Aranya Kanda/Aranya Kanda Sarga 73
Book III : Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
Aranya Kanda Sarga 73 in English
Chapter [Sarga] 73 - Kabandha extols Pampa Lake
Introduction - Kabandha extols Pampa Lake and details Rama about the course to be adopted to proceed to Mt. Rishyamuka to befriend Sugreeva. He details about Matanga hermitage and implores upon Rama to visit an anchoress name Shabari, who is waiting for ages to have a glimpse of Rama.
1. On showing a concept for questing after Seetha that context-sensitive Kabandha further spoke this sentence which is inclusive of right concept to Rama. [3-73-1]
2, 3, 4, 5a. Oh, Rama, have a recourse to westward, and where the trees of Rose-apple, Priyaala, Jackfruit, Plaksha, Banyan, Tinduka (Diospyros melanoxylon), Pipal, Karnikara, Mango, and others... and even trees like Dhanva, Naaga, Tilaka, Naktamaala, blue Ashoka, Kadamba, Karaviira, Agnimukha, Ashoka, red-sandalwood trees and Neem trees will be heart-pleasingly shining forth in full blossom, that alone is an optimistic course for you. [3-73-2, 3, 4, 5a]
The botanical terms for some of these trees are given to some of the above in the first chapter of Kishkindha.
5b, 6a. On shinning up those trees, or else, even on forcefully pelting those fruits down onto ground, then you may pelt over, devouring those ambrosial fruits... [3-73-5b, 6a]
6b, 7a. On crossing over that parkland, oh, Kakutstha, another parkland with blossomy flowers is there, which replicates the heavenly Nandana gardens, and a replica of North-Kuru, an all-endowing province... [3-73-6b, 7a]
7b, 8a. Wherein the trees fruit all-season fruits that transude nectar, why fruits alone, in that parkland all seasons are coeval, as they will be in Chaitraratha, the celestial gardens of Kubera... [3-73-7b, 8a]
8b, 9a. In there, the trees bear enormous branches which will be crouching under the weight of their own fruits, and everywhere such trees will be shining forth like shiny clouds and shining mountains... [3-73-8b, 9a]
9b, 10a. Let Lakshmana present those ambrosial fruits to you either by climbing up those trees to pluck them, or else by pelting them to ground, according to his convenience... [3-73-9b-10a]
10b, 11a. Peregrinating finest places by trekking from mountain to mountain, from forest to forest, oh, valorous ones, you will trek to an auspicious lotus-lake, called Pampa... [3-73-10b, 11a]
11b, 12a. It is un-pebbly, un-slippery, un-weedy thereabouts, oh, Rama, equal are its quaysides and emersed are its sandbanks, red and blue lotuses beautify that Pampa Lake... [3-73-11b, 12a]
12b-13a. There the indwellers of Pampa Lake's waters, oh, Raghava, namely the swans, cranes, Kraunca-s and fish-hawks will be letting out peeps in tuneful voice... [3-73-12a, 13b]
13b, 14a. Thereabout birds will be unflustered on seeing humans, because they are artless to avoid hunting, because none kills them, and you may savour them because those birds will be best and burley, similar to ghee-gobs... [3-73-13b, 14a]
Comment: A word about Rama's vegetarianism or otherwise is incorporated at endnote.
