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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 12: Agastya’s directions

Summary. Rāma asks for a wooded home near water, Agastya recommends food-rich Pañcavaṭī beside the Godāvarī and describes the route

Sequence

  1. Agastya expresses pleasure at their visit and recognizes the fatigue of the journey, especially Sītā's (3.12.1–3)
  2. he urges Rāma to make her happy and praises her steadfastness in adversity, comparing her to Arundhatī (3.12.4–8)
  3. Rāma thanks him and asks for a wooded place with water where they can build a home (3.12.9–11)
  4. after considering, Agastya recommends Pañcavaṭī, two yojanas away, with roots, fruit, water, and game (3.12.12–14)
  5. he says his austerities and affection for Daśaratha have made him aware of Rāma's circumstances and wish to remain nearby (3.12.15–16)
  6. Pañcavaṭī, near the Godāvarī, will give Sītā pleasure and allow Rāma to protect the region and its tapasvins (3.12.17–20)
  7. he directs them past a madhūka grove on its northern side, toward a banyan, and onto a tableland near a mountain (3.12.21–22)
  8. the brothers bow, take leave, and follow the route with Sītā and their weapons. (3.12.23–25)

Verses 3.12.1–25

3.12.1

rāma prīto 'smi bhadraṃ te parituṣṭo 'smi lakṣmaṇa
abhivādayituṃ yan māṃ prāptau sthaḥ saha sītayā

“Rāma, I am pleased — blessings on you — and I am well satisfied, Lakṣmaṇa, in that you two have come with Sītā to salute me.

Words: rāma — O Rāma; prīto — pleased; 'smi — I am; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you (lit. good to you); parituṣṭo — well satisfied; 'smi — I am; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; abhivādayituṃ — to salute; yan — in that, because; māṃ — me; prāptau — the two come, arrived; sthaḥ — you two are; saha sītayā — together with Sītā

3.12.2

adhvaśrameṇa vāṃ khedo bādhate pracuraśramaḥ
vyaktam utkaṇṭhate cāpi maithilī janakātmajā

Weariness with much fatigue from the toil of the road afflicts you both; and clearly Maithilī, the daughter of Janaka, is also longing (for rest).

Words: adhvaśrameṇa — by the toil of the road; vāṃ — of you two; khedo — weariness, distress; bādhate — afflicts, torments; pracuraśramaḥ — with abundant fatigue; vyaktam — clearly, evidently; utkaṇṭhate — longs, yearns; cāpi — and also; maithilī — Maithilī (Sītā); janakātmajā — the daughter of Janaka

3.12.3

eṣā hi sukumārī ca duḥkhaiś ca na vimānitā
prājyadoṣaṃ vanaṃ praptā bhartṛsnehapracoditā

For this delicate one, who has never been humbled by hardships, has come to the forest full of dangers, impelled by love for her husband.

Words: eṣā — this (woman); hi — for, indeed; sukumārī — delicate, tender; ca — and; duḥkhaiś — by hardships; ca — and; na — not; vimānitā — humbled, slighted, made to suffer; prājyadoṣaṃ — full of dangers, abounding in faults; vanaṃ — to the forest; praptā — come, arrived; bhartṛsnehapracoditā — impelled by love for her husband

3.12.4

yathaiṣā ramate rāma iha sītā tathā kuru
duṣkaraṃ kṛtavaty eṣā vane tvām anugacchatī

Act, Rāma, so that Sītā may find joy here; she has done a hard thing in following you into the forest.

Words: yathaiṣā — in such a way that she; ramate — finds joy, delights; rāma — O Rāma; iha — here; sītā — Sītā; tathā — so; kuru — do, act; duṣkaraṃ — a hard thing, hard to do; kṛtavaty — has done; eṣā — she; vane — in the forest; tvām — you; anugacchatī — following

3.12.5

eṣā hi prakṛtiḥ strīṇām āsṛṣṭe raghunandana
samastham anurajyante viṣamasthaṃ tyajanti ca

For this has been the nature of women since creation, O joy of the Raghus: they cling to a man in prosperity and desert him when he is in adversity.

