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.]

ततः पञ्चवटीं गत्वा नानाव्यालमृगायुताम्।

उवाच भ्रातरं रामस्सौमित्रिं दीप्ततेजसम्।।3.15.1।।


ततः then, रामः Rama, नानाव्यालमृगायुताम् filled with different kinds of vicious animals, पञ्चवटीम् Panchavati, गत्वा on going, दीप्ततेजसम् glowing like fire, भ्रातरम् brother, सौमित्रिम् to Lakshmana, उवाच said.

On reaching Panchavati, which was full of various vicious animals, Rama said to Lakshmana, his brother who was glowing like fire:
आगताः स्म यथोद्दिष्टममुं देशं महर्षिणा।

अयं पञ्चवटीदेशस्सौम्य पुष्पितपादपः।।3.15.2।।


सौम्य O handsome one, महर्षिणा by the great sage, यथोद्दिष्टम् as directed by, अमुम् to this,देशं place, आगताः स्म: we have come, पुष्पितपादपः (trees full of flowers) full of flowering trees, अयम् this, देशः place, पञ्चवटी Panchavati.

O handsome one, following the directions of the great sage, we have arrived at Panchavati, a place full of blossoming trees.
सर्वतश्चार्यतां दृष्टिः कानने निपुणोह्यसि।

आश्रमः कतरस्मिन्नो देशे भवति सम्मतः।।3.15.3।।


कतरस्मिन् in which, देशे place, नः for us, आश्रमः hermitage, सम्मतः suitable, भवति will be, कानने in this forest, सर्वतः all over, दृष्टिः vision, चार्यताम् cast (your sight) , निपुणः good at
deciding, असि you are, हि 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.
रमते यत्र वैदेही त्वमहं चैव लक्ष्मण।

तादृशो दृश्यतां देशस्सन्निकृष्टजलाशयः।।3.15.4।।

वनरामण्यकं यत्र स्थलरामण्यकं तथा।

सन्निकृष्टं च यत्र स्यात्समित्पुष्पकुशोदकम्।।3.15.5।।


लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, यत्र where , वैदेही Vaidehi, रमते is delighted, त्वम् you, अहं च and me, यत्र where , वनरामण्यकम् forest is beautiful, तथा similarly, स्थलरामण्ययकम् beauty of the location, यत्र where , समित्पुष्पकुशोदकम् sticks used for fire sacrifice, flowers, fruits, kusa grass and water, सन्निकृष्टम् is at hand, तादृशः such a location, सन्निकृष्टजलाशयः tank nearby, देशः place, दृश्यताम् 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.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मण संयताञ्जलिः।

सीतासमक्षं काकुत्स्थमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।3.15.6।।


रामेण by Rama, एवम् in that way, उक्तः having been instructed, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, संयताज्ञलिः with folded palms, सीतासमक्षम् in the presence of Sita, काकुत्स्थम् to Rama, इदम् this, अब्रवीत् said.

Having been thus instructed by Rama, Lakshmana said with folded palms in the presence of Sita:
परवानस्मि काकुत्स्थ त्वयि वर्षशतं स्थिते।

स्वयं तु रुचिरे देशे क्रियतामिति मां वद।।3.15.7।।


काकुत्स्थ Rama, त्वयि you, वर्षशतम् for hundred years, स्थिते while living, परवान् dependant man, अस्मि I am, रुचिरे in a beautiful, देशे place, क्रियताम् it may be built, इति thus, माम् to me, वद 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.
सुप्रीतस्तेन वाक्येन लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः।

विमृशन्रोचयामास देशं सर्वगुणान्वितम्।।3.15.8।।


महात्मनः of a great soul, लक्ष्मणस्य of Lakshmana, तेन वाक्येन by these words, सुप्रीतः very pleased, विमृशन् while checking, सर्वगुणान्वितम् virtuous in all respects, देशम् site, रोचयामास selected.

