Book III : Aranya Kanda - The Forest Trek
Rama, Lakshmana, and Seetha enter the hermitage of Sage Agastya. Sage Agastya is also waiting to receive Rama for along time, and now receives them with all honours, sagaciously perceiving Rama as Vishnu incarnate. Sage Agastya gives a divine bow of Vishnu, two quivers with ever replenishing with arrows, and a golden sword in a golden sheath to Rama, saying that with the very same armoury Vishnu once eradicated evil on earth. |
sa praviþya ˜þrama padam lakÿmaõo r˜ghava anuja× |
agastya þiÿyam ˜s˜dya v˜kyam etad uv˜ca ha || 3-12-1
1. raaghava anujaH saH lakSmaNaH= Raghava's, younger brother, he, that Lakshmana; aashrama padam pravishya= hermitage's, threshold, on entering; agastya shiSyam aasaadya= Agastya's, disciple, on reaching; vaakyam etat uvaaca ha= sentence, this one, spoke.
On entering the hermitage Lakshmana, the younger brother of Raghava, reached Agastya's disciple and spoke this sentence to him. [3-12-1]
r˜j˜ daþaratho n˜ma jyeÿ÷ha× tasya suto balŸ |
r˜ma× pr˜pto munim draÿ÷um bh˜ryay˜ saha sŸtay˜ || 3-12-2
2. dasharathaH naama raajaa= Dasharatha, named, king was there; tasya jyeSThaH sutaH=- his, eldest, son; balii= dynamic one; raamaH= Rama; bhaaryayaa siitayaa saha= his wife, Seetha, along with; munim draSTum praaptaH= sage, to see has arrived.
"A king named Dasharatha was there, his eldest son and the dynamic one, Rama has arrived along with his wife Seetha to see the sage. [3-12-2]
lakÿmaõo n˜ma tasya aham bhr˜t˜ tu avarajo hita× |
anuk¨la× ca bhakta× ca yadi te þrotram ˜gata× || 3-12-3
3. aham tu= I am, but; tasya avarajaH= his, laterer, younger one; lakSmaNaH naama bhraataa= Lakshmana, named, brother; hitaH anukuulaH ca= loyal, adherent one, also; bhaktaH ca= dedicated one, also; te shrotram aagataH yadi= to your, ear, has come, if at all [if ever you have heard.]
"I am his loyal, dedicated, and adherent younger brother named Lakshmana, if ever you have heard of us. [3-12-3]
te vayam vanam atyugram praviÿ÷˜× pit® þ˜san˜t |
draÿ÷um icch˜mahe sarve bhagavantam nivedyat˜m || 3-12-4
4. te= such as we are; vayam pitR^i shaasanaat ati ugram vanam praviSTaaH= we, by our father's decree, entered, awful, forests; sarve bhagavantam draSTum icChaamahe= we all, godly sage, to see, we wish to; nivedyataam= let it be informed.
"Such as we are, we entered the awful forest at the decree of our father, and we wiush to see the godly sage, let this be informed to him." Said Lakshmana to the disciple of Agastya. [3-12-4]
tasya tad vacanam þrutv˜ lakÿmaõasya tapodhana× |
tath˜ iti uktv˜ agni þaraõam praviveþa niveditum || 3-12-5
5. tapaH dhanaH= ascetically, rich [disciple of Agastya]; tasya lakSmaNasya tat vacanam shrutvaa= his, Lakshmana's, that, word, on hering; tathaa iti uktvaa= like that, thus, saying; agni sharaNam pravivesha niveditum= fire, sanctum, entered, to submit to sage.
On hearing that sentence of Lakshmana that disciple who is ascetically rich replied 'agreed, ' and he entered the sanctum of Ritual-fire to submit the same to Agastya. [3-12-5]
This sanctum where the Altar of Fire is established will be well deep inside these hermitages. One arrives at the Altar of Fire after passing through many places designated to particular deities, where fire oblations are conducted. These places of worship occurring before the hall of homa are listed in the coming verses.
sa praviþya muniþreÿ÷ham tapas˜ duÿpradharÿaõam |
k®ta añjali× uv˜ca idam r˜ma ˜gamanam añjas˜ || 3-12-6
yath˜ uktam lakÿmaõena eva þiÿya× tasya agastasya sammata× |
6, 7a. agastasya sammataH shiSyaH= to Agastya, agreeable, disciple; saH a~njasaa pravishya= he, quickly, entered; kR^ita anjaliH= on making palm-fold; laxmaNena yathaa uktam eva= by Lakshmana, as said, that, alone; tapasaa duS pra dharSaNam= by ascesis, irrefutable sage - to Agastya; muni shreSTham= to sage, the eminent; raama aagamanam= about Rama's, arrival; idam uvaaca= this, said.
