Aranya Kanda, Sarga 13

राम प्रीतोऽस्मि भद्रं ते परितुष्टोऽस्मि लक्ष्मण। अभिवादयितुं यन्मां प्राप्तौ स्थ स्सह सीतया।।3.13.1।।

rāma prīto'smi bhadraṃ te parituṣṭo'smi lakṣmaṇa| abhivādayituṃ yanmāṃ prāptau stha ssaha sītayā

O Rama ,I am pleased. I wish you well. I am glad that both of you have come here with Sita to pay respect to me.

अध्वश्रमेण वां खेदो बाधते प्रचुरश्रमः। व्यक्तमुत्कण्ठते वापि मैथिली जनकात्मजा।।3.13.2।।

adhvaśrameṇa vāṃ khedo bādhate pracuraśramaḥ| vyaktamutkaṇṭhate vāpi maithilī janakātmajā

Both of you are tired due to the journey. It is evident that Sita, daughter of Janaka, is anxious (to rest).

एषा हि सुकुमारी च दुःखैश्च न विमानिता। प्राज्यदोषं वनं प्राप्ता भर्तृस्नेहप्रचोदिता।।3.13.3।।

eṣā hi sukumārī ca duḥkhaiśca na vimānitā| prājyadoṣaṃ vanaṃ prāptā bhartṛsnehapracoditā

Even though delicate, Sita never feels discouraged by difficulties. She has come to the forest full of obstacles, since she is motivated by her love for her husband.

यथैषा रमते राम इह सीता तथा कुरु। दुष्करं कृतवत्येषा वने त्वामनुगच्छती।।3.13.4।।

yathaiṣā ramate rāma iha sītā tathā kuru| duṣkaraṃ kṛtavatyeṣā vane tvāmanugacchatī

O Rama, help Sita enjoy herself in whatever manner she likes. By following you into the forest, she has accomplished the most difficult task৷৷

एषा हि प्रकृतिः स्त्रीणामासृष्टे रघुनन्दन। समस्थमनुरज्यान्ति विषमस्थं त्यजन्ति च।।3.13.5।।

eṣā hi prakṛtiḥ strīṇāmāsṛṣṭe raghunandana| samasthamanurajyānti viṣamasthaṃ tyajanti ca

O Rama, the delight of the Raghu dynasty from the beginning of the creation women, by nature, keep the husband company when all goes well and give them up when hard times come.

शतह्रदानां लोलत्वं शस्त्राणां तीक्ष्णतां तथा। गरूडानिलयोश्शैघ्र्यमनुगच्छन्ति योषितः।।3.13.6।।

śatahradānāṃ lolatvaṃ śastrāṇāṃ tīkṣṇatāṃ tathā| garūḍānilayośśaighryamanugacchanti yoṣitaḥ

Women are fickle like lightning, sharp like weapons and fast like Garuda or the windgod.

इयं तु भवतो भार्या दोषैरेतैर्विवर्जिता। श्लाघ्या च व्यपदेश्या च यथा देवी ह्यरुन्धती।।3.13.7।।

iyaṃ tu bhavato bhāryā doṣairetairvivarjitā| ślāghyā ca vyapadeśyā ca yathā devī hyarundhatī

Your wife is free from such blemishes. She is praiseworthy and worthy of mention as an example just like the revered Arundhati.

अलङ्कृतोऽयं देशश्च यत्र सौमित्रिणा सह। वैदेह्या चानया राम वत्स्यसि त्वमरिन्दम।।3.13.8।।

alaṅkṛto'yaṃ deśaśca yatra saumitriṇā saha| vaidehyā cānayā rāma vatsyasi tvamarindama

O Rama, subduer of enemies the place where you reside along with Lakshmana and Vaidehi will look adorned, indeed.

एवमुक्तस्समुनिना राघवस्संयताञ्जलिः। उवाच प्रश्रितं वाक्यमृषिं दीप्तमिवानलम्।।3.13.9।।

evamuktassamuninā rāghavassaṃyatāñjaliḥ| uvāca praśritaṃ vākyamṛṣiṃ dīptamivānalam

Thus addressed, Rama held his palms together and said politely to the sage shining like fire:

धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुङ्गवः। गुणैस्सभ्रातृभार्यस्य वरदः परितुष्यति।।3.13.10।।

dhanyo'smyanugṛhīto'smi yasya me munipuṅgavaḥ| guṇaissabhrātṛbhāryasya varadaḥ parituṣyati

I consider myself blessed and favoured by a great sage like you, bestower of boons as you have been pleased with me, my brother and my life.

