Book III : Aranya Kanda - The Forest Trek
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Rama requests Sage Agastya to indicate a place in the forest to make a residence during the days of exile. Sage Agastya foresees the next course of Ramayana, and orients his conversation around womanhood and Seetha. Then that sage informs Rama to proceed to Panchavati where Seetha will be delightful of its surroundings. |
raama priito asmi bhadram te parituSTo asmi lakSmaNa |
abhivaadayitum yan maam praaptau sthaH saha siitayaa || 3-13-1
1. raama priitaH asmi= oh, Rama, delighted, I am; bhadram te= safe, you be; pari tuSTAH asmi lakSmaNa= well, contented, I am, Lakshmana; yat= by which reason; siitayaa saha maam abhivaadayitum praaptau sthaH= with, Seetha, me, to pay respects, arrived, you have.
" I am delighted Rama, safe you be, oh Lakshmana, well-contended I am for you have come to pay respects to me along with Seetha. [3-13-1]
adhva shrameNa vaam khedo baadhate pracura shramaH |
vyak{}tam ut{}kaNThate vaa api maithilii janaka aatmajaa || 3-13-2
2. adhva shrameNa pracura shramaH= pathway, strain of, much, strain; vaam baadhate= you two, it is painful; janaka aatmajaa maithilii vaa api= Janaka's, daughter, Maithili, or, even; vyaktam ut kaNThate= evident, above, necks.
"The well-worn trail of yours on pathway is strenuousness and painful for you two, and it is evident from the sweat above your necks, even much more for Janaka's daughter, Maithili. [3-13-2]
The word utkaNTha is interpreted in two ways. One is ut kaNTha above neck, sides of face; the other being the anxiousness to get some rest. Thus, they are either wet with sweat or also anxious to get rest after a long trek in woods.
eSaa ca sukumaarii ca khedaiH ca na vimaanitaa |
praaajya doSam vanam praptaa bhartR^i sneha pracoditaa || 3-13-3
3. sukumaarii ca= delicate one, also; khedaiH ca na vimaanitaa= by distresses, also, not, discomforted; eSaa= she is; bhartR^i sneha pra coditaa= husband's, friendship, well, motivated by; praaajya doSam vanam praptaa= highly, detrimental, forests, she came to.
"She is delicate and not discomforted by such distresses earlier, yet motivated by her friendship she came to these highly detrimental forests. [3-13-3]
yathaa eSaa ramate raama iha siitaa tathaa kuru |
duSkaram kR^itavatii eSaa vane tvaam abhigacChatii || 3-13-4
4. raama= Rama; eSaa siitaa iha yathaa ramate= this, Seetha, here, as to how, she takes delight; tathaa kuru= that way, make happen; eSaa vane tvaam abhigacChatii= she, in forest, you, following; duS karam kR^itavatii not, possible [impossible,] [deed] she has done.
"In which way Seetha takes delight in these forests, Rama, that you may ensure to her, for she has done an impossible deed in following you to forests, an impossible deed for womenfolk, in general. [3-13-4]
eSaa hi prakR^itiH striiNaam aasR^iSTe raghuna.ndana |
samastham anura.nja.nte viSamastham tyajanti ca || 3-13-5
5. raghunandana= oh, Raghu's, scion; aa + sR^iSTe= [from the] beginning of, creation; striiNaam prakR^itiH hi eSaa= woman's, nature, indeed, is this way; sama+stham anuranjante= [husbands] in good fortune, they devote; viSama+stham tyajanti ca= in ill fortune, leave off.
"From the beginning of creation the nature of women is this way only, oh scion of Raghu, they devote themselves to their men in good fortune, but they leave them off in ill fortune. [3-13-5]
shata hradaanaam lolatvam shastraaNaam tiikSNataam tathaa |
garuDa anilayoH shaighryam anugacChanti yoSitaH || 3-13-6
6. yoSitaH= women; shata hradaanaam lolatvam= with hundred, flow's, dangling [with the mercuriality of hundreds of dangling streaks of lightning]; shastraaNaam tiikSNataam with weapon's, incisiveness; tathaa garuDa anilayoH shaighryam= likewise, eagle, gust of wind, speediness of; anugacChanti they string along.
