सुतीक्ष्णाश्रमप्रवेशः — Entry into Sutikshna’s Hermitage
अरण्यकाण्ड
This sarga maps Rāma’s transition deeper into the ascetic landscape. Accompanied by Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa, and brahmin sages, he reaches Sutīkṣṇa’s hermitage after a long journey and river-crossing, entering a dense forest and locating an āśrama marked by ascetic signs (bark garments, seclusion). Rāma formally introduces himself and requests audience; Sutīkṣṇa welcomes him with affectionate embrace and frames Rāma’s presence as protective guardianship for the āśrama. Sutīkṣṇa recounts a prior divine assurance involving Indra (Śatakratu) and the notion of worlds won by tapas and merit, offering Rāma freedom to roam by grace—an ascetic idiom of spiritual “jurisdiction.” Rāma responds with self-possession and restraint, declining borrowed merit and asserting personal responsibility: he will win worlds by himself, seeking only forest residence. Sutīkṣṇa praises the hermitage’s abundance and harmless animal herds; Rāma, hearing of repeated incursions, momentarily lifts bow and arrow, but recognizes the pain such violence would cause the sage and therefore limits the prospect of long residence. The chapter closes with evening rites (sandhyā), settling in the āśrama, and Sutīkṣṇa’s hospitality with food suitable for ascetics.
Verse 3.7.1
रामस्तु सहितो भ्रात्रा सीतया च परन्तपः।सुतीक्ष्णस्याश्रमपदं जगाम सह तैर्द्विजैः।।3.7.1।।
Rāma, scorcher of foes, accompanied by his brother and by Sītā, went with those brahmin sages to the hermitage-site of Sutīkṣṇa.
Verse 3.7.2
स गत्वा दीर्घमध्वानं नदीस्तीर्त्वा बहूदकाः।ददर्श विमलं शैलं महामेघमिवोन्नतम्।।3.7.2।।
After travelling a long distance and crossing rivers full of water, he beheld a spotless mountain rising high like a massive cloud.
Verse 3.7.3
तत स्तदिक्ष्वाकुवरौ सन्ततं विविधैर्द्रुमैः।काननं तौ विविशतुस्सीतया सह राघवौ।।3.7.3।।
“O greatly fortunate one, those herds of deer that keep gathering here—I would strike them down with a sharp-edged arrow, blazing like a thunderbolt.”
Verse 3.7.4
प्रविष्टस्तु वनं घोरं बहुपुष्पफलद्रुमम्।ददर्शाश्रममेकान्ते चीरमालापरिष्कृतम्।।3.7.4।।
“You would be pained by that—what could be more distressing than such harassment? Therefore, I do not think we can reside long in this hermitage.”
Verse 3.7.5
तत्र तापसमासीनं मलपङ्कजटाधरम्।रामस्सुतीक्ष्णं विधिवत्तपोवृद्धमभाषत।।3.7.5।।
Having spoken thus, Rāma fell silent; and the time of evening twilight drew near.
Verse 3.7.6
रामोऽहमस्मि भगवन्भवन्तं द्रष्टुमागतः।त्वं माभिवद धर्मज्ञ महर्षे सत्यविक्रम।।3.7.6।।
Having performed the evening rite at sunset, he arranged to stay there—at Sutikṣṇa’s delightful hermitage—together with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.
Verse 3.7.7
स निरीक्ष्य ततो धीरो रामं धर्मभृतां वरम्।समाश्लिष्य च बाहुभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।3.7.7।।
Then, seeing that twilight had ended and night had come, the great-souled Sutikṣṇa himself, after honoring the two best of men with due hospitality, offered them auspicious food fit for ascetics.
Verse 3.7.8
स्वागतं ते रघुश्रेष्ठ राम सत्यभृतां वर।आश्रमोऽयं त्वयाक्रान्तस्सनाथ इव साम्प्रतम्।।3.7.8।।
Welcome to you, O Rāma—best of the Raghus and foremost among those who uphold truth. With your arrival, this hermitage now feels as though it has gained a protector.
Verse 3.7.9
प्रतीक्षमाणस्त्वामेव नारोहेऽहं महायशः।देवलोकमितो वीर देहं त्यक्त्वा महीतले।चित्रकूटमुपादाय राज्यभ्रष्टोऽसि मे श्रुतः।।3.7.9।।
O illustrious one, I have been waiting for you alone. O hero, I did not ascend from here to the world of the gods, even after casting off this body upon the earth—because I had heard that, deprived of your kingdom, you had come and taken refuge at Citrakūṭa.
Verse 3.7.10
इहोपयातः काकुत्थ्स देवराजश्शतक्रतुः।।3.7.10।।उपागम्य च मे देवो महादेवस्सुरेश्वरः।सर्वान् लोकाञ्जितानाह मम पुण्येन कर्मणा।।3.7.11।।
“O Kakutstha, Indra—the king of the devas, Śatakratu—came here to me. Approaching, that great Lord of the gods declared: ‘By my meritorious deeds I have won all the worlds.’”
