Valmiki Ramayana 3.13.20 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 20

पञ्चवटी-निर्देशः

Agastya Directs Rama to Panchavati

Devanagari script

स हि रम्यो वनोद्देशो मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते।स देशश्श्लाघनीयश्च नातिदूरे च राघव।।।।

Transliteration

sa hi ramyo vanoddeśo maithilī tatra raṃsyate | sa deśaḥ ślāghanīyaś ca nātidūre ca rāghava ||

Translation

Та лесная местность поистине прекрасна; там Майтхили будет радоваться. То место достойно похвалы, о Рагхава, и оно недалеко.

Word by Word

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; refers to vanoddeśaḥ/deśaḥ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• ramyaḥ: delightful
• ramyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies vanoddeśaḥ

• vana-uddeśaḥ: forest-region
• vana-uddeśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + uddeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa

• maithilī: Maithilī (Sītā)
• maithilī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place

• raṃsyate: will enjoy/delight
• raṃsyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (रम्, धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, future sense) / simple future; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; refers to deśaḥ

• deśaḥ: place
• deśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ślāghanīyaḥ: praiseworthy
• ślāghanīyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ślagh (श्लघ्, धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; gerundive (णीयत्) 'praiseworthy'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• na-ati-dūre: not too far
• na-ati-dūre: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय) + ati (अव्यय) + dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular in form; adverbial 'not very far'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• rāghava: O Rāghava
• rāghava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Context

O Raghava, that forest tract is delightful and beautiful. It is not far away(from here). Maithili (Sita) will enjoy her stay there.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā (Maithilī)
• forest region (vanoddeśa)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma includes responsible guardianship—choosing a safe, suitable dwelling that supports the well-being of one’s family during hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Agastya recommends a nearby, commendable forest location where Sītā can live comfortably.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s protective responsibility (as husband and leader) is implicitly addressed through the sage’s practical guidance.