Sloka & Translation

[ Agastya's advice to Sri Rama--directs Sri Rama to go to Panchavati to reside.]

rāma! prītō.smi bhadraṅ tē parituṣṭō.smi lakṣmaṇa.

abhivādayituṅ yanmāṅ prāptau stha ssaha sītayā৷৷3.13.1৷৷


rāma ! O Rama, prītaḥ pleased, asmi I am, tē bhadram wish you well, lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, parituṣṭaḥ satisfied, asmi I am, yat to me, sītayā saha with Sita, mām to me, abhivādayitum to pay reverence, prāptau have come , sthaḥ you both are.

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.
adhvaśramēṇa vāṅ khēdō bādhatē pracuraśramaḥ.

vyaktamutkaṇṭhatē cāpi maithilī janakātmajā৷৷3.13.2৷৷


adhvaśramēṇa due to fatigue caused by the journey, pracuraśramaḥ much labour, khēdaḥ affliction, vām you both, bādhatē in troubling, janakātmajā Janaka's daughter, maithilī cāpi Maithili too, vyaktam it is evident, utkaṇṭhatē is anxious.

Both of you are tired due to the journey. It is evident that Sita, daughter of Janaka, is anxious (to rest).
ēṣā hi sukumārī ca duḥkhaiśca na vimānitā.

prājyadōṣaṅ vanaṅ prāptā bhartṛsnēhapracōditā৷৷3.13.3৷৷


sukumārī ca she is delicate, duḥkhaiśca with difficulties, na vimānitā is not let down, ēṣā this lady, bhartṛsnēhapracōditā motivated by love for the husband, prājyadōṣam full of difficulties, vanam forest, prāptā she came.

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.
yathaiṣā ramatē rāma iha sītā tathā kuru.

duṣkaraṅ kṛtavatyēṣā vanē tvāmanugacchatī৷৷3.13.4৷৷


rāma O Rama, iha here, yathā in whatever manner, ramatē she feels like enjoying, tathā like that, kuru do, ēṣā this lady, vanē in this forest, tvām you, anugacchatī came following, duṣkaram difficult, kṛtavatī she has done.

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

samasthamanurajyānti viṣamasthaṅ tyajanti ca৷৷3.13.5৷৷


raghunandhana ! O delight of the Raghu race, āsṛṣṭē from the beginning of creation, ēṣā this is, strīṇām of women, prakṛtiḥ is the nature, samastham when everything is normal, anurajyanti they enjoy, viṣamastham in hard situations, tyajanti ca they give up.

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.
śatahradānāṅ lōlatvaṅ śastrāṇāṅ tīkṣṇatāṅ tathā.

garūḍānilayōśśaighryamanugacchanti yōṣitaḥ৷৷3.13.6৷৷


yōṣitaḥ women, śatahradānām of the lightnings, lōlatvam fickleness, śastrāṇām of weapons, tīkṣṇatām sharpness, tathā like that, garuḍānilayōḥ of Garuda (king of birds) and wind, śaighryam speed, anugacchanti follow.

Women are fickle like lightning, sharp like weapons and fast like Garuda or the
wind-god.
iyaṅ tu bhavatō bhāryā dōṣairētairvivarjitā.

ślāghyā ca vyapadēśyā ca yathā dēvī hyarundhatī৷৷3.13.7৷৷


bhavataḥ your, bhāryā wife, iyaṅ tu this lady, ētaiḥ by these, dōṣaiḥ demerits, vivarjitā is free, dēvī revered lady, arundhatī yathā like Arundhati, ślāghyā ca she is praiseworthy, vyapadēśyā ca exemplary too.

Your wife is free from such blemishes. She is praiseworthy and worthy of mention as an example just like the revered Arundhati.
alaṅkṛtō.yaṅ dēśaśca yatra saumitriṇā saha.

vaidēhyā cānayā rāma vatsyasi tvamarindama৷৷3.13.8৷৷


arindama O subduer of enemies, rāma Rama, saumitriṇā saha along with Lakshmana, anayā by her, vaidēhyāca with Vaidehi, yatra whereever, vatsyasi you reside, ayam this, dēśaśca region, alaṅkṛtaḥ is adorned.

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

uvāca praśritaṅ vākyamṛṣiṅ dīptamivānalam৷৷3.13.9৷৷


muninā by the ascetic, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ being told, saḥ that, rāghavaḥ Rama, saṅyatāñjaliḥ with palms held together, dīptam burning, analamiva like fire, ṛṣim to sage, praśritam politely, vākyam these words, uvāca said.