"With the mercuriality of hundreds of streaks of thunderbolt and with the incisiveness of a weapon, and with the speediness of an eagle or the gusty wind, the women are conformable. [3-13-6]
The flashes of thunderbolts are famous for their mercuriality and so capricious are the women's hearts with the speed of lightning, and razor sharp will be their attitude to cut-off the age-old friendship, if they are ill at ease, and they sever relations with the speediness of an eagle or a gust.
iyam tu bhavato bhaaryaa doSair etair vivarjitaaH |
shlaaghyaa ca vyapadeshyaa ca yathaa devii hi arundhatii || 3-13-7
7. bhavataH bhaaryaa= your, wife; iyam tu= she is, but; etaiH doSaiH vi varjitaaH= with these, stigmas, devoid of; devii arundhatii yathaa= lady, Arundhati, like; shlaaghyaa ca vyapadeshyaa [vi apa dish] ca= exemplary, also, estimable, also.
"But she this wife of yours is devoid of all those stigmas, an exemplary and an estimable lady, like Lady Arundhati. [3-13-7]
Lady Arundhati is the wife of Sage Vashishta, an exemplary lady in devotion to her husband and she has become a star in the sky by virtue of that devotion. Even today in marriages, at the close of all observances, this star in skies is shown to the bride imbuing a sense of devotion to her bridegroom, may it be in noontime.
ala.mkR^ito ayam deshaH ca yatra saumitriNaa saha |
vaidehyaa ca anayaa raama vatsyasi tvam ari.mdama || 3-13-8
8. arindama raama oh, enemy-destroyer, Rama; saumitriNaa saha= Soumitri, along with; anayaa vaidehyaa ca= with this, Vaidehi, also; yatra tvam vatsyasi= where, you will, live; ayam deshaH ca alankR^itaH= that, province, is also, glorified.
"Where you wish to put up along with Lakshmana and with this Seetha, oh, enemy-destroyer Rama, that province shall be glorified." So said Sage Agastya to Rama." [3-13-8]
evam uk{}taH tu muninaa raaghavaH sa.myata a.njaliH |
uvaaca prashritam vaakyam R^iSim diiptam iva analam || 3-13-9
9. evam uktaH tu muninaa= thus, said, by sage; raaghavaH= Raghava; samyata anjaliH= adjoining, palms; diiptam iva analam= he who is glowing, like, ritual-fire; R^iSim= to sage; uvaaca prashritam vaakyam= spoke, amiable, sentence.
Thus said by the sage, Raghava spoke amiable this sentence adjoining his palms to the sage who is glowing like a ritual-fire. [3-13-9]
dhanyosmi anugR^ihiitosmi yasya me muni pu.mgavaH |
guNaiH sabhraatR^i bhaaryasya guruH naH parituSyati || 3-13-10
10. sa bhraatR^i bhaaryasya guNaiH= with, brother's, wife's, by virtues; yasya me= to him, such as me; naH guruH muni pungavaH my, mentor, sage, the eminent; pari tuSyati= is well-pleased; by that; dhanyaH asmi= privileged, I am; anu gR^ihiitaH asmi= blessed, I am.
"I am privileged and blessed as my mentor and the eminent age is well pleased with the virtues of my brother and wife which are non-dissimilar to mine. [3-13-10]
kintu vyaadisha me desham sa udakam bahu kaananam |
yatra aashrama padam kR^itvaa vaseyam nirataH sukham || 3-13-11
11. kintu= but; yatra aashrama padam kR^itvaa= where, hermitage's, threshold, on erecting; nirataH sukham vaseyam self-composedly, happily, I can reside; such a; desham= place; sa udakam= with, water; bahu kaananam= many, forests; vyaadisha[vi aa dish] be directed, be shown.
"But a place with water and many forests may please be shown, where I can reside happily and self-composedly on erecting a hermitage." Thus Rama asked the Sage Agastya. [3-13-11]
tato abraviit muni shreSThaH shrutvaa raamasya bhaaSitam |
dhyaatvaa muhuurtam dharmaatmaa dhiiro dhiirataram vacaH || 3-13-12
12. tataH= then; dharmaatmaa= virtuous one; dhiiraH= confident one; muni shreSThaH= sage, the eminent; raamasya bhaaSitam vacaH shrutvaa= Rama's, said, saying, on hearing; dhyaatvaa muhuurtam= contemplated, a while; dhiira taram vacaH abraviit= intellectual [ideational,] more, word, said.