14b, 15, 16a. Oh, Rama in that Pampa Lake there are best fishes, red-carps, and blunt-snouted small porpoises, and a sort of sprats, which are neither scraggy, nor with many fish-bones. Lakshmana will reverentially offer them to you on skewering them with arrow, and on broiling them on iron rod of arrow after descaling and de-finning them. [3-73-14b, 15, 16a]
16b, 18a. While you eat those fishes to satiety, Lakshmana will offer you the water of Pampa Lake, which will be in the bunches of flowers of that lake, and which will be lotus-scented, pellucid, comfortably cool, shiny like silver and crystal, uncontaminated and that way pristine, by lifting it up that water with lotus leaf, making that leaf a stoup-like basin... [3-73-16b, 17, 18a]
18b, 19, 20a.Oh, best one among men Rama, at Pampa you will see best shaped Vanara-s who have their bunk bed in mountain caves, and who will be coming nearby the lake, greedy as they are for water, and those forest movers will be moving about in evening time of the day, bellowing like bulls... oh, Rama, Lakshmana will show them to you... [3-73-18b, 19, 20a]
20b, 21a. While roving in the evenings, oh, Rama, should you see the serenely water of Pampa, with her trees garlanded with their own blooms and twigs, you will discard your own dolour... [3-73-20b, 21a]
The word viTapin was originally an adjective of vR^iksha, viTapi VR^iksha, meaning a tree having twigs. In the course of time the sense of vR^iksha was appropriated [by viTapin ] to itself and the use of vR^iksha along with it fell out. There is no more conjecture. Pt. Satya Vrat in 'Ramayana - A Linguistic Study' and here twigs are upa lakshaNa for blooms and then, 'trees garlanded with its own blooms and twigs...'
21b, 22a. Oh, Raghava, there you will see highly delightful and wide-ranging trees like Tilaka and Naktamaala, and fully bloomed red and blue lotuses, as well... [3-73-21b, 22a]
22b, 23a. Oh, Raghava, there is none someone to inwreathe the garlands of those flowers, and indeed, they neither dry up, nor drop down... [3-73-22b, 23a]
23b, 24, 25. Erst there were self-collected sages, the disciples of Sage Matanga, and at one time while they were bringing the forest produce as ritual paraphernalia, they were much wearied by its weight and they were sweating... and all of those earthbound strings of sweat-drops that quickly dropped from their bodies were wafted by air onto trees, and on them they reoccurred as strings of flowers, by the merit of the ascetics of those sages... oh, Raghava, since those flowers have emerged from sweat-drops, they are imperishable, indeed... [3-73-23b, 24, 25]
The above wafting of sweat drops onto trees is as per Govindaraja. In another way, the sweat drops fell onto ground and from them trees grew up, and they flowered unwithered flowers - Then as they laboured through the dell / From limb and brow the heat-drops fell: / Thence sprang and bloomed those wondrous trees: - R.T.H. Griffith
26. Oh, Rama of Kakutstha, albeit the passing of those sages through the pearly gates, their maidservant, a long-lived one and an anchoress, named Shabari, can be seen there, even today... [3-73-26]
27. Oh, Rama, she who always stands by probity will depart to the sphere of heaven, on attending to you, for you are the referent to god, and a reverent for one and all... [3-73-27]
28. Oh, Rama, thereafter on your taking course to that western bank of Pampa Lake, oh, Kakutstha, there you will see the unequalled and arcane place of hermitage of sage Matanga... [3-73-28]
29. Sage Matanga so methodised that woodland, where even the elephants are rendered incapable to trespass in that hermitage of sage Matanga disturbing its serenity... [3-73-29]
30, 31a. Oh, the legatee of Raghu, that woodland which in simile is like a godly forest, similar to the heavenly Nandana gardens, overspread with divers birds is renowned as 'Matanga woodland', and oh, Rama, you will take delight rejoicingly in that woodland... [3-73-30, 31a]
31b, 32. In front of Pampa there is a bountiful but an unclimbable mountain is there with trees in full blossom, which is well-protected by baby elephants, and which in earlier times was purposefully created by Brahma, and that alone is Mt. Rishyamuka... [3-73-31b, 32]
It is difficult to climb this mountain hence Hanuman airlifted Rama and Lakshmana to Sugreeva. Brahma purposefully crafted it, as the only shelter to Sugreeva. Its flowers are ever blossomy and fruited to feed Sugreeva and the other four monkeys in exile. Baby elephants are enough to keep guard for that mountain, then why tell about the capacity of full grown ruttish elephants. This prearrangement is owing to the presage of Brahma.
