← 3.70 Śabarī’s welcome and ascent · Araṇya Kāṇḍa

Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 71: Rāma enters Pampā’s waters

Summary. The sacred rites renew his hope, the lake revives his longing for Sītā and he resolves to seek Sugrīva

Sequence

  1. After Śabarī's ascent, Rāma reflects on the wonders of the hermitage with Lakṣmaṇa (3.71.1–3)
  2. he says they have sipped the sacred waters of the seven seas and honored the ancestors, and that his mind now feels the approach of better fortune (3.71.4–5)
  3. he proposes continuing to Pampā and seeking Sugrīva on nearby Ṛṣyamūka, because the search for Sītā depends on that friendship → Lakṣmaṇa is equally eager to go (3.71.6–9)
  4. they leave the hermitage and pass through flowering woods toward the lake (3.71.10–12)
  5. Rāma enters the waters described as Mataṅga's Lake and Pampā's lotus pool (3.71.13–14)
  6. he sees clear water, smooth sand, fish and turtles, flowering banks, creepers, lotuses of many colors, and mango groves alive with birds (3.71.15–19)
  7. despite the beauty, longing for Sītā brings renewed lamentation (3.71.20–22)
  8. the account identifies Ṛṣyamūka on the bank as Sugrīva's home → Rāma again urges Lakṣmaṇa toward Sugrīva as they reach the lakeside, bringing this Kāṇḍa to its close before the meeting itself. (3.71.23–26)

Verses 3.71.1–26

3.71.1

divaṃ tu tasyāṃ yātāyāṃ śabaryāṃ svena karmaṇā
lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā cintayām āsa rāghavaḥ

When Śabarī had gone to heaven by her own deed, Rāghava, together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, fell to pondering.

Words: divaṃ — to heaven; tu — and; tasyāṃ — she (loc.); yātāyāṃ — having gone (loc. abs.); śabaryāṃ — Śabarī (loc.); svena — by her own; karmaṇā — deed, action; lakṣmaṇena — with Lakṣmaṇa; saha — together; bhrātrā — brother; cintayām āsa — pondered, reflected; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava

3.71.2

cintayitvā tu dharmātmā prabhāvaṃ taṃ mahātmanām
hitakāriṇam ekāgraṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ rāghavo 'bravīt

And having reflected on the power of those great souls, the righteous Rāghava said to Lakṣmaṇa, his devoted and single-minded helper:

Words: cintayitvā — having reflected; tu — and; dharmātmā — the righteous one; prabhāvaṃ — power, majesty; taṃ — that; mahātmanām — of the great souls; hitakāriṇam — the benefactor, doer of good; ekāgraṃ — single-minded, intent; lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; rāghavo — Rāghava; 'bravīt — said

3.71.3

dṛṣṭo 'yam āśramaḥ saumya bahvāścaryaḥ kṛtātmanām
viśvastamṛgaśārdūlo nānāvihagasevitaḥ

This hermitage of the disciplined ones, full of many wonders, has been seen, gentle one — where deer and tigers are trusting, and birds of many kinds resort.

Words: dṛṣṭo — seen; 'yam — this; āśramaḥ — hermitage; saumya — gentle one; bahvāścaryaḥ — full of many wonders; kṛtātmanām — of the disciplined souls; viśvastamṛgaśārdūlo — with trusting deer and tigers; nānāvihagasevitaḥ — frequented by various birds

3.71.4

saptānāṃ ca samudrāṇām eṣu tīrtheṣu lakṣmaṇa
upaspṛṣṭaṃ ca vidhivat pitaraś cāpi tarpitāḥ

And at these fords of the seven seas, Lakṣmaṇa, we have duly sipped the water, and the ancestors too have been gratified.

