Rama has seen such a cluster of hermitages that is glistening forth just by the presence of holy saints whose sustenance is constrained, and that hermitage is distinctive like Brahma's abode, reverberating with the sounds of that Brahma's Vedic chants alone. [3-1-8]
ब्रह्मविर्भिर्महाभागैर्ब्राह्मणैरुपशोभितम् |
तद्दृष्ट्वा राघवः श्रीमांस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम् || ३-१-९
अभ्यगच्छन्महातेजा विज्यं कृत्वा महद्धनुः |
9-10a. brahma vidbhiH = with Brahma, knowers of; mahaa bhaagaiH braahmaNaiH upashobhitam = highly, blest ones, by Brahmans, graced with; tat taapasa aashrama mandalam = that, hermits, hermitage, precincts of; dR^iSTtvaa = on seeing; sriimaan mahaatejaa raaghavaH = glorious, great resplendent, Rama; maha dhannuH = great, bow; vi jyam kR^itvaa = without, bowstring, on making it; abhyagacChat = neared it [hermitage.]
That glorious and great resplendent Rama on seeing those precincts of hermitage that is graced with highly blest Brahmans, the knowers of Brahma, neared it, unstringing the bowstring of his great bow. [3-1-9-10a]
दिव्यज्ञानोपपन्नास्ते रामं दृष्ःट्वा महर्षयः || ३-१-१०
अभिजग्मुस्तदा प्रीता वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम् |
10b-11a. divya j~naana upapannaH = divine, knowledge, possessors of; te mahR^iSayaH = those, great saints; raamam = at Rama; vaidehiim cha yashashviniim = at Vaidehi [Seetha,] also, the illustrious one; dR^iSTvaa = on seeing; priitaa = gladdened; tadaa = then; adaaabhi jagmuH = towards, moved forward [welcomingly.]
Those great sages, the possessors of divine knowledge, are gladdened on seeing Rama and illustrious Seetha, and they moved towards them welcomingly. [3-1-10-11a]
Indian archers fasten the bowstring only when that bow is to be put to use. Further there is a method described in dhanurveda as to how a bowstring is to be fastened to the other end of the bow. The Indian mythological bows are of six feet or two yards, in height. It is also a measure like horse length. The string, which so far is spiralled to the bow beam, is to be removed. Then the bottom end of the bow is to be kept pressed onto the ground with left foot's big toe. Then with the right hand the edge of the string is handled and with left hand the other end of the bow is to be held and crouched, so that the string can be hooked or fastened there. After fastening, the stretch of the string is to be tested [like the occasional testing of the badminton or tennis racquet for the tension of its gut,] by pulling and leaving it, so that it makes a warring sound. By this sound of the bowstring, which is a signal to the opponent, the opponent comes to know as to who is handling which bow. Then if the archer is going to beam out an arrow, he shall pull the arrow on the bowstring up to his right ear and leave it, aakarNaanta prayoga . Here, removing the bowstring from its fastening implies that this archer, namely Rama who is so far handling the stringed bow, for he is roaming in forests, and since he is entering the place of elderly saints now, unfastened the bowstring in all his humbleness to sages and saints.
ते तु सोममिवोद्यन्तं द्इष्ट्वा वै धर्मचारिणम् || ३-१-११
लक्ष्मणं चैव दृष्ट्वातु वैदेहीं च यशस्विनीम् |
मङ्गलानि प्रयञ्जानाः प्रत्यगृह्णान् दृढव्रताः || ३-१-१२
11a-12. te = those sages; dhR^iDha vrataaH = austerely, committed vows; udyantam iva somam = arising, like, moon; dharma chaariNam = at that righteous, path treader - Rama; dR^iSTvaa tu = having seen, but; lakshmanam cha eva = Lakshmana, also, like that; yashashviniim cha vaidehiim = glorious one, also, at Seetha; mangalaani pra yu~njaanaaH = Vedic Blessings, rendered; pratyagR^ihNan = welcomed [the trio.]
