Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— सुतीक्ष्णो ब्रह्मवर्चस्वी सुशर्मा नीललोहितः। सत्य आङ्गिरसः श्रीतिरुद्दालक इलामहाः॥१॥
Brahmā said: There came Sutīkṣṇa, radiant with sacred learning; Suśarman, Nīlalohita, Satya Āṅgirasa, Śrīti, Uddālaka, and Ilāmaha.
Passage 2
शातातपो वृद्धशर्मा ऋद्धः ककुदलूखलः। अगस्त्यस्य मुनेः शिष्या ये चान्ये सुहृदादयः॥२॥
There were Śātātapa, Vṛddhaśarman, Ṛddha, Kakudalūkhala, the disciples of Sage Agastya, and other friendly sages.
Passage 3
विश्वामित्रो मरुस्तार्क्ष्यः कक्षीवान् कुक्षिरूषरः। शुचिः पर्यवनो दक्षः शमनो दमनस्तथा॥३॥
There were Viśvāmitra, Marut, Tārkṣya, Kakṣīvat, Kukṣirūṣara, Śuci, Paryavana, Dakṣa, Śamana, and Damana.
Passage 4
च्यवनो भृगुरौर्वश्च दुर्वासा नारदस्तथा। पर्वतो भगवान् योगी मैत्रेयः कपिलादयः॥४॥
There were Cyavana, Bhṛgu, Aurva, Durvāsas, Nārada, the venerable yogin Parvata, Maitreya, Kapila, and others.
Passage 5
आचार्या ये वयोवृद्धाः शुद्धा ज्ञानदृशो बुधाः। सर्वे श्रीराममाज्ञाय भगवन्तमधोक्षजम्॥५॥
All these teachers, advanced in years, pure, wise, and endowed with the vision of knowledge, recognized Śrī Rāma as Lord Adhokṣaja.
Passage 6
अत्रेराश्रममायातं सदारं सानुजं च तम्। उपतस्थुर्मुनिवराः प्रजाकुशलहेतवे॥६॥
Knowing that he had come to Atri's hermitage with his wife and younger brother, the eminent sages approached him for the welfare of all beings.
Passage 7
तानागतान् स भगवानत्रिर्वन्यवृत्तिभिः। तर्पयामास रामेण सीतया च सहातिथीन्॥७॥
The venerable Atri, together with Rāma and Sītā, satisfied those newly arrived guests with the provisions of forest life.
Passage 8
रामोऽपि तान् मुनिवरान् जग्राह विनयादिभिः। तेऽतिहृष्टाशया अत्रेः समक्षं राममब्रुवन्॥८॥
Rāma too received the eminent sages with humility and every courtesy. Their hearts greatly gladdened, they addressed him in Atri's presence. The Sages Describe the Rākṣasa Terror
Passage 9
जानीमहे त्वां वयमीशमस्या रक्षोभिरुत्सन्नरुचेस्त्रिलोक्याः। अतोऽखिलार्थप्रदमर्थयामस्त्वामेव हित्वा सकलान् सुरेशान्॥९॥
“We know you to be the Lord of the three worlds, whose splendor has been laid waste by the Rākṣasas. Therefore, leaving aside all the rulers of the gods, we petition you alone, the fulfiller of every need.
Passage 10
त्वं देवतैः प्रार्थित एव राम कामं कृपासिन्धुरिहावतीर्णः। यदर्थकृत्ये प्रसभं तमर्थं कुरुष्व विज्ञातविधेत्रजातः॥१०॥
“Rāma, ocean of compassion, you have indeed descended here at the gods' prayer. Knower of the proper way, now accomplish decisively the purpose for which you have appeared in the threefold world.
Passage 11
नन्विदानीं रघुश्रेष्ठ रात्रिञ्चरचमूपतेः। आज्ञया राक्षसैः सर्वा नाशिता एव ते प्रजाः॥११॥
“Best of the Raghus, at the command of the lord of the night-roaming armies, the Rākṣasas have now destroyed your subjects everywhere.
Passage 12
वाडवा भूरितपसो नैष्ठिका वन्यवृत्तयः। भक्ष्यन्ते राक्षसैरुग्रैर्मांसाद्भिरसुजां पिबैः॥१२॥
“Vedic ascetics rich in austerity, steadfast in their vows and living upon forest fare, are devoured by savage, flesh-eating Rākṣasas who drink their blood.
Passage 13
शून्याः खल्वाश्रमगृहा इदानीं रघुपुङ्गव। पूर्णाश्च द्विजवर्याणामस्थिभिर्वज्रकर्कशैः॥१३॥
“Scion of Raghu, the hermitage dwellings now stand empty, yet they are filled with the thunderbolt-hard bones of eminent Brahmins.
Passage 14
ये भक्षिताः कोणपैः क्रूरकर्मपरायणैर्नूतनब्रह्मचर्याः। पुत्रा मुनीनां बत कोमलाङ्गाः रुदन्ति तेषां पितरस्तेष्वाश्रमेषु॥१४॥
“The tender young sons of sages, newly entered upon sacred studentship, have been devoured by corpse-eaters devoted to cruel deeds. Alas, their fathers weep for them in those hermitages.
Passage 15
येषां मातापितरौ कोणपाधमैरेत्युग्रदंष्ट्रैश्चर्वितौ क्रूरभावैः। ते बालका वन्यवृतां मुनीनां पाल्यन्ते किं हरिणीनां पयोभिः॥१५॥
“Other children have seen their mother and father attacked and chewed by vile corpse-eaters of cruel nature and terrible fangs. Are those children of forest-dwelling sages now to be sustained by the milk of does?