33. And should a man sleep on the heights of that mountain, and should he dream of gaining some riches in that sleep, he gains that much when he wakes up... [3-73-33]
34. But he who is diabolic in his deportment and devilish in comportment, climbs that and hopes to sleep soundly, demons capture him while he is in sleep, and rough him up to death, there itself... [3-73-34]
35. Oh, Rama, there the blaring trumpet-blasts of baby elephants that amuse themselves at Lake Pampa, and of those that are the indwellers of Matanga hermitage, even there on Mt. Rishyamuka are audible... [3-73-35]
36. The mighty and massy dark-cloud coloured elephants will be hitting head-on, and with dripping blood streams on their jumbo heads and temples, they disperse and move about separately, only to come together for yet another round of head-to-head collision... [3-73-36]
37, 38a. There the elephants are quenched on drinking water of Pampa Lake, that is daintily clean, and neatly clear, springlike for touch, and in which all scents of flowers of that lake are included, and then they will be collectively re-entering the forests, for they are forest ranging elephants... [3-73-37, 38a]
38b, 39a. On your seeing the bears, also thus the tigers and even the exultant sapphire-blue Rurus with black stripes there, you will discard your distress... [3-73-38b, 39a]
39b, 40a. But oh, Rama, a cavernous cave lidded with a boulder stone outshines on that mountain, and oh, Kakutstha, problematic is an entry into it... [3-73-39b, 40a]
40b, 41a. On its right at its eastern opening a delightful lake with highly coolant waters is there, fringed with divers trees and fraught with numerous tubers and fruits... [3-73-40b, 41a]
41b, 42a. Sugreeva dwells in that cave along with four other monkeys, and at times he will be available on the peaks of that mountain, even on its bluffs and cliffs, for he is a terrified monkey..." Thus Kabandha informed them. [3-73-41b, 42a]
42b, 43a. That impressive Kabandha adorned with divine garlands and abiding in sky scintillating with the grandeur of the dazzle of the sun has bidden both the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana thus, awaited a bid adieu from them. [3-73-42b, 43a]
43b, 44a. Rama and Lakshmana who started off on their peregrination said this sentence to that highly providential Kabandha, who is temporising in the sky in their vicinity, thus as "you may proceed..." [3-73-43b, 44a]
44b, 45. On getting the orders for departure from those two brothers who are highly gladdened at the information given by Kabandha, he that Kabandha who is ready to exit, he further said to them thus, "proceed for the purpose of achieving your task..." [3-73-44b, 45]
46. Kabandha who redeemed his divine form has now got an aureole around him, and while irradiance is tamping whole of his mien, he moved further up on sky and reappeared. And staying in the sky he pointed out at the side of Mt. Rishyamuka, and then he reiterated, "you befriend Sugreeva..."and then he vanished. [3-73-46]
Notes
- Pampa Sarovar is a lake located in Koppal district near Hampi in Karnataka, Located to the south of the Tungabhadra River. In Hindu mythology Pampa Sarovar is regarded as the place where Pampa, a form of Shiva's consort Parvati, performed penance to show her devotion to Shiva.
- Shabari, a pious devotee of Rama, prayed faithfully everyday to see Rama. She lived in the ashram of her guru, Matunga in the place know known as Matunga Parvat, in Hampi.
