Aranya Kaanda - Sarga 13
In this Sarga, Agastya expresses his happiness over the visit of Rāma. He commends Seetā for following her husband with all devotion, even though he lost his riches and position.
Rāma then asks Agastya to suggest him a place where he can build a residence for himself. Carefully considering that request, Agastya advises him to go to a beautiful place famously known as Pancavaṭi, near Godavari, which was only at a distance of two Yōjanas from there.
Agastya also tells Rāma that he became aware of the details of Daṡaratha ordering him to go to Vana, through his powers of Tapa. He says that Daṡaratha is fortunate to have a son like Rāma.
Rāma takes leave of Agastya and proceeds to Pancavaṭi following the directions given by Agastya.
3.13.1 ராம ப்ரீதோऽஸ்மி பத்ரம் தே
பரிதுஷ்டோऽஸ்மி லக்ஷ்மண ।
அபிவாதயிதும் யந்மாம்
ப்ராப்தௌ ஸ்த ஸ்ஸஹ ஸீதயா ॥
rāma prītō'smi bhadraṃ tē
parituṣṭō'smi lakṣmaṇa ।
abhivādayituṃ yanmāṃ
prāptau stha ssaha sītayā ॥
I am happy, O Rama, may all good attend you,
and I am extremely pleased with you, O Lakshmaṇa,
that both of you came with Seetā
to offer your obeisance to me.
3.13.2 அத்வஸ்ரமேண வாம் கேதோ
பாததே ப்ரசுரஸ்ரம: ।
வ்யக்தமுத்கண்டதே சாபி
மைதிலீ ஜநகாத்மஜா ॥
adhvaṡramēṇa vāṃ khēdō
bādhatē pracuraṡramaḥ ।
vyaktamutkaṇṭhatē cāpi
maithilī janakātmajā ॥
You are both weary with the fatigue of the way;
and it is evident that Maithili, the daughter of Janaka,
also wants to take rest.
3.13.3 ஏஷா ஹி ஸுகுமாரீ ச
து:கைஸ்ச ந விமாநிதா ।
ப்ராஜ்யதோஷம் வநம் ப்ராப்தா
பர்த்ருஸ்நேஹப்ரசோதிதா ॥
ēṣā hi sukumārī ca
duḥkhaiṡca na vimānitā ।
prājyadōṣaṃ vanaṃ prāptā
bhartṛsnēhapracōditā ॥
She is delicate and never has suffered hardships.
She came to the Vana which abounds in perils,
prompted by her love for her husband.
3.13.4 யதைஷா ரமதே ராம
இஹ ஸீதா ததா குரு ।
துஷ்கரம் க்ருதவத்யேஷா
வநே த்வாமநுகச்சதீ ॥
yathaiṣā ramatē rāma
iha sītā tathā kuru ।
duṣkaraṃ kṛtavatyēṣā
vanē tvāmanugacchatī ॥
She took upon a hard task in following you to the Vana;
you should see to it, Rāma, that
Seetā finds pleasure in living here.
3.13.5 ஏஷா ஹி ப்ரக்ருதி: ஸ்த்ரீணாம்
ஆஸ்ருஷ்டே ரகுநந்தந ।
ஸமஸ்தமநுரஜ்யாந்தி
விஷமஸ்தம் த்யஜந்தி ச ॥
ēṣā hi prakṛtiḥ strīṇāṃ
āsṛṣṭē raghunandana ।
samasthamanurajyānti
viṣamasthaṃ tyajanti ca ॥
The nature of women, from the beginning,
has been such that they give their love
to the man whom prosperity attends,
but abandon one whom adversity besieges.
3.13.6 ஸதஹ்ரதாநாம் லோலத்வம்
ஸஸ்த்ராணாம் தீக்ஷ்ணதாம் ததா ।
கரூடாநிலயோஸ்ஸைக்ர்யம்
அநுகச்சந்தி யோஷித: ॥
ṡatahradānāṃ lōlatvaṃ
ṡastrāṇāṃ tīkṣṇatāṃ tathā ।
garūḍānilayōṡṡaighryaṃ
anugacchanti yōṣitaḥ ॥
Women follow very closely,
lightning in fickleness,
weapons in sharpness and
Garuda and wind in impetuousness.
