शरभङ्गे दिवम् प्राप्ते मुनि संघाः समागताः | अभ्यगच्छन्त काकुत्स्थम् रामम् ज्वलित तेजसम् || ३-६-१

On Sage Sharabhanga attaining heaven, groups of sages assembled and approached Rama of Kakutstha dynasty, who is glowing with resplendence. [3-6-1]

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]

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]

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]

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]

सर्वे ब्राह्ंया श्रिया ज्युक्ता दृढ योग समाहिताः | शरभंग आश्रमे रामम् अभिजग्मुः च तापसाः || ३-६-६

All have Vedic resplendence and firm yogic control, and they have arrived at the hermitage of Sage Sharabhanga for Rama. [3-6-6]

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]

त्वम् इक्ष्वाकु कुलस्य अस्य पृथिव्याः च महारथः | प्रधानः च अपि नाथः च देवानाम् मघवान् इव || ३-६-८ ओर्

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

एहि पश्य शरीराणि मुनीनाम् भावित आत्मनाम् | हतानाम् राक्षसैः घोरैः बहूनाम् बहुधा वने || ३-६-१६

"Come and see many of the bodies of the sages, the contemplative souls, that are variously killed by ghastly demons in the forest... [3-6-16]

पंपा नदी निवासानाम् अनुमन्दाकिनीम् अपि | चित्रकूट आलयानाम् च क्रियते कदनम् महत् || ३-६-१७

"At Pampa riverside, and alongside of River Mandakini, and at the surroundings of Mt. Chitrakuta also, this hideous warfare is being done... [3-6-17]

एवम् वयम् न मृष्यामो विप्रकारम् तपस्विनाम् | क्रियमाणम् वने घोरम् रक्षोभिः भीम कर्मभिः || ३-६-१८

"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]

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]

परा त्वत्तः गतिः वीर पृधिव्यम् न उपपद्यते | परिपालय नः सर्वान् राक्षसेभ्यो नृपात्मजः || ३-६-२०

"Other than you, oh, valorous Rama, no way-out is deducible on this earth, hence oh, prince, protect all of us from the demons... [3-6-20]

एतत् श्रुत्वा तु काकुत्स्थः तापसानाम् तपस्विनाम् | इदम् प्रोवाच धर्मात्मा सर्वान् एव तपस्विनः || ३-६-२१

On hearing all that is said by the sages of great penance, he that virtue souled Rama said this unto all of the sages. [3-6-21]

न एवम् अर्हथ माम् वक्तुम् आज्ञाप्यः अहम् तपस्विनाम् | केवलेन स्व कार्येण प्रवेष्टव्यम् वनम् मया || ३-६-२२

"Unapt is this way of speaking to me...command me, for I am at your behest... just for my personal purpose I had to enter the forests.... [3-6-22]

विप्रकारम् अपाक्रष्टुम् राक्षसैः भवताम् इमम् | पितुः तु निर्देशकरः प्रविष्टो अहम् इदम् वनम् || ३-६-२३

"I entered this forest as ordered by my father and even to obliterate the unconscionable state of yours owing to the misdeeds of demons. [3-6-23]

भवताम् अर्थ सिद्ध्यर्थम् आगतोऽहम् यदृच्छया | तस्य मे अयम् वने वासो भविष्यति महाफलः | ३-६-२४

"Perchance I have come for the achievement of your purpose, such as I am, dwelling in this forest will immensely be fruitful to me... [3-6-24]

तपस्विनाम् रणे शत्रून् हन्तुम् इच्छामि राक्षसान् | पश्यन्तु वीर्यम् ऋषयः सः ब्रातुर् मे तपोधनाः || ३-६-२५

"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]

दत्त्वा अभयम् च अपि तपो धनानाम् धर्मे धृइत आत्मा सह लक्ष्मणेन | तपो धनैः च अपि सह आर्य दत्तः सुतीक्ष्णम् एव अभिजगाम वीरः || ३-६-२६

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]

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे षष्ठः सर्गः