दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka (Dharma of Refuge)
आरण्यकाण्ड
This sarga is structured as an ethical dialogue framed by Sītā’s bhartṛ-bhakti and Rāma’s dharma-niṣṭhā. Rāma first acknowledges Sītā’s affectionate admonition as befitting her lineage and her role as sadharma-cāriṇī. He then articulates the kṣatriya rationale for bearing arms: the bow signifies the prevention of ‘ārta-śabda’—the cry of distress—within society. Rāma recounts how Daṇḍaka’s ascetics personally sought his refuge, describing rākṣasa harassment that targets sacrificial times (homa-kāla) and lunar/ritual observances (parva-kāla), thereby threatening both lives and ritual continuity. The sages affirm that, though empowered by tapas to retaliate, they refuse to dissipate long-earned austerity through violent action or curses, and therefore request protection from Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. Rāma states he promised comprehensive protection and insists that truthfulness (satya) binds him even above personal safety; he would sooner forfeit life than break a pledge made to brāhmaṇas. Concluding, he reassures Sītā of his approval of her counsel and proceeds with Lakṣmaṇa, bow in hand, through the delightful tapo-vanas.
Verse 3.10.1
वाक्यमेतत्तु वैदेह्या व्याहृतं भर्तृभक्तया।श्रुत्वा धर्मे स्थितो रामः प्रत्युवाचाथ मैथिलीम्।।।।
Hearing these words spoken by Vaidehī out of devotion to her husband, Rāma—steadfast in dharma—then replied to Maithilī.
Verse 3.10.2
हितमुक्तं त्वया देवि स्निग्धया सदृशं वचः।कुलं व्यपदिशन्त्या च धर्मज्ञे जनकात्मजे।।।।
O daughter of Janaka, having heard their words in full, I solemnly pledged to protect the sages of the Dandaka forest wholly and without remainder.
Verse 3.10.3
किन्तु वक्ष्याम्यहं देवि त्वयैवोक्तमिदं वचः।क्षत्रियैर्धार्यते चापो नार्तशब्दो भवेदिति।।।।
Your words are fitting and in harmony with your lineage and your own character. You walk with me in dharma; therefore you are dearer to me than my very life.
Verse 3.10.4
ते चार्ता दण्डकारण्ये मुनयस्संशितव्रताः।मां सीते स्वयमागम्य शरण्याश्शरणं गताः।।।।
Having spoken thus to his beloved Sita, the daughter of the king of Mithila, the great-souled Rama—bow in hand—went on with Lakshmana to the lovely forests of ascetic practice.
Verse 3.10.5
वसन्तो धर्मनिरता वने मूलफलाशनाः।न लभन्ते सुखं भीता राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः।।।।
The sages, dwelling in the forest, living on roots and fruits and steadfast in dharma, cannot find happiness—terror-stricken by the rākṣasas whose deeds are cruel.
Verse 3.10.6
काले काले च निरता नियमैर्विविधैर्वने।भक्ष्यन्ते राक्षसैर्भीमैर्नरमांसोपजीविभिः।।।।
Though constantly engaged in varied disciplines and observances in the forest, they are being devoured by dreadful rākṣasas who live by human flesh.
Verse 3.10.7
ते भक्ष्यमाणा मुनयो दण्डकारण्यवासिनः।अस्मानभ्यवपद्येति मामूचुर्द्विजसत्तमा।।।।
Those sages of Daṇḍakāraṇya, being thus preyed upon, the best of the twice-born, said to me: “Come to our rescue; in you we seek refuge.”
Verse 3.10.8
मया तु वचनं श्रुत्वा तेषामेवं मुखाच्च्युतम्।कृत्वा चरणशुश्रूषां वाक्यमेतदुदाहृतम्।।।।
Hearing those words that fell from their lips, I bowed in reverence at their feet and then spoke these words.
Verse 3.10.9
प्रसीदन्तु भवन्तो मे ह्रीरेषा हि ममातुला।यदीदृशैरहं विप्रैरुपस्थेयैरुपस्थितः।।।।
“Be gracious to me, I pray; for immeasurable is my shame that such venerable brāhmaṇa-sages—worthy of my approach—have instead come to approach me.”
Verse 3.10.10
किं करोमीति च मया व्याहृतं द्विजसन्निधौ।सर्वैरेतैस्समागम्य वागियं समुदाहृता।।।।
In the presence of the brāhmaṇas I asked, “What shall I do?” Then all of them, gathering together, spoke this reply with one voice.