3.13.7 இயம் து பவதோ பார்யா
தோஷைரேதைர்விவர்ஜிதா ।
ஸ்லாக்யா ச வ்யபதேஸ்யா ச
யதா தேவீ ஹ்யருந்ததீ ॥
iyaṃ tu bhavatō bhāryā
dōṣairētairvivarjitā ।
ṡlāghyā ca vyapadēṡyā ca
yathā dēvī hyarundhatī ॥
But this wife of yours is
totally free from such flaws;
she is worthy of all praise and
fit to be held up as an exemplar,
like the divine Arundhati herself.
3.13.8 அலங்க்ருதோऽயம் தேஸஸ்ச
யத்ர ஸௌமித்ரிணா ஸஹ ।
வைதேஹ்யா சாநயா ராம
வத்ஸ்யஸி த்வமரிந்தம ॥
alaṅkṛtō'yaṃ dēṡaṡca
yatra saumitriṇā saha ।
vaidēhyā cānayā rāma
vatsyasi tvamarindama ॥
O Rāma, subduer of foes! This region feels
embellished by the presence of
you along with Sowmitri and Seetā.
3.13.9 ஏவமுக்தஸ்ஸமுநிநா
ராகவஸ்ஸம்யதாஞ்ஜலி: ।
உவாச ப்ரஸ்ரிதம் வாக்யம்
ருஷிம் தீப்தமிவாநலம் ॥
ēvamuktassamuninā
rāghavassaṃyatāñjaliḥ ।
uvāca praṡritaṃ vākyaṃ
ṛṣiṃ dīptamivānalam ॥
Told thus by the Muni, Rāghava,
with his palms joined in reverence,
said these words in all deference
to that Ṛshi who was radiant like fire.
3.13.10 தந்யோऽஸ்ம்யநுக்ருஹீதோऽஸ்மி
யஸ்ய மே முநிபுங்கவ: ।
குணைஸ்ஸப்ராத்ருபார்யஸ்ய
வரத: பரிதுஷ்யதி ॥
dhanyō'smyanugṛhītō'smi
yasya mē munipuṅgavaḥ ।
guṇaissabhrātṛbhāryasya
varadaḥ parituṣyati ॥
I am indeed fortunate and blessed
that the eminent Muni, the bestower of boons,
is pleased with the virtues of
my brother, my wife and me.
3.13.11 கிந்து வ்யாதிஸ மே தேஸம்
ஸோதகம் பஹுகாநநம் ।
யத்ராஸ்ரமபதம் க்ருத்வா
வஸேயம் நிரதஸ்ஸுகம் ॥
kintu vyādiṡa mē dēṡaṃ
sōdakaṃ bahukānanam ।
yatrāṡramapadaṃ kṛtvā
vasēyaṃ niratassukham ॥
But please tell me of a place,
well-wooded and with plenty of water,
where I can build an Āṡrama and live comfortably.
3.13.12 ததோऽப்ரவீந்முநிஸ்ரேஷ்ட:
ஸ்ருத்வா ராமஸ்ய தத்வச: ।
த்யாத்வா முஹூர்தம் தர்மாத்மா
தீரோ தீரதரம் வச: ॥
tatō'bravīnmuniṡrēṣṭhaḥ
ṡrutvā rāmasya tadvacaḥ ।
dhyātvā muhūrtaṃ dharmātmā
dhīrō dhīrataraṃ vacaḥ ॥
Then, hearing those words of Rāma
and contemplating for a moment,
that best among Munis, the Dharmātma,
the considerate one, said these well-considered words:
3.13.13 இதோ த்வியோஜநே தாத
பஹுமூலபலோதக: ।
தேஸோ பஹும்ருகஸ்ஸ்ரீமாந்
பஞ்சவட்யபிவிஸ்ருத: ॥
itō dviyōjanē tāta
bahumūlaphalōdakaḥ ।
dēṡō bahumṛgaṡṡrīmān
pañcavaṭyabhiviṡrutaḥ ॥
My dear child! There is a splendid place known well as
Pancavaṭi at a distance of two Yōjanas from here,
with plenty of roots, fruits and water
and deer in abundance.
