Shloka 3.15.17
पञ्चवटी-निवासः (Settlement at Pañcavaṭī and Construction of the Hermitage)
सालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च खर्जूरपनसाम्रकैः।नीवारैस्तिमिशैश्चैव पुन्नागैश्चोपशोभिताः।।3.15.16।।चूतैरशोकैस्तिलकैश्चम्पकैः केतकैरपि।पुष्पगुल्मलतोपेतैस्तैस्तैस्तरुभिरावृताः।।3.15.17।।चन्दनैस्पन्दनैर्नीपैः पर्णासैर्लिकुचैरपि।धवाश्वकर्णखदिरैः शमीकिंशुकपाटलैः।।3.15.18।।
sālaiḥ tālaiḥ tamālaiś ca kharjūrapanasāmrakaiḥ | nīvārais timiśaiś caiva punnāgaiś copaśobhitāḥ ||
cūtair aśokais tilakaiś campakaiḥ ketakair api | puṣpagulmalatopetais tais tais tarubhir āvṛtāḥ ||
candanaiḥ spandanaiḥ nīpaiḥ parṇāsair likucair api | dhavāśvakarṇakhadiraiḥ śamīkiṃśukapāṭalaiḥ ||
The land is richly adorned—filled with sāla, tāla, and tamāla trees, with date palms, jackfruit, and mango; with wild rice and dense timiśa, and with punnāga. It is covered with mango, aśoka, tilaka, campaka, and ketaka, with flowering shrubs and creepers; and also with sandalwood, spandana, nīpa, parṇāsa, likuca, dhava, aśvakarṇa, khadira, śamī, kiṃśuka, and pāṭala 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.
Dharma is stewardship and reverence toward the forest as a living sanctuary supporting āśrama life—recognizing abundance without exploitation.
Rāma enumerates the flora of the Pañcavaṭī/Godāvarī area to show it is suitable for hermitage life.
Prudence and suitability (aucitya): choosing a dwelling-place that supports righteous living, worship, and non-harm.