Words: eṣā — this; hi — for, indeed; prakṛtiḥ — nature; strīṇām — of women; āsṛṣṭe — since creation; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; samastham — one in a good state, prosperous; anurajyante — they attach themselves to, love; viṣamasthaṃ — one in an ill state, in adversity; tyajanti — they abandon, desert; ca — and

3.12.6

śatahradānāṃ lolatvaṃ śastrāṇāṃ tīkṣṇatāṃ tathā
garuḍānilayoḥ śaighryam anugacchanti yoṣitaḥ

Women match the flickering of lightning-bolts, the keenness of weapons, and the swiftness of Garuḍa and the wind.

Words: śatahradānāṃ — of lightning-flashes; lolatvaṃ — the fickleness, flickering; śastrāṇāṃ — of weapons; tīkṣṇatāṃ — the keenness, sharpness; tathā — and, likewise; garuḍānilayoḥ — of Garuḍa and the wind; śaighryam — the swiftness; anugacchanti — they follow, match; yoṣitaḥ — women

3.12.7

iyaṃ tu bhavato bhāryā doṣair etair vivarjitāḥ
ślāghyā ca vyapadeśyā ca yathā devī hy arundhatī

But this wife of yours is free of these faults; she is praiseworthy and to be held up as an example, like the goddess Arundhatī.

Words: iyaṃ — this (woman); tu — but; bhavato — of you (respectfully); bhāryā — wife; doṣair — from faults; etair — these; vivarjitāḥ — free from, devoid of; ślāghyā — praiseworthy; ca — and; vyapadeśyā — to be cited as an example, exemplary; ca — and; yathā — like, as; devī — the goddess; hy — indeed; arundhatī — Arundhatī

3.12.8

alaṃkṛto 'yaṃ deśaś ca yatra saumitriṇā saha
vaidehyā cānayā rāma vatsyasi tvam ariṃdama

And this region is graced, O tamer of foes, where you, Rāma, will dwell together with Saumitri and with this Vaidehī.”

Words: alaṃkṛto — adorned, graced; 'yaṃ — this; deśaś — region; ca — and; yatra — where; saumitriṇā saha — together with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); vaidehyā — with Vaidehī; cānayā — and with this one; rāma — O Rāma; vatsyasi — you will dwell; tvam — you; ariṃdama — O tamer of foes

3.12.9

evam uktas tu muninā rāghavaḥ saṃyatāñjaliḥ
uvāca praśritaṃ vākyam ṛṣiṃ dīptam ivānalam

Addressed thus by the sage, Rāghava, with palms reverently joined, spoke a courteous word to the seer, who blazed like fire:

Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — but, and; muninā — by the sage; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava (Rāma); saṃyatāñjaliḥ — with palms controlled/joined; uvāca — spoke; praśritaṃ — courteous, humble; vākyam — word; ṛṣiṃ — to the seer; dīptam — blazing; ivānalam — like fire

3.12.10

dhanyo 'smy anugṛhīto 'smi yasya me munipuṃgavaḥ
guṇaiḥ sabhrātṛbhāryasya varadaḥ parituṣyati

“I am blessed, I am favoured, in that the bull among sages, the bestower of boons, is pleased with the virtues of me together with my brother and my wife.

Words: dhanyo — blessed, fortunate; 'smy — I am; anugṛhīto — favoured; 'smi — I am; yasya me — in that of me; munipuṃgavaḥ — the bull among sages; guṇaiḥ — with the virtues; sabhrātṛbhāryasya — of (me) with brother and wife; varadaḥ — the bestower of boons; parituṣyati — is well pleased

3.12.11

kiṃ tu vyādiśa me deśaṃ sodakaṃ bahukānanam
yatrāśramapadaṃ kṛtvā vaseyaṃ nirataḥ sukham

But point out to me a place with water and abundant woodland, where, making a hermitage, I may dwell content and at ease.”

Words: kiṃ tu — but, however; vyādiśa — point out, indicate; me — to me; deśaṃ — a place, region; sodakaṃ — with water; bahukānanam — with abundant woodland; yatrāśramapadaṃ — where the hermitage grounds; kṛtvā — having made; vaseyaṃ — I may dwell; nirataḥ — content, delighting; sukham — happily, at ease

3.12.12

tato 'bravīn muni śreṣṭhaḥ śrutvā rāmasya bhāṣitam
dhyātvā muhūrtaṃ dharmātmā dhīro dhīrataraṃ vacaḥ

Then the best of sages, having heard Rāma’s words, the steadfast and righteous one, after reflecting a moment, spoke a still more measured speech:

