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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 11: Agastya’s gifts of weapons
Summary. He gives Rāma Viṣṇu’s bow, Brahmā’s arrow, Indra’s inexhaustible quivers and a gold-adorned sword
Sequence
- Lakṣmaṇa approaches a disciple and identifies Rāma, Sītā, and himself, explaining that they have come during their exile to meet Agastya (3.11.1–4)
- the disciple enters the fire sanctuary and reports their arrival (3.11.5–8)
- Agastya says he too has long wished for this meeting and asks why Rāma has not already been brought in (3.11.9–12)
- the disciple returns with Lakṣmaṇa and respectfully escorts the travelers inside (3.11.13–16)
- passing the shrines of Brahmā, Agni, Viṣṇu, Indra, the Sun, Soma, and other devatās, Rāma sees Agastya approaching with his disciples (3.11.17–20)
- he bows at the maharṣi's feet, and all three stand respectfully before him (3.11.21–22)
- Agastya provides a seat and water, makes the prescribed offerings, and serves food appropriate to forest life (3.11.23–24)
- he explains the importance of hospitality and honors Rāma as a welcome royal guest. (3.11.25–28)
- Agastya presents Viṣṇu's divine bow, made by Viśvakarman and adorned with gold and diamonds (3.11.29)
- he adds a powerful arrow given by Brahmā, two inexhaustible quivers received from Indra, and a gold-adorned sword with a silver sheath (3.11.30–31)
- he explains that Viṣṇu used this bow to defeat the asuras and recover sovereignty for the Devas → he gives the weapons to Rāma for victory. (3.11.32–34)
Verses 3.11.1–34
3.11.1
sa praviśyāśramapadaṃ lakṣmaṇo rāghavānujaḥ
agastyaśiṣyam āsādya vākyam etad uvāca ha
Lakṣmaṇa, the younger brother of Rāghava, having entered the hermitage grounds and approached a disciple of Agastya, spoke these words:
Words: sa — he; praviśyāśramapadaṃ — having entered the hermitage grounds; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; rāghavānujaḥ — the younger brother of Rāghava; agastyaśiṣyam — a disciple of Agastya; āsādya — having approached; vākyam — words; etad — this; uvāca — spoke; ha — indeed
3.11.2
rājā daśaratho nāma jyeṣṭhas tasya suto balī
rāmaḥ prāpto muniṃ draṣṭuṃ bhāryayā saha sītayā
“There is a king named Daśaratha; his eldest son, mighty Rāma, has come with his wife Sītā to see the sage.
Words: rājā — the king; daśaratho — Daśaratha; nāma — by name; jyeṣṭhas — eldest; tasya — his; suto — son; balī — mighty; rāmaḥ — Rāma; prāpto — has come, arrived; muniṃ — the sage; draṣṭuṃ — to see; bhāryayā saha — together with his wife; sītayā — with Sītā
3.11.3
lakṣmaṇo nāma tasyāhaṃ bhrātā tv avarajo hitaḥ
anukūlaś ca bhaktaś ca yadi te śrotram āgataḥ
I am named Lakṣmaṇa, his younger brother, devoted to his welfare, obedient and loyal — if that has ever reached your ear.
Words: lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; nāma — by name; tasyāhaṃ — his I; bhrātā — brother; tv — indeed; avarajo — younger-born; hitaḥ — well-wishing, devoted to his good; anukūlaś — favourable, obedient; ca — and; bhaktaś — devoted; ca — and; yadi — if; te — your; śrotram — ear; āgataḥ — has come to
3.11.4
te vayaṃ vanam atyugraṃ praviṣṭāḥ pitṛśāsanāt
draṣṭum icchāmahe sarve bhagavantaṃ nivedyatām
We, having entered this most terrible forest at our father’s command, all wish to see the venerable one; let it be announced.”
