Aranya Kanda · Sarga 73 of 76 · 46 verses
The Road to the Pampa
Having pointed out to Rama the way to search for Sita, Kabandha, knowing what matters, speaks again with meaningful words: “This is the auspicious path, Rama, where these flowering trees shine, lovely, toward the west: jambu, priyala, jackfruit, banyan, plaksha, tinduka, ashvattha, karnikara, mango and other trees; dhanvana, nagavriksha, tilaka, naktamala, blue ashoka, kadamba and flowering karavira, agnimukhya, ashoka, bright red paribhadraka. Climbing them, or pulling them down by force to the ground, you will eat fruits like nectar and go on. Beyond it, Kakutstha, is another forest of flowering trees, like Nandana, like the northern Kurus, where trees bear fruit in every season and drip honey, where all the seasons are present as in the Caitraratha forest; there trees with great branches bent with the weight of fruit shine everywhere like cloud-mountains. Climbing them, or bringing them down, Lakshmana will give you fruits like nectar at your ease. Walking over fine mountains, from mountain to mountain and forest to forest, you two heroes will come to the lotus lake named Pampa: without gravel, without slipping, with even banks and no moss, Rama, with sand, adorned with lotuses and water-lilies. There swans, plavas, curlews and ospreys, Raghava, at home on the Pampa’s waters, call with sweet voices; auspicious, unfamiliar with killing, they do not take fright at seeing men. You will eat those birds, plump as lumps of ghee; and Lakshmana, full of devotion to you, will give you the best fish of the Pampa, rohita, vakratunda and nalamina, killed with arrows, skinned and finned, roasted on iron, plump and with few bones. While you eat those fish, Lakshmana will draw the Pampa’s lotus-scented, auspicious, pleasantly cool, healthy, clear water, like silver and crystal, and give it to you to drink from a lotus leaf. Walking in the evening, Lakshmana will show you, Rama, the stout monkeys who roam the forest and sleep in mountain caves. You will see them, best of men, stout and tawny, come down to the Pampa, roaring like bulls in their eagerness for water. Seeing the trees in flower and the Pampa’s auspicious water in the evening, Rama, you will give up your grief. There tilaka and naktamala trees are covered with flowers, and lotuses and water-lilies bloom, Raghava; no man wears them as garlands there, yet they never fade or fall. The disciples of Matanga, sages of perfect composure, lived there. When they were weighed down by the loads of forest food they carried for their teacher, drops of sweat fell quickly from their bodies to the ground; by the sages’ austerity those drops became garlands of flowers, born of sweat, that never perish, Raghava. Of those who have gone, their servant is still seen today: the ascetic woman named Shabari, Kakutstha, very long-lived. Always standing in dharma, having seen you, godlike, honoured by all beings, she will go to the world of heaven.
“Then, Rama, keeping to the western shore of the Pampa, you will see a secret hermitage site beyond compare, Kakutstha. Elephants cannot step into that hermitage, by the ordinance of the seer Matanga; that forest is famous as Matanga’s forest, delight of the Raghus. In that forest like Nandana, like the forest of the gods, full of many birds, you will be at peace and delight in it, Rama. In front of the Pampa is Rishyamuka with its flowering trees, very hard to climb, guarded by young elephants, noble, made long ago by Brahma. A man who sleeps on the top of that mountain, Rama, obtains on waking the wealth he dreamed of. But an evil-doer of crooked conduct who climbs it is seized and struck by rakshasas while he sleeps there. There too the great noise is heard of young elephants playing in the Pampa, living by Matanga’s hermitage; with streams of rut on them, the great tuskers, swift, dark as clouds, roam about in herds or scattered; having drunk the clear, lovely, beautiful water there, very pleasant to touch, full of every fragrance, satisfied, the forest-dwellers plunge into the woods. Seeing bears and leopards, dark-blue and tender in hue, and ruru deer, unharmed, unconquered, you will give up your grief. On that mountain a great cave shines, Rama, closed with a rock, hard to enter, Kakutstha. At the eastern entrance of that cave is a great lake of cool water, lovely, with many roots and fruits, surrounded by many trees. There lives righteous Sugriva with the monkeys; sometimes he stays on the peak of that mountain.” Having instructed Rama and Lakshmana so, Kabandha, garlanded, of the colour of the sun, mighty, shines in the sky. As that fortunate one stands in the sky, Rama and Lakshmana, setting out, say near him, “Go.” And he says to them, “Go, for the success of your task.” Having taken leave of them, very pleased, Kabandha departs. Having regained his form, surrounded by beauty, his whole body shining, Kabandha, standing in the sky, looks at Rama, points the way and says: “Make friendship.”
