Chapter 11

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

अग्रतः प्रययौ रामः सीता मध्ये सुशोभना
पृष्ठतः तु धनुष्पाणिः लक्ष्मणः अनुजगाम ह

agrataḥ prayayau rāmaḥ sītā madhye suśobhanā
pṛṣṭhataḥ tu dhanuṣpāṇiḥ lakṣmaṇaḥ anujagāma ha

SYNONYMS

agrataḥ prayayau rāmaḥ: ahead, travelled, Rama | sītā madhye su śobhanā: Seetha, in middle, very, glorious one | pṛṣṭhataḥ tu dhanuṣ pāṇiḥ: rear, lakSmaNaH Lakshmana, but, bow, wielding | anu jagāma ha: following on, journeyed, verily. |

TRANSLATION

Rama travelled ahead while the glorious Seetha in middle, and wielding bow Lakshmana followed them on the rear. [4-11-1]

PURPORT

This verse is commented specially by the ancient narrators. It is said that Om, praNava is reflected in this verse. The Om is the compound of three letters a + u + ma , and the first letter in the verse is a , in a + grataH. The second letter of Om, i.e., u is u in su sobhanaa . Other versions may read this as su madhyamaa , even then this u is there. The letter before last word ha is ma , as in jagaa ma . These three letters put together are Om. So the three, Rama, Lakshmana, Seetha are compared with these three letters of Om. Vishnu/Rama is in letter a and he is coursing ahead, agrartaH prayayau , followed by u, Lakshmi/Seetha, who is an embodiment of the Absolute's karuNa , benevolence, as said at lakshmyaa kaaruNya ruupayaa And she is the illusory aspect of that Absolute, Maya, yaamaa ye m� , and being so, she will be the veil in between that Absolute and Innate Soul. The last letter ma is makaaro jiiva vaacaka, makaaro daasa vaacaka , is the sign for the servitude of the Innate Soul to the Absolute. That is what Lakshmana is. And anu jagaama means that which follows without any I-ness or Mine-ness as a total surrender, kainkarya . This agrataH prayayau raamaH is said to be the leadership quality of Soul, or Rama, where he does it himself without preaching, like Krishna. Previously when they entered forests, Lakshmana was leading and showing the way, as a dutiful servant. During next phase all three walked in line. Now, Rama wanted to wage war with demons, thus he leads the way, keeping Seetha in centre, followed and guarded by Lakshmana. This is the view point of the sages following them, for they the sages always meditate about that Absolute, in terms of Om , and these three appeared as the three letters of Om.
VERSE 2

तौ पश्यमानौ विविधान् शैल प्रस्थान् वनानि च
नदीः च विविधा रम्या जग्मतुः सह सीतया

tau paśyamānau vividhān śaila prasthān vanāni ca
nadīḥ ca vividhā ramyā jagmatuḥ saha sītayā

SYNONYMS

tau: those two, Rama and Lakshmana | vividhān śaila prasthān: diverse, mountain, terraces | vanāni ca: forests, also | vividhā ramyāḥ nadīḥ ca: rivers, too | paśyamānau: while seeing | sītayā saha jagmatuḥ: Seetha, along with, they proceeded. |

TRANSLATION

They proceeded while seeing diverse mountain terraces, forests, and diversely enchanting rivers too, along with Seetha. [4-11-2]

VERSE 3

सारसान् चक्रवाकां च नदी पुलिन चारिणः
सरांसि च सपद्मानि युतानि जलजैः खगैः

sārasān cakravākāṃ ca nadī pulina cāriṇaḥ
sarāṃsi ca sapadmāni yutāni jalajaiḥ khagaiḥ

SYNONYMS

nadī pulina cāriṇaḥ: on rivers, sandbanks, moving | sārasān cakravākām ca: saarasa water-birds, chakrvaka water-birds, also | sa padmāni: with, lotuses | jala jaiḥ khagaiḥ yutāni: water, born, birds, having | sarāmsi ca: lakes, also. |

