Rama's Further Journey, the Slaying of Viradha, and the Sharabhanga Episode
As they journey deeper into the forest, Rama slays the demon Viradha. He then meets Sage Sharabhanga, who attains supreme peace through the Lord's darshan.
Aranya Kand · Episode 5 / 18
Episode Text
मुनि पद कमल नाइ करि सीसा। चले बनहि सुर नर मुनि ईसा॥ आगें राम अनुज पुनि पाछें। मुनि बर बेष बने अति काछें॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muni pada kamala nāi kari sīsā। cale banahi sura nara muni īsā॥ āgēṃ rāma anuja puni pāchēṃ। muni bara beṣa bane ati kāchēṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Bowing their heads at the sage's lotus feet, Rama, the lord of gods, men, and sages, went into the forest. Rama went ahead, Lakshmana followed behind, and both were beautifully adorned in the dress of ascetics.
उभय बीच श्री सोहइ कैसी। ब्रह्म जीव बिच माया जैसी॥ सरिता बन गिरि अवघट घाटा। पति पहिचानि देहिं बर बाटा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ubhaya bīca śrī sohai kaisī। brahma jīva bica māyā jaisī॥ saritā bana giri avaghaṭa ghāṭā। pati pahicāni dehiṃ bara bāṭā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
How beautifully Shri Janaki shines between the two, like Maya between Brahma and the individual soul. Rivers, forests, mountains, and difficult passes all seem to recognize their Lord and give Him an easy path.
जहँ जहँ जाहिं देव रघुराया। करहिं मेघ तहँ तहँ नभ छाया॥ मिला असुर बिराध मग जाता। आवतहीं रघुबीर निपाता॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahaṃ jahaṃ jāhiṃ deva raghurāyā। karahiṃ megha tahaṃ tahaṃ nabha chāyā॥ milā asura birādha maga jātā। āvatahīṃ raghubīra nipātā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Wherever Lord Raghunatha goes, clouds spread shade across the sky. As He was journeying along the path, the demon Viradha appeared. As soon as he came before them, Raghunatha struck him down.
तुरतहिं रुचिर रूप तेहिं पावा। देखि दुखी निज धाम पठावा॥ पुनि आए जहँ मुनि सरभंगा। सुंदर अनुज जानकी संगा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
turatahiṃ rucira rūpa tehim pāvā। dekhi dukhī nija dhāma paṭhāvā॥ puni āe jahaṃ muni sarabhaṃgā। sundara anuja jānakī saṃgā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
As soon as he was slain, he attained a beautiful divine form. Seeing his distress, the Lord sent him to His own supreme abode. Then Rama came with His handsome younger brother Lakshmana and Janaki to the place where the sage Sharabhanga was.
देखि राम मुख पंकज मुनिबर लोचन भृंग। सादर पान करत अति धन्य जन्म सरभंग॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi rāma mukha paṃkaja munibara locana bhṛṃga। sādara pāna karata ati dhanya janma sarabhaṃga॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing Rama's lotus face, the bumblebee-like eyes of the great sage drink its nectar with deep reverence. Blessed indeed is the birth of Sharabhanga.
कह मुनि सुनु रघुबीर कृपाला। संकर मानस राजमराला॥ जात रहेउँ बिरंचि के धामा। सुनेउँ श्रवन बन ऐहहिं रामा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaha muni sunu raghubīra kṛpālā। saṃkara mānasa rājamarālā॥ jāta raheuṃ biraṃci ke dhāmā। suneuṃ śravana bana aihahiṃ rāmā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The sage said, "Listen, O compassionate Raghubir, swan of Lord Shankara's mind-lake! I was on my way to Brahmaloka when I heard with my own ears that Rama would come to the forest."
चितवत पंथ रहेउँ दिन राती। अब प्रभु देखि जुड़ानी छाती॥ नाथ सकल साधन मैं हीना। कीन्ही कृपा जानि जन दीना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
citavata pantha raheuṃ dina rātī। aba prabhu dekhi juṛānī chātī॥ ātha sakala sādhana maiṃ hīnā। kīnhī kṛpā jāni jana dīnā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Ever since then I have been watching for You day and night. Now, seeing You, my heart has been cooled and refreshed. O Lord, I am devoid of all means, and knowing me to be Your poor servant, You have shown me mercy.
सो कछु देव न मोहि निहोरा। निज पन राखेउ जन मन चोरा॥ तब लगि रहहु दीन हित लागी। जब लगि मिलौं तुम्हहि तनु त्यागी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so kachu deva na mohi nihorā। nija pana rākheu jana mana corā॥ taba lagi rahahu dīna hita lāgī। jaba lagi milauṃ tumhahi tanu tyāgī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, this is not really a favor to me. O thief of the devotee's heart, by doing so You have only kept Your own pledge. For the welfare of this helpless one, please remain here until I, leaving this body, meet You.
जोग जग्य जप तप ब्रत कीन्हा। प्रभु कहँ देइ भगति बर लीन्हा॥ एहि बिधि सर रचि मुनि सरभंगा। बैठे हृदयँ छाड़ि सब संगा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
joga jagya japa tapa brata kīnhā। prabhu kahaṃ dei bhagati bara līnhā॥ ehi bidhi sara rachi muni sarabhaṃgā। baiṭhe hṛdayaṃ chāṛi saba saṃgā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Whatever yoga, sacrifices, japa, austerities, and vows the sage performed, he offered them all to the Lord and received in return the boon of devotion. In this way, having attained that rare devotion, Sage Sharabhanga sat with his heart free of all attachment.
सीता अनुज समेत प्रभु नील जलद तनु स्याम। मम हियँ बसहु निरंतर सगुनरूप श्रीराम॥ ८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sītā anuja sameta prabhu nīla jalada tanu syāma। mama hiyaṃ basahu niraṃtara sagunarūpa śrīrāma॥ 8 ॥
Meaning:
O Rama, whose body is dark like a blue cloud and who has a personal, manifest form, please dwell forever in my heart, together with Sita and Your younger brother Lakshmana.