किन्तु व्यादिश मे देशं सोदकं बहुकाननम्। यत्राश्रमपदं कृत्वा वसेयं निरतस्सुखम्।।3.13.11।।

kintu vyādiśa me deśaṃ sodakaṃ bahukānanam| yatrāśramapadaṃ kṛtvā vaseyaṃ niratassukham

Direct me to a place with water and dense forest where we can build an ashram and live happily.

ततोऽब्रवीन्मुनिश्रेष्ठश्श्रुत्वा रामस्य तद्वचः। ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं धर्मात्मा धीरो धीरतरं वचः।।3.13.12।।

tato'bravīnmuniśreṣṭhaśśrutvā rāmasya tadvacaḥ| dhyātvā muhūrtaṃ dharmātmā dhīro dhīrataraṃ vacaḥ

On hearing the words of Rama, Agastya, the best among the sages, coolheaded and righteous, thought a while and uttered these words coolly :

इतो द्वियोजने तात बहुमूलफलोदकः। देशो बहुमृगश्श्रीमान्पञ्चवट्यभिविश्रुतः।।3.13.13।।

ito dviyojane tāta bahumūlaphalodakaḥ| deśo bahumṛgaśśrīmānpañcavaṭyabhiviśrutaḥ

O dear two yojanas away is a place wellknown as Panchavati, a beautiful resort with many roots, fruits, plenty of water and many animals.

तत्र गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं कृत्वा सौमित्रिणा सह। रमस्व त्वं पितुर्वाक्यं तथोक्तमनुपालयन्।।3.13.14।।

tatra gatvā''śramapadaṃ kṛtvā saumitriṇā saha| ramasva tvaṃ piturvākyaṃ tathoktamanupālayan

Reaching there, you wikk build a hermitage with Lakshmana and enjoy your life given to the fulfilment of the pledge to the father.

कालोऽयं गतभूयिष्ठो यः काल स्तव राघव। समयो यो नरेन्द्रेण कृतो दशरथेन ते।।3.13.15।। तीर्णप्रतिज्ञः काकुत्स्थ सुखं राज्ये निवत्स्यसि।

kālo'yaṃ gatabhūyiṣṭho yaḥ kāla stava rāghava| samayo yo narendreṇa kṛto daśarathena te tīrṇapratijñaḥ kākutstha sukhaṃ rājye nivatsyasi|

O Rama, scion of the Kakutsthas much of the period of exile king Dasaratha had assigned has passed. You will fulfil your promise and live happily in the kingdom.

धन्यस्ते जनको राम स राजा रघुनन्दन।।3.13.16।। यस्त्वया ज्येष्ठपुत्रेण ययातिरिव तारितः।

dhanyaste janako rāma sa rājā raghunandana yastvayā jyeṣṭhaputreṇa yayātiriva tāritaḥ|

O Rama, joy of the Raghu family with the eldest son like you, your father is blessed and liberated like king Yayati.

विदितो ह्येष वृत्तान्तो मम सर्वस्तवानघ।।3.13.17।। तपसश्च प्रभावेण स्नेहाद्दशरथस्य च।

vidito hyeṣa vṛttānto mama sarvastavānagha tapasaśca prabhāveṇa snehāddaśarathasya ca|

O sinless one, I have kown all these facts about you by the power of penance and love for Dasaratha.

हृदयस्थश्च ते छन्दो विज्ञातस्तपसा मया।।3.13.18।। इहावासं प्रतिज्ञाय मया सह तपोवने। अतश्च त्वामहं ब्रूमि गच्छ पञ्चवटीमिति।।3.13.19।।

hṛdayasthaśca te chando vijñātastapasā mayā ihāvāsaṃ pratijñāya mayā saha tapovane| ataśca tvāmahaṃ brūmi gaccha pañcavaṭīmiti

I know your heart by virtue of my penance. I, therefore, ask you to proceed to Panchavati, after ensuring your stay here with me in this penancegrove for the time being.

