Book III : Aranya Kanda - The Forest Trek
Rama and the other two on their way to Panchavati come into contact with Jatayu, the mighty eagle. When Rama questions about its identity, Jatayu narrates the creation of animal species along with humans, and informs Rama that he is a friend of King Dasharatha and would like to help Rama in exile. |
atha pa.ncavaTiim gacchann antaraa raghunandanaH |
aasasaada mahaakaayam gR^idhram bhiima paraakramam || 3-14-1
1. atha= then; raghunandanaH pancavaTiim gacChann= Rahu's descendent, to Panchavati, while proceeding; antaraa= in midway; mahaa kaayam bhiima paraakramam= with mammoth, bodied, with marvellous, might; gR^idhram aasasaada= an eagle he reached, came across.
Then while proceeding to Panchavati that Rahu's descendent came across a mammoth eagle with marvellous might in midway. [3-14-1]
tam dR^iSTvaa tau mahaabhaagau vanastham raama lakSmaNau |
menaate raakSasam pakSim bruvaaNau ko bhavaan iti || 3-14-2
2. mahaabhaagau tau raama lakSmaNau= highly privileged, those two, Rama, Lakshmana; vanastham= in forest [vaTastham= on tree]; tam pakSim dR^iSTvaa= him, that bird, on seeing; kau bhavaan iti= who, you are, thus; bruvaaNau= saying; raakSasam menaate= demon, they presumed.
On seeing such an eagle in the forest those two highly privileged brothers Rama and Lakshmana questioned it asking, "Who you are?" presuming it to be a demon. [3-14-2]
sa tau madhurayaa vaacaa saumyayaa priiNayann iva |
uvaaca vatsa maam viddhi vayasyam pitur aatmanaH || 3-14-3
3. saH= he, that eagle; tau madhurayaa saumyayaa vaacaa= to them, with sweet, soft, with words; uvaaca priiNayann iva= spoke, pleasing them, as though; vatsa= oh boy Rama; maam aatmanaH pituH vayasyam viddhi= me, of your, father's, friend , thus you know.
But that eagle with sweet ad soft words spoke to them as though to please them, "oh boy Rama know me as your father's friend." [3-14-3]
sa tam pitR^i sakham matvaa puujayaamaasa raaghavaH |
sa tasya kulam avyagram atha papracCha naama ca || 3-14-4
4. saH= he that; raaghavaH= Raghava; tam= that bird; pitR^i sakham matvaa puujayaamaasa= him, as father's, friend, accepting, revered; atha saH avyagram= then, he [Rama,] without haste; tasya kulam naama ca papracCha= its, lineage, name, also, asked for.
Accepting that bird as his father's friend Raghava revered it, and he that Rama then asked for that eagle's name and lineage. [3-14-4]
raamasya vacanam shrutvaa kulam aatmaanam eva ca |
aacacakSe dvijaH tasmai sarvabhuuta samudbhavam || 3-14-5
5. dvijaH= that bird; raamasya vacanam shrutvaa= Rama's, words, on hearing; sarva bhuuta sam udbhavam= reg. all, beings, overall, genesis; kulam aatmaanam eva ca= ancestry, himself, thus, also; aacacakSe tasmai= said, to them.
On hearing Rama's words that bird said about his ancestry and himself, and in doing so, that eagle also narrated the overall genesis of all beings. [3-14-5]
puurvakaale mahaabaaho ye prajaapatayo abhavan |
taan me nigadataH sarvaan aaditaH shR^iNu raaghava || 3-14-6
6. puurva kaale mahaabaahuH= once, upon a time, oh dextrous one; Raaghava; ye prajaa patayaH abhavan= those, people's, lords, were there; taan sarvaan= of them, all; me nigadataH= from me, while I narrate; aaditaH= from beginning; shR^iNu= you may listen.
