Aranya Kanda, Sarga 15
ततः पञ्चवटीं गत्वा नानाव्यालमृगायुताम्। उवाच लक्ष्मणं रामो भ्रातरं दीप्ततेजसम्॥ १॥
Meaning
Then going to Pañcavaṭī full of various beasts of prey and deer, Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa, his brother of bright lustre : (1)
आगताः स्म यथोद्दिष्टं यं देशं मुनिरब्रवीत्। अयं पञ्चवटीदेशः सौम्य पुष्पितकाननः॥ २॥
Meaning
“According to our plan we have come to the region of which the sage spoke to us. O gentle brother, this is the region of Pañcavaṭī with woodlands in blossom. (2)
सर्वतश्चार्यतां दृष्टिः कानने निपुणो ह्यसि। आश्रमः कतरस्मिन् नो देशे भवति सम्मतः॥ ३॥
Meaning
“Since you are a man of insight, cast a look all around in the forest: At which place will a hermitage be suitable for us? (3)
रमते यत्र वैदेही त्वमहं चैव लक्ष्मण। तादृशो दृश्यतां देशः संनिकृष्टजलाशयः॥ ४॥ वनरामण्यकं यत्र जलरामण्यकं तथा। संनिकृष्टं च यस्मिंस्तु समित्पुष्पकुशोदकम्॥ ५॥
Meaning
“Look about for a site with a pool nearby, in which the princess of Videha, yourself and I will feel delighted, where there is beauty of forest and beauty of water, and also in the vicinity of which there are firewood, flowers, the holy Kuśa grass and water.” (4-5)
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः संयताञ्जलिः। सीतासमक्षं काकुत्स्थमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ ६॥
Meaning
Thus addressed by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa with folded hands spoke as follows to Kākutstha in the presence of Sītā : (6)
परवानस्मि काकुत्स्थ त्वयि वर्षशतं स्थिते। स्वयं तु रुचिरे देशे क्रियतामिति मां वद॥ ७॥
Meaning
“O Kākutstha, so long as you are present, say, a hundred years, I am a dependent only. Therefore, tell me of your own accord to erect a hut at a place which is agreeable to you.” (7)
सुप्रीतस्तेन वाक्येन लक्ष्मणस्य महाद्युतिः। विमृशन् रोचयामास देशं सर्वगुणान्वितम्॥ ८॥
Meaning
Very much pleased by this reply of Lakṣmaṇa and thinking for a while, Śrī Rāma of surpassing lustre, selected a spot, possessed of all good qualities. (8)
स तं रुचिरमाक्रम्य देशमाश्रमकर्मणि। हस्ते गृहीत्वा हस्तेन रामः सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्॥ ९॥
Meaning
He went to that spot selected for setting up a hermitage and clasping Lakṣmaṇa by the hand, Śrī Rāma said to the son of Sumitrā : (9)
अयं देशः समः श्रीमान् पुष्पितैस्तरुभिर्वृतः। इहाश्रमपदं रम्यं यथावत् कर्तुमर्हसि॥ १०॥
Meaning
“This plot is even, grand and surrounded by trees in blossom. Here you ought duly to set up a beautiful hermitage. (10)
इयमादित्यसंकाशैः पद्मैः सुरभिगन्धिभिः। अदूरे दृश्यते रम्या पद्मिनी पद्मशोभिता॥ ११॥
Meaning
“Here is seen nearby a lake looking delightful with fragrant sun-like lotuses and further beautified by blue lotuses. (11)
यथाख्यातमगस्त्येन मुनिना भावितात्मना। इयं गोदावरी रम्या पुष्पितैस्तरुभिर्वृता॥ १२॥
Meaning
“As pointed out by sage Agastya, the pure-minded sage, this is the site of charming Godāvarī, hemmed with trees in blossom. (12)
हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णा चक्रवाकोपशोभिता। नातिदूरे न चासन्ने मृगयूथनिपीडिता॥ १३॥
Meaning
“Crowded with swans and Kāraṇḍava birds, beautified by Caravāka birds and stirred by herds of deer, it is neither very far nor very near. (13)
मयूरनादिता रम्याः प्रांशवो बहुकन्दराः। दृश्यन्ते गिरयः सौम्य फुल्लैस्तरुभिरावृताः॥ १४॥
Meaning
“Here are seen lofty and charming mountains made noisy by peacocks, having many caves and covered with trees, in blossom, O gentle Lakṣmaṇa ! (14)
सौवर्णै राजतैस्ताम्रैर्देशे देशे तथा शुभैः। गवाक्षिता इवाभान्ति गजाः परमभक्तिभिः॥ १५॥
Meaning
“Speckled here and there with shining golden, silvery and coppery minerals, they look like elephants decorated with exquisite coloured diagrams resembling latticed windows. (15)
सालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च खर्जूरैः पनसैर्द्रुमैः। नीवारैस्तिनिशैश्चैव पुन्नागैश्चोपशोभिताः॥ १६॥ चूतैरशोकैस्तिलकैः केतकैरपि चम्पकैः। पुष्पगुल्मलतोपेतैस्तैस्तैस्तरुभिरावृताः ॥ १७॥ स्यन्दनैश्चन्दनैर्नीपैः पर्णासैर्लकुचैरपि। धवाश्वकर्णखदिरैः शमीकिंशुकपाटलैः॥ १८॥
Meaning
“The mountains are graced with Sāl, palmyra, Tamāla, date, jack-fruit, Nīvāra (watery Kadamba), Tiniśa and Punnāga trees and covered by mango, Aśoka, Tilaka, Ketaka, Campaka, Syandana, sandalwood, Nīpa, Parṇāsa, Lakuca, Dhava, Aśwakarṇa, Khadira, Śamī, Kiṁśuka and Pāṭala trees laden with blossoms and surrounded with shrubs and climbers. (16—18)
इदं पुण्यमिदं रम्यमिदं बहुमृगद्विजम्। इह वत्स्याम सौमित्रे सार्धमेतेन पक्षिणा॥ १९॥
Meaning
“This spot is holy, this is charming, this abounds in deer and birds, O son of Sumitrā ! We will stay here with this bird (Jaṭāyu).” (19)
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा। अचिरेणाश्रमं भ्रातुश्चकार सुमहाबलः॥ २०॥
Meaning
Spoken to in these words by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, the slayer of hostile warriors, possessed as he was of extraordinary might, set up a hermitage for his brother without delay. (20)
पर्णशालां सुविपुलां तत्र संघातमृत्तिकाम्। सुस्तम्भां मस्करैर्दीर्घैः कृतवंशां सुशोभनाम्॥ २१॥ शमीशाखाभिरास्तीर्य दृढपाशावपाशिताम्। कुशकाशशरैः पर्णैः सुपरिच्छादितां तथा॥ २२॥ समीकृततलां रम्यां चकार सुमहाबलः। निवासं राघवस्यार्थे प्रेक्षणीयमनुत्तमम्॥ २३॥
Meaning
Lakṣmaṇa, who was possessed of extraordinary might, erected a lovely and excellent abode for Śrī Rāma in the shape of a very extensive hut with a wall of mud supported on good pillars and roofed with long bamboo sticks, and looking very attractive and charming, thatching it with boughs of a Śamī tree, fastened with strong cords and also well covered with blades of Kuśa and flowers of Kāśa grass and reeds and levelling the floor. (21—23)
स गत्वा लक्ष्मणः श्रीमान् नदीं गोदावरीं तदा। स्नात्वा पद्मानि चादाय सफलः पुनरागतः॥ २४॥
Meaning
The glorious Lakṣmaṇa forthwith went to the river Godāvarī, bathed in it and taking lotuses and fruits returned. (24)
ततः पुष्पबलिं कृत्वा शान्तिं च स यथाविधि। दर्शयामास रामाय तदाश्रमपदं कृतम्॥ २५॥
Meaning
Then, making a flower-offering and performing a propitiatory rite with due ceremony, he showed the hermitage, which he had duly set up, to Śrī Rāma. (25)
स तं दृष्ट्वा कृतं सौम्यमाश्रमं सह सीतया। राघवः पर्णशालायां हर्षमाहारयत् परम्॥ २६॥
Meaning
Seeing that delightful hermitage set up for him, the said Śrī Rāma with Sītā derived supreme joy in that cottage. (26)
सुसंहृष्टः परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां लक्ष्मणं तदा। अतिस्निग्धं च गाढं च वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥ २७॥
Meaning
Being supremely delighted and tightly clasping Lakṣmaṇa with his arms most affectionately, Śrī Rāma then sopke to him as follows : (27)
प्रीतोऽस्मि ते महत् कर्म त्वया कृतमिदं प्रभो। प्रदेयो यन्निमित्तं ते परिष्वङ्गो मया कृतः॥ २८॥
Meaning
“I am pleased with you. O powerful brother, you have accomplished this great work, as a reward for which I have given you a well-deserved embrace. (28)
भावज्ञेन कृतज्ञेन धर्मज्ञेन च लक्ष्मण। त्वया पुत्रेण धर्मात्मा न संवृत्तः पिता मम॥ २९॥
Meaning
“Lakṣmaṇa, with you as his son, knowing my feelings, grateful and a knower of what is right, my pious-minded father is not dead.” (29)
एवं लक्ष्मणमुक्त्वा तु राघवो लक्ष्मिवर्धनः। तस्मिन् देशे बहुफले न्यवसत् स सुखं सुखी॥ ३०॥
Meaning
Having thus spoken to Lakṣmaṇa, the happy Rāghava, the promoter of others’ grandeur, stayed in that region of abundant fruits happily. (30)
कञ्चित् कालं स धर्मात्मा सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च। अन्वास्यमानो न्यवसत् स्वर्गलोके यथामरः॥ ३१॥
Meaning
Attended upon by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa, that righteous prince stayed for some period like a god in heaven. (31)
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