TRANSLATION

Beholding the rivers that have water-birds like saarasa, chakravaaka that move on their sandbanks, and also the lakes that contain lotuses and water born birds, they moved on. [4-11-3]

VERSE 4

यूथ बद्धाम् च पृषतान् मद उन्मत्तान् विषाणिनः
महिषाम् च वराहाम् च गजाम् च द्रुम वैरिणः

yūtha baddhām ca pṛṣatān mada unmattān viṣāṇinaḥ
mahiṣām ca varāhām ca gajām ca druma vairiṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

yūtha baddhām ca: in herds, banded, also | pṛṣatān: spotted deer | mada unmattān: by virility, maddened | viṣāṇinaḥ mahiṣām ca: large horned, buffaloes, also | varāhām ca: wild boars | gajām ca druma vairiṇaḥ: elephants, too, that are trees', animals. |

TRANSLATION

The moved on watching spotted deer banded in herds, the wild boars, large horned buffaloes maddened in virility, and the ruttish elephants rending trees like their enemies. [4-11-4]

VERSE 5

ते गत्वा दूरम् अध्वानम् लंबमाने दिवाकरे
ददृशुः सहिता रंयम् तटाकम् योजन आयुतम्

te gatvā dūram adhvānam laṃbamāne divākare
dadṛśuḥ sahitā raṃyam taṭākam yojana āyutam

SYNONYMS

sahitāḥ te dūram adhvānam gatvā: together, they, far way, on way, having gone | lambamāne divākare: while dangling, sun [sun while hanging in western sky] | padma puṣkara sam bādham: with red lotuses, white lotuses, fully, overloaded | gaja yūthaiḥ alamkṛtam: with elephant, herds, bedecked [over-sported] | jala jātibhiḥ: with other, water born birds | sārasaiḥ hamsa kādambaiḥ samkulam: sarasa birds, swans, kaadamba water-fowls, flurried | yojana āyutam: one yojana, in width | ramyam taṭākam: charming, lake | dadṛśuḥ: saw. |

TRANSLATION

On going far on their way, and when the sun is dangling in the western skiy, together they saw a charming lake of one yojana width fully overloaded with red and white lotuses, overspread with sporting elephants, and over-flurried with waterfowls like saarasa birds, kaadamba birds, swans and with others kinds too. [4-11-5, 6]

VERSE 7

प्रसन्न सलिले रम्ये तस्मिन् सरसि शुश्रुवे
गीत वादित्र निर्घोषो न तु कश्चन दृश्यते

prasanna salile ramye tasmin sarasi śuśruve
gīta vāditra nirghoṣo na tu kaścana dṛśyate

SYNONYMS

prasanna salile ramye: tranquil, waters, enchanting ones | tasmin sarasi: in that, lake | gīta vāditra nirghoṣaḥ: singing, instrumental, melodies | śuśruve: became audible | na tu kaścana dṛśyate: not, but, anyone, is visible. |

TRANSLATION

Out of the tranquil and enchanting waters of that lake audible are the melodies of singing and musical instruments, but none is visible. [4-11-7]

VERSE 8

ततः कौतूहलात् रामो लक्ष्मणः च महारथः
मुनिम् धर्मभृतम् नाम प्रष्टुम् समुपचक्रमे

tataḥ kautūhalāt rāmo lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahārathaḥ
munim dharmabhṛtam nāma praṣṭum samupacakrame

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | rāmaḥ: Rama | lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahā rathaḥ: Lakshmana, also, the great, charioteer | kautūhalāt: then, inquisitively | dharmabhṛtam nāma: Dharmabhrita, named | munim: to sage | praṣṭum sam upacakrame: to ask about, started to. |

TRANSLATION

Then Rama and also Lakshmana, the great charioteer, inquisitively started to ask the Sage named Dharmabhrita about it. [4-11-8]

VERSE 9

इदम् अत्यद्भुतम् श्रुत्वा सर्वेषाम् नो महामुने
कौतूहलम् महत् जातम् किम् इदम् साधु कथ्यताम्

idam atyadbhutam śrutvā sarveṣām no mahāmune
kautūhalam mahat jātam kim idam sādhu kathyatām