श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥३-७३॥
दर्शयित्वा रामाय सीतायाः प्रैमार्गने । वाक्यम् अन्वर्थम् अर्थज्ञः कबंधः पुनः अब्रवीत् ॥३-७३-१॥
एष राम शिवः पंथा यत्र एते पुष्पिता द्रुमाः । प्रतीचीम् दिशम् आश्रित्य प्रकाशन्ते मनो रमाः ॥३-७३-२॥
जंबू प्रियाल पनसाः प्लक्ष न्यग्रोध तिंदुकाः । अश्वत्थाः कर्णिकाराः च चूताः च अन्ये च पादपाः ॥३-७३-३॥
धन्वना नाग वृक्षा तिलका नक्तमालकाः । नील अशोक कदंबाः च करवीराः च पुष्पिताः ॥३-७३-४॥
अग्निमुखा अशोकाः च सुरक्ताः परिभद्रकाः । तान् आरुह्य अथवा भूमौ पातयित्वा च तान् बलात् ॥३-७३-५॥
फलानि अमृत कल्पानि भक्षयित्वा गमिष्यथः । तत् अतिक्रम्य काकुत्स्थ वनम् पुषित पादपम् ॥३-७३-६॥
नंदन प्रतिमम् तु अन्यत् कुरवः उत्तरा इव । सर्व काल फला यत्र पादपा मधुर स्रवाः ॥३-७३-७॥
सर्वे च ऋतवः तत्र वने चैत्ररथे यथा । फल भार नताः तत्र महा विटप धारिणः ॥३-७३-८॥
शोबन्ते सर्वतः तत्र मेघ पर्वत संनिभाः । तान् आरुह्य अथवा भूमौ पातैत्वा यथा सुखम् ॥३-७३-९॥
फलानि अमृत कल्पानि लक्षमणः ते प्रदास्यति । चङ्क्रमंतौ वरान् शैलान् शैलात् शैलम् वनात् वनम् ॥३-७३-१०॥
ततः पुष्करिणीम् वीरौ पंपाम् नाम गमिष्यथः । अशर्कराम् अविभ्रंशाम् सम तीर्थम् अशैवलाम् ॥३-७३-११॥
राम संजात वालूकाम् कमल उत्पल शोभिताम् । तत्र हंसाः प्लवाः क्रौङ्चाः कुरराः चैव राघव ॥३-७३-१२॥
वल्गु स्वरा निकूजन्ति पंपा सलिल गोचराः । न उद्विजन्ते नरान् दृष्ट्वा वधस्य अकोविदाः शुभाः ॥३-७३-१३॥
घृत पिण्ड उपमान् स्थूलान् तान् द्विजान् भक्षयिष्यथः । रोहितान् वक्र तुण्डान् च नल मीनान् च राघव ॥३-७३-१४॥
पंपायाम् इषुभिः मत्स्यान् तत्र राम वरान् हतान् । निस्त्वक्पक्षानयसतप्तानकृशान्नैककण्टकान् - यद्वा -निः त्वक् पक्षान् अयस तप्तान् अकृशान् न अनेक कण्टकान् ॥३-७३-१५॥
तव भक्त्या समायुक्तो लक्ष्मणः संप्रदास्यति । भृशम् तान् खादतो मत्स्यान् पंपायाः पुष्प संचये ॥३-७३-१६॥
पद्म गन्धि शिवम् वारि सुख शीतम् अनामयम् । उद्धृत्य स तदा अक्लिष्टम् रूप्य स्फटिक सन्निभम् ॥३-७३-१७॥
अथ पुष्कर पर्णेन लक्ष्मणः पाययिष्यति । स्थूलान् गिरि गुहा शय्यान् वानरान् वन चारिणः ॥३-७३-१८॥
साय आह्ने विचरन् राम दर्शयिष्यति लक्ष्मणः । अपाम् लोभात उपावृत्तान् वृषभान् इव नर्दतः ॥३-७३-१९॥
रूप अन्वितान् च पंपायाम् द्रक्ष्यसि त्वम् नरोत्तम । साय अह्ने विचरन् राम विटपीन् माल्य धारिणः ॥३-७३-२०॥
शिव उदकम् च पंपायाम् दृष्ट्वा शोकम् विहास्यसि । सु मनोभिः चितान् तत्र तिलकान् नक्त मालकान् ॥३-७३-२१॥
उत्पलानि च फुल्लानि पंकजानि च राघव । न तानि कश्चित् माल्यानि तत्र आरोपयिता नरः ॥३-७३-२२॥
न च वै म्लानताम् यान्ति न च शीर्यन्ति राघव । मतंग शिष्याः तत्र आसन् ऋषयः सुसमाहितः ॥३-७३-२३॥