Words: tato — then; 'bravīn — spoke; muni śreṣṭhaḥ — the best of sages; śrutvā — having heard; rāmasya — of Rāma; bhāṣitam — the speech, what was said; dhyātvā — having reflected; muhūrtaṃ — for a moment; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; dhīro — the steadfast one; dhīrataraṃ — more measured, more thoughtful; vacaḥ — speech, words

3.12.13

ito dviyojane tāta bahumūlaphalodakaḥ
deśo bahumṛgaḥ śrīmān pañcavaṭy abhiviśrutaḥ

“Two yojanas from here, my dear, is a fair region with abundant roots, fruit and water, and much game, well known as Pañcavaṭī.

Words: ito — from here; dviyojane — at (a distance of) two yojanas; tāta — my dear, my child; bahumūlaphalodakaḥ — with abundant roots, fruit and water; deśo — the region; bahumṛgaḥ — with much game/deer; śrīmān — splendid, fair; pañcavaṭy — Pañcavaṭī; abhiviśrutaḥ — widely renowned

3.12.14

tatra gatvāśramapadaṃ kṛtvā saumitriṇā saha
ramasva tvaṃ pitur vākyaṃ yathoktam anupālayan

Go there, and having made a hermitage with Saumitri, dwell happily, keeping your father’s word just as it was spoken.

Words: tatra — there; gatvāśramapadaṃ — having gone (and) the hermitage grounds; kṛtvā — having made; saumitriṇā saha — together with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); ramasva — dwell happily, enjoy; tvaṃ — you; pitur — of your father; vākyaṃ — word; yathoktam — just as it was spoken; anupālayan — keeping, observing

3.12.15

vidito hy eṣa vṛttānto mama sarvas tavānagha
tapasaś ca prabhāvena snehād daśarathasya ca

For this whole story of yours is known to me, O sinless one, by the power of my austerity and through my affection for Daśaratha.

Words: vidito — known; hy — for, indeed; eṣa — this; vṛttānto — story, account; mama — to me; sarvas — whole, entire; tavānagha — of you, O sinless one; tapasaś — of austerity; ca — and; prabhāvena — by the power; snehād — from affection; daśarathasya — for Daśaratha; ca — and

3.12.16

hṛdayasthaś ca te chando vijñātas tapasā mayā
iha vāsaṃ pratijñāya mayā saha tapovane

And the wish that is in your heart I have discerned through my austerity, when you promised residence here with me in the penance-grove.

Words: hṛdayasthaś — dwelling in the heart; ca — and; te — your; chando — the wish, inclination; vijñātas — discerned, understood; tapasā — through austerity; mayā — by me; iha — here; vāsaṃ — residence, dwelling; pratijñāya — having promised; mayā saha — together with me; tapovane — in the penance-grove

3.12.17

ataś ca tvām ahaṃ brūmi gaccha pañcavaṭīm iti
sa hi ramyo vanoddeśo maithilī tatra raṃsyate

And for this reason I tell you, ‘Go to Pañcavaṭī’; for that is a delightful stretch of forest, and Maithilī will find joy there.

Words: ataś — therefore, for this reason; ca — and; tvām — you; ahaṃ — I; brūmi — tell, say; gaccha — go; pañcavaṭīm — to Pañcavaṭī; iti — thus; sa — that; hi — for, indeed; ramyo — delightful; vanoddeśo — stretch of forest, forest-region; maithilī — Maithilī (Sītā); tatra — there; raṃsyate — will find joy, delight

3.12.18

sa deśaḥ ślāghanīyaś ca nātidūre ca rāghava
godāvaryāḥ samīpe ca maithilī tatra raṃsyate

That region is praiseworthy and not too far, O Rāghava, and it lies near the Godāvarī; Maithilī will find joy there.

Words: sa — that; deśaḥ — region; ślāghanīyaś — praiseworthy; ca — and; nātidūre — not too far; ca — and; rāghava — O Rāghava; godāvaryāḥ — of the Godāvarī; samīpe — near, in the vicinity; ca — and; maithilī — Maithilī; tatra — there; raṃsyate — will find joy

3.12.19

prājyamūlaphalaiś caiva nānādvija gaṇair yutaḥ
viviktaś ca mahābāho puṇyo ramyas tathaiva ca

It is furnished with abundant roots and fruit and with flocks of various birds, and it is secluded, holy and delightful too, O mighty-armed one.