3.13.14 தத்ர கத்வாஸ்ரமபதம்
க்ருத்வா ஸௌமித்ரிணா ஸஹ ।
ரம்ஸ்யஸே த்வம் பிதுர்வாக்யம்
யதோக்தமநுபாலயந் ॥
tatra gatvāṡramapadaṃ
kṛtvā saumitriṇā saha ।
raṃsyasē tvaṃ piturvākyaṃ
yathōktamanupālayan ॥
Going there and building an Āṡrama
along with Sowmitri, you can enjoy,
while scrupulously following your father’s behest.
3.13.15 காலோऽயம் கதபூயிஷ்டோ
ய: கால ஸ்தவ ராகவ ।
ஸமயோ யோ நரேந்த்ரேண
க்ருதோ தஸரதேந தே ।
தீர்ணப்ரதிஜ்ஞ: காகுத்ஸ்த
ஸுகம் ராஜ்யே நிவத்ஸ்யஸி ॥
kālō'yaṃ gatabhūyiṣṭhō
yaḥ kāla stava rāghava ।
samayō yō narēndrēṇa
kṛtō daṡarathēna tē ।
tīrṇapratijñaḥ kākutstha
sukhaṃ rājyē nivatsyasi ॥
O Rāghava! A good portion of the time
stipulated by the King Daṡaratha has already passed.
O Kākutstha! You would fulfill the oath
and shall live happily in the kingdom!
3.13.16 தந்யஸ்தே ஜநகோ ராம
ஸ ராஜா ரகுநந்தந ।
யஸ்த்வயா ஜ்யேஷ்டபுத்ரேண
யயாதிரிவ தாரித: ॥
dhanyastē janakō rāma
sa rājā raghunandana ।
yastvayā jyēṣṭhaputrēṇa
yayātiriva tāritaḥ ॥
O Rāma, O delight of Raghus!
Your father, the king, is indeed fortunate like Yayāti,
to be redeemed by you, his eldest son!
3.13.17 விதிதோ ஹ்யேஷ வ்ருத்தாந்தோ
மம ஸர்வஸ்தவாநக ।
தபஸஸ்ச ப்ரபாவேண
ஸ்நேஹாத்தஸரதஸ்ய ச ॥
viditō hyēṣa vṛttāntō
mama sarvastavānagha ।
tapasaṡca prabhāvēṇa
snēhāddaṡarathasya ca ॥
O blameless one! I learned about all
these happenings because of my affection for Daṡaratha,
using my powers of Tapa!
3.13.18-19a ஹ்ருதயஸ்தஸ்ச தே சந்தோ
விஜ்ஞாதஸ்தபஸா மயா ।
இஹாவாஸம் ப்ரதிஜ்ஞாய
மயா ஸஹ தபோவநே ।
அதஸ்ச த்வாமஹம் ப்ரூமி
கச்ச பஞ்சவடீமிதி ॥
hṛdayasthaṡca tē chandō
vijñātastapasā mayā ।
ihāvāsaṃ pratijñāya
mayā saha tapōvanē ।
ataṡca tvāmahaṃ brūmi
gaccha pañcavaṭīmiti ॥
I know what you are thinking deep in your heart,
through my powers of Tapa.
Though I would be glad if you live here
along with me in this Vana of Tapasvis,
I would rather advice you to go to Pancavaṭi.
3.13.19b-20a ஸ ஹி ரம்யோ வநோத்தேஸோ
மைதிலீ தத்ர ரம்ஸ்யதே ।
ஸ தேஸஸ்ஸ்லாகநீயஸ்ச
நாதிதூரே ச ராகவ ॥
sa hi ramyō vanōddēṡō
maithilī tatra raṃsyatē ।
sa dēṡaṡṡlāghanīyaṡca
nātidūrē ca rāghava ॥
That region of Vana is indeed beautiful.
Maithili will certainly enjoy it there.
And that place worthy of mention is not too far.
3.13.20b-21 கோதாவர்யாஸ்ஸமீபே ச
மைதிலீ தத்ர ரம்ஸ்யதே ।
ப்ராஜ்யமூலபலஸ்சைவ
நாநாத்விஜகணாயுத: ।
விவிக்தஸ்ச மஹாபாஹோ
புண்யோரம்யஸ்ததைவ ச ॥
gōdāvaryāssamīpē ca
maithilī tatra raṃsyatē ।
prājyamūlaphalaṡcaiva
nānādvijagaṇāyutaḥ ।
viviktaṡca mahābāhō
puṇyōramyastathaiva ca ॥
O you of mighty arm! Maithili would enjoy
that place which is near Gōdavari.