Rama was pleased with the words of great Lakshmana. Deliberating over it, he agreed upon a site suitable in all respects.
स तं रुचिरमाक्रम्य देशमाश्रमकर्मणि।

हस्तौ गृहीत्वा हस्तेन रामस्सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्।।3.15.9।।


रामः Rama, तम् that, रुचिरम् beautiful, देशम् location, आश्रमकर्मणि for building an asram, आक्रम्य after occupying, हस्तेन with hands, सौमित्रिम् Lakshmana, हस्तौ hands, गृहीत्वा after taking hold, अब्रवीत् said.

Having come to a beautiful spot suitable for the asram, Rama took both the hands of Lakshmana in his own and said:
अयं देशस्समश्रीमान् पुष्पितैस्तरुभिर्वृतः।

इहाऽश्रमपदं सौम्य यथावत्कर्तुमर्हसि।।3.15.10।।


सौम्य O gentle one, पुष्पितैः with flowers in full bloom, तरुभिः by trees, वृतः surrounded, अयं देशः this place, समः even without ups and downs, श्रीमान् beautiful, इह here, यथावत् accordingly, आश्रमपदम् hermitage, कर्तुम् to build, अर्हसि ought to.

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

अदूरे दृश्यते रम्या पद्मिनी पद्मशोभिता।।3.15.11।।


पद्मशोभिता delightful with lotuses, रम्या beautiful, इयं पद्मिनी tank full of lotuses, आदित्यसङ्काशैः shining like the Sun, सुरभिगन्धिभिः with pleasant smell, पद्मैः with lotuses, अदूरे not very far, दृश्यते is seen.

There, not very far, is a beautiful lotustank shining like the Sun, fragrant with lotuses.
यथातख्यातमगस्त्येन मुनिना भावितात्मना।

इयं गोदावरी रम्या पुष्पितैस्तरुभिर्वृता।।3.15.12।।

हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णा चक्रवाकोपशोभिता।


भावितात्मना self realised soul, अगस्त्येन मुनिना by sage Agastya, यथा as, आख्यातम् told by, रम्या delightful, पुष्पितैः with flowers in bloom, तरुभिः with trees, वृता surrounded by, हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णा filled with swans and ducks, चक्रवाकोपशोभिता beautiful with flocks of ruddy geese (waterbirds), इयं गोदावरी this is Godavari.

As said by the selfrealised soul, sage Agastya, this Godavari is beautiful, surrounded by trees with flowers in bloom, filled with flocks of swans, ducks and ruddy geese.
नातिदूरे न चासन्ने मृगयूथपिपीडिताः।।3.15.13।।

मयूरनादिता रम्याः प्रांशवो बहुकन्दराः।

दृश्यन्ते गिरयः सौम्य फुल्लैस्तरुभिरावृताः।।3.15.14।।


सौम्य O pleasing, मृगयूथपिपीडिताः herds of deer all, मयूरनादिताः sounds of peacocks, रम्याः beautiful, प्रांशवः tall, बहुकन्दराः with numerous caves, फुल्लैः flowering तरुभिः trees, आवृताः covered, गिरयः mountains, नातिदूरे not far from here, आसन्ने near, दृश्यन्ते 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.
सौवर्णैराजतैस्ताम्रैर्देशे देशे च धातुभिः।

गवाक्षिता इवाभान्ति गजाः परमभक्तिभिः।।3.15.15।।


सौवर्णैः with gold, राजतैः silver, ताम्रैः with copper, धातुभिः minerals also, देशे देशे in different locations, गवाक्षिताः looking like windows, परमभक्तिभिः with prominent (beautiful) streaks, गजाः इव like huge elephants, भान्ति 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.
सालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च खर्जूरपनसाम्रकैः।

