Rama notices anxiety and perturbation among the sages who live in the vicinity. When an elderly sage among them is asked by Rama about the reason for their anguish, the said sage informs that some demons under the leadership of Khara are molesting the sages and hence the sages wished to leave the place. Rama gives his consent for their leaving. Bidding farewell to them with great respect, Rama retires to his own hermitage.
pratiprayāte bharate vasan rāmaḥ tapo vane |
lakṣayām āsa sa udvegam atha autsukyam tapasvinām || 2-116-1
1. bharate = Bharata; pratiprayaate = having returned; raamaH = Rama; tapovane = who was dwelling in the woods; atha = then; lakSayaamaasa = observed; sodvegam = the anxiety; tapasvinaam = of the sages; outsukyam = and their perturbation.
Bharata having returned (to Ayodhya), Rama who was dwelling in the woods, observed anxiety accompanied by perturbation among the sages.
ye tatra citra kūṭasya purastāt tāpasa āśrame |
rāmam āśritya niratāḥ tān alakṣayad utsukān || 2-116-2
2. alakSayat = (He) saw; tatara = there; taam = those ascetics; purastaat = who were formerly; nirataah = quite pleased; taapasaashrame = at Chitrakuta; aashritya = depending as they did; raamam = on Rama; utsukaan = anxious.
He saw there those ascetics-who were formerly quite pleased in that hermitage at Chitrakuta depending as they did on Rama- anxious.
nayanair bhṛkuṭībhiḥ ca rāmam nirdiśya śankitāḥ |
anyonyam upajalpantaḥ śanaiḥ cakrur mithaḥ kathāḥ || 2-116-3
3. nirdishya = pointing out; raamam = to Rama; nayanaiH = (through the movements) of their eyes; bhR^ikuTiibhishcha = and eye-brows; shankitaah = minifesting their anxiety; upajalpantaH = whispering; shanaiH = slowly; anyonyam = among one another; chakruH = and framing; kathaaH = legends; mithaH = in secret.
Pointing out to Rama through the movements of their eyes and eye-brows manifesting their anxiety, they whispered among themselves, narrating some legends in secret.
teṣām autsukyam ālakṣya rāmaḥ tu ātmani śankitaḥ |
kṛta anjalir uvāca idam ṛṣim kula patim tataḥ || 2-116-4
4. alakSya = perceiving; teSaam = their; outsukyam = distress; raamastu = Rama; tataH = then; shaNkitaH = was filled with apprechension; svaatmani = about himself; kR^itaajJNaliH = and with joined palms; uvaacha = spoke; idam = these words; R^iSim = to a sage; kulapatim = the leader of that community of ascetics (as follows):
Perceiving their distress, Rama was filled with apprehension about himself and with joined palms spoke the following words to a sage, the leader of that community of ascetics:
na kaccid bhagavan kiṃcit pūrva vṛttam idam mayi |
dṛśyate vikṛtam yena vikriyante tapasvinaḥ || 2-116-5
5. bhagavat = O venerable sage!; (I fear) puurva vR^ittam; the conduct of my forefathers; mayi = is in me; kimchit = or any; idam = this; kashchit = some; vikR^itam = change; nadR^ishyate = is not seen; yena = due to which; tapasvinaH = the ascetics; vikriyante = feel agitated.
"O venerable sage! I fear that the conduct of my forefathers is not seen in me or there is some change for the worse in me, due to which the ascetics feel agitated."
pramādāc caritam kaccit kiṃcin na avarajasya me |
lakṣmaṇasya ṛṣibhir dṛṣṭam na anurūpam iva ātmanaḥ || 2-116-6
6. ye avarajasya = has my younger brother; lakSmaNasya = Lakshmana; aatmanaH = the high-souled; pramaadaat = through inadvertence; charitam = behaved; naanuruupam = unworthy of him; na dR^iSTam kashchit = I hope it is not seen; R^iSibhiH = by the sages.