Words: te vayaṃ — we here; vanam — the forest; atyugraṃ — most terrible; praviṣṭāḥ — having entered; pitṛśāsanāt — by our father’s command; draṣṭum — to see; icchāmahe — we wish; sarve — all; bhagavantaṃ — the venerable one; nivedyatām — let it be announced
3.11.5
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā lakṣmaṇasya tapodhanaḥ
tathety uktvāgniśaraṇaṃ praviveśa niveditum
Hearing that speech of Lakṣmaṇa, the ascetic, saying “So be it,” entered the fire-sanctuary to announce it.
Words: tasya — his; tadvacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; lakṣmaṇasya — of Lakṣmaṇa; tapodhanaḥ — the ascetic (whose wealth is austerity); tathety — ‘so (be it)’; uktvāgniśaraṇaṃ — having said ... the fire-sanctuary; praviveśa — entered; niveditum — to announce
3.11.6
sa praviśya muni śreṣṭhaṃ tapasā duṣpradharṣaṇam
kṛtāñjalir uvācedaṃ rāmāgamanam añjasā
Having entered, with palms joined he spoke this to the best of sages, unassailable through his austerity, announcing Rāma’s arrival directly:
Words: sa — he; praviśya — having entered; muni śreṣṭhaṃ — the best of sages; tapasā — by austerity; duṣpradharṣaṇam — unassailable, hard to assail; kṛtāñjalir — with palms joined; uvācedaṃ — spoke this; rāmāgamanam — Rāma’s arrival; añjasā — directly, straightaway
3.11.7
putrau daśarathasyemau rāmo lakṣmaṇa eva ca
praviṣṭāv āśramapadaṃ sītayā saha bhāryayā
“These two sons of Daśaratha, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, have entered the hermitage grounds together with his wife Sītā.
Words: putrau — the two sons; daśarathasyemau — these of Daśaratha; rāmo — Rāma; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; eva — indeed; ca — and; praviṣṭāv — the two have entered; āśramapadaṃ — the hermitage grounds; sītayā saha — together with Sītā; bhāryayā — his wife
3.11.8
draṣṭuṃ bhavantam āyātau śuśrūṣārtham ariṃdamau
yad atrānantaraṃ tattvam ājñāpayitum arhasi
Those two tamers of foes have come to see you and to render service; be pleased to command truly what should follow next in this matter.”
Words: draṣṭuṃ — to see; bhavantam — you; āyātau — the two have come; śuśrūṣārtham — for the sake of rendering service; ariṃdamau — the two tamers of foes; yad — which, as to what; atrānantaraṃ — hereafter, next in this; tattvam — the truth, what is right; ājñāpayitum — to command; arhasi — you ought, be pleased to
3.11.9
tataḥ śiṣyād upaśrutya prāptaṃ rāmaṃ salakṣmaṇam
vaidehīṃ ca mahābhāgām idaṃ vacanam abravīt
Then, hearing from the disciple that Rāma with Lakṣmaṇa and the illustrious Vaidehī had come, he spoke these words:
Words: tataḥ — then; śiṣyād — from the disciple; upaśrutya — having heard; prāptaṃ — arrived, come; rāmaṃ — Rāma; salakṣmaṇam — with Lakṣmaṇa; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī (Sītā); ca — and; mahābhāgām — the illustrious; idaṃ — this; vacanam — word; abravīt — spoke
3.11.10
diṣṭyā rāmaś cirasyādya draṣṭuṃ māṃ samupāgataḥ
manasā kāṅkṣitaṃ hy asya mayāpy āgamanaṃ prati
“By good fortune Rāma has come today, after so long, to see me; indeed I too had longed in my heart for his coming.
Words: diṣṭyā — by good fortune; rāmaś — Rāma; cirasyādya — after long, today; draṣṭuṃ — to see; māṃ — me; samupāgataḥ — has come; manasā — with the mind, in the heart; kāṅkṣitaṃ — longed for, desired; hy — indeed; asya — his; mayāpy — by me too; āgamanaṃ prati — for his coming
3.11.11
gamyatāṃ satkṛto rāmaḥ sabhāryaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
praveśyatāṃ samīpaṃ me kiṃ cāsau na praveśitaḥ
Let one go, and let Rāma be honoured and brought into my presence with his wife and with Lakṣmaṇa; why has he not already been shown in?”