But those sages who are austerely committed to vows, on their seeing Rama, the treader on the path of rectitude, and who is now arising like moon, and at Lakshmana and at glorious Seetha as well, rendered Vedic blessings and welcomed the trio. [3-1-11a-12]
This context is also explained in the following ways:
te = they, the knowers of three-times, past, present and future; tam = them, [demons, to eliminate]; udyantam + somam + iva + sthitam = rising, moon, like, he who is there - he that Rama is here to remove darkness arising is the moon; or udyantam + somam + iva = arising, moon, like - like a new moon, arising in darkness of the thick cloudy forests; dR^iSTvaa = on seeing; dharmachaarinaH = virtue practisers, the sages; mangalaani + prayunjanaaH = Vedic Blessings rendered;
The sages rendered Vedic Blessings on seeing the rising moon to eradicate the darkness called demons, for Rama is their object of worship as a virtuous one and they themselves are the followers of virtue.
Or, the sages have physically seen that object of their worship, Rama the virtuous one, who they are so far seeing with their inner senses alone, and rendered Vedic Blessings.
Or, the sages rendered the Vedic Blessings on seeing the moon-like Rama emerging to eradicate the darkness called demons. But this Rama is having attributes like ruupa saMhananam lakShmiim saukumaaryam as visualised by the sages, as at verse 13. And to not to happen any untoward incident to this delicate, dainty, graceful young man at the hands of the ireful demons, the sages rendered Vedic Blessings as a precautionary measure, for the sages are dhR^iDha + vrataaH = determined in their vow, to eradicate the demons, through Rama. This is the rendering of Govindaraja.
te = they, the sages; mangalaan + prayunjaanaaH = blessings, rendered; udyantam + somam + iva = emerging, moon-like - gladdening all the world like a pleasant moon; tam= him, that Rama; pratyagR^ihNan= received as their presiding deity of virtue. This is the rendering of Maheshvara Tiirtha.
te = those sages; udyantam + somam + iva = arising, moon-like - arising like the presiding deity of Brahmins. It is said in Veda-s tasmaat soma raajaano braahmaNaaH Moon shall be the deity of Brahmins - Vedic Scholars, for Veda is dharma, the virtue and the Vedic Brahmins are the preachers and practisers of that virtuosity. yashashviniim = glorious Seetha, for she is the principal cause in eradicating demons; thus, by finding such protectors who have come hither to ameliorate the difficulties of sage, the sages rendered Vedic Blessings. This is tilaka or also known as Rama Tilaka
रूपसंहननं लक्ष्मीं सौकुमार्यं सुवेषताम् |
ददृशुर्विस्मिताकारा रामस्य वनवासिनः || ३-१-१३
13. vana vaasinaH = forest, dwelling sages; dadR^ishuH = saw; raamasya = of Rama; ruupa samhananam = physical built; akshmiim = its augustness; saukumaaryam = gracefulness; su veSataam = finely attired one; vismita aakaaraa = with astonished, postures.
Those forest-dwelling sages saw the physical built, its augustness and gracefulness, and his fine attire remaining in astonished postures. [3-1-13]
Here ruupa is the bodily shape that which, though undecorated, looks richly decorated. samhanana is beauty of the well arranged body parts with no dissimilarities, where the good old saying 'equality is the basis of beauty, and inequality is the basis of society...' may be remembered. lakshmiiH is laavaNya i.e., self-luminous augustness. While saukumaarya is the delicacy, like that of a blooming flower. suveSa is a neat and tidy outfit or suitable outfit. Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana wear a particular dress, given by Queen Kaikeyi in Ayodhya. Those dresses are peculiar to themselves and not on par with the regular dress of hermits. This dress of these three itself is a confusing attire for onlookers, like demon Viradha, or monkey-chief Sugreeva, for these three do look like neither perfect sages nor perfect warriors. Even the demon Viradha scorns them in the next chapter, for the inconstancy in their attire and their wielding weapons.
वैदेहीं लक्ष्मणं रामं नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव |
आश्चरभूतान् ददृशुः सर्वे ते पनवासिनः || ३-१-१४
14. sarve te vana vaasinaH = all, those, forest-dwellers; aashcharya bhuutaan = surprise, causers of [they cause surprise with their unannounced arrival]; vaidehiim Lakshmanam raamam = at Vaidehi, Lakshmana, Rama; a nimiSaiH = without, a wink [or, those that do not wink - the gods; iva = like, as though they are; netraiH with eyes; dadarshuH = saw.
The forest-dwellers saw Seetha, Lakshmana and Rama, without a wink on their own eyes, as that trio is causing surprise with their arrival.
Or
The forest-dwellers saw Rama, Seetha, and Lakshmana without a wink on their own eyes [like celestial beings, who do not have the winking property on their eyes like living beings,] as their arrival is causing surprise.
