Sloka & Translation

[Rama, Lakshmana and Sita enter Panchavati --Lakshmana makes a thatched cottage at Panchavati -- performance of traditional sacrifices before entering the cottage --description of the beautiful nature around Panchavati and river Godavari.]

tataḥ pañcavaṭīṅ gatvā nānāvyālamṛgāyutām.

uvāca bhrātaraṅ rāmassaumitriṅ dīptatējasam৷৷3.15.1৷৷


tataḥ then, rāmaḥ Rama, nānāvyālamṛgāyutām filled with different kinds of vicious animals, pañcavaṭīm Panchavati, gatvā on going, dīptatējasam glowing like fire, bhrātaram brother, saumitrim to Lakshmana, uvāca said.

On reaching Panchavati, which was full of various vicious animals, Rama said to Lakshmana, his brother who was glowing like fire:
āgatāḥ sma yathōddiṣṭamamuṅ dēśaṅ maharṣiṇā.

ayaṅ pañcavaṭīdēśassaumya puṣpitapādapaḥ৷৷3.15.2৷৷


saumya O handsome one, maharṣiṇā by the great sage, yathōddiṣṭam as directed by, amum to this,dēśaṅ place, āgatāḥ sma: we have come, puṣpitapādapaḥ (trees full of flowers) full of flowering trees, ayam this, dēśaḥ place, pañcavaṭī Panchavati.

O handsome one, following the directions of the great sage, we have arrived at Panchavati, a place full of blossoming trees.
sarvataścāryatāṅ dṛṣṭiḥ kānanē nipuṇōhyasi.

āśramaḥ katarasminnō dēśē bhavati sammataḥ৷৷3.15.3৷৷


katarasmin in which, dēśē place, naḥ for us, āśramaḥ hermitage, sammataḥ suitable, bhavati will be, kānanē in this forest, sarvataḥ all over, dṛṣṭiḥ vision, cāryatām cast (your sight) , nipuṇaḥ good at
deciding, asi you are, hi indeed.

O Lakshmana! cast your eyes all around the forest for a suitable place (for building a hermitage). Indeed, you are good at judging things.
ramatē yatra vaidēhī tvamahaṅ caiva lakṣmaṇa.

tādṛśō dṛśyatāṅ dēśassannikṛṣṭajalāśayaḥ৷৷3.15.4৷৷

vanarāmaṇyakaṅ yatra sthalarāmaṇyakaṅ tathā.

sannikṛṣṭaṅ ca yatra syātsamitpuṣpakuśōdakam৷৷3.15.5৷৷


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, yatra where , vaidēhī Vaidehi, ramatē is delighted, tvam you, ahaṅ ca and me, yatra where , vanarāmaṇyakam forest is beautiful, tathā similarly, sthalarāmaṇyayakam beauty of the location, yatra where , samitpuṣpakuśōdakam sticks used for fire sacrifice, flowers, fruits, kusa grass and water, sannikṛṣṭam is at hand, tādṛśaḥ such a location, sannikṛṣṭajalāśayaḥ tank nearby, dēśaḥ place, dṛśyatām survey

Look, O Lakshmana ! for a place to the liking of Sita, a place where there is water source nearby where both of us can enjoy. Find a beautiful location where the surrounding forest is beautiful and where faggots, flowers, water and kusa grass are available at hand.
ēvamuktastu rāmēṇa lakṣmaṇa saṅyatāñjaliḥ.

sītāsamakṣaṅ kākutsthamidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷3.15.6৷৷


rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having been instructed, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, saṅyatājñaliḥ with folded palms, sītāsamakṣam in the presence of Sita, kākutstham to Rama, idam this, abravīt said.

Having been thus instructed by Rama, Lakshmana said with folded palms in the presence of Sita:
paravānasmi kākutstha tvayi varṣaśataṅ sthitē.

svayaṅ tu rucirē dēśē kriyatāmiti māṅ vada৷৷3.15.7৷৷


kākutstha Rama, tvayi you, varṣaśatam for hundred years, sthitē while living, paravān dependant man, asmi I am, rucirē in a beautiful, dēśē place, kriyatām it may be built, iti thus, mām to me, vada order.

O Rama, I shall be dependent on you, even if I live for a hundred years. You only need to indicate a beautiful place of your choice.
suprītastēna vākyēna lakṣmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ.

vimṛśanrōcayāmāsa dēśaṅ sarvaguṇānvitam৷৷3.15.8৷৷


mahātmanaḥ of a great soul, lakṣmaṇasya of Lakshmana, tēna vākyēna by these words, suprītaḥ very pleased, vimṛśan while checking, sarvaguṇānvitam virtuous in all respects, dēśam site, rōcayāmāsa selected.