तेषाम् भार अभितप्तानाम् वन्यम् आहरताम् गुरोः । ये प्रपेतुः महीम् तूर्णम् शरीरात् स्वेद बिन्दवः ॥३-७३-२४॥
तानि माल्यानि जातानि मुनीनाम् तपसा तदा । स्वेद बिन्दु समुत्थानि न विनश्यन्ति राघव ॥३-७३-२५॥
तेषाम् गतानाम् अद्य अपि दृश्यते परिचारिणी । श्रमणी शबरी नाम काकुत्स्थ चिर जीविनी ॥३-७३-२६॥
त्वाम् तु धर्मे स्थिता नित्यम् सर्व भूत नमस्कृतम् । दृष्ट्वा देव उपमम् राम स्वर्ग लोकम् गमिष्यति ॥३-७३-२७॥
ततः तत् राम पंपायाः तीरम् आश्रित्य पश्चिमम् । आश्रम स्थानम् अतुलम् गुह्यम् काकुत्स्थ पश्यसि ॥३-७३-२८॥
न तत्र आक्रमितुम् नागाः शक्नुवन्ति तद् आश्रमे । ऋषेः तस्य मतंगस्य विधानात् तत् च काननम् ॥३-७३-२९॥
मातंग वनम् इति एव विश्रुतम् रघुनंदन । तस्मिन् नंदन संकाशे देव अरण्य उपमे वने ॥३-७३-३०॥
नाना विहग संकीर्णे रंस्यसे राम निर्वृतः । ऋष्यमूकः तु पंपायाः पुरस्तात् पुष्पित द्रुमः ॥३-७३-३१॥
सु दुःख आरोहणः च एव शिशु नाग अभिरक्षितः । उदारो ब्रह्मणा चैव पूर्व काले विनिर्मितः ॥३-७३-३२॥
शयानः पुरुषो राम तस्य शैलस्य मूर्धनि । यत् स्वप्ने लभते वित्तम् तत् प्रबुद्धो अधिगच्छति ॥३-७३-३३॥
यः तु एनम् विषम आचारः पाप कर्मा अधिरोहति । तत्र एव प्रहरन्ति एनम् सुप्तम् आदाय राक्षसाः ॥३-७३-३४॥
तत्र अपि शिशु नागानाम् आक्रंदः श्रूयते महान् । क्रीडताम् राम पंपायाम् मतंग आश्रम वासिनाम् ॥३-७३-३५॥
सिक्ता रुधिर धाराभिः संहत्य परम द्विपाः । प्रचरन्ति पृथक् कीर्णा मेघ वर्णाः तरस्विनः ॥३-७३-३६॥
ते तत्र पीत्वा पानीयम् विमलम् चारु शोभनम् । अत्यन्त सुख संस्पर्शम् सर्व गन्ध समन्वितम् ॥३-७३-३७॥
निवृत्ताः सम्विगाहन्ते वनानि वन गोचराः । ऋक्षाम् च द्विपिनः चैव नील कोमलक प्रभान् ॥३-७३-३८॥
रुरून् अपेता अपजयान् दृष्ट्वा शोकम् प्रहास्यसि । राम तस्य तु शैलस्य महती शोभते गुहा ॥३-७३-३९॥
शिला पिधाना काकुत्स्थ दुःखम् च अस्याः प्रवेशनम् । तस्या गुहायाः प्राक् द्वारे महान् शीत उदको ह्रदः ॥३-७३-४०॥
बहु मूल फलो रम्यो नाना नग समाकुलः । तस्याम् वसति सुग्रीवः चतुर्भिः सह वानरैः ॥३-७३-४१॥
कदाचित् शिखरे तस्य पर्वतस्य अपि तिष्ठते । कबंधः तु अनुशास्य एवम् तौ उभौ राम लक्ष्मणौ ॥३-७३-४२॥
स्रग्वी भास्कर वर्ण आभः खे व्यरोचत वीर्यवान् । तम् तु ख स्थम् महाभागम् कबंधम् राम लक्ष्मणौ ॥३-७३-४३॥
प्रस्थितौ त्वम् व्रजस्व इति वाक्यम् ऊचतुः अन्तिके । गम्यताम् कार्य सिद्धि अर्थम् इति तौ अब्रवीत् च सः ॥३-७३-४४॥
सुप्रीतौ तौ अनुज्ञाप्य कबंधः प्रस्थितः तदा ॥३-७३-४५॥
स तत् कबंधः प्रतिपद्य रूपम्वृतः श्रिया भास्कर सर्व देहः । निदर्शयन् रामम् अवेक्ष्य ख स्थःसख्यम् कुरुष्व इति तदा अभ्युवाच ॥३-७३-४६॥
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥३-७३॥