"Once upon a time there were lords of people, oh dextrous Raghava, and you may listen all about them from the beginning, while I narrate [3-14-6]
kardamaH prathamaH teSaam vikR^itaH tad anantaram |
sheSaH ca sa.mshrayaH caiva bahu putraH ca viiryavaan || 3-14-7
sthaaNur mariicir atriH ca kratuH caiva mahaabalaH |
pulastyaH ca a.ngiraaH caiva pracetaaH pulahaH tathaa || 3-14-8
dakSo vivasvaan aparo ariSTanemiH ca raaghava |
kashyapaH ca mahaatejaaH teSaam aasiit ca pashcimaH || 3-14-9
7. teSaam= among them; kardamaH prathamaH= Kardama, the first one; vikR^iitaH tat anantaram= Vikrita, then, afterwards; sheSaH ca samshrayaH caiva= Sesha, also, Samshraya, also thus; bahu putraH ca viiryavaan= with many, children, also, vigorous one; sthaaNuH mariiciH atriH ca= Sthanu, Mariichi, Atri, also; kratuH caiva mahaabalaH= Kratu, also thus, great mighty one; pulastyaH ca angiraaH caiva pracetaaH pulahaH tathaa= Pulasthya, also, Angiira, also thus, Pracheta, Pulah, then; dakSaH vivasvaan aparaH ariSTanemiH ca= Daksha, Vivaswan, then, Arishtanemi; raaghava= oh Raghava; kashyapaH ca mahaatejaaH= Kashyapa, also, great resplendent; teSaam aasiit pashcimaH= of them, was there, the last one.
"Of them Kardama was there at first, and afterwards Sesha, and later Samshraya was there with many children and a vigorous one he was. Then Sthaanu, Mariichi, Atri, the great mighty one Kratu, Pulasthya, Angira, Pracheta and Pulah were there. And oh, Raghava, Daksha, Vivaswan were while the other name of Vivasvan is Arishtanemi, and lastly the great resplendent Kashyapa, was there as Prajapati. [3-14-9] [3-14-7]
prajaapateH tu dakSasya babhuuvur iti vishrutam |
SaSTir duhitaro raama yashasvinyo mahaayashaH || 3-14-10
10. mahaa yashaH raama= oh, highly, glorious, Rama; prajaapateH dakSasya= people's lord, for Daksha; SaSTiH duhitaraH= sixty, daughters; yashasvinyaH= highly renowned ones; babhuuvuH iti vi shrutam= were there, thus, we hear.
"Oh glorious Rama, there were sixty highly renowned daughters to Daksha, thus we hear. [3-14-10]
kashyapaH pratijagraaha taasaam aSTau sumadhyamaaH |
aditim ca ditim caiva danuum api ca kaalakaam || 3-14-11
taamraam krodha vashaam caiva manum ca apy analaam api |
11, 12a. kashyapaH= Kashyapa; taasaam= from them; aditim ca ditim caiva= Aditi, also, Diti, like that; danuum= Danu; api ca= even, also; kaalakaam taamraam krodhavashaam caiva= Kaalakaa Taamra, Krodhavasha, also thus; manum ca api analaam api= Manu, also, even, Anala, also; aSTau su madhyamaaH prati jagraaha= eight, slender, waisted ones, has accepted.
"Of them Kashyapa accepted eight slender-waisted daughters of Daksha Prajapati, namely Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kaalakaa and Taamra, Krodhavasha, also thus Manu and even Anala also as wives. [3-14-11, 12a]
taaH tu kanyaaH tataH priitaH kashyapaH punar abraviit || 3-14-12
putraamH trailokya bhartR^In vai janayiSyatha mat samaan |
12b, 13a. tataH priitaH kashyapaH= then, gladdened, Kashyapa is; taaH kanyaaH punaH abraviit= to them, girls – young wives, in turn, said; trai lokya bhartR^In vai= three, worlds, sustainers of, indeed; mat samaan putraam janayiSyatha= sons, to me, similar, you deliver.
"Then Kashyapa is gladdened and said to those young wives, "You all shall deliver sons similar to me and who can sustain the three worlds." [3-14-12b, 13a]
aditiH tan manaa raama ditiH ca danur eva ca || 3-14-13
kaalakaa ca mahaabaaho sheSaaH tu amanaso abhavan |
13b, 14a. aditiH tan manaa= Aditi, that, agreed; raama= Rama; mahaabaahuH= oh, dextrous one; ditiH ca danuH eva ca= Diti, also, Danu, even, also kaalakaa ca[ manaa]= Kaalakaa, also, [agreed]; sheSaaH tu a manasaH abhavan= others, but, not, heedful, they became;.