He that agreeable disciple of sage quickly approached the irrefutable sage by his asceticism, made palm-fold and said this to the eminent sage about about the arrival of Rama, exactly as said by Lakshmana. [3-12-6, 7a]
putrau daþarathasya imau r˜mo lakÿmaõa eva ca || 3-12-7
praviÿ÷au ˜þramapadam sŸtay˜ saha bh˜ryay˜ |
7b, 8a. raamaH lakSmaNa eva ca= Rama, Lakshmana, thus, also; dasharathasya imau putrau= Dasharatha's, these, sons; bhaaryayaa siitayaa saha= wife, Seetha, with; praviSTau aashramapadam= entered, hermitage's, threshold.
"Sons of King Dasharatha, Rama and also thus Lakshmana have entered the threshold of hermitage along with the wife of Rama, namely Seetha. [3-12-7b, 8a]
draÿ÷um bhavantam ˜y˜tau þuþr¨ÿ˜rtham arindamau || 3-12-8
yad atra anantaram tat tvam ˜jñ˜payitum arhasi |
8b, 9a. arindamau= enemy-destroyers those Rama and Lakshmana; bhavantam draSTum= you, to see; shushruuSa artham aayaatau= to serve you, for te urpose of, they have come; atra yat anantaram= there [in this regard,] what, next is to be done; tat tvam aaj~naapayitum arhasi= that, you, to order, apt of you.
"Those two enemy-destroyers have come cherishing to see and serve you, hence it will be apt of you to order what next is to be done in this regard." Said disciple to the sage. [3-12-8b, 9a]
tata× þiÿy˜t upaþrutya pr˜ptam r˜mam sa lakÿmaõam || 3-12-9
vaidehŸm ca mah˜bh˜g˜m idam vacanam abravŸt |
9b, 10a. tataH shiSyaat= then, from disciple; sa lakSmaNam raamam praaptam= with, Lakshmana, Rama, has come; upashrutya= on hearing; vaidehiim ca mahaabhaagaam= Vaidehi, also, highly, fortunate one; idam vacanam abraviit= this, word, said.
Having heard from the disciple that Rama has arrived with Lakshmana and with highly fortunate Seetha the sage said this to him. [3-12-9b, 10a]
diÿ÷y˜ r˜ma× cirasya adya draÿ÷um m˜m samup˜gata× || 3-12-10
manas˜ k˜ðkÿitam hi asya may˜ api ˜gamanam prati |
10b, 11a. diSTyaa= providentially; raamaH= Rama; cirasya maam draSTum= after a long, me, to see; adya sam upa agataH= today, he came my nearby; asya aagamanam prati= his, arrival, towards; mayaa manasaa kaankSitam hi= by me, by heart, yearned for, indeed.
"My heart is indeed yearning for his arrival, and after this long a time Rama providentially came to see me." [3-12-10b, 11a]
gamyat˜m satk®to r˜ma× sa bh˜rya× saha lakÿmaõa× || 3-12-11
praveþyat˜m samŸpam me kim asau na praveþita× |
11b, 12a. gamyataam= go forth; raamaH sa bhaaryaH saha lakSmaNaH= Rama be, with, wife, with, Lakshmana; sat kR^itaH= make welcome; me samiipam praveshyataam= in my, proximity, be entered; kim asau na praveshitaH= why, he is, not, entered [as yet.]
