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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 14: Lakṣmaṇa builds the Pañcavaṭī hut

Summary. He bathes in the Godāvarī and performs puṣpabali and śānti, Rāma embraces him and recalls Daśaratha’s care

Sequence

  1. At Pañcavaṭī, Rāma asks Lakṣmaṇa to find a place that all three will enjoy, near water and with firewood, flowers, and kuśa grass readily available (3.14.1–5)
  2. Lakṣmaṇa asks Rāma himself to choose and promises to follow his directions (3.14.6–7)
  3. Rāma considers the ground, takes his brother's hand, and indicates a level spot among flowering trees (3.14.8–10)
  4. he points out the lotus pond, nearby Godāvarī, deer, waterbirds, caves, mineral-colored hills, and varied trees (3.14.11–18)
  5. he proposes that they settle there together with Jaṭāyu (3.14.19)
  6. Lakṣmaṇa quickly constructs a spacious leaf-roofed hut with packed-clay walls, strong posts, and bamboo rafters (3.14.20–21)
  7. he bathes in the Godāvarī, gathers lotuses, returns, and performs puṣpabali (flower offering) and śānti (pacification rite) himself before showing the hut to Rāma (3.14.22–23)
  8. Rāma and Sītā are delighted → Rāma embraces Lakṣmaṇa as his reward and says that his considerate care makes their father seem still present (3.14.24–27)
  9. the three live happily at Pañcavaṭī for a time. (3.14.28–29)

Verses 3.14.1–29

3.14.1

tataḥ pañcavaṭīṃ gatvā nānāvyālamṛgāyutām
uvāca bhrātaraṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇaṃ dīptatejasaṃ

Then, having reached Pañcavaṭī, thronged with beasts of prey and wild deer of many kinds, Rāma spoke to his brother Lakṣmaṇa of blazing splendor.

Words: tataḥ — then; pañcavaṭīṃ — to Pañcavaṭī; gatvā — having gone, reached; nānāvyālamṛgāyutām — thronged with beasts of prey and wild deer of many kinds; uvāca — said, spoke to; bhrātaraṃ — brother; rāmo — Rāma; lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; dīptatejasaṃ — of blazing splendor

3.14.2

āgatāḥ sma yathoddiṣṭam amuṃ deśaṃ maharṣiṇā
ayaṃ pañcavaṭī deśaḥ saumya puṣpitakānanaḥ

“We have come to this region as directed by the great sage; this is the region of Pañcavaṭī, gentle one, with its forests in bloom.

Words: āgatāḥ — come, arrived; sma — (we) have; yathoddiṣṭam — as directed, as pointed out; amuṃ — this yonder; deśaṃ — region, place; maharṣiṇā — by the great sage; ayaṃ — this; pañcavaṭī — Pañcavaṭī; deśaḥ — region; saumya — gentle one, dear one; puṣpitakānanaḥ — with forests in bloom

3.14.3

sarvataś cāryatāṃ dṛṣṭiḥ kānane nipuṇo hy asi
āśramaḥ katarasmin no deśe bhavati saṃmataḥ

Let your gaze range on every side, for you are skilled in woodcraft; in which spot should our hermitage rightly be?

Words: sarvataś — on every side; cāryatāṃ — and let (it) be directed; dṛṣṭiḥ — the gaze, sight; kānane — in the forest, woodcraft; nipuṇo — skilled, expert; hy — for, indeed; asi — you are; āśramaḥ — the hermitage; katarasmin — in which (of the spots); no — for us; deśe — place, spot; bhavati — should be, is; saṃmataḥ — approved, fitting

3.14.4

ramate yatra vaidehī tvam ahaṃ caiva lakṣmaṇa
tādṛśo dṛśyatāṃ deśaḥ saṃnikṛṣṭajalāśayaḥ

Let such a place be found, Lakṣmaṇa, where Vaidehī may delight, and you and I as well — one close to a body of water.