Rama was pleased with the words of great Lakshmana. Deliberating over it, he agreed upon a site suitable in all respects.
sa taṅ ruciramākramya dēśamāśramakarmaṇi.

hastau gṛhītvā hastēna rāmassaumitrimabravīt৷৷3.15.9৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, tam that, ruciram beautiful, dēśam location, āśramakarmaṇi for building an asram, ākramya after occupying, hastēna with hands, saumitrim Lakshmana, hastau hands, gṛhītvā after taking hold, abravīt said.

Having come to a beautiful spot suitable for the asram, Rama took both the hands of Lakshmana in his own and said:
ayaṅ dēśassamaśrīmān puṣpitaistarubhirvṛtaḥ.

ihā.śramapadaṅ saumya yathāvatkartumarhasi৷৷3.15.10৷৷


saumya O gentle one, puṣpitaiḥ with flowers in full bloom, tarubhiḥ by trees, vṛtaḥ surrounded, ayaṅ dēśaḥ this place, samaḥ even without ups and downs, śrīmān beautiful, iha here, yathāvat accordingly, āśramapadam hermitage, kartum to build, arhasi ought to.

This place is level, surrounded by beautiful trees in full bloom. O handsome one, you may build the hermitage here.
iyamādityasaṅkāśaiḥ padmaissurabhigandhibhiḥ.

adūrē dṛśyatē ramyā padminī padmaśōbhitā৷৷3.15.11৷৷


padmaśōbhitā delightful with lotuses, ramyā beautiful, iyaṅ padminī tank full of lotuses, ādityasaṅkāśaiḥ shining like the Sun, surabhigandhibhiḥ with pleasant smell, padmaiḥ with lotuses, adūrē not very far, dṛśyatē is seen.

There, not very far, is a beautiful lotus-tank shining like the Sun, fragrant with lotuses.
yathātakhyātamagastyēna muninā bhāvitātmanā.

iyaṅ gōdāvarī ramyā puṣpitaistarubhirvṛtā৷৷3.15.12৷৷

haṅsakāraṇḍavākīrṇā cakravākōpaśōbhitā.


bhāvitātmanā self realised soul, agastyēna muninā by sage Agastya, yathā as, ākhyātam told by, ramyā delightful, puṣpitaiḥ with flowers in bloom, tarubhiḥ with trees, vṛtā surrounded by, haṅsakāraṇḍavākīrṇā filled with swans and ducks, cakravākōpaśōbhitā beautiful with flocks of ruddy geese (water-birds), iyaṅ gōdāvarī this is Godavari.

As said by the self-realised soul, sage Agastya, this Godavari is beautiful, surrounded by trees with flowers in bloom, filled with flocks of swans, ducks and ruddy geese.
nātidūrē na cāsannē mṛgayūthapipīḍitāḥ৷৷3.15.13৷৷

mayūranāditā ramyāḥ prāṅśavō bahukandarāḥ.

dṛśyantē girayaḥ saumya phullaistarubhirāvṛtāḥ৷৷3.15.14৷৷


saumya O pleasing, mṛgayūthapipīḍitāḥ herds of deer all, mayūranāditāḥ sounds of peacocks, ramyāḥ beautiful, prāṅśavaḥ tall, bahukandarāḥ with numerous caves, phullaiḥ flowering tarubhiḥ trees, āvṛtāḥ covered, girayaḥ mountains, nātidūrē not far from here, āsannē near, dṛśyantē you may see.

O handsome one, neither far nor near are seen tall mountains and flowering trees and herds of deer. Their numerous caves echo with sounds of peacocks.
sauvarṇairājataistāmrairdēśē dēśē ca dhātubhiḥ.

gavākṣitā ivabhānti gajāḥ paramabhaktibhiḥ৷৷3.15.15৷৷


sauvarṇaiḥ with gold, rājataiḥ silver, tāmraiḥ with copper, dhātubhiḥ minerals also, dēśē dēśē in different locations, gavākṣitāḥ looking like windows, paramabhaktibhiḥ with prominent (beautiful) streaks, gajāḥ iva like huge elephants, bhānti look splendid.

