Canto 3: Araṇya-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 10: Rāma Asserts His Unbreakable Resolution to Fulfill His PromisesText 3.10.11
Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 10: Rāma Asserts His Unbreakable Resolution to Fulfill His Promises
Text 3.10.11
राक्षसैर्दण्डकारण्ये बहुभिः कामरूपिभिः।
अर्दिताः स्म दृढं राम भवान्नस्तत्र रक्षतु॥
rākṣasair daṇḍakāraṇye bahubhiḥ kāma-rūpibhiḥ
arditāḥ sma dṛḍhaṁ rāma bhavān nas tatra rakṣatu
rākṣasaiḥ = rākṣasas; daṇḍakāraṇye = in Daṇḍakāraṇya; bahubhiḥ = by many; kāma-rūpibhiḥ = who can assume forms at will; arditāḥ sma = we have been tormented; dṛḍham = greatly; rāma = Rāma; bhavān1 naḥ = us; tatra = in this regard; rakṣatu = please protect.
We have been tormented greatly by many rākṣasas in Daṇḍakāraṇya who can assume forms at will. Rāma, please protect us in this regard!
1 Technical note: bhavān rakṣatu.
In text 7, the sages had begged for Rāma’s favor in general. Here they were specific [in their prayer].