Words: saptānāṃ — of the seven; ca — and; samudrāṇām — of the seas; eṣu — at these; tīrtheṣu — fords, bathing-places; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; upaspṛṣṭaṃ — water was sipped, touched; ca — and; vidhivat — duly, according to rule; pitaraś — the ancestors; cāpi — and also; tarpitāḥ — gratified, refreshed

3.71.5

pranaṣṭam aśubhaṃ yat tat kalyāṇaṃ samupasthitam
tena tv etat prahṛṣṭaṃ me mano lakṣmaṇa saṃprati

Whatever was inauspicious has vanished, and what is auspicious has drawn near; because of that, this mind of mine is now delighted, Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: pranaṣṭam — vanished, perished; aśubhaṃ — the inauspicious; yat — which; tat — that; kalyāṇaṃ — the auspicious, the good; samupasthitam — drawn near, arrived; tena — by that, therefore; tv — and; etat — this; prahṛṣṭaṃ — delighted; me — my; mano — mind; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; saṃprati — now

3.71.6

hṛdaye hi naravyāghra śubham āvirbhaviṣyati
tad āgaccha gamiṣyāvaḥ pampāṃ tāṃ priyadarśanām

For, O tiger among men, good will show itself in my heart; so come, let us two go to that Pampā, lovely to behold.

Words: hṛdaye — in the heart; hi — for, indeed; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; śubham — good, the auspicious; āvirbhaviṣyati — will manifest, appear; tad — so, then; āgaccha — come; gamiṣyāvaḥ — we two will go; pampāṃ — Pampā; tāṃ — that; priyadarśanām — lovely to behold

3.71.7

ṛśyamūko girir yatra nātidūre prakāśate
yasmin vasati dharmātmā sugrīvo 'ṃśumataḥ sutaḥ
nityaṃ vālibhayāt trastaś caturbhiḥ saha vānaraiḥ

Where, not far off, gleams the mountain Ṛśyamūka, on which dwells the righteous Sugrīva, son of Aṃśumat, ever cowering in fear of Vālin together with four monkeys.

Words: ṛśyamūko — Ṛśyamūka (mountain); girir — mountain; yatra — where; nātidūre — not too far; prakāśate — gleams, shines forth; yasmin — on which; vasati — dwells; dharmātmā — the righteous one; sugrīvo — Sugrīva; 'ṃśumataḥ — of Aṃśumat; sutaḥ — son; nityaṃ — ever, always; vālibhayāt — from fear of Vālin; trastaś — frightened, cowering; caturbhiḥ — with four; saha — together; vānaraiḥ — monkeys

3.71.8

abhitvare ca taṃ draṣṭuṃ sugrīvaṃ vānararṣabham
tadadhīnaṃ hi me saumya sītāyāḥ parimārgaṇam

And I am in haste to see that Sugrīva, bull among monkeys; for on him depends, gentle one, my search for Sītā.

Words: abhitvare — I hasten, am eager; ca — and; taṃ — him; draṣṭuṃ — to see; sugrīvaṃ — Sugrīva; vānararṣabham — bull among monkeys; tadadhīnaṃ — dependent on him; hi — for, indeed; me — my; saumya — gentle one; sītāyāḥ — of Sītā; parimārgaṇam — search, seeking

3.71.9

iti bruvāṇaṃ taṃ rāmaṃ saumitrir idam abravīt
gacchāvas tvaritaṃ tatra mamāpi tvarate manaḥ

To that Rāma speaking thus, Saumitri said this: 'Let us two go there quickly; my mind too is in haste.'

Words: iti — thus; bruvāṇaṃ — speaking; taṃ — that; rāmaṃ — Rāma; saumitrir — Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); idam — this; abravīt — said; gacchāvas — let us two go; tvaritaṃ — quickly; tatra — there; mamāpi — mine too; tvarate — hastens, is in haste; manaḥ — mind

3.71.10

āśramāt tu tatas tasmān niṣkramya sa viśāṃ patiḥ
ājagāma tataḥ pampāṃ lakṣmaṇena sahābhibhūḥ