These mountains, with streaks of minerals like gold, silver and copper forming decorative designs, look beautiful like colourful windows, and appear like huge elephants.
sālaistālaistamālaiśca kharjūrapanasāmrakaiḥ.

nīvāraistimiśaiścaiva punnāgaiścōpaśōbhitāḥ৷৷3.15.16৷৷

cūtairaśōkaistilakaiścampakaiḥ kētakairapi.

puṣpagulmalatōpētaistaistaistarubhirāvṛtāḥ৷৷3.15.17৷৷

candanaispandanairnīpaiḥ parṇāsairlikucairapi.

dhavāśvakarṇakhadiraiḥ śamīkiṅśukapāṭalaiḥ৷৷3.15.18৷৷


sālaiḥ with sal trees, tālaiḥ with palmyrah trees, tamālaiśca with tamala trees (terminata alata), kharjūrapanasāmrakaiḥ with date, jackfruit and mango trees, nīvāraiḥ wild paddy crops, timiśaiścaiva timisha trees that will not let light pass through, punnāgaiḥ with punnaga, upaśōbhitāḥ adorning the whole place, cūtaiḥ with mango trees, aśōkaiḥ with asoka trees, tilakaiḥ with tree, campakaiḥ with champak trees, kētakaiḥ with ketaka (pandams fascicularis), puṣpagulmalatōpētaiḥ with flowering creepers and bushes, taistaiḥ others, tarubhiḥ with trees, candanaiḥ sandalwood, spandanaiḥ spandan trees, nīpaiḥ kadamba trees, parṇāsaiḥ parnasha trees, vikucairapi creepers on the ground, dhavāśvakarṇakhadiraiḥ with dhava, ashvakarna and khadira plants, śamīkiṅśukapāṭalaiḥ with sami, kimsukas and patala trees.

The place is covered with sal and palmyrah trees including mango, jackfruit, dates, kadamba, punnaga, ashoka, champak, tilaka, ketaka, sandalwood, spandan, dhava, asvakarna parnasha, khadira, sami, kimsuka and patala trees. It is full of wild paddy, flowering bushes and creepers that run on the ground.
idaṅ puṇyamidaṅ mēdhyamidaṅ bahumṛgadvijam.

iha vatsyāma saumitrē sārdhamētēna pakṣiṇā৷৷3.15.19৷৷


idam this, puṇyam holy place, idam this, mēdhyam fit for scrifice, idam this, bahumṛgadvijam full of many animals and birds, ētēna with this, pakṣiṇā sārdham along with Jatayu, iha here, vatsyāma will reside.

This is a holy place fit for sacrifice. There are many animals and birds here.Hence we will reside here with Jatayu.
ēvamuktastu rāmēṇa lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā.

acirēṇā.śramaṅ bhrātuścakāra sumahābalaḥ৷৷3.15.20৷৷


rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ said, paravīrahā destroyer of the enemy heroes, sumahābalaḥ of great strength , bhrātuḥ brother, acirēṇa soon, āśramam hermitage, cakāra built.

Thus directed by Rama, the mighty Lakshmana, destroyer of enemy warriors, soon built a hermitage for his brother.
parṇaśālāṅ suvipulāṅ tatra saṅkhātamṛttikām.

sustambhāṅ maskarairdīrghaiḥ kṛtavaṅśāṅ suśōbhanām৷৷3.15. 21৷৷

śamīśākhābhirāstīrya dṛḍhapāśāvapāśitām.

kuśakāśaśaraiḥ parṇaissuparicchāditāṅ tathā৷৷3.15.22৷৷

samīkṛtatalāṅ ramyāṅ cakāra laghuvikramaḥ.

nivāsaṅ rāghavasyārthē prēkṣaṇīyamanuttamam৷৷3.15.23৷৷


laghuvikrama: quick to act, tatra there, saṅkhātamṛttikām nippers digging the clay, sustambhām having strong poles, dīrghaiḥ long, maskaraiḥ bamboos, kṛtavaṅśām succesfully did, suśōbhanām very splendid, śamīśākhābhiḥ with branches of sami trees (Prospis cineraria), āstīrya after spreading, dṛḍhapāśāvapāśitām tied with strong ropes, tathā then, kuśakāśaśaraiḥ kasa and kusa grass, parṇaiḥ leaves, samīkṛtatalām the ground was made plain, ramyām beautiful, suvipulām spacious, parṇaśālām leafy cottage, rāghavasyārthē for Rama, anuttamam best, prēkṣaṇīyam worthy of looking, nivāsam residence, cakāra built.

Lakshmana who was quick to act dug the clay with nippers, planted long bamboo poles, put branches of sami trees across and tied them with strong ropes. He spread kusa and kasa grass and leaves on the levelled ground. He built a beautiful, spacious and nice residence for Rama.
sahasā lakṣmaṇaḥ śrīmān nadīṅ gōdāvarīṅ tadā.

snātvā padmāni cādāya saphalaḥ punarāgataḥ৷৷3.15.24৷৷


tadā then, śrīmān handsome, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, sahasā immediately, gōdāvarīṅ nadīm (gatvā) went to river Godavari, snātvā after taking bath, padmāni lotuses, ca and, ādāya collecting, saphalaḥ completing the task, punaḥ again, āgataḥ came.

