---
title: "Aranya Kanda, Sarga 12"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/aranya-kanda/sarga-12"
lang: "en"
---

# Aranya Kanda, Sarga 12

> स प्रविश्याश्रमपदं लक्ष्मणो राघवानुजः।  
> अगस्त्यशिष्यमासाद्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह॥ १॥

Entering the site of the hermitage and approaching a disciple of Agastya, that younger brother of Rāghava, Lakṣmaṇa, spoke as follows : (1)

> राजा दशरथो नाम ज्येष्ठस्तस्य सुतो बली।  
> रामः प्राप्तो मुनिं द्रष्टुं भार्यया सह सीतया॥ २॥

“There was a king named Daśaratha. His mighty, eldest son, Rāma, has come with Sītā, his wife, to call on the sage. (2)

> लक्ष्मणो नाम तस्याहं भ्राता त्ववरजो हितः।  
> अनुकूलश्च भक्तश्च यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः॥ ३॥

“It is possible You may have heard the name. I am his younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa, rendering service to him, favourably disposed and devoted to him. (3)

> ते वयं वनमत्युग्रं प्रविष्टाः पितृशासनात्।  
> द्रष्टुमिच्छामहे सर्वे भगवन्तं निवेद्यताम्॥ ४॥

“We have entered a very frightful forest at the command of our father and all of us desire to see the revered sage. May this please be reported to him.” (4)

> तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्य तपोधनः।  
> तथेत्युक्त्वाग्निशरणं प्रविवेश निवेदितुम्॥ ५॥

Hearing the aforesaid words of the celebrated Lakṣmaṇa, the ascetic said, ‘Well’, and entered the fire-sanctuary to make a report. (5)

> स प्रविश्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं तपसा दुष्प्रधर्षणम्।  
> कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदं रामागमनमञ्जसा॥ ६॥  
> यथोक्तं लक्ष्मणेनैव शिष्योऽगस्त्यस्य सम्मतः।  
> पुत्रौ दशरथस्येमौ रामो लक्ष्मण एव च॥ ७॥  
> प्रविष्टावाश्रमपदं सीतया सह भार्यया।  
> द्रष्टुं भवन्तमायातौ शुश्रूषार्थमरिंदमौ॥ ८॥

Entering the sanctuary and joining his palms, that favourite disciple of Agastya reported at once the arrival of Rāma, exactly as requested by Lakṣmaṇa, to the foremost sage, unassailable through askesis : “The yonder two sons of Daśaratha, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, have entered the site of our hermitage with Sītā, the former’s wife. Those vanquishers of foes have come to see you in order to be of some service to you. (6—8)

> यदत्रानन्तरं तत् त्वमाज्ञापयितुमर्हसि।  
> ततः शिष्यादुपश्रुत्य प्राप्तं रामं सलक्ष्मणम्॥ ९॥  
> वैदेहीं च महाभागामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।  
> दिष्ट्या रामश्चिरस्याद्य द्रष्टुं मां समुपागतः॥ १०॥

“You may be pleased to order what to do next.” Then, hearing from his pupil that Rāma and Vaidehī of great fortune had arrived with Lakṣmaṇa, he spoke as follows : “It is good that after a long time today Śrī Rāma has come to see me. (9-10)

