Rama, after due reflection, decides to leave Chitrakuta mountain because of many handicaps. Setting out his journey from Chitrakuta mountain, he reaches the hermitage of Sage Atri and offers his salutation to him. Introducing his wife Anansuya as a great female ascetic to Rama, Atri urges Rama to send his concert Seetha to Anasuya. Anasuya receives Seetha, who greeted her and gives her instructions on the role and responsibilities of a devoted wife.
rāghavaḥ tu apayāteṣu tapasviṣu vicintayan |
na tatra arocayad vāsam kāraṇair bahubhiḥ tadā || 2-117-1
1. atha = thereafter; tapasviSu = (When) the sages; yaateSu = departed; raaghavastu = Rama; tadaa = then; vichintayan = reflecting again and again; naarochayat = found no pleasure; vaasam = to remain; tatra = in that place; bahubhiH = for many; kaaraNariH = reasons.
Thereafter, when the sages departed, Rama, reflecting again and again, found no pleasure to remain in that place for many reasons.
iha me bharato dṛṣṭo mātaraḥ ca sanāgarāḥ |
sā ca me smṛtir anveti tān nityam anuśocataḥ || 2-117-2
2. iha = It is here; bharataH = (that) Bharata; maatarashcha = my mother; sanaagaraaH = along with the inhabitants of the city; dR^iSTaH = visited; me = me; saa smR^itiH cha = that memory; anveti = haunts; me = me; anushochataH = who lament; taan = for them; nityam = daily.
"It is here that Bharata, my mother along with the inhabitants of the city visited me. That memory haunts me, who lament for them daily."
skandha āvāra niveśena tena tasya mahātmanaḥ |
haya hasti karīṣaiḥ ca upamardaḥ kṛto bhṛśam || 2-117-3
3. haya hastikariiSaishcha = the dry dung of horses and elephants; tasya mahaatmanaH = of that high-souled Bharata's; skandaavaaraniveshena = encamped army; kR^itaH = caused; bhR^isham = much; upamardaH = spoliation.
"The dry dung of horses and elephants of that high souled Bharata's encamped army caused much spoliation (around here)."
tasmād anyatra gagcchāma iti saṃcintya rāghavaḥ |
prātiṣṭhata sa vaidehyā lakṣmaṇena ca samgataḥ || 2-117-4
4. gachchhaamaH = "We shall move"; tasmaat = therefore; anyatra = else where"; iti = thus; samchintya = pondering; saH raaghavaH = that Rama; sangataH = along with; vaidihyaaH = Seetha; lakSmaNena = and Lakshmana; pratiSThata = left (that place)
"We shall, therefore, move elsewhere", pondering thus, Rama along with Seetha and Lakshmana left that place.
so atrer āśramam āsādya tam vavande mahā yaśāḥ |
tam ca api bhagavān atriḥ putravat pratyapadyata || 2-117-5
5. aasaadya = reaching; aashramam = the hermitage; atreH = of Atri; a sage; saH raamaH = that Rama; mahaayashaaH = the highly celebrated; vavande = offered bhagavaan = the venerable; atriH api = Atri also; pratyapadyata = received; tam = his; putravat = as his own son.
On the way, after reaching the hermitage of a sage called Atri, the highly celebrated Rama offered salutation to that sage. The venerable sage, Atri too received him as his own son.
svayam ātithyam ādiśya sarvam asya susatkṛtam |
saumitrim ca mahā bhāgām sītām ca samasāntvayat || 2-117-6
6. aadishya = offering; svayam = personally; sarvam = abundant; aatithyam = hospitality; susatkR^itam = with full honours; asya = to Rama; samasaantvayat = (he) rendered equal honour; saumitramcha = to Lakshmana; mahaabhaagaam = and the highly blessed; siitaamcha = Seetha too.
Offering personally, abundant hospitality with full honours to Rama, the sage Atri rendered equal honour to Lakshmana and the highly blessed Seetha too.
patnīm ca tam anuprāptām vṛddhām āmantrya satkṛtām |
sāntvayām āsa dharmajnaḥ sarva bhūta hite rataḥ || 2-117-7
7. dharmajJNaH = (Atri) who knew righteousness; ratiH = and who was interested; sarva bhuuta hite = in the welfare of all beings; aamantrya = called vR^iddhaam = patriimcha = his aged wife; (Anasuya) samanupraaptaam = who had just come there; satkR^itaam = she; who was revered by all; saantvayaamaasca = and addressed gently to her.