Lakshmana then went to river Godavari, had his bath, and returned with some lotuses.
tataḥ puṣpabaliṅ kṛtvā śāntiṅ ca sa yathāvidhi.

darśayāmāsa rāmāya tadāśramapadaṅ kṛtam৷৷3.15.25৷৷


tataḥ then, saḥ that, puṣpabalim offering of flowers, kṛtvā after doing so, yathāvidhi as per tradition (before occupying a new residence), śāntiṅ ca invoking peace, kṛtam did, tat then, āśramapadam cottage, rāmāya to Rama, darśayāmāsa showed.

Lakshmana offered oblation of flowers, invoked peace as per tradition (before occupying a newly made home) and showed Rama the cottage he had built.
sa taṅ dṛṣṭvā kṛtaṅ saumyamāśramaṅ sītayā saha.

rāghavaḥ parṇaśālāyāṅ harṣamāhārayatparam৷৷3.15.26৷৷


saḥ he, rāghavaḥ Rama, tam him, kṛtam made, saumyam beautiful, āśramam hermitage, sītayā saha with Sita, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, parṇaśālāyām in the leafy cottage, paraṅ much, harṣam happiness, āhārayat expressed.

Rama and Sita saw the beautiful hermitage built by Lakshmana, and expressed much happiness over the leaf-thatched cottage.
susaṅhṛṣṭaḥ pariṣvajya bahubhyāṅ lakṣmaṇaṅ tadā.

atisnigdhaṅ ca gāḍhaṅ ca vacanaṅ cēdamabravīt৷৷3.15.27৷৷


tadā then, susaṅhṛṣṭaḥ highly delighted man, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, bāhubhyām with both his arms, gāḍham very tighty, pariṣvajya embraced, atisnigdham very affectionately, vacanam words, abravīt said.

Deeply pleased with Lakshmana, he hugged him tightly and said those loving words :
prītō.smi tē mahatkarma tvayā kṛtamidaṅ prabhō.

pradēyō yannimittaṅ tē pariṣvaṅgō mayā kṛtaḥ৷৷3.15.28৷৷


prabhō O master, tvayā by you, mahat great, karma task, kṛtam is accomplished, tē with you, prītaḥ pleased, asmi I am, yannimittam for what you have done, tē to you, pradēyaḥ that which has to be given, pariṣvaṅgaḥ embrace, mayā myself, kṛtaḥ gave.

O my master, you have done a great task for which I have given you what I could give at the moment- a hug.
bhāvajñēna kṛtajñēna dharmajñēna ca lakṣmaṇa.

tvayā putrēṇa dharmātmā na saṅvṛttaḥ pitā mama৷৷3.15.29৷৷


bhāvajñēna knower of the feelings, kṛtajñēna grateful , dharmajñēna knower of duty, putrēṇa by a son, tvayā by you, mama my, dharmātmā righteous soul, pitā father, na saṅvṛttaḥ not dead.

O Lakshmana! with a son like you who can understand others' feelings, who has a sense of gratitude and a sense of duty my father is not dead yet.
ēvaṅ lakṣmaṇamuktvā tu rāghavō lakṣmivardhanaḥ.

tasmin dēśē bahuphalē nyavasatsusukhaṅ vaśī৷৷3.15.30৷৷


lakṣmivardhanaḥ enhancer of fortune, vaśī self-controlled man, rāghavaḥ Rama, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, ēvam in that way, uktvā having said, bahuphalē with abundance of fruits, tasmin dēśē that place, susukham happily, nyavasat resided.

Rama who was an enhancer of fortunes and who had his senses under control said thus to Lakshmana and lived happily there in that place filled with fruits.
kañcitkālaṅ sa dharmātmā sītayā lakṣmaṇēna ca.

anvāsyamānō nyavasatsvargalōkē yathāmaraḥ৷৷3.15.31৷৷


dharmātmā righteous self, saḥ Rama, sītayā with Sita, lakṣmaṇēna ca and with Lakshmana, anvāsyamānaḥ served by, svargalōkē in heaven, amaraḥ god, yathā as, kañcit kālam for some time,
nyavasat lived.

Righteous Rama, served by Lakshmana, and Sita lived there for some time like a god in heaven.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē pañcadaśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fifteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.