सुतीक्ष्णाश्रमप्रस्थानम् (Departure from Sutikshna’s Hermitage)
अरण्यकाण्ड
Sarga 8 presents a ritualized morning transition from hospitality to onward travel. Having been honored by the sage Sutikshna, Rama (with Lakshmana) passes the night in the hermitage and rises at dawn. Rama and Sita bathe with cool, lotus-fragrant water, then—together with Lakshmana—perform prescribed worship to fire and deities, and salute the rising sun, marking the disciplined temporal order of forest-life. Approaching Sutikshna, they request leave, explaining their urgency to visit the full circuit of hermitages of the Dandaka-dwelling sages and to proceed before the sun becomes unbearably hot; their speech embeds a moral simile about ill-gotten prosperity producing arrogance, aligning physical heat with ethical disorder. Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana then touch the sage’s feet; Sutikshna lifts them up, embraces them affectionately, and grants a blessing of safe passage, describing the scenic abundance of the forest—fruits, flowers, herds, quiet birds, lotus lakes, waterfowl, peacocks, and hill-stream waterfalls—thereby turning geography into a guided itinerary. He asks them to return after seeing these places. Sita equips the brothers with quivers, bows, and swords; armed and radiant, the trio departs, concluding the chapter’s emphasis on reverence, permission, and purposeful movement through sacred landscape.
Verse 3.8.1
रामस्तु सहसौमित्रिस्सुतीक्ष्णेनाभिपूजितः।परिणाम्य निशां तत्र प्रभाते प्रत्यबुध्यत।।।।
Rama—accompanied by Lakshmana and duly honoured by the sage Sūtīkṣṇa—spent the night there, and at daybreak awoke again.
Verse 3.8.2
उत्थाय तु यथाकालं राघवस्सहसीतया।उपस्पृश्यसुशितेन जलेनोत्पलगन्धिना।।।।
Then Vaidehī (Sītā), Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa, in that forest which was a refuge for ascetics, duly performed the morning worship of the sacred fire and the gods. Beholding the rising sun and freed from all taint, they approached Sutikṣṇa and spoke to him gentle words.
Verse 3.8.3
अथ तेऽग्निं सुरांश्चैव वैदेही रामलक्ष्मणौ।काल्यं विधिवदभ्यर्च्य तपस्विशरणे वने।।।।उदयन्तं दिनकरं दृष्ट्वा विगतकल्मषाः।सुतीक्ष्णभिगम्येदं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रुवन्।।।।
We hasten to behold the entire circle of hermitages of the sages of holy conduct who dwell in Daṇḍakāraṇya; therefore we must make speed.
Verse 3.8.4
अथ तेऽग्निं सुरांश्चैव वैदेही रामलक्ष्मणौ।काल्यं विधिवदभ्यर्च्य तपस्विशरणे वने।।3.8.3।।उदयन्तं दिनकरं दृष्ट्वा विगतकल्मषाः।सुतीक्ष्णभिगम्येदं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रुवन्।।3.8.4।।
We seek your leave to depart in the company of these foremost sages—ever steadfast in dharma, disciplined by tapas—like fires whose flames are unseen.
Verse 3.8.5
सुखोषितास्स्मभगवंस्त्वया पूज्येन पूजिताः।आपृच्छामः प्रयास्यामो मुनयस्त्वरयन्ति नः।।।।
We wish to set out before the sun blazes with unbearable heat—like a man without noble lineage who, gaining wealth by unlawful means, becomes overly resplendent. Having spoken thus, Rāma, together with Sītā and Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa), bowed at the sage’s feet.
Verse 3.8.6
त्वरामहे वयं द्रष्टुं कृत्स्नमाश्रममण्डलम्।ऋषीणां पुण्यशीलानां दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्।।।।
Then Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa both strapped on their auspicious quivers, took up their two resonant bows, and went forth from the hermitage to depart.
Verse 3.8.7
अभ्यनुज्ञातुमिच्छामस्सहैभिर्मुनिपुङ्गवैः।धर्मनित्यैस्तपोदान्तैर्विशिखैरिव पावकैः।।।।
Those two Rāghavas—noble, handsome, and radiant with their own splendor—set forth holding their bows, with Sītā accompanying them.
Verse 3.8.8
अविषह्यातपो यावत्सूर्यो नातिविराजते।अमार्गेणागतां लक्ष्मीं प्राप्येवान्वयवर्जितः।।।।तावदिच्छामहे गन्तुमित्युक्त्वा चरणौ मुनेः।ववन्दे सहसौमित्रिस्सीतया सह राघवः।। ।।
“So long as the sun has not yet begun to blaze with unbearable heat—like a man of ignoble lineage who, having gained prosperity by unlawful means, grows insolent—so long do we wish to proceed.” Having spoken thus, Rāghava (Rāma), together with Sītā and Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), bowed in reverence at the sage’s feet.
