Aranya Kanda, Sarga 13
राम प्रीतोऽस्मि भद्रं ते परितुष्टोऽस्मि लक्ष्मण। अभिवादयितुं यन्मां प्राप्तौ स्थः सह सीतया॥ १॥
Meaning
“Rāma, I am pleased with you. Luck be to you ! Lakṣmaṇa, I am fully satisfied that you two have come to greet me together with Sītā. (1)
अध्वश्रमेण वां खेदो बाधते प्रचुरश्रमः। व्यक्तमुत्कण्ठते वापि मैथिली जनकात्मजा॥ २॥
Meaning
“Fatigue due to exertion entailed by journey and marked by profuse perspiration is troubling you two and it is evident that the Princess of Mithilā, daughter of Janaka, too longs for rest. (2)
एषा च सुकुमारी च खेदैश्च न विमानिता। प्राज्यदोषं वनं प्राप्ता भर्तृस्नेहप्रचोदिता॥ ३॥
Meaning
“She is tender and has never been tormented by fatigue before; she has come to the forest full of risks due to sheer love for her husband. (3)
यथैषा रमते राम इह सीता तथा कुरु। दुष्करं कृतवत्येषा वने त्वामभिगच्छती॥ ४॥
Meaning
“O Rāma, do that by which Sītā may this Sītā feels happy and comfortable here. Coming with you to the forest, she has done a difficult thing. (4)
एषा हि प्रकृतिः स्त्रीणामासृष्टे रघुनन्दन। समस्थमनुरज्यन्ते विषमस्थं त्यजन्ति च॥ ५॥
Meaning
“Ever since the dawn of creation, it has been the nature of women that they love a man only so long as he is in prosperity and give him up when he is in adversity. (5)
शतह्रदानां लोलत्वं शस्त्राणां तीक्ष्णतां तथा। गरुडानिलयोः शैघ्र्यमनुगच्छन्ति योषितः॥ ६॥
Meaning
“Women follow the inconstancy of lightning, the sharpness of weapons and the speed of an eagle and wind. (6)
इयं तु भवतो भार्या दोषैरेतैर्विवर्जिता। श्लाघ्या च व्यपदेश्या च यथा देवीष्वरुन्धती॥ ७॥
Meaning
“This wife of yours, however, is entirely free from these blemishes and praiseworthy; and deserves to be reckoned among the divine ladies like Arundhatī. (7)
अलंकृतोऽयं देशश्च यत्र सौमित्रिणा सह। वैदेह्या चानया राम वत्स्यसि त्वमरिंदम॥ ८॥
Meaning
“Nay, this region where you are going to stay, O Rāma, vanquisher of foes, together with the son of Sumitrā and this Sītā, stands graced today.” (8)
एवमुक्तस्तु मुनिना राघवः संयताञ्जलिः। उवाच प्रश्रितं वाक्यमृषिं दीप्तमिवानलम्॥ ९॥
Meaning
Thus spoken to by the sage, Rāghava, with folded hands, addressed the following polite words to the sage, who looked like a blazing fire : (9)
धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुंगवः। गुणैः सभ्रातृभार्यस्य गुरुर्नः परितुष्यति॥ १०॥
Meaning
“Blessed and favoured am I, with whose virtues as well as with those of my brother and wife, you, the foremost of sages and our object of veneration, are fully pleased. (10)
किं तु व्यादिश मे देशं सोदकं बहुकाननम्। यत्राश्रमपदं कृत्वा वसेयं निरतः सुखम्॥ ११॥
Meaning
“But please tell me the region, abounding in water and forests, where I can happily and joyously stay, setting up a hermitage.” (11)
ततोऽब्रवीन्मुनिश्रेष्ठः श्रुत्वा रामस्य भाषितम्। ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं धर्मात्मा ततोवाच वचः शुभम्॥ १२॥
Meaning
Hearing the submission of Śrī Rāma, the righteous Agastya, the foremost of sages, meditated a while and then spoke the following auspicious words : (12)
इतो द्वियोजने तात बहुमूलफलोदकः। देशो बहुमृगः श्रीमान् पञ्चवट्यभिविश्रुतः॥ १३॥
Meaning
“Two Yojanas (sixteen miles) from here, O dear one, is a splendid region abounding in roots, fruits and water, having many deer, and is known all round as Pañcavaṭī. (13)