Or
The forest-dwellers saw Rama, Seetha, and Lakshmana without a wink on their own eyes [as though the Vishnu along with Goddess Lakshmi and Thousand headed-serpent, aadi sheSha are coming from their abode vaikunTha to this hermitage, for this hermitage is like Brahma's abode, as already said, thus the sages lost their wink. And loosing any single wink will loose the sight of these divinities from vaikunTha; hence their unannounced arrival caused surprise in them, which further caused a wink-less state [3-1-14]
आत्रैनं हि महाभागाः सर्वभूतहिते रताः |
अतिथिं पर्णशालायां राघवं संन्यवेशयन् || ३-१-१५
15. sarva bhuuta hite rataH = in all, beings', welfare, interested; mahaa bhaagaaH = august sages; atra parNa shaalaayaam = into, hermitage; atithim = being the guest [guest a priori]; enam raaghavam = him, that Rama; samnyveshayan hi = accommodated, indeed.
Those august sages that are interested in the well being of all beings have indeed accommodated Rama in that hermitage, as Rama is their guest a priori. [3-1-15]
ततो रामस्य सत्कृत्य विधिना पावकोपमाः |
अजह्रुस्ते महाभागाः सलिलं धर्मचारिणः || ३-१-१६
16. tataH = then; paavaka upamaa = sacred fire, similar to; mahaabhaagaa = august ones; te dharma chaariNaH = they, the virtue, practisers -sages; vidhinaa satkR^itya = procedurally, according guestship; raamasya salilam ajahruH = for Rama, water, they fetched.
Then those august sages who are similar to sacred fire in glow have procedurally accorded guestship to Rama, and fetched water for him. [3-1-17]
मङ्गलानि प्रयुञ्जना मुदा परमया युताः |
मूलं पुष्पं फलं सर्वमाश्रमं च महात्मनः || ३-१-१७
निवेदयित्वा ध्र्मज्ञास्ते तु प्राञ्जलयोऽब्रुवन् |
17-18a. mangalaani prayu~njaanaa = Vedic Blessings, chanting; te tu = they, but; dharmaj~naH = virtuous ones; paramayaa mudaa yutaa = with great, delightedness, having; muulam puShpam phalam = tubers, flowers, fruits; sarvam aashramam ca = entire, the hermitage, too; mahaatmanaH = to that great soul Rama; nivedayitvaa = on offering; praa~njalaH abruvan = with adjoined palms, spoke.
On sounding out Vedic blessings those virtuous sages have offered flowers, fruits and tubers, and even the entire hermitage to that great soul Rama, and then with their palms adjoined. [3-1-17-18a]
धर्मपालो जनस्यास्य शरण्यश्च महायशाः || ३-१-१८
पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च राजा दण्डधरो गुरुः |
18b-19a. raajaa mahaa yashaaH = king is, with great renown; asya janasya dharma paalaH = this, people's, righteousness, ruler of; sharaNyaH ca = protector, also; maanyaH cha = respectable one, also; pujaniiyaH cha = adorable one, also; danDa dharaH = stick [sceptre,] wielding one; guruH = revered one.
"The king will have great renown for he is the ruler of the righteousness of these people, a protector, a respectable and adorable one, and as he wields the sceptre of justice, he is a revered one too... [3-1-18-19a]
इन्द्रस्यव चतुर्भागः प्रजा रक्षति राघव || ३-१-१९
राजा तस्माद् वरान् भोगान् रम्यान् भुङ्कै नम |
19b-20a. raaghava = oh, Raghava; indrasya eva chatur bhaaga = Indra's, thus, fourth, part; prajaa rakshati = people, protecting; raajaa tasmaat namaskR^itaH = king, thereby, hailed; varaan ramyaan bhogaan bhunkte = best, delightful, fortune, he enjoys.