Words: gamyatāṃ — let one go; satkṛto — honoured; rāmaḥ — Rāma; sabhāryaḥ — with his wife; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — with Lakṣmaṇa; praveśyatāṃ — let him be brought in; samīpaṃ me — into my presence; kiṃ — why, moreover; cāsau — and he, that one; na — not; praveśitaḥ — brought in, shown in
3.11.12
evam uktas tu muninā dharmajñena mahātmanā
abhivādyābravīc chiṣyas tatheti niyatāñjaliḥ
Addressed thus by the great-souled sage who knew dharma, the disciple, saluting with palms reverently joined, said, “So be it.”
Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — but, and; muninā — by the sage; dharmajñena — who knew dharma; mahātmanā — the great-souled; abhivādyābravīc — having saluted, said; chiṣyas — the disciple; tatheti — ‘so (be it)’; niyatāñjaliḥ — with palms reverently joined
3.11.13
tato niṣkramya saṃbhrāntaḥ śiṣyo lakṣmaṇam abravīt
kvāsau rāmo muniṃ draṣṭum etu praviśatu svayam
Then, coming out in a hurry, the disciple said to Lakṣmaṇa: “Where is Rāma? Let him come to see the sage; let him enter in person.”
Words: tato — then; niṣkramya — having come out; saṃbhrāntaḥ — flustered, in haste; śiṣyo — the disciple; lakṣmaṇam — to Lakṣmaṇa; abravīt — said; kvāsau — where is he; rāmo — Rāma; muniṃ — the sage; draṣṭum — to see; etu — let him come; praviśatu — let him enter; svayam — in person, himself
3.11.14
tato gatvāśramapadaṃ śiṣyeṇa sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
darśayām āsa kākutsthaṃ sītāṃ ca janakātmajām
Then Lakṣmaṇa, going with the disciple to the hermitage grounds, pointed out Kākutstha (Rāma) and Sītā, the daughter of Janaka.
Words: tato — then; gatvāśramapadaṃ — having gone to the hermitage grounds; śiṣyeṇa — with the disciple; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa (accompanied); darśayām āsa — pointed out, showed; kākutsthaṃ — Kākutstha (Rāma); sītāṃ — Sītā; ca — and; janakātmajām — the daughter of Janaka
3.11.15
taṃ śiṣyaḥ praśritaṃ vākyam agastyavacanaṃ bruvan
prāveśayad yathānyāyaṃ satkārārthaṃ susatkṛtam
The disciple, uttering the courteous message of Agastya, ushered him in duly, well honoured, for the sake of hospitality.
Words: taṃ — him; śiṣyaḥ — the disciple; praśritaṃ — courteous, respectful; vākyam — word, message; agastyavacanaṃ — the message of Agastya; bruvan — speaking; prāveśayad — ushered in, brought in; yathānyāyaṃ — duly, according to rule; satkārārthaṃ — for the sake of hospitality; susatkṛtam — well honoured
3.11.16
praviveśa tato rāmaḥ sītayā sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
praśāntahariṇākīrṇam āśramaṃ hy avalokayan
Then Rāma entered with Sītā and with Lakṣmaṇa, gazing at the hermitage thronged with peaceful deer.
