पञ्चवटी-निर्देशः (Agastya Directs Rama to Panchavati)
अरण्यकाण्ड
This sarga is structured as a formal hermitage dialogue between Agastya and Rāma. Agastya welcomes the princes and Sītā, acknowledging their reverential visit and recognizing their journey-fatigue; he notes Sītā’s delicate endurance and frames her presence in the forest as an extraordinary act of marital devotion. A didactic segment contrasts stereotyped claims about women’s fickleness with Sītā’s exemplary steadiness, likening her to Arundhatī, and instructs Rāma to ensure Sītā’s comfort and joy. Rāma, with folded palms, responds with humility and requests a suitable residence-site: a well-watered, forested region for establishing an āśrama. After reflective pause, Agastya provides a precise topographic itinerary and praises the nearing completion of Rāma’s exile-vow, forecasting his return to righteous kingship. He recommends Pañcavaṭī—near the Godāvarī, abundant in roots and fruits, rich in birds, solitary and holy—and adds a governance duty: Rāma should protect the local tapasvins. The chapter closes with leave-taking rituals (pāda-abhivandana) and the brothers’ armed departure with Sītā along the instructed path. The Southern Recension here also preserves a duplicated verse-unit (3.13.18–19) reflecting traditional transmission.
Verse 3.13.1
राम प्रीतोऽस्मि भद्रं ते परितुष्टोऽस्मि लक्ष्मण।अभिवादयितुं यन्मां प्राप्तौ स्थ स्सह सीतया।।।।
“Rāma, I am pleased—may good be yours. And Lakṣmaṇa, I am satisfied as well, since you both have come with Sītā to pay your reverence to me.”
Verse 3.13.2
अध्वश्रमेण वां खेदो बाधते प्रचुरश्रमः।व्यक्तमुत्कण्ठते वापि मैथिली जनकात्मजा।।।।
The fatigue of the road—made heavy by great exertion—is troubling you both; and it is plain that Maithilī, Janaka’s daughter, is also yearning (for rest).
Verse 3.13.3
एषा हि सुकुमारी च दुःखैश्च न विमानिता।प्राज्यदोषं वनं प्राप्ता भर्तृस्नेहप्रचोदिता।।।।
O hero, here is seen a vast forest of madhūka trees. Keeping to its northern side, proceed onward as you go toward the banyan tree.
Verse 3.13.4
यथैषा रमते राम इह सीता तथा कुरु।दुष्करं कृतवत्येषा वने त्वामनुगच्छती।।।।
Then, climbing up to the higher ground not far from the mountain, you will reach the place famed as Panchavatī—whose groves are ever in bloom.
Verse 3.13.5
एषा हि प्रकृतिः स्त्रीणामासृष्टे रघुनन्दन।समस्थमनुरज्यान्ति विषमस्थं त्यजन्ति च।।।।
Thus instructed by Agastya, Rama—together with Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa)—honoured that sage, devoted to truth, and then took respectful leave of him.
Verse 3.13.6
शतह्रदानां लोलत्वं शस्त्राणां तीक्ष्णतां तथा।गरूडानिलयोश्शैघ्र्यमनुगच्छन्ति योषितः।।।।
Permitted by him, the two—having bowed in reverence at his feet—departed that hermitage and went to Pañcavaṭī together with Sītā.
Verse 3.13.7
इयं तु भवतो भार्या दोषैरेतैर्विवर्जिता।श्लाघ्या च व्यपदेश्या च यथा देवी ह्यरुन्धती।।।।
The two princes, sons of the king—bows in hand, quivers fastened, fearless in battle—went with steady focus to Pañcavaṭī by the path instructed by the great ṛṣi.
Verse 3.13.8
अलङ्कृतोऽयं देशश्च यत्र सौमित्रिणा सह।वैदेह्या चानया राम वत्स्यसि त्वमरिन्दम।।।।
O Rāma, subduer of enemies: whatever place you dwell in together with Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa) and this Vaidehī (Sītā) will indeed appear adorned.
Verse 3.13.9
एवमुक्तस्समुनिना राघवस्संयताञ्जलिः।उवाच प्रश्रितं वाक्यमृषिं दीप्तमिवानलम्।।।।
Thus addressed by the sage, Rāghava (Rāma), with palms joined in reverence, replied in humble words to the ṛṣi who blazed like fire.
Verse 3.13.10
धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुङ्गवः।गुणैस्सभ्रातृभार्यस्य वरदः परितुष्यति।।।।
“I am blessed; I am truly favored—since this great sage, bestower of boons, is pleased with the virtues of me, together with my brother and my wife.”
Verse 3.13.11
किन्तु व्यादिश मे देशं सोदकं बहुकाननम्।यत्राश्रमपदं कृत्वा वसेयं निरतस्सुखम्।।।।
“But please direct me to a region with water and abundant woodland, where, having established a hermitage, I may dwell steadily and peacefully.”
Verse 3.13.12
ततोऽब्रवीन्मुनिश्रेष्ठश्श्रुत्वा रामस्य तद्वचः।ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं धर्मात्मा धीरो धीरतरं वचः।।।।
Then the foremost of sages, righteous in spirit and calm, having heard Rāma’s words, reflected for a moment and spoke speech even more composed and weighty.