Words: ramate — delights, takes pleasure; yatra — where; vaidehī — Vaidehī (Sītā); tvam — you; ahaṃ — I; caiva — and also; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; tādṛśo — such a; dṛśyatāṃ — let (it) be found, seen; deśaḥ — place; saṃnikṛṣṭajalāśayaḥ — close to a body of water

3.14.5

vanarāmaṇyakaṃ yatra jalarāmaṇyakaṃ tathā
saṃnikṛṣṭaṃ ca yatra syāt samitpuṣpakuśodakam

one where there is the loveliness of forest and the loveliness of water too, and where firewood, flowers, kuśa grass, and water are close at hand.

Words: vanarāmaṇyakaṃ — the loveliness of the forest; yatra — where; jalarāmaṇyakaṃ — the loveliness of water; tathā — too, likewise; saṃnikṛṣṭaṃ — close at hand, near; ca — and; yatra — where; syāt — may be; samitpuṣpakuśodakam — firewood, flowers, kuśa grass and water

3.14.6

evam uktas tu rāmeṇa lakmaṇaḥ saṃyatāñjaliḥ
sītā samakṣaṃ kākutstham idaṃ vacanam abravīt

Addressed thus by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, with palms reverently joined, spoke these words to Kākutstha in Sītā's presence:

Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed, spoken to; tu — but, and; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; lakmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; saṃyatāñjaliḥ — with palms reverently joined; sītā — Sītā; samakṣaṃ — in the presence of, before the eyes of; kākutstham — Kākutstha (Rāma); idaṃ — this; vacanam — word, speech; abravīt — spoke, said

3.14.7

paravān asmi kākutstha tvayi varṣaśataṃ sthite
svayaṃ tu rucire deśe kriyatām iti māṃ vada

“I am dependent on you, Kākutstha, though you should stand a hundred years; you yourself must tell me, ‘Let it be made in this pleasant place.’

Words: paravān — dependent, subject to another; asmi — I am; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; tvayi — on you, in your case; varṣaśataṃ — for a hundred years; sthite — standing, abiding; svayaṃ — yourself; tu — but; rucire — pleasant, lovely; deśe — place; kriyatām — let it be made; iti — thus (saying); māṃ — to me; vada — tell, say

3.14.8

suprītas tena vākyena lakṣmaṇasya mahādyutiḥ
vimṛśan rocayām āsa deśaṃ sarvaguṇānvitam

Well pleased by that speech of Lakṣmaṇa, the greatly radiant one, after reflecting, chose a place endowed with every good quality.

Words: suprītas — well pleased; tena — by that; vākyena — speech, word; lakṣmaṇasya — of Lakṣmaṇa; mahādyutiḥ — the greatly radiant one; vimṛśan — reflecting, considering; rocayām āsa — chose, found pleasing; deśaṃ — place; sarvaguṇānvitam — endowed with every good quality

3.14.9

sa taṃ ruciram ākramya deśam āśramakarmaṇi
haste gṛhītvā hastena rāmaḥ saumitrim abravīt

Having stepped onto that pleasant place for the work of the hermitage, Rāma, taking Saumitri by the hand with his own hand, said to him:

Words: sa — he; taṃ — that; ruciram — pleasant, lovely; ākramya — having stepped upon, occupied; deśam — place; āśramakarmaṇi — for the work of the hermitage; haste — by the hand; gṛhītvā — having taken; hastena — with his hand; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saumitrim — Saumitri (son of Sumitrā, Lakṣmaṇa); abravīt — said

3.14.10

ayaṃ deśaḥ samaḥ śrīmān puṣpitair tarubhir vṛtaḥ
ihāśramapadaṃ saumya yathāvat kartum arhasi

“This place is level and lovely, surrounded by flowering trees; here, gentle one, you should duly make our hermitage-site.

Words: ayaṃ — this; deśaḥ — place; samaḥ — level, even; śrīmān — lovely, splendid; puṣpitair — flowering; tarubhir — with trees; vṛtaḥ — surrounded, covered; ihāśramapadaṃ — here the hermitage-site; saumya — gentle one; yathāvat — duly, properly; kartum — to make; arhasi — you should, you ought

3.14.11

iyam ādityasaṃkāśaiḥ padmaiḥ surabhigandhibhiḥ
adūre dṛśyate ramyā padminī padmaśobhitā

Not far off is seen this lovely lotus-pond, adorned with lotuses, with blossoms bright as the sun and of fragrant scent.

