Sloka & Translation

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

राम प्रीतोऽस्मि भद्रं ते परितुष्टोऽस्मि लक्ष्मण।

अभिवादयितुं यन्मां प्राप्तौ स्थ स्सह सीतया।।3.13.1।।


राम O Rama, प्रीतः pleased, अस्मि I am, ते भद्रम् wish you well, लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, परितुष्टः satisfied, अस्मि I am, यत् to me, सीतया सह with Sita, माम् to me, अभिवादयितुम् to pay reverence, प्राप्तौ have come , स्थः 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.
अध्वश्रमेण वां खेदो बाधते प्रचुरश्रमः।

व्यक्तमुत्कण्ठते वापि मैथिली जनकात्मजा।।3.13.2।।


अध्वश्रमेण due to fatigue caused by the journey, प्रचुरश्रमः much labour, खेदः affliction, वाम् you both, बाधते in troubling, जनकात्मजा Janaka's daughter, मैथिली चापि Maithili too, व्यक्तम् it is evident, उत्कण्ठते is anxious.

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।।


सुकुमारी च she is delicate, दुःखैश्च with difficulties, न विमानिता is not let down, एषा this lady, भर्तृस्नेहप्रचोदिता motivated by love for the husband, प्राज्यदोषम् full of difficulties, वनम् forest, प्राप्ता 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.
यथैषा रमते राम इह सीता तथा कुरु।

दुष्करं कृतवत्येषा वने त्वामनुगच्छती।।3.13.4।।


राम O Rama, इह here, यथा in whatever manner, रमते she feels like enjoying, तथा like that, कुरु do, एषा this lady, वने in this forest, त्वाम् you, अनुगच्छती came following, दुष्करम् difficult, कृतवती 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
एषा हि प्रकृतिः स्त्रीणामासृष्टे रघुनन्दन।

समस्थमनुरज्यान्ति विषमस्थं त्यजन्ति च।।3.13.5।।


रघुनन्धन O delight of the Raghu race, आसृष्टे from the beginning of creation, एषा this is, स्त्रीणाम् of women, प्रकृतिः is the nature, समस्थम् when everything is normal, अनुरज्यन्ति they enjoy, विषमस्थम् in hard situations, त्यजन्ति च 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.
शतह्रदानां लोलत्वं शस्त्राणां तीक्ष्णतां तथा।

गरूडानिलयोश्शैघ्र्यमनुगच्छन्ति योषितः।।3.13.6।।


योषितः women, शतह्रदानाम् of the lightnings, लोलत्वम् fickleness, शस्त्राणाम् of weapons, तीक्ष्णताम् sharpness, तथा like that, गरुडानिलयोः of Garuda (king of birds) and wind, शैघ्र्यम् speed, अनुगच्छन्ति follow.

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।।


भवतः your, भार्या wife, इयं तु this lady, एतैः by these, दोषैः demerits, विवर्जिता is free, देवी revered lady, अरुन्धती यथा like Arundhati, श्लाघ्या च she is praiseworthy, व्यपदेश्या च exemplary too.

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।।


अरिन्दम O subduer of enemies, राम Rama, सौमित्रिणा सह along with Lakshmana, अनया by her, वैदेह्याच with Vaidehi, यत्र whereever, वत्स्यसि you reside, अयम् this, देशश्च region, अलङ्कृतः is adorned.

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।।


मुनिना by the ascetic, एवम् in that way, उक्तः being told, सः that, राघवः Rama, संयताञ्जलिः with palms held together, दीप्तम् burning, अनलमिव like fire, ऋषिम् to sage, प्रश्रितम् politely, वाक्यम् these words, उवाच said.

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।।


सभ्रातृभार्यस्य of me, along with my brother and my wife, यस्य मे of whom, गुणैः qualities, वरदः bestower of boons, मुनिपुङ्गवः great among the sages, परितुष्यति is pleased, धन्यः blessed, अस्मि I am, अनुगृहीतः favoured, अस्मि 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.
किन्तु व्यादिश मे देशं सोदकं बहुकाननम्।

यत्राश्रमपदं कृत्वा वसेयं निरतस्सुखम्।।3.13.11।।


किन्तु but, यत्र there, आश्रमपदम् the hermitage, कृत्वा after building, निरतः always, सुखम् happily, वसेयम् I may live, सोदकम् with water, बहुकाननम् with many forests, देशम् place, मे for me, व्यादिश direct.

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।।


ततः thereafter, धर्मात्मा a righteous soul, धीरः cool, मुनिश्रेष्ठः best among sages, रामस्य Rama's, तत् that, वचः words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, मुहूर्तम् for a while, ध्यात्वा after thinking, धीरतरम् more solemn, वचः word, अब्रवीत् uttered.

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।।


तात dear son, बहुमूलफलोदकः a place with many roots, fruits and water, बहुमृगः a place with many animals, श्रीमान् beautiful, पञ्चवट्यभिविश्रुतः popularly known as Panchavati, शः that place, इतः from here, द्वियोजने at a distance of two yojanas.