Verse 3.8.9
अविषह्यातपो यावत्सूर्यो नातिविराजते।अमार्गेणागतां लक्ष्मीं प्राप्येवान्वयवर्जितः।।3.8.8।।तावदिच्छामहे गन्तुमित्युक्त्वा चरणौ मुनेः।ववन्दे सहसौमित्रिस्सीतया सह राघवः।। 3.8.9।।
Saying, “We wish to depart before then,” Rāghava—together with Sītā and with Saumitri—bowed in reverence at the sage’s feet.
Verse 3.8.10
तौ संस्पृशन्तौ चरणावुत्थाप्य मुनिपुङ्गवः।गाढमालिङ्ग्य सस्नेहमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।
As the two touched his feet, the foremost of sages raised them up, embraced them firmly with affection, and spoke these words.
Verse 3.8.11
अरिष्टं गच्छ पन्थानं राम सौमित्रिणा सह।सीतया चानया सार्धं छाययेवानुवृत्तया।।।।
“Go safely, O Rama, along the path with Saumitri, and with this Sita too—who follows you like a shadow.”
Verse 3.8.12
पश्याश्रमपदं रम्यं दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्।एषां तपस्विनां वीर तपसा भावितात्मनाम्।।।।
Behold, O hero, the delightful grounds of the hermitages of these ascetics dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest—souls refined and ennobled by tapas (austerity).
Verse 3.8.13
सप्राज्यफलमूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च।प्रशस्तमृगयूथानि शान्तपक्षिगणानि च।। ।।फुल्लपङ्कजषण्डानि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च।कारण्डवविकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च।।।।द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टिरम्याणि गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च।रमणीयान्यरण्यानि मयूराभिरुतानि च।।।।
You will see forests abundant in fruits and roots, flowering in bloom—graced with fine herds of deer and with quiet flocks of birds.
Verse 3.8.14
सप्राज्यफलमूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च।प्रशस्तमृगयूथानि शान्तपक्षिगणानि च।। 3.8.13।।फुल्लपङ्कजषण्डानि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च।कारण्डवविकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च।।3.8.14।।द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टिरम्याणि गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च।रमणीयान्यरण्यानि मयूराभिरुतानि च।।3.8.15।।
You will see ponds and lakes with clear waters and clusters of fully blossomed lotuses, scattered with kāraṇḍava waterfowl.
Verse 3.8.15
सप्राज्यफलमूलानि पुष्पितानि वनानि च।प्रशस्तमृगयूथानि शान्तपक्षिगणानि च।। 3.8.13।।फुल्लपङ्कजषण्डानि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च।कारण्डवविकीर्णानि तटाकानि सरांसि च।।3.8.14।।द्रक्ष्यसे दृष्टिरम्याणि गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च।रमणीयान्यरण्यानि मयूराभिरुतानि च।।3.8.15।।
You will behold waterfalls streaming from the hills, delightful to the eye, and lovely forests resonant with the calls of peacocks.
Verse 3.8.16
गम्यतां वत्स सौमित्रे भवानपि च गच्छतु।आगन्तव्यं च ते दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाश्रमं मम।।।।
Go then, dear child—O Saumitra, you too may depart; and after seeing those places, return once more to my hermitage (āśrama).
Verse 3.8.17
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा काकुत्स्थस्सहलक्ष्मणः।प्रदक्षिणं मुनिं कृत्वा प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे।।।।
Thus instructed, Rāma of the Kakutsthas, together with Lakṣmaṇa, replied, “So be it.” Reverently circumambulating the sage to the right, he then began to set out.
Verse 3.8.18
ततश्शुभतरे तूणी धनुषी चायतेक्षणा।ददौ सीता तयोर्भ्रात्रोः खङ्गौ च विमलौ ततः।।।।
Then Sītā, the large-eyed lady, gave the two brothers their most auspicious quivers and bows, and afterward also two spotless swords.
Verse 3.8.19
आबध्य च शुभे तूणी चापे चादाय सुस्वनौ।निष्क्रान्तावाश्रमाद्गन्तुमुभौ तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।।।
At the proper morning hour, Rāghava rose together with Sītā and performed his purifying ablution with cool water fragrant like lotuses.
Verse 3.8.20
श्रीमन्तौ रूपसम्पन्नौ दीप्यमानौ स्वतेजसा।प्रस्थितौ धृतचापौ तौ सीतया सह राघवौ।।।।
O venerable Bhagavān, honored by you who are worthy of honor, we have dwelt here in comfort. Now we take our leave to depart—the sages are urging us onward.