हृदयस्थश्च ते छन्दो विज्ञातस्तपसा मया।।3.13.18।। इहावासं प्रतिज्ञाय मया सह तपोवने। अतश्च त्वामहं ब्रूमि गच्छ पञ्चवटीमिति।।3.13.19।।

hṛdayasthaśca te chando vijñātastapasā mayā ihāvāsaṃ pratijñāya mayā saha tapovane| ataśca tvāmahaṃ brūmi gaccha pañcavaṭīmiti

I know your heart by virtue of my penance. I, therefore, ask you to proceed to Panchavati, after ensuring your stay here with me in this penancegrove for the time being.

स हि रम्यो वनोद्देशो मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते। स देशश्श्लाघनीयश्च नातिदूरे च राघव।।3.13.20।।

sa hi ramyo vanoddeśo maithilī tatra raṃsyate| sa deśaśślāghanīyaśca nātidūre ca rāghava

O Raghava, that forest tract is delightful and beautiful. It is not far away(from here). Maithili (Sita) will enjoy her stay there.

गोदावर्यास्समीपे च मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते। प्राज्यमूलफलश्चैव नानाद्विजगणायुतः।।3.13.21।। विविक्तश्च महाबाहो पुण्योरम्यस्तथैव च।

godāvaryāssamīpe ca maithilī tatra raṃsyate| prājyamūlaphalaścaiva nānādvijagaṇāyutaḥ viviktaśca mahābāho puṇyoramyastathaiva ca|

O longarmed Rama,that place has plenty of roots and fruits. It is a solitary, holy and beautiful place teeming with various kinds of birds. Sita will enjoy her stay in the vicinity of river Godavari.

भवानपि सदारश्च शक्तश्च परिरक्षणे। अपि चात्र वसन्राम तापसान्पालयिष्यसि।।3.13.22।।

bhavānapi sadāraśca śaktaśca parirakṣaṇe| api cātra vasanrāma tāpasānpālayiṣyasi

O Rama, while staying with your wife, you will look after the ascetics living there since you are capable of giving protection.

एतदालक्ष्यते वीर मधूकानां महद्वनम्। उत्तरेणास्य गन्तव्यं न्यग्रोधमभिगच्छता।।3.13.23।।

etadālakṣyate vīra madhūkānāṃ mahadvanam| uttareṇāsya gantavyaṃ nyagrodhamabhigacchatā

O valiant Rama look at the great forest of madhuka trees. Walk north to the forest till you see a great banyan tree.

ततः स्थलमुपारुह्य पर्वतस्याविदूरतः। ख्यातः पञ्चवटीत्येव नित्यपुष्पितकाननः।।3.13.24।।

tataḥ sthalamupāruhya parvatasyāvidūrataḥ| khyātaḥ pañcavaṭītyeva nityapuṣpitakānanaḥ

Then climb the elevated ground not very far from the mountain. There is the wellknown Panchavati with forests, ever in full bloom.

अगस्त्येनैवमुक्तस्तु रामस्सौमित्रिणा सह। सत्कृत्यामन्त्रयामास तमृषिं सत्यवादिनम्।।3.13.25।।

agastyenaivamuktastu rāmassaumitriṇā saha| satkṛtyāmantrayāmāsa tamṛṣiṃ satyavādinam

Thus addressed by Agastya, Rama with Lakshmana paid respects to the sage wedded to truth and took leave of him.

तौ तु तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातौ कृतपादाभिवन्दनौ। तदाश्रमात्पञ्चवटीं जग्मतुस्सीतया सह।।3.13.26।।

tau tu tenābhyanujñātau kṛtapādābhivandanau| tadāśramātpañcavaṭīṃ jagmatussītayā saha

Both of them worshipped the feet of sage Agastya, and proceeded to Panchavati with his permission.

गृहीतचापौ तु नराधिपात्मजौ विषक्ततूणौ समरेष्वकातरौ। यथोपदिष्टेन पथा महर्षिणा प्रजग्मतुः पञ्चवटीं समाहितौ।।3.13.27।।

gṛhītacāpau tu narādhipātmajau viṣaktatūṇau samareṣvakātarau| yathopadiṣṭena pathā maharṣiṇā prajagmatuḥ pañcavaṭīṃ samāhitau

Both the princes, unafraid of battles, held their bows, tied the quivers and carefully proceeded towards Panchavati along the path suggested by the sage. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे त्रयोदशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.