नीवारैस्तिमिशैश्चैव पुन्नागैश्चोपशोभिताः।।3.15.16।।

चूतैरशोकैस्तिलकैश्चम्पकैः केतकैरपि।

पुष्पगुल्मलतोपेतैस्तैस्तैस्तरुभिरावृताः।।3.15.17।।

चन्दनैस्पन्दनैर्नीपैः पर्णासैर्लिकुचैरपि।

धवाश्वकर्णखदिरैः शमीकिंशुकपाटलैः।।3.15.18।।


सालैः with sal trees, तालैः with palmyrah trees, तमालैश्च with tamala trees (terminata alata), खर्जूरपनसाम्रकैः with date, jackfruit and mango trees, नीवारैः wild paddy crops, तिमिशैश्चैव timisha trees that will not let light pass through, पुन्नागैः with punnaga, उपशोभिताः adorning the whole place, चूतैः with mango trees, अशोकैः with asoka trees, तिलकैः with tree, चम्पकैः with champak trees, केतकैः with ketaka (pandams fascicularis), पुष्पगुल्मलतोपेतैः with flowering creepers and bushes, तैस्तैः others, तरुभिः with trees, चन्दनैः sandalwood, स्पन्दनैः spandan trees, नीपैः kadamba trees, पर्णासैः parnasha trees, विकुचैरपि creepers on the ground, धवाश्वकर्णखदिरैः with dhava, ashvakarna and khadira plants, शमीकिंशुकपाटलैः 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.
इदं पुण्यमिदं मेध्यमिदं बहुमृगद्विजम्।

इह वत्स्याम सौमित्रे सार्धमेतेन पक्षिणा।।3.15.19।।


इदम् this, पुण्यम् holy place, इदम् this, मेध्यम् fit for scrifice, इदम् this, बहुमृगद्विजम् full of many animals and birds, एतेन with this, पक्षिणा सार्धम् along with Jatayu, इह here, वत्स्याम will reside.

This is a holy place fit for sacrifice. There are many animals and birds here.Hence we will reside here with Jatayu.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा।

अचिरेणाऽश्रमं भ्रातुश्चकार सुमहाबलः।।3.15.20।।


रामेण by Rama, एवम् in that way, उक्तः said, परवीरहा destroyer of the enemy heroes, सुमहाबलः of great strength , भ्रातुः brother, अचिरेण soon, आश्रमम् hermitage, चकार built.

Thus directed by Rama, the mighty Lakshmana, destroyer of enemy warriors, soon built a hermitage for his brother.
पर्णशालां सुविपुलां तत्र सङ्खातमृत्तिकाम्।

सुस्तम्भां मस्करैर्दीर्घैः कृतवंशां सुशोभनाम्।।3.15. 21।।

शमीशाखाभिरास्तीर्य दृढपाशावपाशिताम्।

कुशकाशशरैः पर्णैस्सुपरिच्छादितां तथा।।3.15.22।।

समीकृततलां रम्यां चकार लघुविक्रमः।

निवासं राघवस्यार्थे प्रेक्षणीयमनुत्तमम्।।3.15.23।।


लघुविक्रम: quick to act, तत्र there, सङ्खातमृत्तिकाम् nippers digging the clay, सुस्तम्भाम् having strong poles, दीर्घैः long, मस्करैः bamboos, कृतवंशाम् succesfully did, सुशोभनाम् very splendid, शमीशाखाभिः with branches of sami trees (Prospis cineraria), आस्तीर्य after spreading, दृढपाशावपाशिताम् tied with strong ropes, तथा then, कुशकाशशरैः kasa and kusa grass, पर्णैः leaves, समीकृततलाम् the ground was made plain, रम्याम् beautiful, सुविपुलाम् spacious, पर्णशालाम् leafy cottage, राघवस्यार्थे for Rama, अनुत्तमम् best, प्रेक्षणीयम् worthy of looking, निवासम् residence, चकार 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.
सहसा लक्ष्मणः श्रीमान् नदीं गोदावरीं तदा।

स्नात्वा पद्मानि चादाय सफलः पुनरागतः।।3.15.24।।


तदा then, श्रीमान् handsome, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, सहसा immediately, गोदावरीं नदीम् (गत्वा) went to river Godavari, स्नात्वा after taking bath, पद्मानि lotuses, च and, आदाय collecting, सफलः completing the task, पुनः again, आगतः came.