"Oh, dextrous Rama, Aditi, Diti, Kaalakaa and Danu have agreed for that, but others became unheedful of Kashyapa's words. [3-14-13b, 14a]
adityaam jaj~nire devaaH trayaH tri.mshat ari.ndama || 3-14-14
aadityaa vasavo rudraa ashvinau ca para.mtapa |
14b, 15a. arindama= oh enemy-destroyer; adityaam devaaH aadityaa vasavaH rudraa ashvinau ca= from Aditi, Aadityaa-s, Vasu-s, two Ashvini-s; trayaH trimshat devaaH jaj~nire= thirty three, gods, are born; parantapa= oh enemy-oppressor.
"Aditi gave birth to twelve Aditya-s, the Sun-gods, eight Vasu-s, the Terrestrials-gods, eleven Rudraa-s, the Fury-gods, and two Ashvinis, the medicine-gods, total thirty-three of them. [3-14-14b, 15a]
ditiH tu ajanayat putraan daityaam taata yashasvinaH || 3-14-15
teSaam iyam vasumatii puraa aasiit sa vana arNavaa |
15b, 16a. taata= oh, boy; ditiH tu yashasvinaH daityaam putraan ajanayat= Diti, but, well-known ones, Daitya-s [so-called demons,] as sons, gave birth to; sa vana arNavaa= with, forests, oceans; iyam vasumatii teSaam puraa aasiit= this, earth, theirs, earlier, was there.
"Oh, boy Rama, Diti gave birth to well-known Daitya-s, the so-called demons, and earlier this earth with forests and oceans belonged to them. [3-14-15b, 16a]
danuH tu ajanayat putram ashvagriivam ari.mdama || 3-14-16
narakam kaalakam caiva kaalakaa api vyajaayata |
16b, 17a. arindama= oh, enemy- destroyer Rama; danuH ashvagriivam putram ajanayat= Danu, to Ashvagriiva or Hayagriiva, the son, gave birth to; narakam kaalakam caiva= Naraka, Kaalaka, also thus; kaalakaa api vyajaayata= Kaalakaa, even gave birth to.
"And oh, enemy-destroyer Rama, Danu gave birth to son Ashvagriiva or also called Hayagriiva, Horse-headed god, and Kaalakaa gave birth to Naraka and Kaalaka. [3-14-16b, 17a]
kraunciim bhaasiim tathaa shyeniim dhR^itaraaSTriim tathaa shukiim || 3-14-17
taamraa tu suSuve kanyaaH pa.nca etaa lokavishrutaaH |
17b, 18a. taamraa tu= Taamraa, but; kraunciim bhaasiim tathaa shyeniim dhR^itaraaSTriim tathaa shukiim= to Krounchi, Bhaasii, then, to Shyenii, Dhritaraashtrii, like that, to Shukii; etaa= these [above mentioned]; loka vishrutaaH panca kanyaaH suSuve= world, renowned, to five, girls, gave birth.
"But Taamraa gave birth to five world renowned girls namely, Krounchi, Bhaasii, Shyenii, Dhritaraashtrii, and Shukii. [3-14-17b, 18a]
uluukaan janayat krauncii bhaasii bhaasaan vyajaayata || 3-14-18
shyenii shyenaam ca gR^idhraama ca vyajaayata sutejasaH |
dhR^itaraaSTrii tu ha.msaam ca kalaha.msaam ca sarvashaH || 3-14-19
18b, 19. krauncii uluukaan janayat= Kraunchii, given birth, to Uluukaa-s [owls]; bhaasii vyajaayata bhaasaan= Bhaasii, gave birth to, Bhaasaa-s [vultures]; shyenii vyajaayata su tejasaH shyenaam gR^idhraama ca= Shyenii, gave birth to, very sharp, eagles, falcons [or, raptors as the case may be]; tu= but [in contrast]; dhR^itaraaSTrii hamsaam ca sarvashaH kala hamsaam ca= Dhritaraashtrii, [gave birth to]; swans, also, all of the, kalahamsa-s [other graceful water-birds.]