SYNONYMS

mahā mune: oh, great saint | idam ati adbhutam śrutvā: this, greatly, amazing, on hearing | sarveṣām naḥ: for all of, us | kautūhalam mahat jātam: inquisitiveness, intense, is created | kim idam: why, this | sādhu kathyatām: clearly, tell us. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing this greatly amazing music from lake, oh, great saint, intensive inquisitiveness is created in all of us, why this, please tell us clearly about it." Thus Rama asked. [4-11-9]

VERSE 10

तेन एवम् उक्तो धर्मात्मा राघवेण मुनिः तदा
प्रभावम् सरसः क्षिप्रम् आख्यातुम् उपचक्रमे

tena evam ukto dharmātmā rāghaveṇa muniḥ tadā
prabhāvam sarasaḥ kṣipram ākhyātum upacakrame

SYNONYMS

tadā tena rāghaveṇa evam uktaḥ: then, by him, by Raghava, thus, said | dharmātmā muniḥ: virtuous, sage | sarasaḥ: of lake | pra bhāvam ākhyātum: efficacy, to tell | kśipram upacakrame: quickly, started to. |

TRANSLATION

Thus said by that Raghava then that virtuous sage quickly started to tell about the efficacy of that lake. [4-11-10]

VERSE 11

इदम् पंच अप्सरो नाम तटाकम् सार्व कालिकम्
निर्मितम् तपसा राम मुनिना माण्डकर्णिना

idam paṃca apsaro nāma taṭākam sārva kālikam
nirmitam tapasā rāma muninā māṇḍakarṇinā

SYNONYMS

rāma: Rama | idam māṇḍakarṇinā: this one, by Mandakarni | muninā: by sage | tapasā nirmitam: by ascetic power, built | sārva kālikam: an all-time lake | panca apsaraḥ nāma taṭākam: this one is, five apsara, named, lake. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, this is an all-time lake built by the ascetic power of the sage Mandakarni, known as Five Apsara Lake. [4-11-11]

VERSE 12

स हि तेपे तपः तीव्रम् माण्डकर्णिः महामुनिः
दश वर्ष सहस्राणि वायु भक्षो जलाशये

sa hi tepe tapaḥ tīvram māṇḍakarṇiḥ mahāmuniḥ
daśa varṣa sahasrāṇi vāyu bhakṣo jalāśaye

SYNONYMS

mahāmuniḥ saḥ māṇḍakarṇiḥ: great saint, he that, Mandakarni | vāyu bhakṣaḥ jala āśaye: air, while consuming, in lake | daśa varṣa sahasrāṇi: ten, years, thousands | tīvram tapaḥ tepe hi: rigorously, ascesis, he practiced, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"He that great saint Mandakarni practiced rigorous ascesis for ten thousand years staying in the waters of the lake, and consuming air alone. [4-11-12]

VERSE 13

ततः प्रव्यथिताः सर्वे देवाः स अग्नि पुरोगमाः
अब्रुवन् वचनम् सर्वे परस्पर समागताः

tataḥ pravyathitāḥ sarve devāḥ sa agni purogamāḥ
abruvan vacanam sarve paraspara samāgatāḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ pra vyathitāḥ: then, verily, worried | sarve devāḥ: all, gods | paraspara samāgatāḥ: together, meeting | sa agni purogamāḥ: with, Fire, at helm of affairs | abruvan vacanam sarve: conversed, words, all of them. |

TRANSLATION

"Then all the gods are worried and met together with Fire-god at the helm of affairs, and they all conversed among themselves. [4-11-13]

VERSE 14

अस्मकम् कस्यचित् स्थानम् एष प्रार्थयते मुनिः
इति संविग्न मनसः सर्वे तत्र दिवौकसः

asmakam kasyacit sthānam eṣa prārthayate muniḥ
iti saṃvigna manasaḥ sarve tatra divaukasaḥ