Passage 16
दाक्षिणात्यैरपसदै राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः। शून्यप्रायं कृतं राम ब्राह्मणैर्दक्षिणापथम्॥१६॥
“Rāma, the debased and cruel Rākṣasas of the south have made the southern country nearly empty of Brahmins.
Passage 17
रात्रौ मायाविनोऽनेकरूपा ब्राह्मणसद्मसु। प्रविश्य राक्षसा यज्ञहुताशं शमयन्ति च॥१७॥
“At night the shape-shifting Rākṣasas assume many forms, enter Brahmin homes, and extinguish the sacrificial fire.
Passage 18
विण्मूत्रं चैव निष्ठीवं कुर्वते देवतालये। दूषयन्ति द्विजनुषां दारान् कन्याश्च बालिशाः॥१८॥
“They leave excrement, urine, and spittle in the temples of the gods, and the depraved creatures violate the wives and daughters of the twice-born.
Passage 19
प्रतिष्ठितानां देवानामभ्युत्सादनकर्मणा। उद्वेजयन्ति सततं जनान् ग्रामपुरस्थितान्॥१९॥
“By tearing down consecrated deities, they continually terrorize the people who live in villages and towns.
Passage 20
खेटखर्वटवाटीषु ग्रामेषु नगरेषु च। विचरन्ति सदा रात्रौ ध्वंसयन्तो द्विजांश्च गाः॥२०॥
“They roam every night through settlements, market towns, enclosures, villages, and cities, destroying Brahmins and cows.
Passage 21
यद्यद्धर्मक्रियामूलं तत्तत्परमनिर्दयाः। निष्पिष्य नाशयन्त्येव तमःपिहितबुद्धयः॥२१॥
“Utterly merciless and their understanding covered by darkness, they crush and destroy everything that serves as a foundation for sacred practice.
Passage 22
एवं धर्मविरोधेन मनोमोदं वितन्वते। लङ्कापतेर्नृशंसस्य यदायत्ता इमेऽखिलाः॥२२॥
“They delight their minds through this opposition to dharma because they are all subject to the pitiless lord of Laṅkā.
Passage 23
सर्वेषां खलु दुष्टानां मूलं लङ्कामहीपतिः। उत्पथश्च सदोद्वृत्तो महातामसमानसः॥२३॥
“The king of Laṅkā is the root of all these evildoers. He always follows a corrupt path, behaves wickedly, and possesses a profoundly darkened mind.
Passage 24
तस्य निग्रहदानेन सर्वे राक्षससत्तमाः। तत्क्षणान्निगृहीताः स्युस्तत्र शक्तो भवान् प्रभो॥२४॥
“By restraining him, all the foremost Rākṣasas would be restrained that very moment. Lord, you possess the power to do this. Refuge in the Omniscient Lord
Passage 25
भवानेवाश्रयस्तावद्धर्मस्यासुरभञ्जन। इति विज्ञाय शरणं प्राप्ताः स्मस्त्वां महाद्युते॥२५॥
“Destroyer of asuras, you alone are dharma's refuge. Knowing this, we have come for shelter to you, O greatly radiant Lord.
Passage 26
कालप्रवर्तकश्चासि त्वमेवेश निजेच्छया। यद्यत्करोषि कालोऽपि तत्र तत्रानुकूल्यभृत्॥२६॥
“Lord, by your own will you set time itself in motion. Whatever you do, time always lends its aid to that purpose.
Passage 27
प्रार्थयामो यदि श्रीश तदातिबिभिमो वयम्। उच्छिद्येत कदाचिद्वै यदभीष्टं प्रभोरिति॥२७॥
“Lord of Śrī, if we make a request, we greatly fear that what our Lord intends might somehow be obstructed.
Passage 28
किं च सर्वज्ञनाथस्य तवेशप्रार्थनं जनैः। अतीवानुचितं विद्मस्ततो मौनं भजामहे॥२८॥
“Moreover, Lord, we know that for people to petition you, the omniscient master, is deeply improper. We therefore remain silent.
Passage 29
अप्रार्थितेष्टदातुस्ते यत्प्रार्थनमिहातुरैः। अधैर्यसूचकं तत्स्यादिति कैश्चिन्न याच्यसे॥२९॥
“You grant the desired good even without being asked. If the afflicted petitioned you here, it might reveal a lack of patience; for this reason, some among us do not ask.
Passage 30
भगवन् भवता पूर्वं कतिधा नैव रक्षितः। दुष्टासुरचमूनाथहतो धर्मः सनातनः॥३०॥
“Lord, how many times in the past have you protected eternal dharma when commanders of wicked asura armies struck it down?
Passage 31
तथापि वयमत्रेताः सन्निधौ तव राघव। निवेदनार्थमसकृदस्यैवार्थस्य भूयसः॥३१॥
“Even so, Rāghava, we have come into your presence to report this grave matter to you fully and repeatedly.
Passage 32
अतः परं त्वं द्विजदैवतत्रयीगोधर्मभूमीपरिरक्षणं प्रभो। यथोचितं कर्तुमजस्रमर्हसि त्रासो यथासौ जगतां प्रशाम्यति॥३२॥
“Therefore, Lord, please act unceasingly and as you deem fitting to protect Brahmins, the gods, the threefold Veda, cows, dharma, and the earth, so that this terror afflicting the worlds may subside.
Passage 33
अथो चिरं वर्धय राम निर्मलं दिशां वितानं परमोन्नतं यशः। चिरं निजान् रक्ष वरेण धन्वना वरेषुभिश्च प्रशमं नयाहितान्॥३३॥
“Rāma, long extend your stainless and supremely exalted fame across the expanse of all directions. Protect your own people for ages; with your excellent bow and finest arrows, bring the hostile to an end.” Thus ends Chapter 119, “The Sages' Appeal to Śrī Rāma,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.