"And from each of the five daughters of Taamraa in turn emanated are the other avian species, where Kraunchii gave birth to Uluuka-s, the owls, Bhasii-s gave birth to Bhaasaa-s, the vultures, and Shyenii gave birth to very sharp eagles and falcons, and then Dhritaraashtrii gave birth to swans and all other kinds of graceful water-birds. [3-14-18b, 19]
cakravaakaam ca bhadram te vijaj~ne saa api bhaaminii |
shukii nataam vijaj~ne tu nataayaa vinataa sutaa || 3-14-20
20. saa bhaaminii cakravaakaam ca api vijaj~ne= she, that lady, Chakravaaka birds, also, even, gave birth to; bhadram te= safe, you be Rama; shukii vijaj~ne nataam tu= Shukii, gave birth, to Nata; nataayaaH sutaa vinataa= Nata's, daughter, is Vinata.
"Dhritaraashtrii gave birth even to Chakravaaka water-birds, and Shukii gave birth to a daughter Nata, and Nata's daughter is Vinata. [3-14-20]
dasha krodhavashaa raama vijaj~ne api aatmasa.mbhavaaH |
mR^igiim ca mR^igama.ndaam ca hariim bhadramadaam api || 3-14-21
maata.ngiim atha shaarduuliim shvetaam ca surabhiim tathaa |
sarva lakSaNa sa.mpannaam surasaam kadrukaam api || 3-14-22
21, 22. raama= Rama; krodhavashaa= by Krodhavasha; vijaj~ne api= given birth, even; mR^igiim= Mrigi; mR^igamandaam= Mrigamanda; hariim= Hari; bhadramadaam= Bhadramanda; maatangiim= maatangii; shaarduuliim= shadruulii; shvetaam= shweta; surabhiim= Surabhi; sarva lakSaNa sampannaam surasaam= all, giftedness, possessing, Surasa; kadrukaam api= Kadruva, even to; aatma sambhavaaH dasha= self-same, ten [daughters.]
"Oh, Rama, Krodhavasha gave birth to ten of her self-same daughters namely Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramanda, Maatangii, Sharduulii, Shweta, Surabhii, and like that to Surasa, who is embodied with all giftedness, and even to Kadruva. [3-14-21, 22]
apatyam tu mR^igaaH sarve mR^igyaa naravarottama |
R^ikSaaH ca mR^igama.ndaayaaH sR^imaraaH camaraaH tathaa || 3-14-23
23. nara vara uttama= oh, best of the best men Rama; sarve mR^igaaH= all of the, deer; mR^igyaaH apatyam= Mrigi's, progeny; mR^igamandaayaaH apatyam= Mrigamanda's, children are; R^ikSaaH sR^imaraaH camaraaH= bears, Srimara-s, a kind of antelopes, yak like oxen; tathaa= like that.
"Children Mrigi are all of the the deer, oh best of the best-men, Rama, and Mrigamnda's progeny is Riksha-s, Bears, a kind of antelope, and like that the Himalayan yak like species.[3-14-23]
tataH tu iraavatiim naama jaj~ne bhadramadaa sutaam |
tasyaaH tu airaavataH putro lokanaatho mahaagajaH || 3-14-24
24. tataH= then; bhadramadaa jaj~ne= Bhadramanda, gave birth to; iraavatiim naama sutaam= to Iravati, named, daughter; tasyaaH putraH airaavataH= her, son is, Airavata; mahaa gajaH= great, elephant; loka naathaH= world, protector.
"Then Bhadramanda gave birth to the girl named Iravati and her son is elephant the great, Airaavata, the protector of world. [3-14-24]
haryaaH ca harayo apatyam vaanaraaH ca tapasvinaH |
golaa.nguulaaH ca shaarduulii vyaaghraam ca ajanayat sutaan || 3-14-25
25. harayoH= lions; tarasvinaH= mighty [tapasvinaH= sagely, gentle]; vaanaraaH= monkeys; haryaaH apatyam= [lady] Hari's, offspring; shaarduulii ajanayat sutaan= [lady] Sharduulii, gave birth, to sons; golaanguulaaH vyaaghraam= baboons, tigers;
"And Hari's offspring are lions and sagely/mighty monkeys, while Sharduulii gave birth to baboons and tigers. [3-14-25]
maata.ngyaaH tu atha maatangaaapatyam manuja R^iSabha |
dishaagajam tu shveta kaakutstha shvetaa vyajanayat sutam || 3-14-26
26. manujarSabha= oh, the best man Rama; atha= then; maatangyaaH aapatyam maatangaH= Maatangi's, children, are elephants; kaakutstha= oh, Rama; shveta vyajanayat sutaan dishaa gajaam= Shweta, gave birth, to sons, at quarters, elephants;=.
