Sarga 23: The Hermitage of Kama
Kama Ashrama
At dawn, Rama and Lakshmana reach the sacred confluence of the Sarayu and Ganga, where Vishvamitra tells how Shiva once burned Kama's body to ash here, making him bodiless (Ananga); the princes rest the night among the sages.
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अवदग्धस्य रौद्रेण चक्षुषा रघुनन्दन। व्यशीर्यन्त शरीरात्स्वात्सर्वगात्राणि दुर्मते:।।1.23.12।।
Meaning
"O delight of Raghu's line, from Shiva's terrible eye burst forth a fire that scattered every limb of that foolish one's body."
तस्य गात्रं हतं तत्र निर्दग्थस्य महात्मना। अशरीर: कृत: काम: क्रोधाद्देवेश्वरेण हि।।1.23.13।।
Meaning
"His body destroyed there, burnt by the great-souled lord, Kama was rendered bodiless by the wrath of the god of gods."
अनङ्ग इति विख्यातस्तदाप्रभृति राघव। स चाङ्गविषयश्श्रीमान्यत्राङ्गं प्रमुमोच ह।।1.23.14।।
Meaning
"From that time on, O Raghava, he became known as Ananga, and the glorious land where his body fell became known as Anga."
तस्यायमाश्रम: पुण्यस्तस्येमे मुनय: पुरा। शिष्या धर्मपरा नित्यं तेषां पापं न विद्यते।।1.23.15।।
Meaning
"This is that sacred hermitage, and these sages were once his disciples, ever devoted to righteousness — sin has no hold on them."
इहाद्य रजनीं राम वसेम शुभदर्शन। पुण्ययोस्सरितोर्मध्ये श्वस्तरिष्यामहे वयम्।।1.23.16।।
Meaning
"Let us stay this night here, O Rama of auspicious appearance, between these two sacred rivers — tomorrow we shall cross over."
अभिगच्छामहे सर्वे शुचय: पुण्यमाश्रमम्। स्नाताश्च कृतजप्याश्च हुतहव्या नरोत्तम।।1.23.17।।
Meaning
"Let us all, purified, enter the sacred hermitage, having bathed, recited our prayers, and offered our oblations, O best of men."
तेषां संवदतां तत्र तपोदीर्घेण चक्षुषा। विज्ञाय परमप्रीता मुनयो हर्षमागमन्।।1.23.18।।
Meaning
As they conversed there, the sages, perceiving them with the far-seeing eye of their austerity, were greatly delighted and rejoiced.
अर्घ्यं पाद्यं तथाऽतिथ्यं निवेद्य कुशिकात्मजे। रामलक्ष्मणयो: पश्चादकुर्वन्नतिथिक्रियाम्।।1.23.19।।
Meaning
Offering water and welcome to Kaushika's son, they then performed the rites of hospitality for Rama and Lakshmana as well.
सत्कारं समनुप्राप्य कथाभिरभिरञ्जयन्। यथार्हमजपन् सन्ध्यामृषयस्ते समाहिता:।।1.23.20।।
Meaning
Received with honor and delighted with stories, those composed sages then duly recited the evening prayers as was fitting.
तत्र वासिभिरानीता मुनिभिस्सुव्रतै: सह। न्यवसन् सुसुखं तत्र कामाश्रमपदे तदा।।1.23.21।।
Meaning
Led in by the sages of good vows dwelling there, they rested most comfortably at that time in the hermitage of Kama.