> मनसा कांक्षितं ह्यस्य मयाप्यागमनं प्रति।  
> गम्यतां सत्कृतो रामः सभार्यः सहलक्ष्मणः॥ ११॥  
> प्रवेश्यतां समीपं मे किमसौ न प्रवेशितः।  
> एवमुक्तस्तु मुनिना धर्मज्ञेन महात्मना॥ १२॥  
> अभिवाद्याब्रवीच्छिष्यस्तथेति नियताञ्जलिः।  
> तदा निष्क्रम्य सम्भ्रान्तः शिष्यो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्॥ १३॥  
> कोऽसौ रामो मुनिं द्रष्टुमेतु प्रविशतु स्वयम्।  
> ततो गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं शिष्येण सह लक्ष्मणः॥ १४॥  
> दर्शयामास काकुत्स्थं सीतां च जनकात्मजाम्।  
> तं शिष्यः प्रश्रितं वाक्यमगस्त्यवचनं ब्रुवन्॥ १५॥  
> प्रावेशयद् यथान्यायं सत्कारार्हं सुसत्कृतम्।  
> प्रविवेश ततो रामः सीतया सह लक्ष्मणः॥ १६॥  
> प्रशान्तहरिणाकीर्णमाश्रमं ह्यवलोकयन्।  
> स तत्र ब्रह्मणः स्थानमग्नेः स्थानं तथैव च॥ १७॥  
> विष्णोः स्थानं महेन्द्रस्य स्थानं चैव विवस्वतः।  
> सोमस्थानं भगस्थानं स्थानं कौबेरमेव च॥ १८॥  
> धातुर्विधातुः स्थानं च वायोः स्थानं तथैव च।  
> स्थानं च पाशहस्तस्य वरुणस्य महात्मनः॥ १९॥  
> स्थानं तथैव गायत्र्या वसूनां स्थानमेव च।  
> स्थानं च नागराजस्य गरुडस्थानमेव च॥ २०॥  
> कार्तिकेयस्य च स्थानं धर्मस्थानं च पश्यति।  
> ततः शिष्यैः परिवृतो मुनिरप्यभिनिष्पतत्॥ २१॥

“I too had longed in my mind for his arrival. You may go and escort Rāma respectfully together with his wife and Lakṣmaṇa in my presence. Wherefore was he not allowed to enter?” Thus told by the high-souled sage, the knower of Dharma, the pupil prostrated to him and said ‘Amen’ with joined palms. Then, hurriedly coming out, the pupil said to Lakṣmaṇa, “Who is that Rāma? Let him enter the Āśrama and go to see the sage. Let him enter the sanctuary.” Moving to the entrance of the hermitage with the pupil, Lakṣmaṇa showed to him Kākutstha and Sītā, the daughter of Janaka. Repeating the words of Agastya, the pupil modestly ushered him into the sanctuary with due respect and ceremony such as he deserved. Then Rāma with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa actually entered the sanctuary, seeing the hermitage crowded with peaceful deer. He saw there the place assigned to Brahmā (the creator) and also the place of Śiva, the place of Viṣṇu, the place of the great Indra as also of Vivaswān (the sun-god), the place of Soma (the moon-god), the place of Bhaga and the place of Kubera (the deity presiding over the northern quarter), the place of Dhātā and Vidhātā and also the place of Vāyu (the wind-god) and the place of the high-souled Varuṇa distinguished by a noose in his hand, as also the place of Gāyatrī (one of the consorts of Brahmā) and the place of the Vasus as well and the place of Vāsuki (the king of the Nāgas) and the place of Garuḍa (the king of birds), the place of Kārtikeya (the younger son of Lord Śiva) and the place of Dharma (the god of piety). Then, surrounded by his pupils, the sage also came forward. (11—21)

> तं ददर्शाग्रतो रामो मुनीनां दीप्ततेजसाम्।  
> अब्रवीद् वचनं वीरो लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मिवर्धनम्॥ २२॥

Śrī Rāma saw him at the head of the sages of bright lustre. The hero addressed the following words to Lakṣmaṇa of increasing grandeur : (22)

> बहिर्लक्ष्मण निष्क्रामत्यगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः।  
> औदार्येणावगच्छामि निधानं तपसामिमम्॥ २३॥

“Lakṣmaṇa, the revered sage Agastya is coming out. From his magnanimity I am able to recognize this abode of askesis.” (23)

> एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुरगस्त्यं सूर्यवर्चसम्।  
> जग्राहापततस्तस्य पादौ च रघुनन्दनः॥ २४॥

Thus saying, the mighty-armed scion of Raghu met Agastya of sun-like lustre and touched his feet as he came. (24)

> अभिवाद्य तु धर्मात्मा तस्थौ रामः कृताञ्जलिः।  
> सीतया सह वैदेह्या तदा रामः सलक्ष्मणः॥ २५॥

Having saluted him, the righteous Rāma stood with joined palms together with Sītā, the princess of Videha, and Lakṣmaṇa. (25)

