# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 12 — Agastya’s directions *Rāma asks for a wooded home near water, Agastya recommends food-rich Pañcavaṭī beside the Godāvarī and describes the route* Portion: Ten years in the forest and settlement at Pañcavaṭī · Verses: 25 · Ref format: 3.12. ## Sequence - Agastya expresses pleasure at their visit and recognizes the fatigue of the journey, especially Sītā's (12.1–3) - he urges Rāma to make her happy and praises her steadfastness in adversity, comparing her to Arundhatī (12.4–8) - Rāma thanks him and asks for a wooded place with water where they can build a home (12.9–11) - after considering, Agastya recommends Pañcavaṭī, two yojanas away, with roots, fruit, water, and game (12.12–14) - he says his austerities and affection for Daśaratha have made him aware of Rāma's circumstances and wish to remain nearby (12.15–16) - Pañcavaṭī, near the Godāvarī, will give Sītā pleasure and allow Rāma to protect the region and its tapasvins (12.17–20) - he directs them past a madhūka grove on its northern side, toward a banyan, and onto a tableland near a mountain (12.21–22) - the brothers bow, take leave, and follow the route with Sītā and their weapons (12.23–25). ## Verses **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. **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). **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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: **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. **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.” **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.