"Go forth and make welcome to Rama, Lakshmana and to Seetha, and they be entered here, why you have not invited them as yet? [3-12-11b, 12a]
Agastya is waiting for long to receive Rama to handover a great bow, quivers and sword. Agastya himself an eliminator of demons and Rama's mission is also the same. Therefore, on hearing that "Rama arrived " his ears are said to have received an ear-pleasing experience, karNa aananda anubhava. Maheshvara Tirtha.
evam ukta× tu munin˜ dharmajñena mah˜tman˜ || 3-12-12
abhiv˜dya abravŸt þiÿya× tath˜ iti niyata añjali× |
12b, 13a. dharmaj~nena mahaatmanaa muninaa= by virtue-knower, by great soul, by sage; evam uktaH tu= thus, one who is said; shiSyaH= disciple; niyata anjaliH abhivaadya tathaa iti abraviit= having done, with palm-fold, having adored, 'thus it will be done', he said.
Thus said by the great-souled sage and the knower of virtue, the disciple adored him with palm-fold saying that "as you say." [3-12-12b, 13a]
tad˜ niÿkramya sambhr˜nta× þiÿyo lakÿmaõam abravŸt || 3-12-13
kva asau r˜mo munim draÿ÷um etu praviþatu svayam |
13b, 14a. tadaa shiSyaH sam bhraantaH= then, disciple, a little perplexed; niS kramya= on going out; lakSmaNam abraviit= to Lakshmana, said; asau raamaH kva= this, Rama, where is he; munim draSTum etu= sage, to see, let him come; pravishatu svayam= enter, on his own.
Then that disciple went out with a little perplexity and said this to Lakshmana, "Where is this Rama? He may come to see the sage and let him enter hermitage on his own." Said that disciple to Lakshmana. [3-12-13b, 14a]
tato gatv˜ ˜þrama padam þiÿyeõa saha lakÿmaõa× || 3-12-14
darþay˜m˜sa k˜kutstham sŸt˜m ca janak˜tmaj˜m |
14b, 15a. tataH lakSmaNaH shiSyeNa saha= Lakshmana, disciple, along with; gatvaa aashrama padam= having gone, of hermitage's, exterior; kaakutstham= at Rama; janakaatmajaam siitaam ca= at Janaka's daughter, Seetha, also; darshayaamaasa= started to show.
Then on going out to the exterior of that hermitage along with that disciple, Lakshmana has shown him Rama and Janaka's daughter Seetha. [3-12-14b, 15a]
tam þiÿya× praþritam v˜kyam agastya vacanam bruvan || 3-12-15
pr˜veþayat yath˜ ny˜yam satk˜ra arha susatk®tam |
15b, 16a. shiSyaH= disciple; prashritam agastya vacanam bruvan= obliging [words,] Agastya's, word of, while telling [repeating]; satkaara arham= reception, worthy; su satkR^itam= well, receiving; praaveshayat yathaa nyaayam= entered, as per, procedure.
While that disciple repeated the obliging words of Agastya entered that reception-worthy Rama into hermitage on receiving him well. [3-12-15b, 16a]
praviveþa tato r˜ma× sŸtay˜ saha lakÿmaõa× || 3-12-16
praþ˜nta hariõa ˜kŸrõam ˜þramam hi avalokayan |
16b, 17a. tataH raamaH siitayaa saha lakSmaNaH= then, Rama, Seetha, with, Lakshmana; prashaanta hariNa aakiirNam= docile, deer, overspread with; aashramam avalokayan= hermitage, on looking over; pravivesha entered.
