वाक्यमेतत् तु वैदेह्या व्याहृतं भर्तृभक्तया। श्रुत्वा धर्मे स्थितो रामः प्रत्युवाचाथ जानकीम्॥
Hearing Vaidehi's words spoken through high regard (for her husband), Rāma with his energy enhanced, answered Janaka's daughter.
हितमुक्तं त्वया देवि स्निग्धया सदृशं वचः। कुलं व्यपदिशन्त्या च धर्मज्ञे जनकात्मजे॥
O noble lady, you have spoken wild words fraught with worth and profit; and, O Janaka's daughter versed in virtue, you have expounded the duties of Kșatriyas.
किं नु वक्ष्याम्यहं देवि त्वयैवोक्तमिदं वचः। क्षत्रियैर्धार्यते चापो नार्तशब्दो भवेदिति॥
What, O exalted one, shall I say? You have yourself by your words (furnished an answer to what you had said). Kşatriyas wear bows in order that the word 'distressed' may not exist (on earth).
ते चार्ता दण्डकारण्ये मुनयः संशितव्रताः। मां सीते स्वयमागम्य शरण्यं शरणं गताः॥ वसन्त कालकाले वने मूलफलाशनाः। न लभन्ते सुखं भीरु राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः॥
O Sītā, those ascetics of severe vows that are beset with perils in Dandaka, having personally come to me, who am their refuge, have sought protection at my hands.
भक्ष्यन्ते राक्षसैर्भीमैनरमांसोपजीविभिः। ते भक्ष्यमाणा मुनयो दण्डकारण्यवासिनः॥ अस्मानभ्यवपद्यैते मामूचुर्द्विजसत्तमाः।
Always dwelling in the forest, subsisting on fruits and roots, they on account of Rākṣasas of cruel deeds do not, O timid attain ease. These ascetics are devoured by terrible Rākṣasas living on human flesh. Being eaten up (by the Rākşasas), the anchorites living in the forest of Dandaka, those best of the twice-born ones, said to us-Be you gracious to us.'
मया तु वचनं श्रुत्वा तेषामेवं मुखाच्च्युतम्।।७ कृत्वा वचनशुश्रूषां वाक्यमेतदुदाहृतम्।
Hearing those words of theirs which fell from their lips, I, resolving to act in accordance with their request, said.
प्रसीदन्तु भवन्तो मेऽहीरेषा तु ममातुला॥ यदीदृशैरहं विप्रैरुपस्थेयैरुपस्थितः। किं करोमीति च मया व्याहृतं द्विजसंनिधौ॥
'Be you propitious.' This is surpassing shame to me that such Vipras who themselves are worthy of being sought, seek me. What shall I do? I said this in the presence of those twiceborn ones.
सर्वैरेव समागम्य वागियं समुदाहृता। राक्षसैर्दण्डकारण्ये बहुभिः कामरूपिभिः॥
Thereat all those that had come, said, We have been, O Rāma, immensely harassed in the forest of Dandaka by Räkşasas wearing shapes at will. Do you deliver us.
अर्दिताः स्म भृशं राम भवान् नस्तत्र रक्षतु। होमकाले तु सम्प्राप्ते पर्वकालेषु चानघ॥ धर्षयन्ति स्म दुर्धर्षा राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।
O sinless one! These irrepressible Rākṣasas living on human flesh vanquish us at the time of Homa, and on the occasions of Parvas.
राक्षसैर्धर्षितानां च तापसानां तपस्विनाम्॥ गतिं मृगयमाणानां भवान् नः परमा गतिः।
Of the saints and ascetics afflicted by the Rākşasas, who are on the search for their refuge, you are our best refuge. sore
कामं तपःप्रभावेण शक्ता हन्तुं निशाचरान्॥ चिरार्जितं न चेच्छामस्तपः खण्डयितुं वयम्। बहुविघ्नं तपो नित्यं दुश्चरं चैव राघव॥
We can by virtue of the energy of our asceticism easily destroy the rangers of the night; but we are loath to lose our asceticism earned in a long time. O Rāghava our austerities are constantly disturbed, and we can hardly perform thein.
तेन शापं न मुञ्चामो भक्ष्यमाणाश्च राक्षसैः। तदर्घमानान् रक्षोभिर्दण्डकारण्यवासिभिः ॥ रक्षकस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा त्वन्नाथा हि वयं वने।
Therefore, although afflicted and devoured by the Rākşasas dwelling in the forest of Dandaka, we do not cast our curse on them. You along with your brother are our protector: you are our master in this forest.
मया चैतद्वचः श्रुत्वा कात्स्न्येन परिपालनम्॥ ऋषीणां दण्डकारण्ये संश्रुतं जनकात्मजे।
Having heard these words, I promised my perfect protection to the saints in the forest of Dandaka, O daughter of Janaka.
संश्रुत्य न च शक्ष्यामि जीवमानः प्रतिश्रवम्॥ मुनीनामन्यथा कर्तुं सत्यमिष्टं हि मे सदा।
Having promised, I living cannot violate my vow concerning the ascetics; verily truth is ever dear to me.
अप्यहं जीवितं जह्यां त्वां वा सीते सलक्ष्मणाम्॥ न तु प्रतिज्ञां संश्रुत्य ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषतः।
I had rather renounce my life, or you, O Sītā, along with Lakşmaņa-but by no means my promise made, especially to Brahmanas.
तदवश्यं मया कार्यमृषीणां परिपालनम्॥ अनुक्तेनापि वैदेहि प्रतिज्ञाय कथं पुनः।
O Videha's daughter, the protection of the saints is incumbent on me even without any representation, and what (shall I say) when I have promised the same?
मम स्नेहाच्च सौहार्दादिदमुक्तं त्वा वचः॥ परितुष्टोऽस्म्यहं सीते न ह्यनिष्टोऽनुशास्यते।
You have spoken this to me through affection and friendship. I have been well pleased with you, O Sītā. One did not instruct another that one did not bear affection to.
सदृशं चानुरूपं च कुलस्य तव शोभने। सधर्मचारिणी मे त्वं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी॥
O beauteous damsel, (wat you have said) is worthy of both your love and your race. You are dearer to me even than life, being a companion in my religious acts.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं महात्मा सीतां प्रियां मैथिलराजपुत्रीम्। रामो धनुष्मान् सह लक्ष्मणेन जगाम रम्याणि तपोवनानि ॥
Having said these words to Mithila's princess, the, beloved Sītā, the high-souled Răma, equipped with bows, along with Laksmana, directed his steps towards the inviting woods of asceticism.