SYNONYMS

eṣa muniḥ: this, sage is | asmakam kasyacit sthānam prārthayate: among us, someone's, place, he is praying for | iti-: thus | sarve divaukasaḥ tatra samvigna manasaḥ: all, heaven-dwellers, in that matter, are perturbed, at heart. |

TRANSLATION

"This sage is praying for someone's place among us," thus all of those heaven-dwellers are perturbed at heart. [4-11-14]

VERSE 15

ततः कर्तुम् तपो विघ्नम् सर्व देवैः नियोजिताः
प्रधान अप्सरसः पंच विद्युत् चलित वर्चसः

tataḥ kartum tapo vighnam sarva devaiḥ niyojitāḥ
pradhāna apsarasaḥ paṃca vidyut calita varcasaḥ

SYNONYMS

sarva devaiḥ: by all, gods | tataḥ: then | kartum tapaḥ vighnam: to effectuate, in ascesis, hindrance | vidyut calita varcasaḥ: lighting like, sprint, in shine | pradhāna apsarasaḥ panca: important, apsarasa-s, five of them | niyojitāḥ: are assigned. |

TRANSLATION

"Then all gods assigned five important Apsara-s, the celestial courtesans, whose shine is like the sprint of the lightning, to effectuate hindrance in that sage's ascesis. [4-11-15]

VERSE 16

अप्सरोभिः ततः ताभिः मुनिः दृष्ट परावरः
नीतो मदन वश्यत्वम् देवानाम् कार्य सिद्धये

apsarobhiḥ tataḥ tābhiḥ muniḥ dṛṣṭa parāvaraḥ
nīto madana vaśyatvam devānām kārya siddhaye

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | dṛṣṭa para avaraḥ muniḥ: sage, who discerned, other, and this world [knows worldly and heavenly matters,] sage | tābhiḥ apsarobhiḥ: by them, by five of the celestials | devānām kārya siddhaye: for gods', function, to achieve | madana vaśyatvam: towards love's, restraint | nītaḥ: he is led on. |

TRANSLATION

Then those five celestial beauties have led that sage astray who discerned the nature of this and the other world, or good and bad, or the nature of Absolute-Soul and Body- bound Soul, towards the passional restraint by, as though to achieve god's task.

VERSE 17

ताः चैव अप्सरसः पंच मुनेः पत्नीत्वम् आगताः
तटाके निर्मितम् तासाम् तस्मिन् अन्तर्हितम् गृहम्

tāḥ caiva apsarasaḥ paṃca muneḥ patnītvam āgatāḥ
taṭāke nirmitam tāsām tasmin antarhitam gṛham

SYNONYMS

tāḥ caiva panca apsarasaḥ: they, also thus, five of them, celestials | muneḥ patnītvam āgatāḥ: sage's, wifehood, came about | tāsām gṛham: for them, house | tasmin taṭāke antar hitam nirmitam: in there, in lake, inside concealed, is built. |

TRANSLATION

"Also thus, those five celestial apsara-s attained wifehood of that sage, and for them he built a house in there, concealed inside that lake. [4-11-17]

VERSE 18

तत्र एव अप्सरसः पंच निवसन्त्यो यथा सुखम्
रमयन्ति तपोयोगात् मुनिम् यौवनम् आस्थितम्

tatra eva apsarasaḥ paṃca nivasantyo yathā sukham
ramayanti tapoyogāt munim yauvanam āsthitam

SYNONYMS

tatra eva apsarasaḥ panca: there, alone, apsara-s, five of them | nivasantyaḥ: while living in | tapo yogāt: by asceticism's, power | yauvanam āsthitam: youthfulness, which has come upon | munim: the sage is | yathā sukham ramayanti: as for, his delight, they are gratifying. |

TRANSLATION

"While those five celestial apsara-s are living in there, they are gratifying that sage according to his delight as youthfulness came upon that sage owing to his power of asceticism. [4-11-18]