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दर्शयित्वा तु रामाय सीतायाः परिमार्गणे । वाक्यमन्वर्थमर्थज्ञः कबन्धः पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Having pointed out to Rama the way to search for Sita, Kabandha, knowing what matters, spoke again meaningful words:
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The Road to the Pampa 1 min read.
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एष राम शिवः पन्था यत्रैते पुष्पिता द्रुमाः । प्रतीचीं दिशमाश्रित्य प्रकाशन्ते मनोरमाः ॥ २ ॥
“This is the auspicious path, Rama, where these flowering trees, keeping to the western direction, shine, lovely:
जम्बूप्रियालपनसा न्यग्रोधप्लक्षतिन्दुकाः । अश्वत्थाः कर्णिकाराश्च चूताश्चान्ये च पादपाः ॥ ३ ॥
“jambus, priyalas, jackfruits, banyans, plakshas and tindukas, ashvatthas and karnikaras, mangoes and other trees,
धन्वना नागवृक्षाश्च तिलका नक्तमालकाः । नीलाशोकाः कदम्बाश्च करवीराश्च पुष्पिताः ॥ ४ ॥
“dhanvanas and nagavrikshas, tilakas and naktamalas, blue ashokas and kadambas, and karaviras in flower,
अग्निमुख्या अशोकाश्च सुरक्ताः पारिभद्रकाः । तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वा च तान् बलात् ॥ ५ ॥
“agnimukhyas and ashokas, and very red paribhadrakas. Climbing them, or else bringing them to the ground by force,
फलान्यमृतकल्पानि भक्षयित्वा गमिष्यथः । तदतिक्रम्य काकुत्स्थ वनं पुष्पितपादपम् ॥ ६ ॥
“having eaten fruits like nectar, you two will go. Passing beyond that, Kakutstha, a forest of flowering trees,
नन्दनप्रतिमं चान्यत् कुरवस्तूत्तरा इव । सर्वकालफला यत्र पादपा मधुरस्रवाः ॥ ७ ॥
“another like Nandana, like the Northern Kurus, where the trees bear fruit in all seasons and drip honey,
सर्वे च ऋतवस्तत्र वने चैत्ररथे यथा । फलभारनतास्तत्र महाविटपधारिणः ॥ ८ ॥
“and all the seasons are there in that forest, as in Caitraratha; the trees there, bent with the weight of fruit, bearing great branches,
शोभन्ते सर्वतस्तत्र मेघपर्वतसंनिभाः । तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वाथवा सुखम् ॥ ९ ॥
“shine everywhere there, like cloud-mountains. Climbing them, or bringing them to the ground at ease,
फलान्यमृतकल्पानि लक्ष्मणस्ते प्रदास्यति । चङ्क्रमन्तौ वरान् शैलान् शैलाच्छैलं वनाद् वनम् ॥ १० ॥
“Lakshmana will give you fruits like nectar. Walking over fine mountains, from mountain to mountain, from forest to forest,
ततः पुष्करिणीं वीरौ पम्पां नाम गमिष्यथः । अशर्करामविभ्रंशां समतीर्थामशैवलाम् ॥ ११ ॥
“then you two heroes will go to the lotus lake named Pampa, without gravel, without slipping, with even fords, without moss,
राम संजातवालूकां कमलोत्पलशोभिताम् । तत्र हंसाः प्लवाः क्रौञ्चाः कुरराश्चैव राघव ॥ १२ ॥
“with sand, Rama, adorned with lotuses and water-lilies. There swans, plavas, curlews and ospreys, Raghava,
वल्गुस्वरा निकूजन्ति पम्पासलिलगोचराः । नोद्विजन्ते नरान् दृष्ट्वा वधस्याकोविदाः शुभाः ॥ १३ ॥
“call with sweet voices, moving in the Pampa’s waters; seeing men they do not take fright, unacquainted with killing, auspicious.