तत्र गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं कृत्वा सौमित्रिणा सह। रमस्व त्वं पितुर्वाक्यं यथोक्तमनुपालयन्॥ १४॥
Meaning
“Going there with Lakṣmaṇa and setting up a hermitage, live you all happily fully obeying to the letter the command of your father. (14)
विदितो ह्येष वृत्तान्तो मम सर्वस्तवानघ। तपसश्च प्रभावेण स्नेहाद् दशरथस्य च॥ १५॥
Meaning
“O sinless one, all this story of yours’ as well as that of Daśaratha (your father) is known to me through the power of my austerities and by virtue of my affection to you all. (15)
हृदयस्थं च ते च्छन्दो विज्ञातं तपसा मया। इह वासं प्रतिज्ञाय मया सह तपोवने॥ १६॥
Meaning
“I have also come to know the purpose in your mind in inquiring of me a place suitable for your abode after having agreed to stay in this penance-grove with me.(16)
अतश्च त्वामहं ब्रूमि गच्छ पञ्चवटीमिति। स हि रम्यो वनोद्देशो मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते॥ १७॥
Meaning
“It is, therefore, that I say to you : ‘Go to Pañcavaṭī’. For, that part of the forest is charming. The princess of Mithilā will rejoice there. (17)
स देशः श्लाघनीयश्च नातिदूरे च राघव। गोदावर्याः समीपे च मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते॥ १८॥
Meaning
“That region is commendable and also not very far off from this place, O Rāghava, and stands near the Godāvarī. The princess of Mithilā will feel delighted there. (18)
प्राज्यमूलफलैश्चैव नानाद्विजगणैर्युतः। विविक्तश्च महाबाहो पुण्यो रम्यस्तथैव च॥ १९॥
Meaning
“Having abundant roots and fruits and full of diverse flocks of birds. O mighty-armed one, it is solitary, holy and charming as well. (19)
भवानपि सदाचारः शक्तश्च परिरक्षणे। अपि चात्र वसन् राम तापसान् पालयिष्यसि॥ २०॥
Meaning
“You too are of good conduct and capable of protecting the weak. Nay, staying there, O Rāma, you will protect the ascetics. (20)
एतदालक्ष्यते वीर मधूकानां महावनम्। उत्तरेणास्य गन्तव्यं न्यग्रोधमपि गच्छता॥ २१॥
Meaning
“O hero, here is seen the great forest of Madhūka trees; from there you have to proceed along the northern route leading to a banyan tree. (21)
ततः स्थलमुपारुह्य पर्वतस्याविदूरतः। ख्यातः पञ्चवटीत्येव नित्यपुष्पितकाननः॥ २२॥
Meaning
“Then, moving up a plateau, will be reached by you not far away from a mountain, a region full of woodlands, ever laden with blossoms and known by the name of Pañcavaṭī.” (22)
अगस्त्येनैवमुक्तस्तु रामः सौमित्रिणा सह। सत्कृत्यामन्त्रयामास तमृषिं सत्यवादिनम्॥ २३॥
Meaning
Thus spoken to by Agastya, Rāma together with the son of Sumitrā honoured and took leave of that sage, who always spoke the truth. (23)
तौ तु तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातौ कृतपादाभिवन्दनौ। तमाश्रमं पञ्चवटीं जग्मतुः सह सीतया॥ २४॥
Meaning
Permitted by him and having bowed down at his feet in reverence, the two brothers moved with Sītā towards the Pañcavaṭī hermitage. (24)
गृहीतचापौ तु नराधिपात्मजौ विषक्ततूणी समरेष्वकातरौ। यथोपदिष्टेन पथा महर्षिणा प्रजग्मतुः पञ्चवटीं समाहितौ॥ २५॥
Meaning
With their quivers fastened at the back and wielding their bows, the two princes, who were of concentrated mind and fearless in battle, proceeded to Pañcavaṭī along the path as directed by the great sage. (25)
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