VERSE 19

तासाम् संक्रीड मानानाम् एष वादित्र निःस्वनः
श्रूयते भूषण उन्मिश्रः गीत शब्दः मनोहरः

tāsām saṃkrīḍa mānānām eṣa vāditra niḥsvanaḥ
śrūyate bhūṣaṇa unmiśraḥ gīta śabdaḥ manoharaḥ

SYNONYMS

sam krīḍa mānānām: while they are reveling | tāsām eṣa vāditra niḥsvanaḥ: their, playing instruments, sounds they are | bhūṣaṇa unmiśraḥ: with ornaments' [tinkling,] mingled with | manoharaḥ gīta śabdaḥ śrūyate: delightful, singing, of melodies, being heard. |

TRANSLATION

"These musical sounds we hear are emerging out as played on their instruments, mingled with the tinkling of their ornaments, and mixed with their delightful singing of melodies." So said sage Dharmabhrita to Rama. [4-11-19]

VERSE 20

आश्चर्यम् इति तस्य एतद् वचनम् भावितात्मनः
राघवः प्रतिजग्राह सह भ्रात्रा महा यशाः

āścaryam iti tasya etad vacanam bhāvitātmanaḥ
rāghavaḥ pratijagrāha saha bhrātrā mahā yaśāḥ

SYNONYMS

mahā yaśāḥ rāghavaḥ: of highly renown, Raghava | saha bhrātrā: with, brother | bhāvita a atmanaḥ: of that contemplative soul [sage Dharmabhrita's] | tasya etat vacanam: his [sage's,] that, word | āścaryam iti: amazing, is this saying | prati jagrāha: received [exclaimed.] |

TRANSLATION

That highly renowned Raghava together with his brother acknowledged the sage Dharmabhrita's account, exclaiming it as "amazing is this..." [4-11-20]

VERSE 21

एवम् कथयमानः स ददर्श आश्रम मण्डलम्
कुश चीर परिक्षिप्तम् ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या समावृतम्

evam kathayamānaḥ sa dadarśa āśrama maṇḍalam
kuśa cīra parikṣiptam brāhmyā lakṣmyā samāvṛtam

SYNONYMS

, 22a| evam kathayamānaḥ: thus, saying Rama | kuśa cīra parikṣiptam: sacred grass, jute cloths, encircled with | brāhmyā lakśmyā sam āvṛtam: Brahma's [Vedic,] solemness, well, encompassing | āśrama maṇḍalam: hermitages, cluster of | dadarśa: he, that Raghava, having seen | praviśya saha vaidehyā lakṣmaṇena ca: entered, with Vaidehi, Lakshmana, also, |

TRANSLATION

While saying thus Raghava has seen a cluster of hermitages nearby, encircled with sacred grass, jute cloths, and even encompassed with Vedic solemness, and he entered that hermitage along with Seetha and Lakshmana. [4-11-21, 22a]

VERSE 22

तदा तस्मिन् स काकुत्स्थः श्रीमति आश्रम मण्डले

tadā tasmin sa kākutsthaḥ śrīmati āśrama maṇḍale

SYNONYMS

b, 23, 24a| saḥ kākutsthaḥ: he, that Rama | tadā tasmin śrīmati āśrama maṇḍale: then, in that august, hermitage's, cluster of | uṣitvā sa sukham: resided, with, happiness | tatra pūrjyamānaḥ maharṣibhiḥ: there, venerated by, great saints | mahā astra vit = great, missiles, ekṣpert of: Rama | saḥ: he | pūrvam yeṣām sakāśe uṣitavān: earlier, with whom, in nearness, he resided | teṣām tapasvinām āśramān: to their, sages', to hermitages | paryāyeṇa jagāma: for another round, he went. |

TRANSLATION

Rama happily stayed in that august cluster of hermitages duly venerated by those great saints for sometime, and then that expert in great missiles Rama went to the hermitages of those sages with whom he stayed earlier, for another round. [4-11-22, 23, 24a]