Words: praviveśa — entered; tato — then; rāmaḥ — Rāma; sītayā — with Sītā; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — with Lakṣmaṇa; praśāntahariṇākīrṇam — thronged with peaceful deer; āśramaṃ — the hermitage; hy — indeed; avalokayan — gazing at
3.11.17
sa tatra brahmaṇaḥ sthānam agneḥ sthānaṃ tathaiva ca
viṣṇoḥ sthānaṃ mahendrasya sthānaṃ caiva vivasvataḥ
There he saw the shrine of Brahmā, and likewise the shrine of Agni, the shrine of Viṣṇu, the shrine of great Indra, and also that of Vivasvat (the Sun),
Words: sa — he; tatra — there; brahmaṇaḥ — of Brahmā; sthānam — shrine, station; agneḥ — of Agni; sthānaṃ — shrine; tathaiva — just so, likewise; ca — and; viṣṇoḥ — of Viṣṇu; sthānaṃ — shrine; mahendrasya — of great Indra; sthānaṃ — shrine; caiva — and also; vivasvataḥ — of Vivasvat (the Sun)
3.11.18
somasthānaṃ bhagasthānaṃ sthānaṃ kauberam eva ca
dhātur vidhātuḥ sthānaṃ ca vāyoḥ sthānaṃ tathaiva ca
the shrine of Soma, the shrine of Bhaga, and also the shrine of Kubera, the shrine of Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ, and likewise the shrine of Vāyu,
Words: somasthānaṃ — the shrine of Soma; bhagasthānaṃ — the shrine of Bhaga; sthānaṃ — the shrine; kauberam — of Kubera; eva ca — and also; dhātur — of Dhātṛ; vidhātuḥ — of Vidhātṛ; sthānaṃ — the shrine; ca — and; vāyoḥ — of Vāyu; sthānaṃ — the shrine; tathaiva — likewise; ca — and
3.11.19
tataḥ śiṣyaiḥ parivṛto munir apy abhiniṣpatat
taṃ dadarśāgrato rāmo munīnāṃ dīptatejasaṃ
abravīd vacanaṃ vīro lakṣmaṇaṃ lakṣmivardhanam
Then the sage too, surrounded by his disciples, came forth; and Rāma, seeing before him that sage of blazing splendour, the heroic one spoke these words to Lakṣmaṇa, increaser of good fortune:
Words: tataḥ — then; śiṣyaiḥ — by disciples; parivṛto — surrounded; munir — the sage; apy — too; abhiniṣpatat — came forth; taṃ — him; dadarśāgrato — saw before (him); rāmo — Rāma; munīnāṃ — among sages, of the sages; dīptatejasaṃ — of blazing splendour; abravīd — spoke; vacanaṃ — words; vīro — the hero; lakṣmaṇaṃ — to Lakṣmaṇa; lakṣmivardhanam — increaser of good fortune
3.11.20
eṣa lakṣmaṇa niṣkrāmaty agastyo bhagavān ṛṣiḥ
audāryeṇāvagacchāmi nidhānaṃ tapasām imam
“Here, Lakṣmaṇa, comes forth the venerable seer Agastya; by his nobility I recognize him as this very treasury of austerities.”
Words: eṣa — here, this one; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; niṣkrāmaty — comes forth; agastyo — Agastya; bhagavān — the venerable; ṛṣiḥ — seer; audāryeṇāvagacchāmi — by his nobility I recognize; nidhānaṃ — treasury, repository; tapasām — of austerities; imam — this
3.11.21
evam uktvā mahābāhur agastyaṃ sūryavarcasaṃ
jagrāha paramaprītas tasya pādau paraṃtapaḥ
Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed scorcher of foes, greatly delighted, clasped the feet of Agastya, who had the splendour of the sun.
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; mahābāhur — the mighty-armed one; agastyaṃ — Agastya; sūryavarcasaṃ — of the splendour of the sun; jagrāha — clasped, took hold of; paramaprītas — greatly delighted; tasya — his; pādau — the two feet; paraṃtapaḥ — the scorcher of foes
3.11.22
abhivādya tu dharmātmā tasthau rāmaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ
sītayā saha vaidehyā tadā rāma salakṣmaṇaḥ
Having saluted, righteous Rāma stood with palms joined, together with Vaidehī Sītā and with Lakṣmaṇa.