Then, going forth from that hermitage, that lord of the people, the mighty one, came thereafter to Pampā together with Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: āśramāt — from the hermitage; tu — and; tatas — then; tasmān — that; niṣkramya — going forth, departing; sa — he; viśāṃ — of the people, subjects; patiḥ — lord; ājagāma — came; tataḥ — then, thereafter; pampāṃ — to Pampā; lakṣmaṇena — with Lakṣmaṇa; sahābhibhūḥ — together, the mighty one

3.71.11

samīkṣamāṇaḥ puṣpāḍhyaṃ sarvato vipuladrumam
koyaṣṭibhiś cārjunakaiḥ śatapatraiś ca kīcakaiḥ
etaiś cānyaiś ca vividhair nāditaṃ tad vanaṃ mahat

Gazing at that great forest, rich in flowers, everywhere thick with tall trees, resounding with lapwings and arjunaka birds, woodpeckers and whistling bamboos, and with these and various others —

Words: samīkṣamāṇaḥ — gazing at, surveying; puṣpāḍhyaṃ — rich in flowers; sarvato — everywhere; vipuladrumam — with tall, abundant trees; koyaṣṭibhiś — with lapwings; cārjunakaiḥ — and with arjunaka birds; śatapatraiś — with woodpeckers; ca — and; kīcakaiḥ — with whistling (hollow) bamboos; etaiś — with these; cānyaiś — and with others; ca — and; vividhair — various; nāditaṃ — made to resound; tad — that; vanaṃ — forest; mahat — great

3.71.12

sa rāmo vidhivān vṛkṣān sarāṃsi vividhāni ca
paśyan kāmābhisaṃtapto jagāma paramaṃ hradam

That Rāma, orderly of conduct, gazing at the trees and the various lakes, tormented by longing, went to a supreme pool.

Words: sa — he; rāmo — Rāma; vidhivān — orderly, methodical; vṛkṣān — trees; sarāṃsi — lakes, ponds; vividhāni — various; ca — and; paśyan — gazing; kāmābhisaṃtapto — tormented by longing; jagāma — went; paramaṃ — supreme, excellent; hradam — pool, lake

3.71.13

sa tām āsādya vai rāmo dūrād udakavāhinīm
mataṅgasarasaṃ nāma hradaṃ samavagāhata

Reaching from afar that water-bearing stream, Rāma plunged into the pool named Mataṅga's Lake.

Words: sa — he; tām — that; āsādya — having reached; vai — indeed; rāmo — Rāma; dūrād — from afar; udakavāhinīm — the water-bearing stream; mataṅgasarasaṃ — Mataṅga's lake; nāma — by name; hradaṃ — pool; samavagāhata — plunged into, bathed in

3.71.14

sa tu śokasamāviṣṭo rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ
viveśa nalinīṃ pampāṃ paṅkajaiś ca samāvṛtām

And that Rāma, son of Daśaratha, filled with grief, entered the lotus-pond Pampā, covered over with lotuses.

Words: sa — he; tu — and, but; śokasamāviṣṭo — filled with grief; rāmo — Rāma; daśarathātmajaḥ — son of Daśaratha; viveśa — entered; nalinīṃ — lotus-pond; pampāṃ — Pampā; paṅkajaiś — with lotuses; ca — and; samāvṛtām — covered, thickly surrounded

3.71.15

tilakāśokapuṃnāgabakuloddāla kāśinīm
ramyopavanasaṃbādhāṃ padmasaṃpīḍitodakām

(Pampā) made brilliant with tilaka, aśoka, puṃnāga, bakula and uddāla trees, dense with lovely groves, its water pressed thick with lotuses;

Words: tilakāśokapuṃnāgabakuloddāla kāśinīm — made brilliant with tilaka, aśoka, puṃnāga, bakula and uddāla trees; ramyopavanasaṃbādhāṃ — dense with lovely groves; padmasaṃpīḍitodakām — its water pressed thick with lotuses