> प्रतिगृह्य च काकुत्स्थमर्चयित्वाऽऽसनोदकैः।  
> कुशलप्रश्नमुक्त्वा च आस्यतामिति सोऽब्रवीत्॥ २६॥

The sage welcomed Kākutstha, offered him a seat and water (to wash his hands and feet), inquired after his welfare and asked him to sit down. (26)

> अग्निं हुत्वा प्रदायार्घ्यमतिथीन् प्रतिपूज्य च।  
> वानप्रस्थेन धर्मेण स तेषां भोजनं ददौ॥ २७॥

He first poured oblations into the sacred fire, then offered water to the guests, honoured them according to the code prescribed for anchorites and offered them meals. (27)

> प्रथमं चोपविश्याथ धर्मज्ञो मुनिपुंगवः।  
> उवाच राममासीनं प्राञ्जलिं धर्मकोविदम्॥ २८॥

Sitting down himself first, the knower of Dharma, the foremost among sages, said to Śrī Rāma, who now sat with folded hands, well-versed as he was in the code of right conduct : (28)

> अग्निं हुत्वा प्रदायार्घ्यमतिथिं प्रतिपूजयेत्।  
> अन्यथा खलु काकुत्स्थ तपस्वी समुदाचरन्।  
> दुःसाक्षीव परे लोके स्वानि मांसानि भक्षयेत्॥ २९॥

“An ascetic should pour oblations into the sacred fire, offer water to a guest (to wash his hands) and honour him (in other ways). An ascetic behaving otherwise, O Kākutstha, will, like a false-witness, have to eat his own flesh in the other world. (29)

> राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य धर्मचारी महारथः।  
> पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च भवान् प्राप्तः प्रियातिथिः॥ ३०॥

“You, the king of the whole world, a righteous and great car-warrior, an adorable and respectable dear guest, have come.” (30)

> एवमुक्त्वा फलैर्मूलैः पुष्पैश्चान्यैश्च राघवम्।  
> पूजयित्वा यथाकामं ततोऽगस्त्यस्तमब्रवीत्॥ ३१॥

Thus saying and entertaining Rāghava according to the latter’s desire with fruits, roots, flowers and other things, Agastya then said to him : (31)

> इदं दिव्यं महच्चापं हेमवज्रविभूषितम्।  
> वैष्णवं पुरुषव्याघ्र निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा॥ ३२॥

“Here is a great divine bow of Viṣṇu ornamented with gold and diamonds and manufactured by Viśwakarmā, O tiger among men ! (32)

> अमोघः सूर्यसंकाशो ब्रह्मदत्तः शरोत्तमः।  
> दत्तौ मम महेन्द्रेण तूणी चाक्षय्यसायकौ॥ ३३॥  
> सम्पूर्णौ निशितैर्बाणैर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः।  
> महाराजतकोशोऽयमसिर्हेमविभूषितः ॥ ३४॥

“This jewel among arrows, never failing and bright as the sun, was given by Brahmā. Mahendra gave me two inexhaustible quivers full of sharp arrows burning like fire. This is a sword ornamented with gold and kept in a gold sheath. (33-34)

> अनेन धनुषा राम हत्वा संख्ये महासुरान्।  
> आजहार श्रियं दीप्तां पुरा विष्णुर्दिवौकसाम्॥ ३५॥

“Formerly, O Rāma, Viṣṇu killed on the battlefield great demons with this bow and brought back to the denizens of heaven their bright splendour. (35)

> तद्धनुस्तौ च तूणी च शरं खड्गं च मानद।  
> जयाय प्रतिगृह्णीष्व वज्रं वज्रधरो यथा॥ ३६॥

“O bestower of honour, accept for your victory that bow, those two quivers, the arrow and the sword, as Indra accepted the thunderbolt.” (36)

> एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः समस्तं तद्वरायुधम्।  
> दत्त्वा रामाय भगवानगस्त्यः पुनरब्रवीत्॥ ३७॥

Thus speaking and giving all that collection of foremost weapons to Rāma, the revered Agastya of great lustre said again : (37)

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