Thus addressed, Rama held his palms together and said politely to the sage shining like fire:
dhanyō.smyanugṛhītō.smi yasya mē munipuṅgavaḥ.

guṇaissabhrātṛbhāryasya varadaḥ parituṣyati৷৷3.13.10৷৷


sabhrātṛbhāryasya of me, along with my brother and my wife, yasya mē of whom, guṇaiḥ qualities, varadaḥ bestower of boons, munipuṅgavaḥ great among the sages, parituṣyati is pleased, dhanyaḥ blessed, asmi I am, anugṛhītaḥ favoured, asmi me.

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.
kintu vyādiśa mē dēśaṅ sōdakaṅ bahukānanam.

yatrāśramapadaṅ kṛtvā vasēyaṅ niratassukham৷৷3.13.11৷৷


kintu but, yatra there, āśramapadam the hermitage, kṛtvā after building, nirataḥ always, sukham happily, vasēyam I may live, sōdakam with water, bahukānanam with many forests, dēśam place, mē for me, vyādiśa direct.

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

dhyātvā muhūrtaṅ dharmātmā dhīrō dhīrataraṅ vacaḥ৷৷3.13.12৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, dharmātmā a righteous soul, dhīraḥ cool, muniśrēṣṭhaḥ best among sages, rāmasya Rama's, tat that, vacaḥ words, śrutvā on hearing, muhūrtam for a while, dhyātvā after thinking, dhīrataram more solemn, vacaḥ word, abravīt uttered.

On hearing the words of Rama, Agastya, the best among the sages, cool-headed and righteous, thought a while and uttered these words coolly :
itō dviyōjanē tāta bahumūlaphalōdakaḥ.

dēśō bahumṛgaśśrīmānpañcavaṭyabhiviśrutaḥ৷৷3.13.13৷৷


tāta dear son, bahumūlaphalōdakaḥ a place with many roots, fruits and water, bahumṛgaḥ a place with many animals, śrīmān beautiful, pañcavaṭyabhiviśrutaḥ popularly known as Panchavati, śaḥ that place, itaḥ from here, dviyōjanē at a distance of two yojanas.

O dear! two yojanas away is a place well-known as Panchavati, a beautiful resort with many roots, fruits, plenty of water and many animals.
tatra gatvāśramapadaṅ kṛtvā saumitriṇā saha.

raṅsyasē tvaṅ piturvākyaṅ yathōktamanupālayan৷৷3.13.14৷৷


tvam you, saumitriṇā saha along with Lakshmana, tatra there, gatvā after going, āśramapadam hermitage, kṛtvā building, yathōktam as told, pituḥ father's, vākyam words, anupālayan while obeying, raṅsyasē you will enjoy.

Reaching there, you wikk build a hermitage with Lakshmana and enjoy your life given to the fulfilment of the pledge to the father.
kālō.yaṅ gatabhūyiṣṭhō yaḥ kāla stava rāghava.

samayō yō narēndrēṇa kṛtō daśarathēna tē৷৷3.13.15৷৷

tīrṇapratijñaḥ kākutstha sukhaṅ rājyē nivatsyasi.


rāghava O Rama, tē for you, narēndrēṇa by the king, yaḥ whatever, samayaḥ time, kṛtaḥ is fixed, yaḥ that period, tava your, kālaḥ time, ayaṅ kālaḥ this period, gatabhūyiṣṭhaḥ has been mostly spent, kākutstha Kakutstha, tīrṇapratijñaḥ one who has fulfilled his promise, rājyē in the kingdom, sukham happily, nivatsyasi you will live.

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.
dhanyastē janakō rāma sa rājā raghunandana৷৷3.13.16৷৷

yastvayā jyēṣṭhaputrēṇa yayātiriva tāritaḥ.


raghunandana delight of the Raghu family, rāma Rama, tē janakaḥ your father, saḥ he, rājā the king, dhanyaḥ blessed, yaḥ who, jyēṣṭhaputrēṇa with the eldest son, tvayā by you, yayātiriva like Yayati, tāritaḥ is liberated.

O Rama, joy of the Raghu family! with the eldest son like you, your father is blessed and liberated like king Yayati.
viditō hyēṣa vṛttāntō mama sarvastavānagha৷৷3.13.17৷৷

tapasaśca prabhāvēṇa snēhāddaśarathasya ca.


anagha O sinless one, tapasaḥ of the penance, prabhāvēṇa by the power, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, snēhāt due to love, tava your, ēṣaḥ this, sarvaḥ all, vṛttāntaḥ facts, mama to me, viditaḥ is known.