Words: iyam — this; ādityasaṃkāśaiḥ — bright as the sun; padmaiḥ — with lotuses; surabhigandhibhiḥ — of fragrant scent; adūre — not far; dṛśyate — is seen; ramyā — lovely; padminī — lotus-pond; padmaśobhitā — adorned with lotuses

3.14.12

yathākhyātam agastyena muninā bhāvitātmanā
iyaṃ godāvarī ramyā puṣpitais tarubhir vṛtā

Just as it was described by the sage Agastya, whose soul is purified, here is the lovely Godāvarī, surrounded by flowering trees.

Words: yathākhyātam — just as described; agastyena — by Agastya; muninā — the sage; bhāvitātmanā — of purified soul; iyaṃ — this; godāvarī — the Godāvarī; ramyā — lovely; puṣpitais — flowering; tarubhir — with trees; vṛtā — surrounded

3.14.13

haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇā cakravākopaśobhitā
nātidūre na cāsanne mṛgayūthanipīḍitā

It is strewn with geese and kāraṇḍava ducks and graced by cakravāka birds; neither too far nor too near, it is thronged by herds of deer.

Words: haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇā — strewn with geese and kāraṇḍava ducks; cakravākopaśobhitā — graced by cakravāka birds; nātidūre — not too far; na — not; cāsanne — and too near; mṛgayūthanipīḍitā — thronged by herds of deer

3.14.14

mayūranāditā ramyāḥ prāṃśavo bahukandarāḥ
dṛśyante girayaḥ saumya phullais tarubhir āvṛtāḥ

Lovely, resounding with peacocks, tall and full of caverns, the mountains are seen, gentle one, covered with trees in full bloom.

Words: mayūranāditā — resounding with peacocks; ramyāḥ — lovely; prāṃśavo — tall, lofty; bahukandarāḥ — full of caverns; dṛśyante — are seen; girayaḥ — the mountains; saumya — gentle one; phullais — in full bloom, blossomed; tarubhir — with trees; āvṛtāḥ — covered

3.14.15

sauvarṇe rājatais tāmrair deśe deśe ca dhātubhiḥ
gavākṣitā ivābhānti gajāḥ paramabhaktibhiḥ

With their golden, silver, and copper minerals here and there, they shine as if latticed with windows, like elephants marked with the finest ornamental streaks.

Words: sauvarṇe — golden; rājatais — silver; tāmrair — copper; deśe deśe — place by place, here and there; ca — and; dhātubhiḥ — with minerals, ores; gavākṣitā — latticed with windows; ivābhānti — as if they shine; gajāḥ — elephants; paramabhaktibhiḥ — with the finest ornamental streaks

3.14.16

sālais tālais tamālaiś ca kharjūraiḥ panasāmrakaiḥ
nīvārais timiśaiś caiva puṃnāgaiś copaśobhitāḥ

They are graced with sāla, tāla, and tamāla trees, with date-palms, jackfruit and mango, with nīvāra rice, timiśa creepers, and puṃnāga trees;

Words: sālais — with sāla trees; tālais — with palmyra palms; tamālaiś — with tamāla trees; ca — and; kharjūraiḥ — with date-palms; panasāmrakaiḥ — with jackfruit and mango; nīvārais — with nīvāra (wild rice); timiśaiś — with timiśa creepers; caiva — and also; puṃnāgaiś — with puṃnāga trees; copaśobhitāḥ — and graced, adorned

3.14.17

cūtair aśokais tilakaiś campakaiḥ ketakair api
puṣpagulmalatopetais tais tais tarubhir āvṛtāḥ

with mango, aśoka, tilaka, campaka, and ketaka trees too, covered all about with these and those trees, with their flowering shrubs and vines.