And then Rama entered the hermitage with Seetha and Lakshmana looking over it which is overspread with docile deer. [ 3-12-16b, 17a]
sa tatra brahmaõa× sth˜nam agne× sth˜nam tathaiva ca || 3-12-17
viÿõo× sth˜nam mahendrasya sth˜nam caiva vivasvata× |
soma sth˜nam bhaga sth˜nam sth˜nam kauberam eva ca || 3-12-18
dh˜tur vidh˜tu× sth˜nam ca v˜yo× sth˜nam tathaiva ca |
sth˜nam ca p˜þa hastasya v˜ruõasya mah˜tmana× || 3-12-19
sth˜nam tathaiva g˜yatry˜ vas¨n˜m sth˜nam eva ca |
sth˜nam ca n˜gar˜jasya garuýa sth˜nam eva ca || 3-12-20
k˜rtikeyasya ca sth˜nam dharma sth˜nam ca paþyati |
17b, 18, 19, 20, 21a. saH tatra brahmaNaH sthaanam= he [Rama,] therein, Brahma's, sanctum; tathaiva ca= like that, also; agneH sthaanam= Fire's, sanctum; viSNoH sthaanam=Vishnu's, sanctum; mahendrasya sthaanam= Mahendra's sanctum; caiva= also, like that; vivasvataH= Vivasvat [Sun]; soma sthaanam= Soma [Moon's] sanctum; bhaga sthaanam= Bhaga's, sanctum; sthaanam kauberam eva ca= sanctum, of Kubera, like that, also; dhaatuH vidhaatuH sthaanam ca= Dhaata, Vidhaata sanctums, also; tathaiva ca= like, that also; vaayoH sthaanam= Vaayu's [Air-god's,] sanctum; sthaanam ca paasha hastasya= sanctum, also, of Noose-wielder; vaaruNasya mahaatmanaH= of Rain-god, great soul; sthaanam tathaiva gaayatryaa= sanctum, also like that, of Gayatri; vasuunaam sthaanam eva ca= Vasu-s, sanctum, also; sthaanam ca naaga raajasya= sanctum, of cobra's, king [aadi sheSa]; garuDa sthaanam eva ca= GaruDa [Divine Eagle] sanctum of, also; kaartikeyasya ca sthaanam= Kaartikeya's, also, sanctum; dharma sthaanam ca= Dharma's, sanctum, also; pashyati= saw.
Rama entered inside the hermitage and saw therein the sanctus of Brahma, Fire-god, Vishnu, Indra, Vivasvat - the Sun-god, Soma - the Moon-god, Bhaga - one among the twelve Suns, and the sanctusms of Kubera, [Wealth-Management-god, are seen and passed by the three of them, sanctums of Dhaata, Vidhaata - Vedic deities created by Brahma to help Svayambhuu Manu, santucm of Vaayu - the Air-god, and also like that the sanctum of great-soloed VaruNa - the Rain-god who also wields noose, and the sanctum of Gayatri - the presiding deity of gnosis, sanctum of Vasus - eight of them, and the sanctum of cobra's king - aadi sheSa, the divine Thousand-headed serpent that bears this globe on its head, and on which Vishnu reclines, and even the sanctum of GaruDa - the Divine Eagle and the vehicle of Vishnu, and the half brother of aadi sheSa, and the sanctum of Kaartikeya - chief of gods army, second son of Shiva, and the sanctum of Dharma - Dharmaraaja, presiding deity of Virtue-Vice-Time of living beings, in-charge of the hell. [17b, 18, 19, 20, 21a]
These sanctums are particular holy places in hermitages where those designated deities will be invoked for worship. These will be seventeen in general, as said in Vedic doctrine, yo vai sapta dasha - Defined by seventeen letters. On passing through all these places, the place of homa kunDa , Altar of Fire will come. Hence, usually none will be allowed inside the hermitages, and all are supposed to stay in aashrama padam , the hermitage's threshold, a porch or portico minus its roofing. As such Rama wanted an entry in to hermitage.
tata× þiÿyai× pariv®to munir api abhiniÿpatat || 3-12-21
tam dadarþa agrato r˜mo munŸn˜m dŸpta tejasam |
21b, 22a. tataH shiSyaiH pari vR^itaH= then, by disciples, encircled; muniH api abhi niSpatat= sage, even, came out quickly; raamaH diipta tejasam muniinaam agrataH= Rama, he who is glowing, brilliant, sages, before; tam dadarsha= him [sage,] has seen.
Then encircled by disciples the sage Agastya came out quickly, and Rama saw him who is glowing brilliant before all the other sages. [3-12-21b, 22a]
In the list of sanctums said above no place is said for Shiva, on which earlier commentators discussed much. Of them Govindaraja stated, "Shiva has no worshipfulness in Vaishnavaite way, hence his sanctum is unsaid: atra p¨jya daivateÿu rudrasya anup˜d˜n˜t a-p¨jyatvam uktam | adhun˜ kaiscit p¨jya m˜nat˜ tu t˜masa þ˜stra anurodhaneti bodhyam|| Others contradicted this, saying that when Shiva's son, Kaartikeya is adorable, why not his Father? Rama Tilaka states agniratra rudraH The naming of Agni, Fire-god, as in 17th verse itself is Rudra, namely Shiva. ShiromaNi commentary also puts in the same way ' tatra agni shabdena shambhuH ucyate By the nomenclature of Fire, Shiva is to be construed.
