Valmiki Ramayana 3.13.23 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 23

पञ्चवटी-निर्देशः

Agastya Directs Rama to Panchavati

Devanagari script

एतदालक्ष्यते वीर मधूकानां महद्वनम्।उत्तरेणास्य गन्तव्यं न्यग्रोधमभिगच्छता।।।।

Transliteration

etad ālakṣyate vīra madhūkānāṃ mahad vanam | uttareṇāsya gantavyaṃ nyagrodham abhigacchatā ||

Translation

வீரனே! இங்கே மதூக மரங்களின் பெரும் காடு தெரிகிறது. ஆலமரத்தை (ந்யக்ரோதம்) நோக்கிச் செல்லும்போது இதன் வடபுறமாகச் சென்று முன்னேறு।

Word by Word

• ētad: this
• ētad: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• ālakṣyatē: is seen
• ālakṣyatē: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√lakṣ (लक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Laṭ (लट्, present), Pada: Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Purusha: 3rd (प्रथमपुरुष), Vachana: Singular (एकवचन); passive/impersonal sense: 'is seen/comes into view'

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• madhūkānām: of madhūka trees
• madhūkānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhūka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahat: great, large
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying 'vanam'

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttarēṇa: to the north of / on the northern side
• uttarēṇa: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) used as postposition; governs Genitive (षष्ठी) meaning 'to the north of'

• asya: of this / its
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Napumsaka, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• gantavyam: should be gone / must go
• gantavyam: Vidhi (विधि/आवश्यकता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु) + -tavya (तव्यत्)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (कर्तव्य/तव्यत्), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); impersonal obligation: 'it should be gone'

• nyagrōdham: the banyan tree
• nyagrōdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyagrōdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhigacchatā: while going towards / by one going towards
• abhigacchatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); masculine implied; 'by/while going towards' (agent in instrumental)

Context

Even though delicate, Sita never feels discouraged by difficulties. She has come to the forest full of obstacles, since she is motivated by her love for her husband.

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• Rama
• nyagrodha (banyan tree)

FAQs

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

Respecting and following the guidance of a truthful sage is part of righteous conduct, especially in uncertain wilderness journeys.

What is the narrative situation?

Agastya gives Rama precise route-markers—madhūka forest and a banyan tree—leading toward Panchavatī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s disciplined obedience and attentiveness to wise counsel (vinaya and samādhāna).