"The fourth part of Indra is the protector of people, called the king, and hence Oh! Raghava, the king is hailed, and hence he enjoys best and delightful fortune... [3-1-19b-20a]
Here, Rama may be astonished as to why these forest dwelling sages eulogise him so much. The sages are not using unnecessary conversation and they are informing Rama what a king shall be, whether he is in the capital or in forests. The term Indra is an allusion to the 'Ruler'. It refers to seven more rulers or ruler like associates of Indra, ashta dikpaalaka-s. It is said that:
aShTaabhir loka paalaanaam maatraabhiH nirmito nR^ipaH
A king is made with eight aspects of eight rulers of eight corners of the universe. Viz., indra, vaayu [Air,] yama Death-god suurya Sun, agni Fire, varuNa Rain chandra Moon, and kubera Wealth. When the earth is heading towards anarchy, Brahma is said to have created the king with one fourth of resplendence of each of the eight rulers. Manu Srmriti states as below:
indra anila yama arkam agneshca varuNasya ca |
candra vittesha yoH caiva mtr nirhR^itya shaashvateeH ||
Manu smriti also prescribes certain rules for the king called Vrata. Indra accords rains for four months to sprout the seeds, so the king shall sprout the people's hopes. Sun evaporates earthly water slowly and insignificantly so as to give the next rain, so the king shall collect taxes and spend them again for the welfare of people suurya vrata . Air pervades everywhere to enliven people, so the king shall pervade everywhere through his agents to watch out good and evil for his subjects maaruta vrata . Yama, the God of Time, has no friends or foes and ends the lives of any one at the end of their time, and so shall the king in according punishments yama vrata . Rain binds one and all and it is the livelihood of any living being, so is king to bind his subjects for a good livelihood varuNa vrata . Moon is both a pleasant one and presiding deity for medicinal herbs, so shall the king be pleasant to his people and keep their health chandra vrata . Fire is fiery and burns down evil and the king shall be fiery to his enemies, either internal or external aagneya vrata . The earthly earth sustains scholars and stupid, wealthy and poor, prosperous and pathetic alike, so shall the king bear with all of his subjects pR^ithvii vrata
ते वयं भवता रक्ष्या भवद्विषयवासिनः |
नगरस्थो वनस्थोवा त्वं नो राजा जनेश्वरः || ३-१-२०
20b-c. bahavat vishaya vaasinaH = your, in kingdom, dwellers; te vayam = they, what we are; bhavataa rakshyaa = by you, to be protected; tvam = you; nagarashtaH vaa vanasthaH = be in the capital, either, be in forests; naH raajaa = you are, our, king; jana iishvara = of people.
"You alone have to protect us as we are the subjects living in your kingdom..May you be in the capital... or in the forest...you are our king... [3-1-20b,c]
न्यस्तदण्डा वयं राजञ्जितक्रोधा जित्रेन्द्रियाः |
रक्षणीयास्त्वया श्श्वद्गर्भभूतास्तपोधनाः || ३-१-२१
21. vayam = we are; nyasta danDaa = gave up, punishing; raajan = oh! King; jita krodhaa jita indriyaaH = conquered, anger, conquered, senses; tapodhanaaH = ascesis, the only wealth [to us]; rakshaNiiyaaH tvayaa = [we are to be] protected, by you; shashvat garbha bhuuta = [like] foetus, womb, inside.
"We gave-up punishments, either physically or by the power of curses, conquered are our anger and senses, and our ascesis is the only wealth of ours, thus oh! King, we are to be protected by you, like the foetus inside a womb... [3-1-21]
एवमुक्त्वा फलैर्मुलैह् पुष्पैरन्यैश्च राघवम् |
वन्यैश्च विविधाहारैः सलक्ष्मणमपूजयन् || ३-१-२२
22. evam uktvaa = thus, saying; raaghavam = Raghava is; sa lakshmanam = along with, Lakshmana; phalaiH muulaiH puSpaiH anyaiH cha = with fruits, tubers, flowers, and others, also; vanayaiH cha = of forest, also; vividha aahaaraiH = variety of, foods; apuujayan = worshipped.
Thus saying they worshipped Raghava along with Lakshmana, on giving fruits, tubers, flowers and other varieties of forest foods. [3-1-22]
तथान्ये तापसाः सिद्धा रामं वैश्वानरोपमाः |
न्यायवृत्ता यथान्यायं तर्पयामासुरीश्वरम् || ३-१-२३
23. tathaa = thus; vaishvanaraH upamaa = Sacred Fire, similar to [the sages]; anye nyaaya = other, vR^ittaa = virtue, followers; taapasaaH siddhaaH = saints, sages; raamam = to Rama; yathaa nyaayam = as per, the wont of custom; iishvaram = the king is; tarpayaamaasuH = adored.
Thus other saints and sages who are the followers of the virtue, and similar to the Sacred Fire adored Rama, the king, according to the wont of custom. [3-1-23]
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इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे प्रथमः सर्गः
© 1998, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised: March, 04]