# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 71 — Rāma enters Pampā’s waters

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

Portion: Śabarī and the approach to Pampā · Verses: 26 · Ref format: 3.71.<verse>

## Sequence

- After Śabarī's ascent, Rāma reflects on the wonders of the hermitage with Lakṣmaṇa (71.1–3)
- 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 (71.4–5)
- 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 (71.6–9)
- they leave the hermitage and pass through flowering woods toward the lake (71.10–12)
- Rāma enters the waters described as Mataṅga's Lake and Pampā's lotus pool (71.13–14)
- he sees clear water, smooth sand, fish and turtles, flowering banks, creepers, lotuses of many colors, and mango groves alive with birds (71.15–19)
- despite the beauty, longing for Sītā brings renewed lamentation (71.20–22)
- 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 (71.23–26).

## Verses

**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.

**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:

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.'

**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.

**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 —

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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;

**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;

**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;

**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;

**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;

**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.

**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 —

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.