3.71.16

sphaṭikopamatoyāḍhyāṃ ślakṣṇavālukasaṃtatām
matsyakacchapasaṃbādhāṃ tīrasthadrumaśobhitām

rich with water like crystal, spread over with smooth sand, teeming with fish and turtles, adorned with trees standing on its banks;

Words: sphaṭikopamatoyāḍhyāṃ — rich with water like crystal; ślakṣṇavālukasaṃtatām — spread over with smooth sand; matsyakacchapasaṃbādhāṃ — teeming with fish and turtles; tīrasthadrumaśobhitām — adorned with trees standing on its banks

3.71.17

sakhībhir iva yuktābhir latābhir anuveṣṭitām
kiṃnaroragagandharvayakṣarākṣasasevitām
nānādrumalatākīrṇāṃ śītavārinidhiṃ śubhām

entwined with creepers as though joined by her companions, frequented by kinnaras, serpents, gandharvas, yakṣas and rākṣasas, strewn with trees and vines of many kinds, an auspicious store of cool water;

Words: sakhībhir — by female companions; iva — as if, like; yuktābhir — joined, accompanied; latābhir — by creepers; anuveṣṭitām — entwined, encircled; kiṃnaroragagandharvayakṣarākṣasasevitām — frequented by kinnaras, serpents, gandharvas, yakṣas and rākṣasas; nānādrumalatākīrṇāṃ — strewn with various trees and vines; śītavārinidhiṃ — a store of cool water; śubhām — auspicious, lovely

3.71.18

padmaiḥ saugandhikais tāmrāṃ śuklāṃ kumudamaṇḍalaiḥ
nīlāṃ kuvalayoddhātair bahuvarṇāṃ kuthām iva

coppery with fragrant lotuses, white with clusters of white lily, dark with masses of blue water-lily — many-colored, like a variegated carpet;

Words: padmaiḥ — with lotuses; saugandhikais — fragrant; tāmrāṃ — coppery, red; śuklāṃ — white; kumudamaṇḍalaiḥ — with clusters of white lily; nīlāṃ — dark, blue; kuvalayoddhātair — with masses of blue water-lily; bahuvarṇāṃ — many-colored; kuthām — a woolen carpet; iva — like

3.71.19

aravindotpalavatīṃ padmasaugandhikāyutām
puṣpitāmravaṇopetāṃ barhiṇodghuṣṭanāditām

abounding in day-lotuses and blue lilies, joined with fragrant lotuses, set about with groves of blossoming mango, ringing with the cries of peacocks;

Words: aravindotpalavatīṃ — abounding in day-lotuses and blue lilies; padmasaugandhikāyutām — joined with fragrant lotuses; puṣpitāmravaṇopetāṃ — set with groves of blossoming mango; barhiṇodghuṣṭanāditām — ringing with the cries of peacocks

3.71.20

sa tāṃ dṛṣṭvā tataḥ pampāṃ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha
vilalāpa ca tejasvī kāmād daśarathātmajaḥ

Then, having beheld that Pampā, the splendid Rāma, son of Daśaratha, together with Saumitri, lamented out of longing.

Words: sa — he; tāṃ — that; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; tataḥ — then; pampāṃ — Pampā; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saumitriṇā — with Saumitri; saha — together; vilalāpa — lamented, wailed; ca — and; tejasvī — the splendid one; kāmād — out of longing; daśarathātmajaḥ — son of Daśaratha

3.71.21

tilakair bījapūraiś ca vaṭaiḥ śukladrumais tathā
puṣpitaiḥ karavīraiś ca puṃnāgaiś ca supuṣpitaiḥ

With tilakas and citron trees, and banyans and white-barked trees, and blossoming oleanders, and puṃnāgas in full flower —

Words: tilakair — with tilaka trees; bījapūraiś — with citron trees; ca — and; vaṭaiḥ — with banyans; śukladrumais — with white(-barked) trees; tathā — likewise; puṣpitaiḥ — blossoming; karavīraiś — with oleanders; ca — and; puṃnāgaiś — with puṃnāga trees; ca — and; supuṣpitaiḥ — in full flower

3.71.22

mālatīkundagulmaiś ca bhaṇḍīrair niculais tathā
aśokaiḥ saptaparṇaiś ca ketakair atimuktakaiḥ
anyaiś ca vividhair vṛkṣaiḥ pramadevopaśobhitām

with jasmine and kunda thickets, and bhaṇḍīra and nicula trees, aśokas and saptaparṇas, ketakas and atimuktas, and various other trees — (Pampā) adorned like a lovely woman.