Atri, who knew righteousness and who was interested in the welfare of all beings, called his aged wife Anasuya who had just come there, she who was revered by all and addressed gently to her.
anasūyām mahā bhāgām tāpasīm dharma cāriṇīm |
pratigṛhṇīṣva vaidehīm abravīd ṛṣi sattamaḥ || 2-117-8
rāmāya ca ācacakṣe tām tāpasīm dharma cāriṇīm |
8. R^iSisattamaH = Atri; the excellent sage; abraviit = spoke; anasuuyaam = to Anasuya; mahaabhaayaam = the fortunate one; taapasiim = rich in asceticism; dharma chaariNiim = and who lived a pious life; (saying); pratigR^ihNiiSva = you welcome; vaidehiim = Videha's daughter! aachachakSecha = and related the story; dharmachaariNiim = of that virtuous; taam taapasiim = female ascetic; raamaaya = to Rama (as follows)
Atri excellent sage spoke to the illustrious Anasuya, rich in asceticism and who lived a pious life, saying "You welcome Videha's daughter!" and thereafter introduced that virtuous female ascetic to Rama (as follows):
daśa varṣāṇy anāvṛṣṭyā dagdhe loke nirantaram || 2-117-9
yayā mūla phale sṛṣṭe jāhnavī ca pravartitā |
ugreṇa tapasā yuktā niyamaiḥ ca apy alamkṛtā || 2-117-10
daśa varṣa sahasrāṇi yayā taptam mahat tapaḥ |
anasūyā vrataiḥ tāta pratyūhāḥ ca nibarhitāḥ || 2-117-11
deva kārya nimittam ca yayā samtvaramāṇayā |
daśa rātram kṛtvā rātriḥ sā iyam mātā iva te anagha || 2-117-12
9; 10; 11; 12. anagha = O; Irreproachable!; loke = (when) the earth; dagdhe = was burnt up; anaavR^iSTyaa = by drought; niramtaram = without break; dashavarSaaNi = over a period of ten years; yayera = this virtuous woman; sR^iSTe = produced; muula phale = fruit and roots; jaahnaviicha = caused the River Jahnavi; pravartitaa = to flow here; yuktaa = undergoing; ugreNa = a right; tapasaa = mortification; alaNkR^itaa = enriched; niya maishchaapi = by pious observances; yayaa = by whom; mahat = the most severe; tapaH = asceticism; taptam = was practised; dashavarSa sahasraaNi = for ten thousand years; pratyuuhaaH = and obstacles; nivartitaaH = were done away with; yayaa = and by whom; deva kaaryanimittam = for the reason of a divine command; santvaramaaNayaa = in a great hurry; desharaatram = ten nightes; kR^itaa = were reduced; raatriH = to one night;* saa = she; iyam anasuuyaa = this Anasuya; vrataiH snaataa = the one who has bathed after completion of the voes; maateva = is like a mother; te = to you.
"O, Irreproachable Rama! When the earth was burnt up by drought without break for ten years, this virtuous woman produced fruit and roots, caused the River Jahnavi to flow here, undergoing a rigid mortification enriched by pious observances, by whom the most severe asceticism was practised for ten thousand years and obstacles were done away with and by whom for the reason of a divine command, in a great hurry ten nights were reduced to one night.* This Anasuya, who has bathed after completion of the voes, is like a mother to you."
*We read in Puranas how sage Mandavya once pronounced a curse against a hermitess, Sandili by name, who was a friend of Anasuya that she would be widowed one morning within the next ten days. The hermitess in her turn pronounced a counter-curse saying that there would be no dawn any more. Alarmed at this, gods approached Anasuya, who by virtue of her asceticism converted the period of ten nights into one and in this way averted the death of the hermittess, husband and accomplished the purpose of gods.
tām imām sarva bhūtānām namaḥ kāryām yaśasvinīm |
abhigagcchatu vaidehī vṛddhām akrodhanām sadā || 2-117-13
13. vaidehii = (Let) Seetha; abhigachchhatu = find refuge; taam = with such; imaam = this ascetic; namaskaaryaam = who is revered; sarva bhuutaanaam = by all the beings; yashasviniim = famous as she is vR^iddhaam = (and though) old; sadaa = is ever; akrodhanaam = free from anger.
"Let Seetha find refuge with that ascetic, who is revered by all the beings, famous as she is and though old is ever free from anger."
evam bruvāṇam tam ṛṣim tathā ity uktvā sa rāghavaḥ |
sītām uvāca dharmajnām idam vacanam uttamam || 2-117-14
14. saH raaghavaH = that Rama; uktvaa = saying; tatheti = "Be it so"; tam R^iSim = to that sage; evam = thus; bruvaaNam = spoken; uvaacha = and spoke; dharmajJNaam = to the virtuous; siitaam = Seetha; idam = these; uttamam = excellent; vachanam = words.