Words: prājyamūlaphalaiś — with abundant roots and fruit; caiva — and also; nānādvija gaṇair — with flocks of various birds; yutaḥ — furnished, provided with; viviktaś — secluded, solitary; ca — and; mahābāho — O mighty-armed one; puṇyo — holy; ramyas — delightful; tathaiva — likewise; ca — and

3.12.20

bhavān api sadāraś ca śaktaś ca parirakṣaṇe
api cātra vasan rāmas tāpasān pālayiṣyasi

You too, with your wife, are able to protect (the region); and moreover, dwelling there, Rāma, you will guard the ascetics.

Words: bhavān — you (respectfully); api — too, also; sadāraś — with your wife; ca — and; śaktaś — able; ca — and; parirakṣaṇe — in protecting; api — moreover, also; cātra — and there; vasan — dwelling; rāmas — Rāma; tāpasān — the ascetics; pālayiṣyasi — you will protect, guard

3.12.21

etad ālakṣyate vīra madhukānāṃ mahad vanam
uttareṇāsya gantavyaṃ nyagrodham abhigacchatā

There, hero, is seen this great grove of madhūka trees; going past it on the north, you should make for a banyan tree.

Words: etad — this; ālakṣyate — is seen, is discerned; vīra — O hero; madhukānāṃ — of madhūka trees; mahad — great; vanam — grove, forest; uttareṇāsya — to the north of it; gantavyaṃ — to be gone, one should go; nyagrodham — to a banyan tree; abhigacchatā — by one going toward

3.12.22

tataḥ sthalam upāruhya parvatasyāvidūrataḥ
khyātaḥ pañcavaṭīty eva nityapuṣpitakānanaḥ

Then, climbing a tableland not far from a mountain, one reaches the place renowned as Pañcavaṭī, with its ever-flowering woods.

Words: tataḥ — then; sthalam — the tableland, high ground; upāruhya — having climbed up to; parvatasyāvidūrataḥ — not far from the mountain; khyātaḥ — renowned, famed; pañcavaṭīty — ‘Pañcavaṭī’; eva — indeed; nityapuṣpitakānanaḥ — with ever-flowering woods

3.12.23

agastyenaivam uktas tu rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha
sātkṛtyāmantrayām āsa tam ṛṣiṃ satyavādinam

Thus addressed by Agastya, Rāma, together with Saumitri, honoured and took leave of that truth-speaking seer.

Words: agastyenaivam — by Agastya thus; uktas — addressed; tu — but, and; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saumitriṇā saha — together with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); sātkṛtyāmantrayām āsa — having honoured, took leave of; tam — that; ṛṣiṃ — seer; satyavādinam — truth-speaking

3.12.24

tau tu tenābhyanujñātau kṛtapādābhivandanau
tadāśramāt pañcavaṭīṃ jagmatuḥ saha sītayā

And the two, granted leave by him and having made obeisance at his feet, went from that hermitage to Pañcavaṭī together with Sītā.

Words: tau — the two; tu — but, and; tenābhyanujñātau — granted leave by him; kṛtapādābhivandanau — having made obeisance at (his) feet; tadāśramāt — from that hermitage; pañcavaṭīṃ — to Pañcavaṭī; jagmatuḥ — the two went; saha sītayā — together with Sītā

3.12.25

gṛhītacāpau tu narādhipātmajau viṣaktatūṇī samareṣv akātarau
yathopadiṣṭena pathā maharṣiṇā prajagmatuḥ pañcavaṭīṃ samāhitau

The two sons of the king, their bows in hand and quivers slung, undaunted in battles, went intently to Pañcavaṭī by the path pointed out by the great sage.

Words: gṛhītacāpau — with bows taken up in hand; tu — and; narādhipātmajau — the two sons of the king; viṣaktatūṇī — with quivers slung on; samareṣv — in battles; akātarau — undaunted, unflinching; yathopadiṣṭena — by (the path) as pointed out; pathā — by the path; maharṣiṇā — by the great sage; prajagmatuḥ — the two went forth; pañcavaṭīṃ — to Pañcavaṭī; samāhitau — the two intent, composed

← 3.11 Agastya’s gifts of weapons · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.13 Jaṭāyu’s offer →

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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