Verse 3.13.13
इतो द्वियोजने तात बहुमूलफलोदकः।देशो बहुमृगश्श्रीमान्पञ्चवट्यभिविश्रुतः।।।।
“Dear child, two yojanas from here lies a splendid region, famed as Pañcavaṭī—rich in roots, fruits, and water, and abounding in animals.”
Verse 3.13.14
तत्र गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं कृत्वा सौमित्रिणा सह।रमस्व त्वं पितुर्वाक्यं तथोक्तमनुपालयन्।।।।
Go there, make a hermitage together with Saumitrī, and live contentedly, faithfully upholding your father’s command just as it was spoken.
Verse 3.13.15
कालोऽयं गतभूयिष्ठो यः काल स्तव राघव।समयो यो नरेन्द्रेण कृतो दशरथेन ते।।।।तीर्णप्रतिज्ञः काकुत्स्थ सुखं राज्ये निवत्स्यसि।
O Rāghava, most of the time fixed for you—the term set for you by King Daśaratha—has already passed. O Kakutstha, when your vow is fulfilled, you will dwell happily in your kingdom.
Verse 3.13.16
धन्यस्ते जनको राम स राजा रघुनन्दन।।।।यस्त्वया ज्येष्ठपुत्रेण ययातिरिव तारितः।
O Rāma, delight of the Raghu line—blessed is that king, your father, for by you, his eldest son, he has been “carried across,” like Yayāti.
Verse 3.13.17
विदितो ह्येष वृत्तान्तो मम सर्वस्तवानघ।।।।तपसश्च प्रभावेण स्नेहाद्दशरथस्य च।
O sinless one, this entire account about you is known to me—through the power of my austerities, and also through affection for Daśaratha.
Verse 3.13.18
हृदयस्थश्च ते छन्दो विज्ञातस्तपसा मया।।।।इहावासं प्रतिज्ञाय मया सह तपोवने।अतश्च त्वामहं ब्रूमि गच्छ पञ्चवटीमिति।।।।
Even the wish that rests in your heart is known to me through my austerity. Therefore, after assuring a stay here with me in this grove of penance, I tell you: ‘Go to Pañcavaṭī.’
Verse 3.13.19
हृदयस्थश्च ते छन्दो विज्ञातस्तपसा मया।।3.13.18।।इहावासं प्रतिज्ञाय मया सह तपोवने। अतश्च त्वामहं ब्रूमि गच्छ पञ्चवटीमिति।।3.13.19।।
Even the wish that rests in your heart is known to me through my austerity. Therefore, after assuring a stay here with me in this grove of penance, I tell you: ‘Go to Pañcavaṭī.’
Verse 3.13.20
स हि रम्यो वनोद्देशो मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते।स देशश्श्लाघनीयश्च नातिदूरे च राघव।।।।
That forest region is truly delightful; Maithilī will take joy there. That place is praiseworthy, O Rāghava, and it is not far away.
Verse 3.13.21
गोदावर्यास्समीपे च मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते।प्राज्यमूलफलश्चैव नानाद्विजगणायुतः।।।।विविक्तश्च महाबाहो पुण्योरम्यस्तथैव च।
Near the Godāvarī, Maithilī will delight in that place. It abounds in roots and fruits, is filled with flocks of many kinds of birds, and—O mighty-armed one—is secluded, holy, and beautiful.
Verse 3.13.22
भवानपि सदारश्च शक्तश्च परिरक्षणे।अपि चात्र वसन्राम तापसान्पालयिष्यसि।।।।
And you too, accompanied by your wife, are capable of protection; living there, O Rāma, you will also safeguard the ascetics.
Verse 3.13.23
एतदालक्ष्यते वीर मधूकानां महद्वनम्।उत्तरेणास्य गन्तव्यं न्यग्रोधमभिगच्छता।।।।
Though she is delicate, Sītā is not cast down by hardships. Moved by love for her husband, she has entered this forest, full of many difficulties.
Verse 3.13.24
ततः स्थलमुपारुह्य पर्वतस्याविदूरतः।ख्यातः पञ्चवटीत्येव नित्यपुष्पितकाननः।।।।
O Rāma, act in such a way that Sītā may find joy here. By following you into the forest, she has accomplished what is truly difficult.
Verse 3.13.25
अगस्त्येनैवमुक्तस्तु रामस्सौमित्रिणा सह।सत्कृत्यामन्त्रयामास तमृषिं सत्यवादिनम्।।।।
O delight of the Raghu line, such is said to be the nature of women from the very beginning of creation: they remain attached when circumstances are smooth, and they abandon one who stands in adversity.
Verse 3.13.26
तौ तु तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातौ कृतपादाभिवन्दनौ।तदाश्रमात्पञ्चवटीं जग्मतुस्सीतया सह।।।।
It is said that women follow the fickleness of lightning, the sharpness of weapons, and the swiftness of Garuḍa and the wind.
Verse 3.13.27
गृहीतचापौ तु नराधिपात्मजौ विषक्ततूणौ समरेष्वकातरौ।यथोपदिष्टेन पथा महर्षिणा प्रजग्मतुः पञ्चवटीं समाहितौ।।।।
But your wife is free from these faults; she is worthy of praise and worthy to be cited as an example—like the revered lady Arundhatī.