Words: cūtair — with mango trees; aśokais — with aśoka trees; tilakaiś — with tilaka trees; campakaiḥ — with campaka trees; ketakair — with ketaka (screw-pine); api — also; puṣpagulmalatopetais — joined with flowering shrubs and vines; tais tais — with these and those; tarubhir — with trees; āvṛtāḥ — covered

3.14.18

candanaiḥ syandanair nīpaiḥ panasair lakucair api
dhavāśvakarṇakhadiraiḥ śamīkiṃśukapāṭalaiḥ

with sandalwood, syandana, nīpa, jackfruit, and lakuca trees too, with dhava, aśvakarṇa, and khadira, with śamī, kiṃśuka, and pāṭala.

Words: candanaiḥ — with sandalwood trees; syandanair — with syandana trees; nīpaiḥ — with nīpa (kadamba) trees; panasair — with jackfruit trees; lakucair — with lakuca trees; api — also; dhavāśvakarṇakhadiraiḥ — with dhava, aśvakarṇa, and khadira; śamīkiṃśukapāṭalaiḥ — with śamī, kiṃśuka, and pāṭala

3.14.19

idaṃ puṇyam idaṃ medhyam idaṃ bahumṛgadvijam
iha vatsyāma saumitre sārdham etena pakṣiṇā

This place is holy, this is pure, this abounds in deer and birds; here let us dwell, Saumitri, together with this bird.”

Words: idaṃ — this; puṇyam — holy, meritorious; idaṃ — this; medhyam — pure, fit for sacrifice; idaṃ — this; bahumṛgadvijam — abounding in deer and birds; iha — here; vatsyāma — let us dwell; saumitre — O Saumitri; sārdham — together with; etena — this; pakṣiṇā — bird

3.14.20

evam uktas tu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā
acireṇāśramaṃ bhrātuś cakāra sumahābalaḥ

Addressed thus by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, slayer of enemy heroes and of great strength, in a short while built a hermitage for his brother.

Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — but, and; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; paravīrahā — slayer of enemy heroes; acireṇāśramaṃ — in a short while a hermitage; bhrātuś — for his brother; cakāra — made, built; sumahābalaḥ — of great strength

3.14.21

parṇaśālāṃ suvipulāṃ tatra saṃghātamṛttikām
sustambhāṃ maskarair dīrghaiḥ kṛtavaṃśāṃ suśobhanām

There a very spacious leaf-hut with packed-clay walls, well-pillared, its rafters made of long bamboo poles, most beautiful;

Words: parṇaśālāṃ — a leaf-hut; suvipulāṃ — very spacious; tatra — there; saṃghātamṛttikām — with packed clay (walls); sustambhāṃ — well-pillared; maskarair — with bamboo poles; dīrghaiḥ — long; kṛtavaṃśāṃ — with rafters made; suśobhanām — most beautiful

3.14.22

sa gatvā lakṣmaṇaḥ śrīmān nadīṃ godāvarīṃ tadā
snātvā padmāni cādāya saphalaḥ punar āgataḥ

Then the illustrious Lakṣmaṇa, having gone to the Godāvarī river and bathed, and having gathered lotuses, came back again, his errand accomplished.

Words: sa — he; gatvā — having gone; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; śrīmān — the illustrious one; nadīṃ — river; godāvarīṃ — the Godāvarī; tadā — then; snātvā — having bathed; padmāni — lotuses; cādāya — and having gathered; saphalaḥ — with fruit, successful; punar — again; āgataḥ — came, returned

3.14.23

tataḥ puṣpabaliṃ kṛtvā śāntiṃ ca sa yathāvidhi
darśayām āsa rāmāya tad āśramapadaṃ kṛtam

Then, having made a flower-offering and a rite of appeasement according to rule, he showed Rāma that hermitage-site he had built.

