On Sage Sharabhanga attaining heaven, groups of sages assembled and approached Rama of Kakutstha dynasty, who is glowing with resplendence. [3-6-1]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v2
वैखानसा वालखिल्याः संप्रक्षाला मरीचिपाः |
अश्म कुट्टाः च बहवः पत्र आहाराः च तापसाः || ३-६-२
The sages called Vaikahanasa-s, [who are born out of the nails of Prajaapati, the first ruler of mankind,] also Vaalakhilyaa-s, [those born from His hair,] and those from the water of His feet-wash, and those that thrive on drinking rays of sun and moon alone, and those that pound with stones and others who thrive on leaves alone, are those sages... [3-6-2]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v3
दन्त उलूखलिनः च एव तथा एव उन्मज्जकाः परे |
गात्र शय्या अशय्याः च तथा एव अनवकाशिकाः || ३-६-३
Some of them use their own teeth to grid the grain they eat, and some who perform ascesis in neck-deep water, and some who sleep with their head resting on their shoulders or on chests without using any kind of bed, and some who do not use any kind of beds either, and some who meditate without any repose sitting in an enclosure without any leg-space. [3-6-3]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v4
मुनयः सलिल आहारा वायु भक्षाः तथा अपरे |
आकाश निलयाः च एव तथा स्थण्डिल शायिनः || ३-६-४
And some sages whose food is water alone, or air alone to some, like that some who meditate staying in sky and some who sleep on bare ground itself. [3-6-4]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v5
तथा ऊर्थ्व वासिनः दान्ताः तथा आर्द्र पट वाससः |
स जपाः च तपो नित्याः तथा पंच तपोऽन्विताः || ३-६-५
Thus some are dwellers on high-peaked places with their senses controlled, and some are wearers of wet cloths, always reciting name or hymn japa and like that some who meditate with five kinds of fire around them. [3-6-5]
All have Vedic resplendence and firm yogic control, and they have arrived at the hermitage of Sage Sharabhanga for Rama. [3-6-6]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v7
अभिगंय च धर्मज्ञा रामम् धर्म भृताम् वरम् |
ऊचुः परम धर्मज्ञम् ऋषि संघाः समागताः || ३-६-७
Those virtuous sages coming together in groups neared Rama, the best beholder of virtue, and said to that supreme one in virtue. [3-6-7]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v8
त्वम् इक्ष्वाकु कुलस्य अस्य पृथिव्याः च महारथः |
प्रधानः च अपि नाथः च देवानाम् मघवान् इव || ३-६-८
Though born in Ikshvaku dynasty you are the Supreme Charioteer, hence you are the same Supreme Charioteer of this Earth and earthlings too, as with Indra who protects divinities, you are our protector.
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v9
विश्रुतः त्रिषु लोकेषु यशसा विक्रमेण च |
पितृ व्रतत्वम् सत्यम् च त्वयि धर्मः च पुष्कलः || ३-६-९
"You are well renowned in all the three worlds by your repute and valour, and in you abounding are the virtues like truthfulness and devotion to your father, and even righteousness too, is there. [3-6-9]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v10
त्वाम् आसाद्य महात्मानम् धर्मज्ञम् धर्म वत्सलम् |
अर्थित्वात् नाथ वक्ष्यामः तत् च नः क्षन्तुम् अर्हसि || ३-६-१०
"You are the great-souled one, knower of righteousness and a patron of virtue... such as you are, on approaching you we beg to state something for which we may please be excused... [3-6-10]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v11
अधार्मः सुमहान् नाथ भवेत् तस्य तु भूपतेः |
यो हरेत् बलि षड् भागम् न च रक्षति पुत्रवत् || ३-६-११
"Oh! , very great a-dharma, wrongness, will occur to that king who takes the sixth part of the country's produce as cess, but does not safeguard his subjects like his own sons... [3-6-11]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v12
युंजानः स्वान् इव प्राणान् प्राणैः इष्टान् सुतान् इव |
नित्य युक्तः सदा रक्षन् सर्वान् विषय वासिनः || ३-६-१२
प्राप्नोति शाश्वतीम् राम कीर्तिम् स बहु वार्षिकीम् |
ब्रह्मणः स्थानम् आसाद्य तत्र च अपि महीयते || ३-६-१३
"A king shall treat all the subjects of kingdom as his own sons, and he shall protect them as though he is ready to save them at the cost of his own lives, and he who will always be endeavouring in that manner will attain permanent renown lasting for many for many years to come, and thereby he attains a prosperous place even in Brahma's abode... [3-6-12, 3]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v13
यत् करोति परम् धर्मम् मुनिः मूल फल अशनः |
तत्र राज्ञः चतुर् भागः प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षतः || ३-६-१४
"He who righteously protects his subjects will get one fourth of the merit of great duty-bound deeds performed by each individual sage, say yajna-s, ascesis, meditation etc. performances. [3-6-14]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v14
सो अयम् ब्राह्मण भूयिष्ठो वानप्रस्थ गणो महान् |
त्वम् नाथो अनाथवत् राम राक्षसैः हन्यते भृशम् || ३-६-१५
"O, Rama, though you are there as protector for the hermitages, suchlike this one, where the most reverent Brahmans are there numerously, they look as though forsaken, for they are being demolished by demons, devastatingly... [3-6-15]
"Thus. we are not able to tolerate this injustice to the sages, being executed in this forest by the demons with fiendish deeds, in a ghastly manner... [3-6-18]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v18
ततः त्वाम् शरणार्थम् च शरण्यम् समुपस्थिताः |
परिपालय नः राम वध्यमानान् निशाचरैः || ३-६-१९
"Therefore we present ourselves before you as you are our protector, for the purpose of your protecting us that are being killed by nightwalkers... please safe guard us... [3-6-19]
"I wish to eliminate demons, the enemies of sages, in war... let the sages behold my valour, and my brother's valour in doing so..." Thus Rama promised the sages. [3-6-25]
Thus giving his aegis to the sages, that valiant Rama who is firmly virtue-souled, journeyed towards Sage Suteekshna with Lakshmana and the sages, and along with the one given by Honourable Janaka, namely Seetha. [3-6-26]
Aranya Kanda – Sarga 6 · v26
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे षष्ठः सर्गः