abravŸt vacanam vŸro lakÿmaõam lakÿmivardhanam || 3-12-22
bahir lakÿmaõa niÿkr˜mati agastyo bhagav˜n ®ÿi× |
aud˜ryeõa avagacch˜mi nidh˜nam tapas˜m imam || 3-12-23
22b, 23. viiraH= bold one Rama; lakSmaNam lakSmi vardhanam= to Lakshmana, fortune, fortifier; abraviit vacanam= said, sentence; lakSmaNa= oh, Lakshmana; agastyaH bhagavaan R^iSiH= Agastya, godly, sage; bahiH niSkraamati= to outside, exiting; audaaryeNa imam tapasaam nidhaanam [iti]= by eminence, him, for all ascesis, depository, [thus]; ava gacChaami= I am comprehending.
On seeing the brilliantly glowing sage among those sages, he that bold Rama said this sentence to Lakshmana, the fortifier of fortune, "Here comes the godly sage, Lakshmana, by his eminence I comprehend him as a depository of all ascesis." [3-12-22b, 23]
evam uktv˜ mah˜b˜hu× agastyam s¨rya varcasam |
jagr˜ha ˜patat tasya p˜dau ca raghunandana || 3-12-24
24. mahaabaahuH= great-armed [dexterous] one Rama; agastyam suurya varcasam= of Agastya, of sun's, radiance; evam uktvaa= thus, saying; tasya paadau ca raghunandana= his [Agastya's,] feet, also, Raghu's descendent; jagraaha aapatat= taken [touched reverentially,] on falling.
That dexterous Rama on saying about that sun-like radiant sage Agastya, he that descendent of Raghu fell on the feet of Agastya touching them reverentially. [3-12-24]
abhiv˜dya tu dharm˜tm˜ tasthau r˜ma× k®t˜ñjali× |
sŸtay˜ saha vaidehy˜ tad˜ r˜ma× sa lakÿmaõa× || 3-12-25
25. tadaa raamaH= then, he who is a delight to onlookers, that Rama; vaidehyaa siitayaa saha sa lakSmaNaH= Videha's princess, Seetha, along with, and with Lakshmana; abhivaadya tu dharmaatmaa= addressing himself, but, noble-hearted one; kR^ita anjaliH= palms-adjoined; tasthau= stood aside.
Then he who is a delight to the on lookers that noble-hearted Rama on revering the sage along with Lakshmana and Seetha, the princess from Videha, stood aside with his palms adjoined. [3-12-25]
pratig®hya ca k˜kutstham arcayitv˜ ˜sana udakai× |
kuþala praþnam uktv˜ ca ˜syat˜m iti so'bravŸt || 3-12-26
26. arcayitvaa aasana udakaiH= offering, seat, water; kaakutstham prati gR^ihya= Rama, is received; kushala prashnam uktvaa ca= well-being, inquiries, spoke, also [exchanging pleasantries]; aasyataam iti saH abraviit= 'be seated', thus, he [sage,] said.
Offering seat and water that sage received Rama, and even on exchanging pleasantries that sage said to him, "please be seated." [3-12-26]
agnim hutv˜ prad˜ya arghyam atithin pratip¨jya ca |
v˜naprasthena dharmeõa sa teÿ˜m bhojanam dadau || 3-12-27
27. saH agnim hutvaa= he [the sage,] fire, having worshipped [for himself]; pradaaya arghyam= having offered, water; atithim prati puujya ca= guest, having worshipped [with other formalities,] also; vaanaprasthena dharmeNa= by hermit's, observances; teSaam bhojanam dadau= for them, food, he gave.