Words: tataḥ — then; puṣpabaliṃ — a flower-offering; kṛtvā — having made; śāntiṃ — a rite of appeasement, blessing; ca — and; sa — he; yathāvidhi — according to rule; darśayām āsa — showed; rāmāya — to Rāma; tad — that; āśramapadaṃ — hermitage-site; kṛtam — made, built

3.14.24

sa taṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛtaṃ saumyam āśramaṃ saha sītayā
rāghavaḥ parṇaśālāyāṃ harṣam āhārayat param

Seeing that lovely hermitage that had been built, Rāghava, together with Sītā, felt supreme joy in the leaf-hut.

Words: sa — he; taṃ — that; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kṛtaṃ — made, built; saumyam — lovely, pleasant; āśramaṃ — hermitage; saha — together with; sītayā — with Sītā; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; parṇaśālāyāṃ — in the leaf-hut; harṣam — joy, delight; āhārayat — brought on, felt; param — supreme, utmost

3.14.25

susaṃhṛṣṭaḥ pariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ tadā
atisnigdhaṃ ca gāḍhaṃ ca vacanaṃ cedam abravīt

Greatly delighted, embracing Lakṣmaṇa then with both arms, he spoke this most affectionate and heartfelt word:

Words: susaṃhṛṣṭaḥ — greatly delighted; pariṣvajya — having embraced; bāhubhyāṃ — with both arms; lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; tadā — then; atisnigdhaṃ — most affectionate; ca — and; gāḍhaṃ — heartfelt, firm; ca — and; vacanaṃ — word, speech; cedam — and this; abravīt — spoke

3.14.26

prīto 'smi te mahat karma tvayā kṛtam idaṃ prabho
pradeyo yannimittaṃ te pariṣvaṅgo mayā kṛtaḥ

“I am pleased with you: this great deed has been done by you, O capable one; for the sake of which an embrace, a thing worth giving, has been bestowed on you by me.

Words: prīto — pleased; 'smi — I am; te — with you; mahat — great; karma — deed, work; tvayā — by you; kṛtam — done; idaṃ — this; prabho — O capable one, O lord; pradeyo — to be given, worth bestowing; yannimittaṃ — for the sake of which; te — to you; pariṣvaṅgo — an embrace; mayā — by me; kṛtaḥ — done, made

3.14.27

bhāvajñena kṛtajñena dharmajñena ca lakṣmaṇa
tvayā putreṇa dharmātmā na saṃvṛttaḥ pitā mama

By you, Lakṣmaṇa — a son who knows my mind, who is grateful, and who knows dharma — my righteous father lives on and is not gone.

Words: bhāvajñena — who knows (my) mind; kṛtajñena — grateful; dharmajñena — who knows dharma; ca — and; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; tvayā — by you; putreṇa — by (such) a son; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled one; na — not; saṃvṛttaḥ — become (deceased), come to an end; pitā — father; mama — my

3.14.28

evaṃ lakṣmaṇam uktvā tu rāghavo lakṣmivardhanaḥ
tasmin deśe bahuphale nyavasat sa sukhaṃ vaśī

Having spoken thus to Lakṣmaṇa, Rāghava, the increaser of prosperity, dwelt happily in that fruitful place, self-controlled.

Words: evaṃ — thus; lakṣmaṇam — Lakṣmaṇa; uktvā — having spoken; tu — but, and; rāghavo — Rāghava; lakṣmivardhanaḥ — the increaser of prosperity; tasmin — in that; deśe — place; bahuphale — fruitful, yielding much fruit; nyavasat — dwelt; sa — he; sukhaṃ — happily; vaśī — self-controlled, master of himself

3.14.29

kaṃ cit kālaṃ sa dharmātmā sītayā lakṣmaṇena ca
anvāsyamāno nyavasat svargaloke yathāmaraḥ

For some time that righteous one dwelt there, attended by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa, like an immortal in the world of heaven.

Words: kaṃ cit — some; kālaṃ — time; sa — he; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled one; sītayā — by Sītā; lakṣmaṇena — by Lakṣmaṇa; ca — and; anvāsyamāno — being attended, waited upon; nyavasat — dwelt; svargaloke — in the world of heaven; yathāmaraḥ — like an immortal

← 3.13 Jaṭāyu’s offer · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.15 Rāma’s winter bath in the Godāvarī →

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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