VERSE 24

क्वचित् परिदशान् मासान् एक संवत्सरम् क्वचित्

kvacit paridaśān māsān eka saṃvatsaram kvacit

SYNONYMS

b, 25, 26a| rāghavaḥ: Raghava | kvacit pari daśān māsān māsān: in some [hermitages,] | kvacit eka saṃvatsaram: elsewhere, one, year | kvacit caturaḥ māsān: at some place, also, four months | kvacit panca aparān: somewhere, five months, some more | ṣaṭ ca aparātra: six, also, at other where | māsāt api adhikam kvacit: more than month, much time, somewhere else | adhi ardham adhikān trīn māsān: one and half, more than, three, months | aṣṭa māsān ca: eight, months, also |

TRANSLATION

Rama stayed there for nearly ten months at some place, elsewhere for one year, at somewhere else for four months, and for five, and six months at elsewhere, even at somewhere else for more than a month, and for more than one and half months elsewhere. [4-11-24, 25, 26a]

VERSE 26

तत्र संवसतः तस्य मुनीनाम् आश्रमेषु वै

tatra saṃvasataḥ tasya munīnām āśrameṣu vai

SYNONYMS

b, 27a| tatra sam vasataḥ: there, verily staying | tasya munīnām āśrameṣu vai: of them, the sages, hermitages, indeed | ramataḥ: when taking delight | ānukūlyena yayuḥ samvatsarā daśa: smoothly, elapsed, years, ten. |

TRANSLATION

While Raghava stayed comfortably taking delight in those hermitages of sages, indeed ten years have smoothly elapsed. [4-11-26b, 27a]

PURPORT

As per the above the counof monthst comes to sixty months, i.e., five years. But it is said that ten years are elapsed comfortably. There are a good number of arguments counting the months said above and the point of ten years, said finally. Dharmaakuutam puts it as ten years only: tataH paryaayeNa nikhila muni jana nilayeShu niitvaa dasha samvatsaraan punaraagamya tiikShNatapasaH sutiikShNam|| Thus ten full years are spent only in around these hermitages, peregrinating from one to the other. The total period of exile is fourteen years. Here it is said that ten years are completed. In Chitrakuta two years are spent. Then the search for Seetha and final war should happen in two year span.
VERSE 27

परिसृत्य च धर्मज्ञः राघवः सह सीतया

parisṛtya ca dharmajñaḥ rāghavaḥ saha sītayā

SYNONYMS

b, 28a| dharmajñaḥ śrīmān rāghavaḥ: virtue-knower, glorious one, Raghava | sītayā saha pari sṛtya: along with, Seetha, on going around | punaḥ eva: again, thus | sutīkṣṇasya āśramam ājagāma ha: to sage Suteekshna's, hermitage, went to, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

Thus that virtue-knowing glorious Rama on going around those hermitages along with Seetha indeed went to the hermitage of Sage Suteekshna again. [4-11-27b, 28a]

VERSE 28

स तम् आश्रमम् आगम्य मुनिभिः परिपूजितः

sa tam āśramam āgamya munibhiḥ paripūjitaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 29a| arindamaḥ saḥ rāmaḥ: enemy-destroyer, he, that Rama | tam āśramam āgamya: at that, hermitage, on coming | munibhiḥ pari pūjitaḥ: by sages, verily, adored | tatra api kamcit kālam nyavasat: there, even, for some time, resided. |

TRANSLATION

On coming at that hermitage that enemy destroyer is adored by sages, and he resided there for some time. [4-11-28b, 29a]

VERSE 29

अथ आश्रमस्थो विनयात् कदाचित् तम् महामुनिम्

atha āśramastho vinayāt kadācit tam mahāmunim

SYNONYMS

b, 30a| atha āśrama sthaḥ kākutsthaḥ: then, in hermitage, while staying, Rama | idam abravīt: this, said vinayaat = submissively | kadācit: on one day | tam mahā munim sutīkṣṇam upāsīnaḥ: to that, great, saint, to Suteekshna, who is sitting nearby. |