"Then Maatangi's childrenm are elephants, oh, best one among men, Rama, and Shweta gave birth to eight elephants that are at eight quarters of world, sustaining the world on their head. [3-14-26]
tato duhitarau raama surabhir dve vi ajaayata |
rohiNiim naama bhadram te gandharviim ca yashasviniim || 3-14-27
27. tataH= then; surabhiH= Surabhi; rohiNiim naama yashasviniim= Rohini, named, illustrious one; gandharviim ca= Gandharvii, also; vi ajaayata dve duhitarau= gave birth, to two, daughters; bhadram te safe, you be; noted one.
"Then, oh Rama, Surabhi gave birth to two daughters, one is named as illustrious Rohini, safe you be, and the other is Gandharvi. [3-14-27]
rohiNi ajanayad gaavo gandharvii vaajinaH sutaan |
surasaa ajanayan naagaan raama kadruuH ca pannagaan || 3-124-28
28. rohiNi ajanayat gaavaH= Rohini, gave birth, to cows; gandharvii [ajanayat ] sutaan vaajinaH= Gandharvii, [gave birth] to sons, the horses; surasaa ajanayan naagaan= Surasa, gave birth, many headed serpents; raama= oh, Rama; kadruuH ca pannagaan= Kadru, also, to [ordinary] serpents.
"Rohini gave birth to cows and other livestock, while Surasa gave birth to Naagaa-s, viz., many headed serpents, while Kadru gave birth to ordinary serpents. [3-124-28]
manur manuSyaan janayat kashyapasya mahaatmanaH |
braahmaNaan kSatriyaan vaishyaan shuudraam ca manuja.rSabha || 3-14-29
29. manujarSabha= man, the best among, Rama; manuH= [lady] Manu; kashyapasya mahaatmanaH= [wife] of Sage Kashyapa, the great-soul; braahmaNaan kSatriyaan vaishyaan shuudraam ca= Brahmans, Kshatriya-s, Vaishyaa-s, Shuudraa-s, also; manuSyaan janayat= procreated, humans.
"Oh, the best among men Rama, the wife of great-soul Kashyapa, lady Manu procreated humans, Brahman--s, Kshatriya-s, Vyasya-s, and Shudra-s. [3-14-29]
mukhato braahmaNaa jaataa urasaH kSatriyaaH tathaa |
uurubhyaam jaj~nire vaishyaaH padbhyaam shuudraa iti shrutiH || 3-14-30
30. mukhataH braahmaNaa jaataa= from face, Brahman-s, came; urasaH kSatriyaaH tathaa= from chest, Kshatriya-s, likewise; uurubhyaam jaj~nire vaishyaaH= from two thighs, came out, Vyasya-s; padbhyaam shuudraa= from two feet, shuudraa-s; iti shrutiH= thus, we hear from scriptures [Veda-s.]
"The Brahman-s emerged from face, the Kshatriya-s from chest, the Vyasya-s from two thighs, and the Shudra-s from two feet, thus we hear from the scriptures viz., Veda, i.e., Rig Veda Purusha Shuukta. [3-14-30]
sarvaan puNya phalaan vR^ikSaan analaa api vyajaayata |
vinataa ca shukii pautrii kadruuH ca surasaa svasaa || 3-14-31
31. analaa api= [lady] Anala, even; vyajaayata= gave birth to; puNya phalaan sarvaan vR^ikSaan= merited ones, fruit-bearing, all, trees; vinataa ca shukii pautrii [dauhitri]= Vinata, also, Shuki's, grand daughter [daughter's daughter]; kadruuH ca surasaa svasaa= Kadru, also, Surasa's, sister; I will narrate.
"All the merited fruit-bearing trees are given birth by Anala, and now I will narrate about Vinata, the daughter's daughter of Shukii, and about Kadru, the sister of Surasa. [3-14-31]
kadruur naaga sahasram tu vijaj~ne dharaNiidharan |
dvau putrau vinataayaaH tu garuDo aruNa eva ca || 3-14-32
32. kadruuH= [lady] Kadru; sahasram [sahasra aasyam]= thousand faced; dharaNii dharan= earth, bearer – one who can bear the earth; naaga [naagam] vijaj~ne= to serpent, gave birth; vinataayaaH tu= of Vinata, but; garuDaH aruNa eva ca= Garuda and AruNa, also, like that; dvau putrau= two, sons [took birth.]