Verse 3.7.11
इहोपयातः काकुत्थ्स देवराजश्शतक्रतुः।।3.7.10।।उपागम्य च मे देवो महादेवस्सुरेश्वरः।सर्वान् लोकाञ्जितानाह मम पुण्येन कर्मणा।।3.7.11।।
And the Lord of the devas, the great deity—Indra, ruler of the devas—came to me and declared: “By my meritorious deeds I have won all the worlds.”
Verse 3.7.12
तेषु देवर्षिजुष्टेषु जितेषु तपसा मया।मत्प्रसादात्सभार्यस्त्वं विहरस्व सलक्ष्मणः।।3.7.12।।
“In those worlds—honoured by the divine seers—which I have won through austerity (tapas), by my grace roam freely, together with your wife and with Lakṣmaṇa.”
Verse 3.7.13
तमुग्रतपसायुक्तं महर्षिं सत्यवादिनम्।प्रत्युवाचात्मवान्रामो ब्रह्माणमिव काश्यपः।।3.7.13।।
Then self-possessed Rāma replied to that great seer—endowed with severe austerity (tapas) and devoted to truth—just as Kaśyapa would speak to Brahmā.
Verse 3.7.14
अहमेवाहरिष्यामि सर्वान् लोकान्महामुने।आवासं त्वहमिच्छामि प्रदिष्टमिह कानने।।3.7.14।।
“O great sage, I alone will win all the worlds; yet what I seek is only the dwelling assigned here in this forest.”
Verse 3.7.15
भवान्सर्वत्र कुशलस्सर्वभूतहिते रतः।आख्यातश्शरभङ्गेण गौतमेन महात्मना।।3.7.15।।
“You are well in every way and ever devoted to the welfare of all beings—so I have been told by the great-souled Śarabhaṅga of Gautama’s lineage.”
Verse 3.7.16
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण महर्षिर्लोकविश्रुतः।अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं हर्षेण महताऽप्लुतः।।3.7.16।।
Thus addressed by Rāma, the great sage—renowned in the world—overwhelmed with great joy, spoke sweet words in reply.
Verse 3.7.17
अयमेवाश्रमो राम गुणवान्रम्यतामिह।ऋषिसङ्घानुचरितस्सदा मूलफलैर्युतः।।3.7.17।।
“O Rāma, this very hermitage is excellent—pleasant to dwell in—frequented by companies of sages, and always supplied with roots and fruits.”
Verse 3.7.18
इममाश्रममागम्य मृगसङ्घा महायशः।अहत्वा प्रतिगच्छन्ति लोभयित्वाऽकुतोभयाः।।3.7.18।।
“O renowned one, herds of deer come to this hermitage without fear; after playfully enticing the residents, they depart again without harming anyone.”
Verse 3.7.19
नान्यद्धोषं भवेदत्र मृगेभ्योऽन्यत्र विद्धि वै।तच्छृत्वा वचनं तस्य महर्षेर्लक्ष्मणाग्रजः।।3.7.19।।उवाच वचनं धीरो विकृष्य सशरं धनुः।
“Know this: there is no fault here other than what comes from the deer.” Hearing the great sage’s words, the steadfast elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa drew his bow with an arrow and spoke.
Verse 3.7.20
तानहं सुमहाभाग मृगसङ्घान्समागतान्।।3.7.20।।हन्यां निशितधारेण शरेणाशनिवर्चसा।
Thereafter the two Rāghavas—foremost among the Ikṣvāku line—entered the forest, dense with many kinds of trees, together with Sītā.
Verse 3.7.21
भवांस्तत्राभिषज्येत किंस्यात्कृच्छ्रतरं ततः।।3.7.21।।एतस्मिन्नाश्रमे वासं चिरं तु न समर्थये।
Having entered that formidable forest, rich with trees bearing many flowers and fruits, they saw—at a secluded spot—a hermitage adorned with garlands of bark-cloth.
Verse 3.7.22
तमेवमुक्त्वोपरमं रामस्सन्ध्यामुपागमत्।।3.7.22।।अन्वास्य पश्चिमां स्नध्यां तत्र वासमकल्पयत्।सुतीक्ष्णस्याऽश्रमे रम्ये सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च।।3.7.23।।
There Rāma, following proper custom, addressed Sutikṣṇa—the ascetic seated there, bearing matted locks soiled with dust and mud, aged and matured by austerities.
Verse 3.7.23
तमेवमुक्त्वोपरमं रामस्सन्ध्यामुपागमत्।।3.7.22।।अन्वास्य पश्चिमां संंध्यां तत्र वासमकल्पयत्।सुतीक्ष्णस्याश्रमे रम्ये सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च।।3.7.23।।
“O Blessed One, I am Rāma; I have come to behold you. Please greet me, O great maharshi, knower of dharma, whose strength is truth.”
Verse 3.7.24
ततश्शुभं तापसभोज्यमन्नं स्वयं सुतीक्ष्णः पुरुषर्षभाभ्याम्।ताभ्यां सुसत्कृत्य ददौ महात्मा सन्ध्यानिवृत्तौ रजनीं मवेक्ष्य।।3.7.24।।
Then the steadfast sage, gazing upon Rāma—the foremost among the upholders of dharma—embraced him with both arms and spoke these words.