Then that eminent sage Agastya on contemplating a while about what Rama has said, that virtuous and confident sage spoke more ideational word to Rama. [3-13-12]
Rama wanted a place with 'many forests,' which is non-conditional to his exile. Some versions contain after dharma aatmaa , and said tato vaacha vacaH subham. This will not appear in critical or eastern recessions. For this diiraH dhiira taram vacaH , is there. It is said, that sage Agastya contemplated for a while, and envisioning the future of Seetha's abduction and Rama's elimination of Ravana etc by his yogic power, he said to Rama to stay at Panchavati. This is because, he himself is courageous sage in eliminating the demons, trusting that Rama also will do the same, he has shown a place which has many forests' around it, that too as Rama desired.
ito dvi yojane taata bahu muula phala udakaH |
desho bahu mR^igaH shriimaan pa.ncavaTi abhivishrutaH || 3-13-13
13. taata= oh, dear; bahu muula phala udakaH= with many, tubers, fruits, waters; bahu mR^igaH= with many, deer; shriimaan= a prosperous one; pancavaTi abhi vishrutaH deshaH Panchavati, well, renowned as, the place; itaH dvi yojana= from here, two yojana-s.
"A most prosperous place called Panchavati is there at a distance of two yojana-s from here, oh, dear Rama, which is abundant with tubers, fruits, water, and many deer." Thus Agastya started to tell. [3-13-13]
tatra gatvaa aashrama padam kR^itvaa saumitriNaa saha |
ramasva tvam pitur vaakyam yathaa uk{}tam anupaalayan || 3-13-14
14. tvam saumitriNaa saha tatra gatvaa= you, there, Soumitri, along with, on going, there; aashrama padam kR^itvaa= hermitage, on erecting; yathaa uktam pituH vaakyam anupaalayan= as, decreed, father's, sentence [order], complying with; ramasva you take delight.
"On your going there along with Saumitri, and on erecting a hermitage you may take delight in there complying the decreed order of your father. [3-13-14]
vidito hi eSa vR^ittaa.nto mama sarvaH tava anagha |
tapasaH ca prabhaaveNa snehaad dasharathasya ca || 3-13-15
15. anagha= oh, merited one; tapasaH prabhaaveNa= by [my ascesis,] ability of; snehaat dasharathasya ca= iby my friendship, with Dasharatha, also; tava eSa sarvaH vR^ittaantaH= your, this, all of, episode; viditaH hi known, indeed.
"Indeed all of this episode of yours is known to me, oh, merited one, by the ability of my asceticism, and also by my friendship with Dasharatha. [3-13-15]
hR^idayasthaH ca te Chando vij~naataH tapasaa mayaa |
iha vaasam pratij~naaya mayaa saha tapo vane || 3-13-16
ataH ca tvaam aham bruumi gacCha pa.ncavaTiim iti |
16, 17a. te hR^idayaH sthaH ca ChandaH= your, in heart, abided, certitude; maya tapasaa vij~naataH by me, by asceticism, is known; ataH= thereby; maya saha iha tapaH vane= me, along with, in ascetic, woods; vaasam pratij~naaya= dwelling, I said; [it is explicitly unsaid by Agastya that Rama may stay here, but deemed to have been said by commentators]; pancavaTiim gacCha iti tvaam aham bruumi= to Panchavati, you go, thus as, to you, I am, telling [advising.]
"I am in the know of your heartfelt certitude by my ascesis, thereby I wish to advise you to go to Panchavati, though I said that you may dwell in these ascetic-woods along with me. [3-13-16, 17a]
sa hi ramyo vanoddesho maithilii tatra ra.msyate || 3-13-17
sa deshaH shlaaghaniiyaH ca na atiduure ca raaghava |
17b, 18a. raaghava= oh, Raghava; saH vanoddeshaH ramyaH hi= that, woodland, are delightful, isn't it; saH deshaH shlaaghaniiyaH ca= that, place, is praiseworthy, also; [because it is]; na ati duure ca= not, very, far off, also; maithilii tatra ramsyate= Maithili, therein, can take delight.
"That woodland will be delightful, isn't it Raghava, for it is praiseworthy and not very far off from here, and Seetha can take delight in there. [3-13-17b, 18a]
godaavaryaaH samiipe ca maithilii tatra ra.msyate || 3-13-18
praajya muula phalaiH caiva naanaa dvija gaNair yutaH |
vivik{}taH ca mahaabaaho puNyo ramyaH tathaiva ca || 3-13-19
18b, 19. maithilii tatra godaavaryaaH samiipe ramsyate= Maithili, there, at Godavari, nearby, takes delights; praajya muula phalaiH caiva= bounteous, tubers, fruits, also; naanaa dvija gaNaiH yutaH= various, bird, flocks; mahaa baahuH= great, dexterous Rama; vi viktaH ca= verily, reclusive, too; puNyaH tathaa eva ca= meritorious, like that, even, also ramyaH= appealing one.