"Kadru gave birth to a thousand-headed serpent who is the bearer of this earth, and Vinata gave birth to two sons namely Garuda and Aruna. [3-14-32]
Garuda is the eagle-vehicle of Lord Vishnu, while Aruna, also called Anuuru, for he is a thigh-less being, is the charioteer of Sun's seven-horse chariot. The seven horses of Sun's chariot are the seven colours in vibgyor as in a rainbow. Aruna and Garuda are of avian origination and attributed to be the speediest propellers, and Jatayu and Sampati belong to that lineage.
tasmaat jaato aham aruNaat sa.mpaatiH ca mama agrajaH |
jaTaayur iti maam viddhi shyenii putram ari.mdama || 3-14-33
33. arindama= oh enemy destroyer Rama; aham= I am; tasmaat [asmaat] aruNaat= from that lineage / from him, from Aruna/Anuura; jaataH= took birth; sampaatiH mama agrajaH= Sampaati, is my, elder brother; shyenii putram= Shyeni's, son; maam= me; jaTaayuH iti viddhi= Jatayu, thus as, know me.
"Oh enemy-destroyer Rama, I took birth from that Aruna, the charioteer of Sun, and my elder brother Sampati too, hence know me as Jatayu, the son of Shyenii. [3-14-33]
so aham vaasa sahaayaH te bhaviSyaami yadi icChasi |
idam durgam hi kaantaaram mR^iga raakshasa sevitam
siitaam ca taata rakSiSye tvayi yaate salakSmaNe || 3-14-34
34. saH aham= such as I am; icChasi yadi= you wish, if; te vaasa sahaayaH bhaviSyaami= your, at residence, as helpmate, I can be; durgam idam kaantaaram= impassable, this one, forest is; mR^iga raakshasa sevitam hi= by predators, demons, beloved to, isn't it; taata= oh boy; sa lakSmaNe tvayi yaate= with Lakshmana, on your, going out; siitaam rakSiSye= Seetha, I wish to protect.
"Such as I am, I can be your helpmate at your residence if only you wish me to... oh, boy, this impassable forest is a beloved one to predators and demons, isn't it... as such I can take care of Seetha if you and Lakshmana go out..." Thus Jatayu said to Rama. [3-14-34]
jaTaayuSam tu pratipuujya raaghavo
mudaa pariSvajya ca sannato abhavat |
pitur hi shushraava sakhitvam aatmavaan
jaTaayuSaa sa.mkathitam punaH punaH || 3-14-35
35. raaghavaH= Raghava; jaTaayuSam pratipuujya= at Jatayu, in turn, revering; mudaa pariSvajya ca= gladly, on hugging; sannataH abhavat= bowed down, he [Rama] became; aatmavaan= kind-natured one [Rama]; jaTaayuSaa punaH punaH sam kathitam= by Jatayu, again, again well, narrated; pituH sakhitvam shushraava hi= father's, friendship, heard of [he is regardful,] indeed.
Raghava revered Jatayu in his turn by gladly hugging and stood by him with his head bent, and that kind-natured Rama is indeed regardful of the friendship of his father with Jatayu that is repeatedly said by Jatayu. [3-14-35]
sa tatra siitaam paridaaya maithiliim
saha eva tena atibalena pakSiNaa |
jagaama taam pa.ncavaTiim salakSmaNo
ripuun didhakSan shalabhaan iva analaH || 3-14-36
36. saH maithiliim siitaam paridaaya= he that Rama, Maithili's, Seetha, on taking; sa lakSmaNaH= with Lakshmana; ati balena tena pakSiNaa saha eva= very, mighty one, with that, bird, along with, thus; analaH shalabhaan iva= as fire, for grasshoppers, like; ripuun didhakSan= enemies, to incinerate; taam pancavaTiim= to that, Panchavati; jagaama= proceeded.
He that Rama took the princess from Mithila Seetha, and proceeded to Panchavati along with that very mighty bird and Lakshmana, as though to incinerate enemies, like fire that burns down grasshoppers. [3-14-36]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye araNya kaaNDe caturdashaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 14th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© 2001, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, [Revised : March 04]