Words: abhivādya — having saluted; tu — and; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; tasthau — stood; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; sītayā saha — together with Sītā; vaidehyā — Vaidehī; tadā — then; rāma — Rāma (voc./stem form in cpd.); salakṣmaṇaḥ — with Lakṣmaṇa
3.11.23
pratigṛhya ca kākutstham arcayitvāsanodakaiḥ
kuśalapraśnam uktvā ca āsyatām iti so 'bravīt
Receiving Kākutstha and honouring him with a seat and water, and asking after his welfare, he said, “Please be seated.”
Words: pratigṛhya — having received, welcomed; ca — and; kākutstham — Kākutstha (Rāma); arcayitvāsanodakaiḥ — having honoured with seat and water; kuśalapraśnam — the enquiry after welfare; uktvā — having spoken; ca — and; āsyatām — ‘let (you) be seated’; iti — thus; so — he; 'bravīt — said
3.11.24
agniṃ hutvā pradāyārghyam atithiṃ pratipūjya ca
vānaprasthena dharmeṇa sa teṣāṃ bhojanaṃ dadau
Having offered oblation to the fire, presented the guest-offering, and honoured his guest, he gave them food according to the way of the forest-dweller.
Words: agniṃ — the fire; hutvā — having offered oblation to; pradāyārghyam — having presented the guest-offering; atithiṃ — the guest; pratipūjya — having honoured; ca — and; vānaprasthena — of the forest-dweller; dharmeṇa — by the way, custom; sa — he; teṣāṃ — to them; bhojanaṃ — food, a meal; dadau — gave
3.11.25
prathamaṃ copaviśyātha dharmajño munipuṃgavaḥ
uvāca rāmam āsīnaṃ prāñjaliṃ dharmakovidam
And first sitting down, the bull among sages, the knower of dharma, then spoke to Rāma, seated with palms joined, well-versed in dharma:
Words: prathamaṃ — first; copaviśyātha — and then having sat down; dharmajño — the knower of dharma; munipuṃgavaḥ — the bull among sages; uvāca — said; rāmam — to Rāma; āsīnaṃ — seated; prāñjaliṃ — with palms joined; dharmakovidam — well-versed in dharma
3.11.26
anyathā khalu kākutstha tapasvī samudācaran
duḥsākṣīva pare loke svāni māṃsāni bhakṣayet
“Truly, Kākutstha, an ascetic who acts otherwise (than by the rules of hospitality) would, like a false witness, devour his own flesh in the next world.
Words: anyathā — otherwise; khalu — indeed, truly; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; tapasvī — an ascetic; samudācaran — behaving, conducting himself; duḥsākṣīva — like a false witness; pare loke — in the next world; svāni — his own; māṃsāni — the flesh; bhakṣayet — would devour
3.11.27
rājā sarvasya lokasya dharmacārī mahārathaḥ
pūjanīyaś ca mānyaś ca bhavān prāptaḥ priyātithiḥ
You are the king of all the world, a follower of dharma, a great warrior, worthy of worship and honour; you have come as a welcome guest.”
Words: rājā — the king; sarvasya lokasya — of all the world; dharmacārī — a follower of dharma; mahārathaḥ — a great warrior (great-chariot-hero); pūjanīyaś — to be worshipped; ca — and; mānyaś — to be honoured; ca — and; bhavān — you (respectfully); prāptaḥ — have come, arrived; priyātithiḥ — a welcome guest
3.11.28
evam uktvā phalair mūlaiḥ puṣpaiś cānyaiś ca rāghavam
pūjayitvā yathākāmaṃ punar eva tato 'bravīt
Having spoken thus and honoured Rāghava to his heart’s content with fruits, roots, flowers and other things, he then spoke again:
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; phalair — with fruits; mūlaiḥ — with roots; puṣpaiś — with flowers; cānyaiś — and with other things; ca — and; rāghavam — Rāghava (Rāma); pūjayitvā — having honoured; yathākāmaṃ — to his heart’s content; punar — again; eva — indeed; tato — then; 'bravīt — said
3.11.29
idaṃ divyaṃ mahac cāpaṃ hemavajravibhūṣitam
vaiṣṇavaṃ puruṣavyāghra nirmitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā
“This is the great divine bow of Viṣṇu, adorned with gold and diamonds, O tiger among men, fashioned by Viśvakarman.