"There Maithili will take delight nearby River Godavari, and it is with abundant tubers, fruits, various are its bird flocks, and it is very reclusive too, oh, great dextrous Rama, further it is meritorious and appealing. [3-13-18b, 19]
bhavaan api sadaacaaraH ca shak{}taH ca parirakSaNe |
api ca atra vasan raama taapasaan paalayiSyasi || 3-13-20
20. bhavaan api sat aacaaraH= you are, even, with good, bearing; pari rakSaNe shaktaH= to safeguard, you are capable; api ca= even also; atra vasan= there, while residing; raama= Rama; taapasaan paalayiSyasi= hermits, you can protect.
"Even you, Rama, with your good deportment are capable to safeguard the hermits while residing there. [3-13-20]
etat aalakSyate viira madhuukaanaam mahat vanam |
uttareNa asya ga.ntavyam nyagrodham api gacChataa || 3-13-21
21. viira= oh, brave one; etat madhuukaanaam mahat vanam aalakSyate= this, Madhuuka [bassia latifolia, flowers of which are used to distil liquor] trees, great, forest, that seen; asya uttareNa= by its, north; nyagrodham api gacChataa gantavyam= banyan tree, also, on advancing towards, you have to proceed.
"Oh, brave one, you see this great forest of flower-liquor trees, you have to proceed north of it and advance towards a banyan tree. [3-13-21]
tataH sthalam upaaruhya parvatasya aviduurataH |
khyaataH pa.ncavaTii iti eva nitya puSpita kaananaH || 3-13-22
22. tataH sthalam upa aaruhya= then, upland, on climbing up; parvatasya avi duurataH= from mountain, not, far away; pancavaTii iti eva khyaataH Panchavati, thus, that way, renowned; nitya puSpita kaananaH= ever, blooming, forest [is there.]
"Then on climbing up an upland a mountain is seen, that which is also not far away, and that renowned Panchavati is there in an ever-blooming forest in the valley of that mountain." Said Sage Agastya to Rama. [3-13-22]
agastyena evam uk{}taH tu raamaH saumitriNaa saha |
satkR^itya aama.ntrayaamaasa tam R^iSim satya vaadinam || 3-13-23
23. agastyena evam uktaH tu= by Agastya, thus, said, but; raamaH saumitriNaa saha= Rama, Soumitri, along with; satya vaadinam= truth, advocator; tam R^iSim that, Sage is; sat kR^itya aamantrayaamaasa= well venerated, bade farewell.
When thus said by Sage Agastya, Rama along with Soumitri venerated and bade farewell to that truth advocator sage Agastya. [3-13-23]
tau tu tena abhyanuj~naatau kR^ita paada abhivandanau |
tam aashramam pa.ncavaTiim jagmatuH saha siitayaa || 3-12-24
24. tena abhi anuj~naatau= by him [Agastya,] well, bidden; tau= those two Rama and Lakshmana; kR^ita paada abhi vandanau= who have made, offered, venerations; saha siitayaa= with, Seetha; tam aashramam= to that, hermitage; [tat aashrama padaat= from that hermitage of Agastya]; pancavaTiim= to Panchavati; jagmatuH= proceeded.
Thus well bidden by Sage Agastya those two Rama and Lakshmana have offered their venerations at the feet of that sage and proceeded to their prospective hermitage at Panchavati along with Seetha. [3-12-24]
gR^ihiita caapau tu naraadhipa aatmajau
viSak{}ta tuuNii samareSu akaatarau |
yathaa upadiSTena pathaa maharSiNaa |
prajagmatuH pa.ncavaTiim samaahitau || 3-13-25
25. samareSu a + kaatarau= in war, not, fearful ones; nara adhipa aatmajau= people's, king, sons [princes]; gR^ihiita caapau tu= taken, bows, also; viSakta tuuNii= braced up, quivers; samaahitau= resolutely; maharSiNaa yathaa upadiSTena pathaa by great sage, as, apprised, on route; pancavaTiim pra jagmatuH= to Panchavati, proceeded.
Those princes that are dauntless in war took up their bows and braced up their quivers, and resolutely proceeded to Panchavati on the route apprised by that great sage Agastya. [3-13-25]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye araNya kaaNDe trayodashaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 13th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© 2001, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, [Revised : March 04]