Having completed his personal worship to Fire-god, and having offered water and other formalities to guest, that sage gave viands to guests according to his hermitic observances. [3-12-27]
The hermit's observances include the ritual to Fire-god before food. In some case one has to personally light the fire, cook his own food to the chanting of hymns, like Agastya which is an observances called viashva devam Even now these are observed by some Vedic Brahmans.
prathamam ca upaviþya atha dharmajño munipuðgava× |
uv˜ca r˜mam ˜sŸnam pr˜ñjalim dharmakovidam || 3-12-28
28. atha dharma j~naH muni pungavaH= then, well, informed one -shrewd, sage, eminent; prathamam upavishya= at the outset, taking a seat; aasiinam= one who took seat [later]; praanjalim= one with adjoined palms; dharma kovidam= one who in arts of virtue, proficient - well-advised, prudent; raamam= to Rama; uvaaca= spoke to.
Then that eminent and shrewd sage Agastya in righteousness took his seat at the outset, and spoke to prudent Rama of righteousness itself, and who by now is sitting with his palms adjoined. [3-12-28]
agnim hutv˜ prad˜ya arghyam atithim pratip¨jayet |
anyath˜ khalu k˜kutstha tapasvŸ samud˜caran |
du×s˜kÿŸ iva pare loke sv˜ni m˜Õs˜ni bhakÿayet || 3-12-29
29. agnim hutvaa= fire is, worshipping; pradaaya arghyam= giving, water; atithim pratipuujayet= guest is, worshipped; kaakutstha= oh, Rama; anyathaa samudaacaran tapasvii= otherwise, if practices, a hermit; duH saakSii iva= false, deponent, like; pare loke= in other, world; svaani maa.msaani bhakSayet= own, flesh, eats.
"Worshipping the fire, giving water and worshipping the guest a hermit should receive a guest and feed him, and if a hermit practices contrarily, oh, Rama, he is destined to eat his own flesh like a false deponent in other world say, hell. [3-12-29]
A guest is one who enables the host to go to heavens. iÿ÷o v˜ yadi v˜ dveÿyo m¨rkha× paõýita eva v˜ | sampr˜pte vaiþvadeva ante so atithi svarga saðkrama× || "May he be dear one or despised, stupid or scholar, one who comes at the end of fire worship before meals, he leads the host to heavens" - paraashara suutra. Any false deponent giving a false witness not only goes to hell but also is destined to eat his own flesh there. Same is the case with the host, who does not perform his daily chores to entertain his guest.
r˜j˜ sarvasya lokasya dharmac˜rŸ mah˜ratha× |
p¨janŸya× ca m˜nya× ca bhav˜n pr˜pta× priya atithi× || 3-12-30
30. raajaa sarvasya lokasya= king, of all, world; dharma caarii= righteousness, treader in the path of; mahaa rathaH= great, charioteer; puujaniiyaH ca= venerable, also; maanyaH ca= estimable, also; priya atithiH= as dear, guest; bhavaan praaptaH=- you, have arrived.
"You are the king of all the world, the treader in the path of righteousness, great charioteer of probity, and you are the venerable and estimable one, and you have arrived as my dear guest. [3-12-30]
The other way of rendering is: raajaa sarvasya lokasya ruler, of all, three worlds, hence you are Vishnu; mahaa rathaH great, charioteer of mortal souls through karmic cycles, thus Narayana; puujaniiya venerable one even in daily worship, hence Vishnu; maanyaH credible one by those who aspire salvation, Narayana; priya atithi much desired guest than the routine sage/mortal guests, hence god. Thus, it is said that Sage Agastya realised Rama as Vishnu and eulogised Rama incarnation. Even the daily puuja worship is conducted in a manner of treating the deity as a symbolic guest in the household. Here that deity himself is the real guest, i.e., Narayana.
evam uktv˜ phalai× m¨lai× puÿpai× ca anyai× ca r˜ghavam |
p¨jayitv˜ yath˜ k˜mam tato agastya× tam abravŸt || 3-12-31
31. evam uktvaa= thus, saying; raaghavam= Raghava is; phalaiH muulaiH puSpaiH ca anyaiH ca= with fruits, tubers, flowers, also, others, also; puujayitvaa yathaa kaamam= adored, as desired, according to his ardency; tataH agastyaH tam abraviit= then, Agastya, him [to Rama,] said.