Lakshmana then went to river Godavari, had his bath, and returned with some lotuses.
ततः पुष्पबलिं कृत्वा शान्तिं च स यथाविधि।

दर्शयामास रामाय तदाश्रमपदं कृतम्।।3.15.25।।


ततः then, सः that, पुष्पबलिम् offering of flowers, कृत्वा after doing so, यथाविधि as per tradition (before occupying a new residence), शान्तिं च invoking peace, कृतम् did, तत् then, आश्रमपदम् cottage, रामाय to Rama, दर्शयामास 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.
स तं दृष्ट्वा कृतं सौम्यमाश्रमं सीतया सह।

राघवः पर्णशालायां हर्षमाहारयत्परम्।।3.15.26।।


सः he, राघवः Rama, तम् him, कृतम् made, सौम्यम् beautiful, आश्रमम् hermitage, सीतया सह with Sita, दृष्ट्वा after seeing, पर्णशालायाम् in the leafy cottage, परं much, हर्षम् happiness, आहारयत् expressed.

Rama and Sita saw the beautiful hermitage built by Lakshmana, and expressed much happiness over the leafthatched cottage.
सुसंहृष्टः परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां लक्ष्मणं तदा।

अतिस्निग्धं च गाढं च वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्।।3.15.27।।


तदा then, सुसंहृष्टः highly delighted man, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, बाहुभ्याम् with both his arms, गाढम् very tighty, परिष्वज्य embraced, अतिस्निग्धम् very affectionately, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

Deeply pleased with Lakshmana, he hugged him tightly and said those loving words :
प्रीतोऽस्मि ते महत्कर्म त्वया कृतमिदं प्रभो।

प्रदेयो यन्निमित्तं ते परिष्वङ्गो मया कृतः।।3.15.28।।


प्रभो O master, त्वया by you, महत् great, कर्म task, कृतम् is accomplished, ते with you, प्रीतः pleased, अस्मि I am, यन्निमित्तम् for what you have done, ते to you, प्रदेयः that which has to be given, परिष्वङ्गः embrace, मया myself, कृतः 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.
भावज्ञेन कृतज्ञेन धर्मज्ञेन च लक्ष्मण।

त्वया पुत्रेण धर्मात्मा न संवृत्तः पिता मम।।3.15.29।।


भावज्ञेन knower of the feelings, कृतज्ञेन grateful , धर्मज्ञेन knower of duty, पुत्रेण by a son, त्वया by you, मम my, धर्मात्मा righteous soul, पिता father, न संवृत्तः 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.
एवं लक्ष्मणमुक्त्वा तु राघवो लक्ष्मिवर्धनः।

तस्मिन् देशे बहुफले न्यवसत्सुसुखं वशी।।3.15.30।।


लक्ष्मिवर्धनः enhancer of fortune, वशी selfcontrolled man, राघवः Rama, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, एवम् in that way, उक्त्वा having said, बहुफले with abundance of fruits, तस्मिन् देशे that place, सुसुखम् happily, न्यवसत् 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.
कञ्चित्कालं स धर्मात्मा सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च।

अन्वास्यमानो न्यवसत्स्वर्गलोके यथामरः।।3.15.31।।


धर्मात्मा righteous self, सः Rama, सीतया with Sita, लक्ष्मणेन च and with Lakshmana, अन्वास्यमानः served by, स्वर्गलोके in heaven, अमरः god, यथा as, कञ्चित् कालम् for some time,
न्यवसत् lived.

Righteous Rama, served by Lakshmana, and Sita lived there for some time like a god in heaven.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे पञ्चदशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fifteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.