3.10. Of bounden duty and promise

Hari Om.

Let us begin the tenth sarga of the araNya kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

Established in righteousness, rAma listened to the earnest words of vaidEhi (sItA) devoted to him and spoke wishing well of him and replied –

“O righteous sItA, well said! This nuanced cautionary note that you have made is befitting the noble race of janaka. Well, what can I say, sItA, you have said it yourself that where there is a kshatriya wielding a bow there should be no cry of distress! The sages living in the danDaka forest subsisting on fruits and roots and practicing rigorous penance are a terrified lot in deep distress. They came to me seeking protection from the cruel cannibal demons who kill them and make a meal out of them. They approached me and requested protection from these barbaric demons. I bowed at their feet and said, it is a matter of great shame for me indeed that while I should have come to you enquired your welfare you have come yourself seeking protection.

प्रसीदन्तु भवन्तो मे ह्रीरेषा हि ममातुला।

यदीदृशैरहं विप्रैरुपस्थेयैरुपस्थितः।।3.10.9।।

Then I asked them for what is expected of me. They told me that while performing yajna and hOma during auspicious full moon and no moon days the meat-eaters demons come and apprehend them. They were unanimous in their request to me that they seek protection against the demons from me. They were capable of vanquishing the demons by their long acquired merit from the penance. But they didn’t want to waste their merit acquired from life long penance and tarnish it with anger against the demons. Hence they were not cursing the demons into destruction. Therefore they have asked me to offer safety to them along with brother lakshmaNa.

O sItA, I want to completely abide by the request that was made of me and offer complete protection to the sages of the danDaka forest. Having heard their prayers and and having promised to protect them, I cannot go back on my word as long as I am alive, for me truth is very dear.

संश्रुत्य च न शक्ष्यामि जीवमानः प्रतिश्रवम्।

मुनीनामन्यथा कर्तुं सत्यमिष्टं हि मे सदा।।3.10.18।।

I will do it even if I have to pay for it through my life or you or lakshmaNa. Ensuring the welfare of the sages is something that I should do implicitly, then what about after having been requested explicitly.

तदवश्यं मया कार्यमृषीणां परिपालनम्।

अनुक्तेनापि वैदेहि प्रतिज्ञाय तु किं पुनः।।3.10.20।।

I cannot rescind the promise that I made to sages and the best of brAhmins.

Out of your great love and being my well wisher you have spoken those words. I am very happy that you did so. It is befitting your noble birth and noble race to nuance it so. You are my partner in the practice of righteousness and are indeed mean more than life to me”.

Having addressed the apprehensions of sItA thus, the benevolent rAma wielding his bow and along with lakshmaNa set off for the sylvan groves where sages perform penance.