Aranya Kanda, Sarga 76

Meaning

When, illumined by her own spiritual lustre, the aforesaid Śabarī had ascended to heaven, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) for his part with his younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa, reflected on the spiritual might of the aforesaid Ṛṣis. (1)

Meaning

Pondering over that spiritual power of those high-souled Ṛṣis, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) for his part whose mind was set on virtue, spoke as follows to Lakṣmaṇa of undivided mind, who always rendered good offices to him : (2)

Meaning

“The hermitage of the sages, who had subdued their mind through contemplation on God, which is full of many wonders and is inhabited by birds of different species and in which deer and tigers live confidently together, has been seen by me, O gentle brother ! (3)

Meaning

“A bath has been taken with due ceremony in the sacred water of all the seven oceans girding the earth, drawn by them in a miniature form, O Lakṣmaṇa, and the manes too have been propitiated with offerings of water. (4)

Meaning

“Whatever evil Karma stood to our credit has been nullified and good fortune in the shape of a meeting with Sugrīva and the consequent hope of recovering Sītā, is well within reach. Consequently this mind too of mine now feels highly rejoiced, O Lakṣmaṇa ! (5)

Meaning

“Joy occasioned by some welcome event will flash in my heart, O tiger among men ! Therefore, come, let us proceed to the celebrated Pampā lake, which is so pleasing to look at. (6)

Meaning

“Not very far from it appears the Ṛṣyamūka Hill, on which dwells the high-souled Sugrīva, son of the sun-god, with four other monkeys, seized with constant dread of Vālī. And I am in a hurry to see the aforesaid Sugrīva, a flower of the monkey race. For my mission of seeking Sītā hinges on him.” Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā) replied as follows to the aforesaid hero, Śrī Rāma, who was speaking as above : (7—9)

Meaning

“Let us repair thither quickly; my mind too is getting impatient to reach there.” Thereupon issuing from that hermitage, that powerful prince, the ruler of men, then arrived on the brink of Pampā with Lakṣmaṇa, surveying the forest, which consisted of big trees enriched with flowers on all sides. (10-11)

Meaning

That big forest was rendered noisy by lapwings and peacocks as well as by wood-peckers and parrots as also by many other birds. (12)

Meaning

Beholding trees of every description as well as lakes of various kinds, the aforesaid Śrī Rāma, who was tormented with pangs of love for Sītā, sought that excellent lake. (13)

Meaning

Having actually reached that lake, which drew its waters from afar, Śrī Rāma bathed in a pool forming part of Pampā, Mataṅgasara by name. (14)

Meaning

The two scions of Raghu reached there actually unruffled and composed. The celebrated Śrī Rāma, son of Daśaratha, however, was overwhelmed with grief (caused by separation from Sītā) when he entered the lotus-pond, which was covered with lotuses and appeared delightful. It looked charming with the Tilaka, Aśoka, Punnāga, Bakula and Uddāla trees by which it was surrounded. (15-16)

Meaning

It had become narrow on account of lovely groves that had encroached upon it; its crystalline water was fully covered with lotuses and its bed was spread over with soft sand. (17)

Meaning

It was crowded with alligators and turtles and adorned with the trees that stood on its margin. Surrounded with creepers, it looked as if united with its female companions. (18)

Meaning

Frequented by Kinnaras, Nāgas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas and ogres and hemmed in with trees and creepers of various kinds, it was a beautiful reservoir of cool water. (19)

Meaning

Looking coppery with its rosy lotuses, white with its clusters of water-lilies and blue with its bunches of blue lotuses, it presented the appearance of a multi-coloured carpet.(20)

Meaning

Full of blue lotuses and water-lilies, it was adorned with white lotuses and ‘Saugandhika’ flowers, encompassed with mango groves in blossom and made noisy with the cries of peacocks. (21)

Meaning

Seeing with Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā) the aforesaid Pampā lake, which was adorned with Tilaka and Bījapūra, banyan and Śukla trees, as well as with the Karavīra trees in blossom and Punnāga trees in full blossom, nay, with shrubs of Mālatī and Kunda as well as with the Bhaṇḍīra and Nicula trees, the Aśoka, Saptaparṇa, Kataka and Atimukta trees and other trees of different species, and looked like a decorated young lady, the glorious Śrī Rāma, son of Daśaratha, wailed. On the brink of this lake stood the aforementioned mountain known by the name of Ṛṣyamūka, which was enriched with minerals of every description and crowned with various trees in blossom. The highly valiant monkey, widely known by the name of Sugrīva and a son of the high-souled Ṛkṣarajā, for his part, lived on this mountain. “Seek you the monkey-chief, Sugrīva, flower of humanity !” (22—27)

Meaning

Thus spoke Śrī Rāma of unfailing prowess to Lakṣmaṇa, adding : “How will it be possible for me to live without Sītā, O Lakṣmaṇa?” (28)

Meaning

Having spoken in these words to Lakṣmaṇa and giving vent to that foremost grief of his, Śrī Rāma, who was deeply tormented with love and whose mind was exclusively fixed on her, entered Pampā, which ravished the soul by its lotuses. (29)

Meaning

Proceeding by stages and gazing on the forest, Śrī Rāma beheld Pampā, surrounded with groves which were lovely to look at, and thronged with numerous birds of every description, and entered it with Lakṣmaṇa. (30)