कामाश्रम-प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū–Gaṅgā Confluence
बालकाण्ड
At daybreak Viśvāmitra awakens Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa and directs them to complete sandhyā and daily rites. After bathing, offering water-oblations, and performing japa, the princes respectfully stand ready for travel. Proceeding onward, they behold the auspicious saṅgama of the Sarayū with the divine, three-streamed Gaṅgā and notice a venerable āśrama where long-practicing ascetics have performed severe tapas for millennia. Curious, the brothers inquire whose hermitage it is. Viśvāmitra explains that this place is associated with Kandarpa/Kāma, who once offended Śiva during the latter’s austere meditation; Śiva’s fierce eye burns Kāma, rendering him aśarīra (disembodied), hence the epithet Anaṅga, and the locale becomes famed as Aṅgadeśa/Ananga-associated terrain. The narrative then returns to āśrama protocol: the party stays the night between the sacred rivers, the resident munis recognize them through tapas-born vision, offer arghya and pādya, and extend formal hospitality; the evening sandhyā is observed, and Viśvāmitra delights the princes with instructive tales, emphasizing disciplined ritual, sacred geography, and the moral consequences of transgressive desire.
Verse 1.23.1
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।अभ्यभाषत काकुत्स्थौ शयानौ पर्णसंस्तरे।।।।
“Here Kandarpa once dwelt embodied; the wise call him Kāma. In this place, when Lord Sthāṇu (Śiva), lord of the gods, was absorbed in austere discipline—together with his newly wedded consort—Kāma, foolish in intent, harassed him while passing by with the hosts of the Maruts; and the great Lord uttered a terrible roar.”
Verse 1.23.2
कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते।उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम्।।।।
O Rāma, blessed son of Kauśalyā, the first sandhyā is beginning. Rise, O tiger among men; the daily rites and offerings to the gods must be performed.
Verse 1.23.3
तस्यर्षे: परमोदारं वचश्श्रुत्वा नृपात्मजौ ।स्नात्वा कृतोदकौ वीरौ जेपतु: परमं जपम्।।।।
There they saw a sacred hermitage-ground of seers of foremost spiritual radiance, who for many thousands of years had been practicing the highest austerity.
Verse 1.23.4
कृताह्निकौ महावीर्यौ विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्।अभिवाद्याभिसंहृष्टौ गमनायाभितस्थतु:।।।।
Seeing that holy hermitage, the two Rāghavas were greatly delighted and spoke these words to the noble-souled Viśvāmitra.
Verse 1.23.5
तौ प्रयातौ महावीर्यौ दिव्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।ददृशाते ततस्तत्र सरय्वास्सङ्गमे शुभे।।।।
“Revered Bhagavān, whose sacred hermitage is this, and who indeed dwells here? We long to hear, for truly great is our wonder and curiosity.”
Verse 1.23.6
तत्राश्रमपदं पुण्यमृषीणामग्य्रतेजसाम् ।बहुवर्षसहस्राणि तप्यतां परमं तप:।।।।
Hearing their words, the foremost of sages smiled gently and said, “Listen, Rāma—this is the hermitage that once belonged to him in former times.”
Verse 1.23.7
तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतौ राघवौ पुण्यमाश्रमम्।ऊचतुस्तं महात्मानं विश्वामित्रमिदं वच:।।।।
There, brought in by the residents along with the vow-faithful sages, they then stayed very happily at that place—the hermitage-site of Kāma.
Verse 1.23.8
कस्यायमाश्रम: पुण्य: कोन्वस्मिन्वसते पुमान्।भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छाव: परं कौतूहलं हि नौ।।।।
Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)—righteous-souled and foremost among sages—delighted the charming princes with delightful tales.
Verse 1.23.9
तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुङ्गव:।अब्रवीच्छ्रूयतां राम यस्यायं पूर्व आश्रम:।। ।।
With rounded arms, immense prowess, a broad face and a huge body—dreadful in appearance—that rākṣasa constantly terrifies the people.
Verse 1.23.10
कन्दर्पो मूर्तिमानासीत्काम इत्युच्यते बुधै:।तपस्यन्तमिह स्थाणुं नियमेन समाहितम्।।।।कृतोद्वाहं तु देवेशं गच्छन्तं समरुद्गगणम्।धर्षयामास दुर्मेधा हुङ्कृतश्च महात्मना।।।।
Hearing their words, the foremost of sages smiled and said, “Rāma, listen: I shall tell you whose hermitage this once was.”