Words: mālatīkundagulmaiś — with jasmine and kunda thickets; ca — and; bhaṇḍīrair — with bhaṇḍīra trees; niculais — with nicula trees; tathā — likewise; aśokaiḥ — with aśoka trees; saptaparṇaiś — with saptaparṇa trees; ca — and; ketakair — with ketaka trees; atimuktakaiḥ — with atimukta creepers; anyaiś — with others; ca — and; vividhair — various; vṛkṣaiḥ — with trees; pramadevopaśobhitām — adorned like a lovely woman

3.71.23

asyās tīre tu pūrvoktaḥ parvato dhātumaṇḍitaḥ
ṛśyamūka iti khyātaś citrapuṣpitakānanaḥ

On its bank stands the aforementioned mountain, adorned with minerals, renowned as Ṛśyamūka, its groves in brilliant blossom.

Words: asyās — of it; tīre — on the bank; tu — and; pūrvoktaḥ — aforementioned; parvato — mountain; dhātumaṇḍitaḥ — adorned with minerals; ṛśyamūka — Ṛśyamūka; iti — thus; khyātaś — renowned, known; citrapuṣpitakānanaḥ — its groves in brilliant blossom

3.71.24

harir ṛkṣarajo nāmnaḥ putras tasya mahātmanaḥ
adhyāste taṃ mahāvīryaḥ sugrīva iti viśrutaḥ

A monkey, son of that great one named Ṛkṣarajas, of great valor, renowned as Sugrīva, dwells upon it.

Words: harir — a monkey; ṛkṣarajo — named Ṛkṣarajas; nāmnaḥ — by name (gen.); putras — son; tasya — of that; mahātmanaḥ — of the great one; adhyāste — dwells upon, occupies; taṃ — it; mahāvīryaḥ — of great valor; sugrīva — Sugrīva; iti — thus; viśrutaḥ — renowned

3.71.25

sugrīvam abhigaccha tvaṃ vānarendraṃ nararṣabha
ity uvāca punar vākyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ satyavikramam

'Go to Sugrīva, lord of monkeys, O bull among men' — thus again he spoke these words to Lakṣmaṇa of true valor.

Words: sugrīvam — Sugrīva; abhigaccha — go to, approach; tvaṃ — you; vānarendraṃ — lord of monkeys; nararṣabha — O bull among men; ity — thus; uvāca — said; punar — again; vākyaṃ — words; lakṣmaṇaṃ — to Lakṣmaṇa; satyavikramam — of true valor

3.71.26

tato mahad vartma ca dūrasaṃkramaṃ krameṇa gatvā pravilokayan vanam
dadarśa pampāṃ śubhadarśa kānanām anekanānāvidhapakṣisaṃkulām

Then, having gradually traversed the great, far-stretching road while gazing at the forest, he beheld Pampā with its fair-looking woods, thronged with many birds of various kinds.

Words: tato — then; mahad — great; vartma — road, way; ca — and; dūrasaṃkramaṃ — far-stretching, hard to traverse; krameṇa — gradually, step by step; gatvā — having gone, traversed; pravilokayan — gazing at, surveying; vanam — forest; dadarśa — beheld, saw; pampāṃ — Pampā; śubhadarśa — of fair aspect; kānanām — woods, groves; anekanānāvidhapakṣisaṃkulām — thronged with many birds of various kinds

← 3.70 Śabarī’s welcome and ascent · Araṇya Kāṇḍa

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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