घृतपिण्डोपमान् स्थूलांस्तान् द्विजान् भक्षयिष्यथः । रोहितान् वक्रतुण्डांश्च नलमीनांश्च राघव ॥ १४ ॥
“You will eat those birds, plump like lumps of ghee, and rohitas, vakratundas and nalaminas, Raghava,
पम्पायामिषुभिर्मत्स्यांस्तत्र राम वरान् हतान् । निस्त्वक्पक्षानयस्तप्तानकृशानैककण्टकान् ॥ १५ ॥
तव भक्त्या समायुक्तो लक्ष्मणः सम्प्रदास्यति । भृशं तान् खादतो मत्स्यान् पम्पायाः पुष्पसंचये ॥ १६ ॥
“the best fish in the Pampa, Rama, killed there with arrows, without skin and fins, roasted on iron, not thin, with few bones: Lakshmana, joined with devotion to you, will give them. As you eat those fish greatly, by the Pampa’s heaps of flowers,
पद्मगन्धि शिवं वारि सुखशीतमनामयम् । उद्धृत्य स तदाक्लिष्टं रूप्यस्फटिकसंनिभम् ॥ १७ ॥
अथ पुष्करपर्णेन लक्ष्मणः पाययिष्यति । स्थूलान् गिरिगुहाशय्यान् वानरान् वनचारिणः ॥ १८ ॥
“the lotus-scented, auspicious water, pleasantly cool, healthy, clear, like silver and crystal, he, drawing it then, Lakshmana will then give you to drink with a lotus leaf. The stout monkeys, sleeping in mountain caves, roaming the forest,
सायाह्ने विचरन् राम दर्शयिष्यति लक्ष्मणः । अपां लोभादुपावृत्तान् वृषभानिव नर्दतः ॥ १९ ॥
“Lakshmana, walking in the evening, will show you, Rama, come down in their eagerness for water, roaring like bulls.
स्थूलान् पीतांश्च पम्पायां द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं नरोत्तम । सायाह्ने विचरन् राम विटपी माल्यधारिणः ॥ २० ॥
“You will see them stout and tawny at the Pampa, best of men. Walking in the evening, Rama, the trees bearing garlands,
शिवोदकं च पम्पायां दृष्ट्वा शोकं विहास्यसि । सुमनोभिश्चितास्तत्र तिलका नक्तमालकाः ॥ २१ ॥
“and the auspicious water at the Pampa: seeing them you will give up grief. There tilakas and naktamalas are covered with flowers,
उत्पलानि च फुल्लानि पङ्कजानि च राघव । न तानि कश्चिन्माल्यानि तत्रारोपयिता नरः ॥ २२ ॥
“and water-lilies are in bloom, and lotuses, Raghava. No man there puts them on as garlands,
न च वै म्लानतां यान्ति न च शीर्यन्ति राघव । मतङ्गशिष्यास्तत्रासन्नृषयः सुसमाहिताः ॥ २३ ॥
“and they do not fade, nor do they fall, Raghava. The disciples of Matanga, seers well composed, were there.
तेषां भाराभितप्तानां वन्यमाहरतां गुरोः । ये प्रपेतुर्महीं तूर्णं शरीरात् स्वेदबिन्दवः ॥ २४ ॥
“As they were weighed down by loads, bringing forest food for their teacher, the drops of sweat that fell quickly from their bodies to the ground,
तानि माल्यानि जातानि मुनीनां तपसा तदा । स्वेदबिन्दुसमुत्थानि न विनश्यन्ति राघव ॥ २५ ॥
“those became garlands then, by the sages’ austerity; arisen from drops of sweat, they do not perish, Raghava.
तेषां गतानामद्यापि दृश्यते परिचारिणी । श्रमणी शबरी नाम काकुत्स्थ चिरजीविनी ॥ २६ ॥
“Of those who have gone, their servant is seen even today, the ascetic woman named Shabari, Kakutstha, long-lived.
त्वां तु धर्मे स्थिता नित्यं सर्वभूतनमस्कृतम् । दृष्ट्वा देवोपमं राम स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यति ॥ २७ ॥
“Always standing in dharma, having seen you, honoured by all beings, godlike, Rama, she will go to the world of heaven.
ततस्तद्राम पम्पायास्तीरमाश्रित्य पश्चिमम् । आश्रमस्थानमतुलं गुह्यं काकुत्स्थ पश्यसि ॥ २८ ॥
“Then, Rama, keeping to that western shore of the Pampa, you will see an incomparable, secret hermitage site, Kakutstha.
न तत्राक्रमितुं नागाः शक्नुवन्ति तदाश्रमे । ऋषेस्तस्य मतङ्गस्य विधानात् तच्च काननम् ॥ २९ ॥
“Elephants cannot step there into that hermitage, by the ordinance of that seer Matanga; and that forest
मतङ्गवनमित्येव विश्रुतं रघुनन्दन । तस्मिन् नन्दनसंकाशे देवारण्योपमे वने ॥ ३० ॥
“is famed as Matanga’s forest, delight of the Raghus. In that forest like Nandana, like the forest of the gods,
नानाविहगसंकीर्णे रंस्यसे राम निर्वृतः । ऋष्यमूकस्तु पम्पायाः पुरस्तात् पुष्पितद्रुमः ॥ ३१ ॥
“crowded with many kinds of birds, you will delight, Rama, at peace. And in front of the Pampa is Rishyamuka with flowering trees,
सुदुःखारोहणश्चैव शिशुनागाभिरक्षितः । उदारो ब्रह्मणा चैव पूर्वकालेऽभिनिर्मितः ॥ ३२ ॥
“very hard to climb, guarded by young elephants, noble, made long ago by Brahma.