Verse 3.10.11
राक्षसैर्दण्डकारण्ये बहुभिः कामरूपिभिः।अर्दितास्स्म दृढं राम भवान्नस्तत्र रक्षतु।।।।
“O Rāma, in the Daṇḍaka forest we are grievously tormented by many rākṣasas who can assume forms at will. Protect us from them.”
Verse 3.10.12
होमकालेषु सम्प्राप्ताः पर्वकालेषु चानघ।धर्षयन्ति सुदुर्धर्षा राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।।।।
“O sinless one, those flesh-eating rākṣasas—hard to resist—arrive at the very times of our homa offerings and on festival or lunar observance days, and they violate and attack us.”
Verse 3.10.13
राक्षसैर्धर्षितानां च तापसानां तपस्विनाम्।गतिं मृगयमाणानां भवान्नः परमा गतिः।।।।
“For us ascetics, harassed by rākṣasas—helpless and seeking refuge—you are our highest shelter.”
Verse 3.10.14
कामं तपःप्रभावेन शक्ता हन्तुं निशाचरान्।चिरार्जितं तु नेच्छामस्तपः खण्डयितुं वयम्।।3.10.14।।
“Indeed, by the power of our austerities we are able to slay the night-roamers; yet we do not wish to shatter the penance we have accumulated over long years.”
Verse 3.10.15
बहुविघ्नं तपो नित्यं दुश्चरं चैव राघव।तेन शापं न मुञ्चामो भक्ष्यमाणाश्च राक्षसैः।।।।
O Rāghava, penance is ever beset with many obstacles and is hard to practice. Therefore we do not unleash curses, even though rākṣasas may devour us.
Verse 3.10.16
तदर्ध्यमानान्रक्षोभिर्दण्डकारण्यवासिभिः।रक्ष नस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा त्वन्नाथा हि वयं वने।।।।
Therefore protect us, tormented by the rākṣasas who dwell in the Daṇḍaka forest. In this wilderness you are indeed our lord; protect us together with your brother.
Verse 3.10.17
मया चैतद्वचश्श्रुत्वा कार्त्स्न्येन परिपालनम्।ऋषीणां दण्डकारण्ये संश्रुतं जनकात्मजे।।।।
O Devi, O Janaka’s daughter who understands dharma—what you have said, affectionately and with regard for your noble lineage, is wholesome and fitting.
Verse 3.10.18
संश्रुत्य च न शक्ष्यामि जीवमानः प्रतिश्रवम्।मुनीनामन्यथा कर्तुं सत्यमिष्टं हि मे सदा।।।।
Yet, O Devi, I will say this: you yourself have spoken these words—when a kṣatriya bears the bow, there should be no cry of distress.
Verse 3.10.19
अप्यहं जीवितं जह्यां त्वां वा सीते सलक्ष्मणाम्।न तु प्रतिज्ञां संश्रुत्य ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषतः।।।।
O Sita, those sages in distress in the Dandaka forest—men of firm vows—came to me in person and sought refuge in one who is fit to grant protection.
Verse 3.10.20
तदवश्यं मया कार्यमृषीणां परिपालनम्।अनुक्तेनापि वैदेहि प्रतिज्ञाय तु किं पुनः।।।।
And having given my word, so long as I live I cannot act otherwise than the promise made to the sages, for truth is ever dear to me.
Verse 3.10.21
मम स्नेहाच्च सौहार्दादिदमुक्तंत्वयाऽनघे।परितुष्टोऽस्म्यहं सीते न ह्यनिष्टोऽनुशिष्यते।।।।
O Sita, I might even relinquish my life—or even you together with Lakshmana—but I will not break the vow I have solemnly made, especially to the brāhmaṇas.
Verse 3.10.22
सदृशं चानुरूपं च कुलस्य तव चात्मनः।सधर्मचारिणी मे त्वं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी।।।।
Therefore, O Vaidehi, I must surely carry out the protection of the sages—even had they not asked; how much more so when I have promised it.
Verse 3.10.23
इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं महात्मा सीतां प्रियां मैथिलराजपुत्रीम्।रामो धनुष्मान्सह लक्ष्मणेन जगाम रम्याणि तपोवनानि।।।।
O blameless Sita, you spoke this out of love and goodwill toward me; I am pleased, for what is harmful is never truly to be advised.