Saying "Be it so" to the aforesaid sage, who was speaking thus, Rama spoke to the virtuous Seetha, the following excellent words:
rāja putri śrutam tu etan muner asya samīritam |
śreyo artham ātmanaḥ śīghram abhigagccha tapasvinīm || 2-117-15
15. raaja putri = O; princess!; shrutam = you have heard; idam samiiritam = these words; asya muneH = of this sage; aatmanaH = for your own; shreyaH artham = good; shiighram = quickly; abhigachchha = approach; tapasviniim = the saintly Anasuya.
"O, princess! You have heard what the sage has said. For your own good, approach the saintly Anasuya without delay."
sītā tu etad vacaḥ śrutvā rāghavasya hita eṣiṇī |
tām atri patnīm dharmajnām abhicakrāma maithilī || 2-117-16
16. shrutvaa = hearing; etadvachaH = these words; raaghavasya = of Rama; hitaiSiNaH = who is desirous of her welfare; siitaatu = Seetha; maithilii = the daughter of Mithila; abhichakraama = circumambulated; taam = that; atripatniim = Anasuya; Atri's wife; dharmajJNaam = who knows piety.
Hearing these words of Rama, who is desirous of her welfare, Seetha the daughter of Mithila circumambulated around Anasuya, Atri's wife, who knows piety.
śithilām valitām vṛddhām jarā pāṇḍura mūrdhajām |
satatam vepamāna angīm pravāte kadalī yathā || 2-117-17
tām tu sītā mahā bhāgām anasūyām pati vratām |
abhyavādayad avyagrā svam nāma samudāharat || 2-117-18
17; 18. siita = Seetha; avyagraa = coolly; abhyavaadayat = reverently paid homage; taam mahaabhaagaam = to that fortunate; anasuuyaam = Anasuya; pativrataa = a devoted and virtuous wife; shithilaam = who was feeble; palitaam = wrinkled; vR^iddhaam = aged; jaraapaaNDuramuurdhajaam = with her hair turned grey due to old age; vepamaanaaNgiim = and whose frame shook; satatam = constantly; kadaliim yathaa = like a banana tree; pravaate = in a strom; samudaaharat = (Seetha) told; (to Anasuya).
Seetha coolly and reverently paid homage to that fortunate Anasuya, a devoted and virtuous wife, who was feeble, wrinkled, aged, with her hair turned grey due to old age, and whose frame constantly shook like a banana tree in a storm. Seetha introduced herself, by announcing her name to Anasuya.
abhivādya ca vaidehī tāpasīm tām aninditām |
baddha anjali puṭā hṛṣṭā paryapṛgcchad anāmayam || 2-117-19
19. abhivaadya = Saluting; aninditaam = the irreproachable; taam taapasiim = (that) ascetic; vaidehii = Seetha; baddhaajJNalipuTaa = with joined palms; hR^iSTaa = and rejoiced; paryapR^ichchhat = enquired; anaamayam = about her well-being.
Saluting the irreproachable ascetic the rejoiced Seetha with joined palms enquired about he well-being.
tataḥ sītām mahā bhāgām dṛṣṭvā tām dharma cāriṇīm |
sāntvayanty abravīdd hṛṣṭā diṣṭyā dharmam avekṣase || 2-117-20
20. tataH = then; saantvayantii = comforting; taam mahaabhaagaam = that celebrated; siitaam = Seetha; dharmachariNiim = engaged in righteous acts; (Anasuya); hR^iSTaa = rejoicingly; abraviit = spoke (as follows); avekSase = you are attending; dharmam = to righteousness; diSTyaa = luckily enough.
Then, comforting that celebrated Seetha, engaged in righteous acts, Anasuya rejoicingly spoke as follows: "Luckily enough, you are attending to righteousness."
tyaktvā jnāti janam sīte mānam ṛddhim ca mānini |
avaruddham vane rāmam diṣṭyā tvam anugagcchasi || 2-117-21
21. siite = O; Seetha; bhaamini = the beautiful lady!; diSTyaa = thank heaven!; tyaktvaa = Leaving; jJNaatijanam = your relatives; maanam = the honour; R^iddhimcha = and prosperity; anugachchhasi = you are accompanying; raamam = Rama; avaruddham = who is expelled vane = into a forest.