शयानः पुरुषो राम तस्य शैलस्य मूर्धनि । यत् स्वप्नं लभते वित्तं तत् प्रबुद्धोऽधिगच्छति ॥ ३३ ॥
“A man sleeping on the top of that mountain, Rama, obtains on waking the wealth that he gains in a dream.
यस्त्वेनं विषमाचारः पापकर्माधिरोहति । तत्रैव प्रहरन्त्येनं सुप्तमादाय राक्षसाः ॥ ३४ ॥
“But whoever of crooked conduct, a doer of evil, climbs it, him the rakshasas seize while he sleeps and strike right there.
तत्रापि शिशुनागानामाक्रन्दः श्रूयते महान् । क्रीडतां राम पम्पायां मतङ्गाश्रमवासिनाम् ॥ ३५ ॥
“There too a great noise is heard of young elephants playing in the Pampa, Rama, dwellers of Matanga’s hermitage.
सक्ता रुधिरधाराभिः संहत्य परमद्विपाः । प्रचरन्ति पृथक्कीर्णा मेघवर्णास्तरस्विनः ॥ ३६ ॥
“Covered with streams of rut, the great tuskers, joined together or scattered apart, move about, cloud-coloured, swift.
ते तत्र पीत्वा पानीयं विमलं चारु शोभनम् । अत्यन्तसुखसंस्पर्शं सर्वगन्धसमन्वितम् ॥ ३७ ॥
निर्वृत्ताः संविगाहन्ते वनानि वनगोचराः । ऋक्षांश्च द्वीपिनश्चैव नीलकोमलकप्रभान् ॥ ३८ ॥
“Having drunk the water there, clear, lovely, beautiful, very pleasant to the touch, endowed with every fragrance, satisfied, those forest-roamers plunge into the woods. Bears and leopards, with radiance dark-blue and tender,
रुरूनपेतानजयान् दृष्ट्वा शोकं प्रहास्यसि । राम तस्य तु शैलस्य महती शोभते गुहा ॥ ३९ ॥
“and ruru deer, unharmed, unconquered: seeing them you will give up grief. And a great cave of that mountain shines, Rama,
शिलापिधाना काकुत्स्थ दुःखं चास्याः प्रवेशनम् । तस्या गुहायाः प्राग्द्वारे महान् शीतोदको ह्रदः॥ ॥ ४० ॥
“closed with a rock, Kakutstha, and its entering is hard. At the eastern door of that cave is a great lake of cool water,
बहुमूलफलो रम्यो नानानगसमाकुलः । तस्यां वसति धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवः सह वानरैः ॥ ४१ ॥
“lovely, with many roots and fruits, crowded with many kinds of trees. In it lives righteous Sugriva with the monkeys.
कदाचिच्छिखरे तस्य पर्वतस्यापि तिष्ठति । कबन्धस्त्वनुशास्यैवं तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ ४२ ॥
“Sometimes he stays on the peak of that mountain too.” Kabandha, having instructed the two, Rama and Lakshmana, so,
स्रग्वी भास्करवर्णाभः खे व्यरोचत वीर्यवान् । तं तु खस्थं महाभागं तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ ४३ ॥
garlanded, with the colour and radiance of the sun, mighty, shone in the sky. That fortunate one standing in the sky, the two, Rama and Lakshmana,
प्रस्थितौ त्वं व्रजस्वेति वाक्यमूचतुरन्तिके । गम्यतां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थमिति तावब्रवीत् स च ॥ ४४ ॥
setting out, said these words near him: “Go.” And he said to them, “Let it be gone for the success of the task.”
सुप्रीतौ तावनुज्ञाप्य कबन्धः प्रस्थितस्तदा ॥ ४५ ॥
Having taken leave of those two, very pleased, Kabandha then departed.
स तत् कबन्धः प्रतिपद्य रूपं वृतः श्रिया भास्वरसर्वदेहः । निदर्शयन् राममवेक्ष्य खस्थः सख्यं कुरुष्वेति तदाभ्युवाच ॥ ४६ ॥
That Kabandha, having regained his form, surrounded by beauty, his whole body shining, standing in the sky, looking at Rama, pointing out the way, then said: “Make friendship.”
End of sarga 73 Next: sarga 74 · Shabari