"Has my younger brother, the high-souled Lakshmana, through inadvertence, behaved unworthy of him while the sages were seeing?"
kaccit śuśrūṣamāṇā vaḥ śuśrūṣaṇa parā mayi |
pramadā abhyucitām vṛttim sītā yuktam na vartate || 2-116-7
7. kachhit = I hope that; siitaa = Seetha; shushruuSamaaNaa = who is serving; vaH = you; shushruuSaNaparaa = and who is keen in serving; mayi = me; na vartate = has not behaved; yuktam = properly; vR^ittim = according to the conduct; pramadaabhyamchitaam = suitable for women.
"I hope that Seetha, who is serving you and who is keen in serving me, does not, I am afraid, behaved properly, according to the conduct suitable for women."
atha ṛṣir jarayā vṛddhaḥ tapasā ca jarām gataḥ |
vepamāna iva uvāca rāmam bhūta dayā param || 2-116-8
8. atha = then; R^iSiH = the sage; vR^iddhaH = a grown-up man; gataH = and who got; jaraam = old age; tapasaacha = also by penance; vepamaana iva = appeared trembling; uvaacha = and spoke; raamam = to Rama; bhuutadayaaparam = who was ever compassionate to all beings.
Then, that grown-up sage, who was elderly both by age and penance, appeared trembling and spoke to Rama, who was ever compassionate to all beings, as follows:
kutaḥ kalyāṇa sattvāyāḥ kalyāṇa abhirateḥ tathā |
calanam tāta vaidehyāḥ tapasviṣu viśeṣataḥ || 2-116-9
9. taata = O; dear Rama; kutaH = what is there; tapasviSu = for us the ascetics; chalanam = to fear; visheSataH = above all; vaidehyaaH = from Seetha; kalyaaNa sattvaayaaH = who is natural in her disposition; tathaa = and ; kalyaaNaabhirateH = follower of virtue.
"O, dear Rama! What is there for us the ascetics to fear above all from Seetha, who is natural in her disposition and is the follower of virtue?"
tvan nimittam idam tāvat tāpasān prati vartate |
rakṣobhyaḥ tena samvignāḥ kathayanti mithaḥ kathāḥ || 2-116-10
10. rakSobhyaH = It is on account of demons; (who); tvannimittam = through enmity to you; prativartate taavate = have begun to oppress; taapasaan prati = the sages; tena = and by which samvigraaH = fear has arisen; kathayanti = they discuss; mithaH = with each other; kathaaH = how (they may best defend themselves)
"It is on account of demons, who, through enmity to you, have begun to oppress the sages. Alarmed by it, they discuss with each other how they can best defend themselves."
rāvaṇa avarajaḥ kaścit kharo nāma iha rākṣasaḥ |
utpāṭya tāpasān sarvān jana sthāna niketanān || 2-116-11
dhṛṣṭaḥ ca jita kāśī ca nṛśaṃsaḥ puruṣa adakaḥ |
avaliptaḥ ca pāpaḥ ca tvām ca tāta na mṛṣyate || 2-116-12
11; 12. taataH = O; darling!; iha = here; raakSasaH = a demon; kharonaama = called Khara; raavaNaavarajaH = Ravana's younger brother; utpaaTya = having uprooted; sarvaan = all; taapasaan = the ascetics; janasthaananiketa = who dwell in Janasthana; dhR^iSTashcha = and who is a boaster; jitakaashiicha = victorious in battle; nR^ishamsaH = cruel; puruSaadakaH = an eater of human flesh; avaliptashcha = haughty; paapashcha = and sinful; na mR^iSyate = is unable to endure; tvaam cha = you also.
"O, darling! Here, a demon called Khara, Ravana's younger brother- who is a boaster, victorious in battle, cruel and eater of human flesh, haughty and sinful-having uprooted all the ascetics who dwell in Janasthana, is unable to endure you also."
tvam yadā prabhṛti hy asminn āśrame tāta vartase |
tadā prabhṛti rakṣāṃsi viprakurvanti tāpasān || 2-116-13
13. taata = My darling! yadaa = prabhR^iti = from which time; tvam = you; vartase = came to dwell; asmin aashrame = in this hermitage; tadaa prabhR^iti = from that time onwards; rakSaamsi = the demons; viprakurvanti = continue to ill-treat; taapasaan = the ascetics.