O sinless one, I have kown all these facts about you by the power of penance and love for Dasaratha.
hṛdayasthaśca tē chandō vijñātastapasā mayā৷৷3.13.18৷৷

ihāvāsaṅ pratijñāya mayā saha tapōvanē.

ataśca tvāmahaṅ brūmi gaccha pañcavaṭīmiti৷৷3.13.19৷৷


tē your, hṛdayasthaḥ of your heart, chanda: desire, mayā by me, tapasā by the power of penance, vijñātaḥ is known, ataḥ therefore, mayā saha with me, iha here, tapōvanē in this penance-grove, āvāsaṅ residence, pratijñāya after ensuring, pañcavaṭīm to Panchavati, gaccha you may go, iti thus, tvām you, aham I, brūmi telling you.

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 penance-grove for the time being.
sa hi ramyō vanōddēśō maithilī tatra raṅsyatē.

sa dēśaśślāghanīyaśca nātidūrē ca rāghava৷৷3.13.20৷৷


rāghava Raghava, saḥ that, vanōddēśaḥ forest region, ramyaḥ hi is delightful, saḥ dēśaḥ that place, ślāghanīyaśca praiseworthy, nātidūrē ca and not far away, maithilī Maithili, tatra there, raṅsyatē will enjoy.

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

prājyamūlaphalaścaiva nānādvijagaṇāyutaḥ৷৷3.13.21৷৷

viviktaśca mahābāhō! puṇyōramyastathaiva ca.


maithilī Maithili, tatra there, gōdāvaryāḥ of Godavari, samīpē nearby , raṅsyatē will enjoy, prājyamūlaphalaścaiva roots and fruits are plenty there, nānādvijagaṇāyutaḥ teeming with a kariety of birds, mahābāhō long- armed, viviktaśca it is a solitary place, puṇyaḥ holy place, tathaivaca in the same way, ramyaḥ is beautiful.

O long-armed 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.
bhavānapi sadāraśca śaktaśca parirakṣaṇē.

api cātra vasanrāma tāpasānpālayiṣyasi৷৷3.13.22৷৷


rāma O Rama, bhavānapi you also, sadāraśca accompanied by your wife, parirakṣaṇē in giving protection, śaktaśca able, api ca and so, atra there, vasan while living, tāpasān ascetics, pālayiṣyasi you will protect.

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

uttarēṇāsya gantavyaṅ nyagrōdhamabhigacchatā৷৷3.13.23৷৷


vīra O hero, ētat this is, madhūkānām of madhuka trees, mahat big, vanam forest, ālakṣyatē is seen, asya its, uttarēṇa northern side, nyagrōdham banyan tree, abhigacchatā while going towards, gantavyam you should go.

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

khyātaḥ pañcavaṭītyēva nityapuṣpitakānanaḥ৷৷3.13.24৷৷


tataḥ there, sthalam ground, upāruhya getting to the elevated, parvatasya of the mountain, avidūrataḥ not very far from there, pañcavaṭītyēva is Panchavati, khyātaḥ well-known, nityapuṣpitakānanaḥ where the forest is always in full bloom.

Then climb the elevated ground not very far from the mountain. There is the well-known Panchavati with forests, ever in full bloom.
agastyēnaivamuktastu rāmassaumitriṇā saha.

satkṛtyāmantrayāmāsa tamṛṣiṅ satyavādinam৷৷3.13.25৷৷


agastyēna by Agastya, ēvam thus, uktaḥ was said, saumitriṇā saha with Lakshmana, rāmaḥ Rama, satyavādinam to the truthful, tam that, ṛṣim sage, satkṛtya after worshipping with respect, āmantrayāmāsa took leave .

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

tadāśramātpañcavaṭīṅ jagmatussītayā saha৷৷3.13.26৷৷


tēna by him, abhyanujñātau permitted, tau both, kṛtapādābhivandanau worshipping his feet, sītayā saha along with Sita, tadāśramāt from that hermitage, pañcavaṭīm to Panchavati, jagmatuḥ proceeded.

Both of them worshipped the feet of sage Agastya, and proceeded to Panchavati with his permission.
gṛhītacāpau tu narādhipātmajau viṣaktatūṇau samarēṣvakātarau.

yathōpadiṣṭēna pathā maharṣiṇā prajagmatuḥ pañcavaṭīṅ samāhitau৷৷3.13.27৷৷


samarēṣu in wars, akātarau never frightened, narādhipātmajau two princes, gṛhītacāpau holding bows, viṣaktatūṇau tying the quivers, samāhitau made attentive, maharṣiṇā by the great sage, yathōpadiṣṭēna as per the directions, pathā by the path, pañcavaṭīm to Panchavati, prajagmatuḥ proceeded.

Both the princes, unafraid of battles, held their bows, tied the quivers and carefully proceeded towards Panchavati along the path suggested by the sage.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē trayōdaśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the thirteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.