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।।


त्वम् you, सौमित्रिणा सह along with Lakshmana, तत्र there, गत्वा after going, आश्रमपदम् hermitage, कृत्वा building, यथोक्तम् as told, पितुः father's, वाक्यम् words, अनुपालयन् while obeying, रंस्यसे 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.
कालोऽयं गतभूयिष्ठो यः काल स्तव राघव।

समयो यो नरेन्द्रेण कृतो दशरथेन ते।।3.13.15।।

तीर्णप्रतिज्ञः काकुत्स्थ सुखं राज्ये निवत्स्यसि।


राघव O Rama, ते for you, नरेन्द्रेण by the king, यः whatever, समयः time, कृतः is fixed, यः that period, तव your, कालः time, अयं कालः this period, गतभूयिष्ठः has been mostly spent, काकुत्स्थ Kakutstha, तीर्णप्रतिज्ञः one who has fulfilled his promise, राज्ये in the kingdom, सुखम् happily, निवत्स्यसि 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.
धन्यस्ते जनको राम स राजा रघुनन्दन।।3.13.16।।

यस्त्वया ज्येष्ठपुत्रेण ययातिरिव तारितः।


रघुनन्दन delight of the Raghu family, राम Rama, ते जनकः your father, सः he, राजा the king, धन्यः blessed, यः who, ज्येष्ठपुत्रेण with the eldest son, त्वया by you, ययातिरिव like Yayati, तारितः is liberated.

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।


अनघ O sinless one, तपसः of the penance, प्रभावेण by the power, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, स्नेहात् due to love, तव your, एषः this, सर्वः all, वृत्तान्तः facts, मम to me, विदितः is known.

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।।


ते your, हृदयस्थः of your heart, छन्द: desire, मया by me, तपसा by the power of penance, विज्ञातः is known, अतः therefore, मया सह with me, इह here, तपोवने in this penancegrove, आवासं residence, प्रतिज्ञाय after ensuring, पञ्चवटीम् to Panchavati, गच्छ you may go, इति thus, त्वाम् you, अहम् I, ब्रूमि 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 penancegrove for the time being.
स हि रम्यो वनोद्देशो मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते।

स देशश्श्लाघनीयश्च नातिदूरे च राघव।।3.13.20।।


राघव Raghava, सः that, वनोद्देशः forest region, रम्यः हि is delightful, सः देशः that place, श्लाघनीयश्च praiseworthy, नातिदूरे च and not far away, मैथिली Maithili, तत्र there, रंस्यते 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.
गोदावर्यास्समीपे च मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते।

प्राज्यमूलफलश्चैव नानाद्विजगणायुतः।।3.13.21।।

विविक्तश्च महाबाहो पुण्योरम्यस्तथैव च।


मैथिली Maithili, तत्र there, गोदावर्याः of Godavari, समीपे nearby , रंस्यते will enjoy, प्राज्यमूलफलश्चैव roots and fruits are plenty there, नानाद्विजगणायुतः teeming with a kariety of birds, महाबाहो long armed, विविक्तश्च it is a solitary place, पुण्यः holy place, तथैवच in the same way, रम्यः is beautiful.

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।।


राम O Rama, भवानपि you also, सदारश्च accompanied by your wife, परिरक्षणे in giving protection, शक्तश्च able, अपि च and so, अत्र there, वसन् while living, तापसान् ascetics, पालयिष्यसि 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.
एतदालक्ष्यते वीर मधूकानां महद्वनम्।

उत्तरेणास्य गन्तव्यं न्यग्रोधमभिगच्छता।।3.13.23।।


वीर O hero, एतत् this is, मधूकानाम् of madhuka trees, महत् big, वनम् forest, आलक्ष्यते is seen, अस्य its, उत्तरेण northern side, न्यग्रोधम् banyan tree, अभिगच्छता while going towards, गन्तव्यम् 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.
ततः स्थलमुपारुह्य पर्वतस्याविदूरतः।

ख्यातः पञ्चवटीत्येव नित्यपुष्पितकाननः।।3.13.24।।


ततः there, स्थलम् ground, उपारुह्य getting to the elevated, पर्वतस्य of the mountain, अविदूरतः not very far from there, पञ्चवटीत्येव is Panchavati, ख्यातः wellknown, नित्यपुष्पितकाननः where the forest is always in full bloom.

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।।


अगस्त्येन by Agastya, एवम् thus, उक्तः was said, सौमित्रिणा सह with Lakshmana, रामः Rama, सत्यवादिनम् to the truthful, तम् that, ऋषिम् sage, सत्कृत्य after worshipping with respect, आमन्त्रयामास took leave .

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।।


तेन by him, अभ्यनुज्ञातौ permitted, तौ both, कृतपादाभिवन्दनौ worshipping his feet, सीतया सह along with Sita, तदाश्रमात् from that hermitage, पञ्चवटीम् to Panchavati, जग्मतुः proceeded.

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।।


समरेषु in wars, अकातरौ never frightened, नराधिपात्मजौ two princes, गृहीतचापौ holding bows, विषक्ततूणौ tying the quivers, समाहितौ made attentive, महर्षिणा by the great sage, यथोपदिष्टेन as per the directions, पथा by the path, पञ्चवटीम् to Panchavati, प्रजग्मतुः 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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे त्रयोदशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the thirteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.