It is beautiful and holy
with plenty of roots, fruits and
flocks of many kinds of birds
and without much movement of people.
3.13.22 பவாநபி ஸதாரஸ்ச
ஸக்தஸ்ச பரிரக்ஷணே ।
அபி சாத்ர வஸந்ராம
தாபஸாந்பாலயிஷ்யஸி ॥
bhavānapi sadāraṡca
ṡaktaṡca parirakṣaṇē ।
api cātra vasanrāma
tāpasānpālayiṣyasi ॥
You will have your wife with you,
but you are fully capable of protecting her.
And living there, O Rāma,
you can also protect the Tapasvis.
3.13.23 ஏததாலக்ஷ்யதே வீர
மதூகாநாம் மஹத்வநம் ।
உத்தரேணாஸ்ய கந்தவ்யம்
ந்யக்ரோதமபிகச்சதா ॥
ētadālakṣyatē vīra
madhūkānāṃ mahadvanam ।
uttarēṇāsya gantavyaṃ
nyagrōdhamabhigacchatā ॥
O Veera! The great Vana with the Madhūka
trees can be seen from here.
Go to the north of it towards the Banyan tree.
3.13.24 தத: ஸ்தலமுபாருஹ்ய
பர்வதஸ்யாவிதூரத: ।
க்யாத: பஞ்சவடீத்யேவ
நித்யபுஷ்பிதகாநந: ॥
tataḥ sthalamupāruhya
parvatasyāvidūrataḥ ।
khyātaḥ pañcavaṭītyēva
nityapuṣpitakānanaḥ ॥
From there, go up the high grounds
and the forest famously known as Pancavaṭi
which is perennially in flower,
is not far from that mountain.
3.13.25 அகஸ்த்யேநைவமுக்தஸ்து
ராமஸ்ஸௌமித்ரிணா ஸஹ ।
ஸத்க்ருத்யாமந்த்ரயாமாஸ
தம்ருஷிம் ஸத்யவாதிநம் ॥
agastyēnaivamuktastu
rāmassaumitriṇā saha ।
satkṛtyāmantrayāmāsa
tamṛṣiṃ satyavādinam ॥
Thus advised by Agastya, Rāma along with Sowmitri,
paid his respects to him and took leave of
the Ṛshi who always advocated the truth.
3.13.26 தௌ து தேநாப்யநுஜ்ஞாதௌ
க்ருதபாதாபிவந்தநௌ ।
ததாஸ்ரமாத்பஞ்சவடீம்
ஜக்மதுஸ்ஸீதயா ஸஹ ॥
tau tu tēnābhyanujñātau
kṛtapādābhivandanau ।
tadāṡramātpañcavaṭīṃ
jagmatussītayā saha ॥
Then, taking his permission and prostrating at his feet,
both (the brothers) left for Pancavaṭi along with Seetā.
3.13.27 க்ருஹீதசாபௌ து நராதிபாத்மஜௌ ।
விஷக்ததூணௌ ஸமரேஷ்வகாதரௌ ।
யதோபதிஷ்டேந பதா மஹர்ஷிணா ।
ப்ரஜக்மது: பஞ்சவடீம் ஸமாஹிதௌ ॥
gṛhītacāpau tu narādhipātmajau ।
viṣaktatūṇau samarēṣvakātarau ।
yathōpadiṣṭēna pathā maharṣiṇā ।
prajagmatuḥ pañcavaṭīṃ samāhitau ॥
Taking the bows in hand and
tying the quivers (to their shoulders)
those princes, fully alert and
with no fear of battle,
went to Pancavaṭi following the
directions given by the Maharshi.
இத்யார்ஷே வால்மீகீயே
ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அரண்யகாண்டே த்ரயோதஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē vālmīkīyē
ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē
araṇyakāṇḍē trayōdaṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the thirteenth Sarga
in Araṇya Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Maharshi Vālmeeki.
You have completed reading 6977 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.
Meaning, notes and commentary by: Krishna Sharma