"O, Seetha the beautiful lady! Thank heaven! Leaving your relatives, honour and prosperity, you are accompanying Rama, who is expelled into a forest."
nagarastho vanastho vā pāpo vā yadi vā aśubhaḥ |
yāsām strīṇām priyo bhartā tāsām lokā mahā udayāḥ || 2-117-22
22. yaasaam = to which; striiNaam = women; bhartaa = their husband; nagarasthaH = whether lives in a city; vanasthovaa = or in a forest; paapovaa = whether he is sinful; yadi vaa = or; shubhaH = virtuous; priyaH = (he is) dear (to her); taasaam = to them; (are obtained) mahodayaaH = greatly fortunate; lokaaH = words.
"Highly fortunate worlds await those women, await those women, to whom their husband is dear no matter whether he lives in a city or in a forest; whether he is sinful or virtuous."
duhśīlaḥ kāma vṛtto vā dhanair vā parivarjitaḥ |
strīṇām ārya svabhāvānām paramam daivatam patiḥ || 2-117-23
23. striiNaam = to women; aaryasvabhaavaanaam = of noble nature; patiH = husband; paramam = is the hightest daivatam = deity; duSiilaH = whether he is ill-behaved; kaama vR^ittovaa = or licentious; parivarjitovaa = or devoid of; dhanaiH = riches.
"To women of noble nature, the husband is the highest deity no mater whether he is ill-behaved or licentious or devoid of riches."
na ato viśiṣṭam paśyāmi bāndhavam vimṛśanty aham |
sarvatra yogyam vaidehi tapaḥ kṛtam iva avyayam || 2-117-24
24. vaidehi = O; Seetha!; vimR^ishantii = On a reflection; na pashyaami = I perceive; na = none; vishiSTam = who is a better; baandhavam = friend; ataH = than a husband; yogyam = who protects his wife; sarvatra = in all circumstances; avyayam iva = like the imperishable fruit; kR^itam = accomplished; tapaH = of one's austerities.
"O, Seetha! On a reflection, I perceive none who is a better friend than a husband, who protects his wife in all circumstances, like the imperishable fruit of one's austerities."
na tu evam avagagcchanti guṇa doṣam asat striyaḥ |
kāma vaktavya hṛdayā bhartṛ nāthāḥ caranti yāḥ || 2-117-25
25. yaaH = those women; kaama vaktavya hR^idayaaH = whose hearts follow their passions; charanti = and; conduct themselves; bhartR^inaathaaH = dominating their husbands; aststriyaH = such evil women; na avagachchhanti = having no understanding; guNa doSam = of virtue and vice; evam = (do not follow him) in the aforesaid manner.
"Those evil women, whose hearts follow their passions and conduct themselves dominating their husband, having no understanding of virtue and vice, do not follow him in the aforesaid manner."
prāpnuvanty ayaśaḥ caiva dharma bhraṃśam ca maithili |
akārya vaśam āpannāḥ striyo yāḥ khalu tad vidhāḥ || 2-117-26
26. maithili = O; Seetha!; khalu = Indeed; yaaH striyaH = those women; aapannaH = who get into akaarya vasham = an improper act of authority; tadvidhaaH = in the aforesaid manner; praapnuvanti = reap; ayashashcha = infamy; dharma bhramsham = and decline of righteousness.
"O, Seetha! Surely, those evil women, who get into an improper act of authority over their husbands reap infamy and decline in righteousness."
tvad vidhāḥ tu guṇair yuktā dṛṣṭa loka para avarāḥ |
striyaḥ svarge cariṣyanti yathā puṇya kṛtaḥ tathā || 2-117-27
27. striyastu = women; tvadvidhaaH = like you; yuktaaH = who are endowed; guNaiH = with virtues; dR^iSTa loka paraaparaaH = who look with detachment on prosperity and adversity in this world; yathaa tathaa = therefore; chariSyanti = dwell; svarge = in heaven; yathaa = as; dharmakR^itaH = those who performed meritorious deeds.
"Women, like you, on the other hand who are endowed with virtues, who look with detachment on prosperity and adversity in this world, therefore dwell in heaven as those who performed meritorious deeds."
tadevamenam tvamanucratā satī |
pativratānām samayānuvartinī |
bhava svabhartuḥ sahadharmacāriṇī |
yaśśca dharmam ca tataḥ samāpsyasi || 2-117-28
28. tat = thus; anuvrataa satii = devoted; enam = to your lord; pativrataanaam = loyal to your hasband; samayaanuvartinii = following established rules; tvam = you; bhava = become; saha dharmachaariNii = an honest wife; svabhartuH = to your husbandtataH = and thereby; samaapsyasi = obtain; yashashcha = renown; dharmam = and merit.
"Thus devoted to your lord, loyal to your husband, following established rules, you become an honest wife to your husband and obtain merit and renown."
- - -
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe saptadaśottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ
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© September 2005, K. M. K. Murthy
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