Verse 1.23.11
कन्दर्पो मूर्तिमानासीत्काम इत्युच्यते बुधै:।तपस्यन्तमिह स्थाणुं नियमेन समाहितम्।।1.23.10।। कृतोद्वाहं तु देवेशं गच्छन्तं समरुद्गगणम्।धर्षयामास दुर्मेधा हुङ्कृतश्च महात्मना।।1.23.11।।
Here Kandarpa once appeared in embodied form—known to the wise as Kāma. Foolish at heart, he dared affront Sthāṇu (Śiva), Lord of the devas, who was absorbed in austerity under strict observances and had newly taken a bride, as Kāma moved along with the hosts of the Maruts. Then the great Lord let forth a fearsome roar.
Verse 1.23.12
अवदग्धस्य रौद्रेण चक्षुषा रघुनन्दन।व्यशीर्यन्त शरीरात्स्वात्सर्वगात्राणि दुर्मते:।।।।
O scion of Raghu, scorched by that fierce eye, the evil-minded Kāma’s limbs fell away from his own body and were consumed.
Verse 1.23.13
तस्य गात्रं हतं तत्र निर्दग्थस्य महात्मना।अशरीर: कृत: काम: क्रोधाद्देवेश्वरेण हि।।।।
There, when the great Mahātman had utterly burned him, Kāma’s body was destroyed; indeed, through wrath the Lord of the gods made Kāma bodiless.
Verse 1.23.14
अनङ्ग इति विख्यातस्तदाप्रभृति राघव।स चाङ्गविषयश्श्रीमान्यत्राङ्गं प्रमुमोच ह।।।।
O Rāghava, from that time onward he became famed as ‘Anaṅga’ (the bodiless one); and the beautiful region where he cast off his body came to be known as Aṅgaviṣaya.
Verse 1.23.15
तस्यायमाश्रम: पुण्यस्तस्येमे मुनय: पुरा।शिष्या धर्मपरा नित्यं तेषां पापं न विद्यते।।।।
This is his holy hermitage, and these sages were formerly his disciples; ever devoted to Dharma, for them no sin is found to accrue.
Verse 1.23.16
इहाद्य रजनीं राम वसेम शुभदर्शन।पुण्ययोस्सरितोर्मध्ये श्वस्तरिष्यामहे वयम्।।।।
O Rāma of auspicious appearance, let us stay here tonight between the two sacred rivers; tomorrow we shall cross over.
Verse 1.23.17
अभिगच्छामहे सर्वे शुचय: पुण्यमाश्रमम्।स्नाताश्च कृतजप्याश्च हुतहव्या नरोत्तम।।।।
O best of men, once we have all become purified—having bathed, performed japa, and offered oblations into the fire—we shall enter this holy hermitage.
Verse 1.23.18
तेषां संवदतां तत्र तपोदीर्घेण चक्षुषा।विज्ञाय परमप्रीता मुनयो हर्षमागमन्।।।।
As they conversed there, the sages—by the far-reaching vision born of long austerity—recognized them and were filled with supreme delight.
Verse 1.23.19
अर्घ्यं पाद्यं तथाऽतिथ्यं निवेद्य कुशिकात्मजे।रामलक्ष्मणयो: पश्चादकुर्वन्नतिथिक्रियाम्।।।।
After offering arghya, pādya, and due hospitality to Viśvāmitra, the son of Kuśika, they then performed the rites of welcome for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
Verse 1.23.20
सत्कारं समनुप्राप्य कथाभिरभिरञ्जयन्।यथार्हमजपन् सन्ध्यामृषयस्ते समाहिता:।।।।
Having received due honor and being pleased by their conversation, those sages—composed in mind—recited the sandhyā prayers in the proper manner.
Verse 1.23.21
तत्र वासिभिरानीता मुनिभिस्सुव्रतै: सह।न्यवसन् सुसुखं तत्र कामाश्रमपदे तदा।।।।
Hearing the most gracious words of that sage, the two princes bathed, offered the water-oblation, and then recited the highest japa, the supreme mantra-prayer.
Verse 1.23.22
कथाभिरभिरामाभिरभिरामौ नृपात्मजौ।रमयामास धर्मात्मा कौशिको मुनिपुङ्गव:।।।।
Having completed their daily rites, the two mighty princes bowed in reverence to Viśvāmitra, whose wealth is tapas; and, brimming with eager vigor, they stood ready to depart.
Verse 1.23.23
Going on a little further, the two great heroes beheld the divine river Tripathagā (Gaṅgā), there at the auspicious confluence with the Sarayū.