Saying thus, Agastya adored Raghava well with fruits, tubers, flowers and others according to his ardency, and then he said this to Rama. [3-12-31]
idam divyam mahat c˜pam hema vajra vibh¨ÿitam |
vaiÿõavam puruÿavy˜ghra nirmitam viþvakarmaõ˜ || 3-12-32
amogha× s¨rya saðk˜þo brahmadatta× þara uttama× |
32, 33a. puruSavyaaghra= oh, manly-tiger; hema vajra vibhuuSitam= gold, diamonds, decorated with; divyam mahat idam caapam= sacred, great, this, bow; vaiSNavam= Vishnu [pertains to]; nirmitam vishvakarmaNaa= crafted by, Vishvkarma; suurya samkaashaH= sun, equalling in blaze; amoghaH shara uttamaH= unwasteful, arrows, best; brahma dattaH= by Brahma, gifted by.
"This sacred bow that is decorated with gold and diamonds is crafted by the divine architect Vishvakarma pertains to Vishnu, and these unwasteful arrows equalling sun in their blaze are the gift of Brahma. [3-12-32, 33a]
dattau mama mahendreõa t¨õŸ ca akÿaya s˜yakau || 3-12-33
samp¨rõau niþitai× b˜õai× jvaladbhi× iva p˜vakai× |
mah˜ rajata koþo ayam asi× hemavibh¨ÿita× || 3-12-34
33b, 34. a + kSaya saayakau= un, exhausted, those that have arrows; nishitaiH= with sharp; jvaladbhiH iva paavakaiH= blazing, like, Ritual-fire; baaNaiH= with arrows; sampuurNau= packed with; tuuNii ca= quivers, also; mama mahendreNa dattau= to me, by Indra, [two in number] are given; mahaa rajata koshaH= in excellent, golden, sheath; ayam hema vibhuuSitaH asiH= this one, gold, decorated with, sword; [mama mahendreNa dattaH= to me, by Indra, given.]
"Also these two inexhaustible quivers packed with arrows that have the blaze of Ritual-fire, and this sword decorated in gold together with its sheath made up of excellent golden are once given to me by Indra. [3-12-33b, 34]
anena dhanuÿ˜ r˜ma hatv˜ saðkhye mah˜sur˜n |
˜jah˜ra þriyam dŸpt˜m pur˜ viÿõur diva okas˜m || 3-12-35
35. raama= oh, Rama; puraa viSNuuH samkhye= once, Vishnu, in war; anena dhanuSaa= by this, bow; hatvaa mahaasuraan= killed, horrible demons; diva okasaam= in heavens, for dwellers; diiptaam shriyam aajahaara= radiant, fortune, he fetched.
"By this bow, oh, Rama, once Vishnu eliminated horrible demons in war and brought back radiant prosperity to the celestials. [3-12-35]
tat dhanu× tau ca t¨õi ca þaram khaýgam ca m˜nada |
jay˜ya pratig®hõŸÿva vajram vajradharo yath˜ || 3-12-36
36. maana da= grace, accorder of - Rama; tat dhanuH tau ca tuuNi= that, bow, those two, also, quivers; sharam khaDgam ca= arrow, sword, also; vajra dharaH vajram yathaa= by Thunderbolt, wielder [Indra,] Thunderbolt, as with; jayaaya pratigR^ihNiiSva= for triumph, you receive them.
"The bow, these two quivers, arrows, and the sword, oh, Rama, the endower of grace, receive and wield them to triumph over the demons as Indra would wield Thunderbolt. [3-12-36]
evam uktv˜ mah˜ tej˜× samastam tat vara ˜yudham |
dattv˜ r˜m˜ya bhagav˜n agastya× punar abravŸt || 3-12-37
37. mahaatejaaH bhagavaan agastyaH= great resplendent, godly-sage, Agastya; evam uktvaa= thus, on saying; samastam tat vara aayudham= all of, them, best, weapons; dattvaa raamaaya= having given, to Rama; punaH abraviit= again, said.
On saying thus that great resplendent and godly sage Agastya, gave all of those best weapons to Rama, and again spoke to Rama [3-12-37]
iti v˜lmŸki r˜m˜yaõe ˜di k˜vye araõya k˜õýe dv˜daþa× sarga×
Thus, this is the 12th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© 2001, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, [Revised : March 04]