Words: idaṃ — this; divyaṃ — divine; mahac — great; cāpaṃ — bow; hemavajravibhūṣitam — adorned with gold and diamonds; vaiṣṇavaṃ — belonging to Viṣṇu; puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; nirmitaṃ — fashioned, made; viśvakarmaṇā — by Viśvakarman
3.11.30
amoghaḥ sūryasaṃkāśo brahmadattaḥ śarottamaḥ
datto mama mahendreṇa tūṇī cākṣayasāyakau
This is the unerring, sun-like supreme arrow given by Brahmā; and two quivers with inexhaustible shafts were given to me by great Indra.
Words: amoghaḥ — unerring, infallible; sūryasaṃkāśo — sun-like; brahmadattaḥ — given by Brahmā; śarottamaḥ — the supreme arrow; datto — given; mama — to me; mahendreṇa — by great Indra; tūṇī — the two quivers; cākṣayasāyakau — and with inexhaustible arrows
3.11.31
saṃpūrṇau niśitair bāṇair jvaladbhir iva pāvakaiḥ
mahārājata kośo 'yam asir hemavibhūṣitaḥ
The two are filled with sharp arrows like blazing fires; and here is this sword with a great silver sheath, adorned with gold.
Words: saṃpūrṇau — the two full, filled; niśitair — with sharp; bāṇair — with arrows; jvaladbhir — with blazing; iva — like; pāvakaiḥ — fires; mahārājata — of great silver; kośo — sheath; 'yam — this; asir — the sword; hemavibhūṣitaḥ — adorned with gold
3.11.32
anena dhanuṣā rāma hatvā saṃkhye mahāsurān
ājahāra śriyaṃ dīptāṃ purā viṣṇur divaukasām
With this bow, Rāma, Viṣṇu long ago slew the great asuras in battle and won back the shining sovereignty for the dwellers in heaven.
Words: anena — with this; dhanuṣā — bow; rāma — O Rāma; hatvā — having slain; saṃkhye — in battle; mahāsurān — the great asuras; ājahāra — brought back, won; śriyaṃ — the sovereignty, glory; dīptāṃ — shining, blazing; purā — of old, formerly; viṣṇur — Viṣṇu; divaukasām — for the dwellers in heaven (the gods)
3.11.33
tad dhanus tau ca tūṇīrau śaraṃ khaḍgaṃ ca mānada
jayāya pratigṛhṇīṣva vajraṃ vajradharo yathā
That bow, those two quivers, the arrow and the sword, O bestower of honour, take up for victory, as the wielder of the thunderbolt takes his vajra.”
Words: tad — that; dhanus — bow; tau — the two; ca — and; tūṇīrau — quivers; śaraṃ — arrow; khaḍgaṃ — sword; ca — and; mānada — O bestower of honour; jayāya — for victory; pratigṛhṇīṣva — take up, accept; vajraṃ — the thunderbolt (vajra); vajradharo — the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra); yathā — as
3.11.34
evam uktvā mahātejāḥ samastaṃ tad varāyudham
dattvā rāmāya bhagavān agastyaḥ punar abravīt
Having spoken thus and given all that excellent weaponry to Rāma, the venerable, mightily splendid Agastya spoke again:
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; mahātejāḥ — the mightily splendid; samastaṃ — entire, all; tad — that; varāyudham — excellent weaponry; dattvā — having given; rāmāya — to Rāma; bhagavān — the venerable; agastyaḥ — Agastya; punar — again; abravīt — spoke
← 3.10 Ten years among the hermitages · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.12 Agastya’s directions →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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