"My darling! From which time you came to dwell in this hermitage, from that time inwards, the demons continue to ill-treat the ascetics."
darśayanti hi bībhatsaiḥ krūrair bhīṣaṇakair api |
nānā rūpair virūpaiḥ ca rūpair asukha darśanaiḥ || 2-116-14
14. darshayanti = (They) appear; bhiibhatsaiH = in grotesque; kruuraiH = and harmful; ruupaiH = forms; bhiiSaNakairapi = fillign them with terror; naanaaruupaiH = in diverse forms; viruupaishcha = (having) ugly; vikR^ita darshanaiH = and unnatural demeanor.
"They appear in grotesque and harmful forms, filling them with terror, in diverse forms and possessing ugly and unnatural demeanor."
apraśastair aśucibhiḥ samprayojya ca tāpasān |
pratighnanty aparān kṣipram anāryāḥ purataḥ sthitaḥ || 2-116-15
15. samprajyojya = flinging; aprashastaiH = filthy; ashuchibhiH = and inauspicious objects; taapasaan = on some of the ascetics; anaaryaaH = these wicked demons; sthitaaH = stand; purataH = in front of them; pratighnanti = and kill; aparaan = some ascetics.
"Flinging filthy and inauspicious objects on some of the ascetics, the wicked demons stand in front of them and kill some ascetics too."
teṣu teṣu āśramasthāneṣu abuddham avalīya ca |
ramante tāpasāmḥ tatra nāśayanto alpa cetasaḥ || 2-116-16
16. avaliiyacha = hiding themselves; teSu teSu = in those; aashramasthaaneSu = hermitages; abuddham = unnoticed; alpachetanaH = those evil-minded demons; ramante = delight; naashayantaH = in destroying; taapasaan = the ascetics; tatra = there.
"Having themselves in those hermitages unnoticed, those evil-minded demons delight themselves in destroying the ascetics there."
apakṣipanti srug bhāṇḍān agnīn sincanti vāriṇā |
kalaśāmḥ ca pramṛdnanti havane samupasthite || 2-116-17
17. havane = (While) a sacrifice; samupasthite = is undertaken; avakSipanti = (they) scatter; srugbaaNDaan = sacrificial vessels; siNchanti = sprinkle; agniin = the fires; vaariNaa = with water; pramattnanti = and break; kalashaamshcha = the water-pots.
"At the time of pouring oblations into the sacred fire, they scatter the sacrificial vessels, sprinkle the fires with water and break the water-pots."
tair durātmabhir āviṣṭān āśramān prajihāsavaḥ |
gamanāya anya deśasya codayanty ṛṣayo adya mām || 2-116-18
18. prajihaasavaH = resolved to leave; aashramaan = these retreats; aamR^iSTaan = that have been invaded; taiH = by them; duraatmabhiH = the evil spirits; R^iSayaH = the ascetics; adya = today; chodayanti = are urging; maam = me; gamanaaya = to go; anyadeshaya = to another area.
"Resolved to leave these retreats that have been invaded by evil spirits, the ascetics today are urging me to go to another area."
tat purā rāma śārīrām upahiṃsām tapasviṣu |
darśayati hi duṣṭāḥ te tyakṣyāma imam āśramam || 2-116-19
19. raama = O; Rama!; puraa = before; te duSTaaH = those wicked being; darshayanti hi = indeed show; shaariiraam = bodily; upahimsaam = injury; tapasvishuu = to the ascetics; tyakSyaamaH = we are abandoning; imam aashramam = this hermitage; tat = for that reason.
"O, Rama! Before those wicked beings indeed show bodily injury to the ascetics, we are abandoning this hermitage."
bahu mūla phalam citram avidūrād ito vanam |
purāṇa āśramam eva aham śrayiṣye sagaṇaḥ punaḥ || 2-116-20
20. aviduuraat = not far; itaH = from here; chitram vanam = there is a colourful grove; bahumuulaphalam = having many roots and fruits; aham = I; shrayiSye = will take shelter; punaH = again; puraaNaashramameva = in that previous hermitage itself; sagaNaH = along with an assembly of sages.
"Not far from here, there is a colourful grove yielding many roots and fruits. I will take shelter again in that previous hermitage itself, along with an assembly of sages."
kharaḥ tvayy api ca ayuktam purā tāta pravartate |
saha asmābhir ito gagccha yadi buddhiḥ pravartate || 2-116-21
21. taata = O; darling!; kharaH = Khara; (the demon); puraa pravantate = will behave; tvayyapicha = in your case also; ayuktam = unjustly; buddhiH yadi = If your intellect; pravartate = is agreeable; gachchha = come; asmaabhiH saha = along with us; itaH = form here.
"O, darling! Khara, the demon will behave unjustly with you in the same way. If your mind feels so inclined, come along with us from here."
sakalatrasya saṃdeho nityam yat tasya rāghava |
samarthasya api hi sato vāso duhkha iha adya te || 2-116-22
22. raaghava = O; Rama!; te = to you; sakalatrasya = who are with your wife; samarthasyaapi hi sataH = though competent; nityam = and ever; yattasya = watchful; sandehaH = there is a danger; vaasaH = your stag; iha = here; adya = is now; duHkham = difficult.
"O, Rama! To you, who live with your wife, though you are competent and ever watchful, there is a danger. Your stay here is conduced with misery now."
ity uktavantam rāmaḥ tam rāja putraḥ tapasvinam |
na śaśāka uttarair vākyair avaroddhum samutsukam || 2-116-23
23. raamaH = Rama; raajaputram = the prince; na shashaaka = could not; avabandhum = desist; tam tapasvinam = that sage; samutsukam = and eager; uttaraiH = by responsive; vaakyaiH = words.
Rama the prince could not with his responsive words desist the said sage when he had spoken as aforesaid, eager as he was to leave the place.
abhinandya samāpṛgcchya samādhāya ca rāghavam |
sa jagāma āśramam tyaktvā kulaiḥ kula patiḥ saha || 2-116-24
24. saH kulapati = that leader of the community; abhinandya = having greeted; samaapR^ichchhya = bade farewell; samaadhaaya = and justified his statement; raaghavam = to Rama; jagaama = went; tyaktvaa = leaving; aashramam = the hermitage; kulaissaha = along with a company of sages.
Having greeted, bidding farewell and justifying his statement to Rama, that leader of the community departed, leaving the hermitage, along with a host of sages.
rāmaḥ saṃsādhya tu ṛṣi gaṇam anugamanā |
deśāt tasmāccit kula patim abhivādya ṛṣim |
samyak prītaiḥ tair anumata upadiṣṭa arthaḥ |
puṇyam vāsāya sva nilayam upasampede || 2-116-25
25. anugamanaat = accompanying them for a distance; tasmaat deshaat = from that place; samsaadhya = bidding farewell; R^iSigaNam = to that group of sages; abhivaadya = offering salutation; R^iSim = to that ascetic; kulapatim = the leader of the community; anumataH = and taking leave; taiH = of them; samyak = who were well; priitaiH = pleased; upadiSTaarthaH = and having received their counsel; raamaH = Rama; upasampade = reached; svam nilayam = his own home; puNyam = which was sacred; vaasaaya = to reside.
Accompanying them for a distance from that place, bidding farewell to that group of sages, offering his salutation to that ascetic, the leader of the community and taking leave of them, who were well-pleased and having received their counsel, Rama returned to his dwelling, which was sacred to reside.
āśramam tu ṛṣi virahitam prabhuḥ |
kṣaṇam api na jahau sa rāghavaḥ |
rāghavam hi satatam anugatāḥ |
stāpasāḥ ca ṛṣi carita dhṛta guṇāḥ || 2-116-26
26. saH raaghavaH = that Rama; prabhuH = the lord; na jahau = did not leave; kSaNampai = even for a moment; aashramam = that hermitage (that had been deserted by the sages); taapasaashcha = but some ascetics among them; dhR^itaguNaaH = who had fixed their mind; raaghavam = on Rama; aarSacharite = who followed the conduct of the sages; satatam = constantly; anugataaH hi = followed Rama.
That Rama, the lord, did not leave even for a moment that hermitage that had been deserted by the sages. But some ascetics among them who had fixed their mind on Rama (who followed the conduct of the sages) constantly followed Rama.
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ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe ṣoḍaśottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ
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© September 2005, K. M. K. Murthy