TRANSLATION

Then on one day while staying in that hermitage Rama submissively said this to that sage Suteekshna who is sitting nearby. [4-11-29b, 30a]

VERSE 30b

अस्मिन् अरण्ये भगवन् अगस्त्यो मुनिसत्तमः

asmin araṇye bhagavan agastyo munisattamaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 31a| bhagavan muni sattamaḥ agastyaḥ: godly, saint the eminent, Agastya | asmin araṇye vasati iti: in this, forest, lives, thus as | nityam kathāḥ kathayatām: always, narratives, narrated [about him, thus] | mayā: by me | śrutam: heard. |

TRANSLATION

"I have always heard through the narratives narrated by other sages that the godly and eminent sage Agastya is residing in this forest. [4-11-30b, 31a]

VERSE 31

न तु जानामि तम् देशम् वनस्य अस्य महत्तया

na tu jānāmi tam deśam vanasya asya mahattayā

SYNONYMS

b, 32a| tu: but | asya vanasya mahattayā: this, forest's, extensive area | tam deśam na jānāmi: that, place, not, I know | dhīmataḥ tasya maharṣeḥ: that astute one's, of that, sage | puṇyam āśrama padam kutra: pious, hermitage, where is. |

TRANSLATION

"But due to the vastness of this forest I have not known that place, where is the pious hermitage of that astute sage? [4-11-31b, 32a]

VERSE 32

प्रसाद अर्थम् भगवतः सानुजः सह सीतया

prasāda artham bhagavataḥ sānujaḥ saha sītayā

SYNONYMS

b, 33a| prasāda artham bhagavataḥ: graciousness, desiring, of that godly sage | sa anujaḥ saha sītayā: with, brother, along with Seetha | munim agastyam abhivādayitum abhi gaccheyam: that sage, to Agastya, to venerate, I wish to approach. |

TRANSLATION

"I wish to approach that sage seeking that godly sage's graciousness, along with my brother and Seetha to venerate him. [4-11-32b, 33a]

VERSE 33

मनोरथो महान् एष हृदि परिवर्तते

manoratho mahān eṣa hṛdi parivartate

SYNONYMS

b, 34a| tam muni varam: that, sage, supreme | svayam aham: personally, I will [can I] | śuśrūṣeyam api yadi: can I propitiate | eṣa mahān manorathaḥ: this, high, ambition | me hṛdi pari vartate: in my, heart, it is recurring. |

TRANSLATION

"Can I personally propitiate that supreme sage -- is my high ambition, and it is recurrent in my heart." So said Rama to Suteekshna. [4-11-33b, 34a]

VERSE 34

इति रामस्य स मुनिः श्रुत्वा धर्मात्मनो वचः

iti rāmasya sa muniḥ śrutvā dharmātmano vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 35a| saḥ muniḥ sutīkṣṇaḥ: he that, sage Suteekshna | dharma atmanaḥ rāmasya: virtue-minded one, Rama's | iti vacaḥ śrutvā: this kind of, words [that particular request of Rama,] on hearing | prītaḥ: is gladdened | daśaratha atmajam: to Dasharatha's, son | idam uvāca: this, said. |

TRANSLATION

Sage Suteekshna on hearing that particular request of that virtue-minded Rama is gladdened and said this to him. [4-11-34b, 35a]

VERSE 35

अहम् अपि एतद् एव त्वाम् वक्तु कामः स लक्ष्मणम्

aham api etad eva tvām vaktu kāmaḥ sa lakṣmaṇam

SYNONYMS

b, 36b| rāghava: Raghava | aham api: I, even | tvām sa lakṣmaṇam saha sītayā: to you, with Lakshmana, with Seetha | agastyam abhigaccha iti: to Agastya, approach, thus | etat eva: that, only | vaktu kāmaḥ: to say, wished to. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Raghava, even I wished to say this to you, that you may approach Agastya along with Lakshmana and Seetha. [4-1-35b, 36a]

VERSE 36

दिष्ट्या तु इदानीम् अर्थे अस्मिन् स्वयम् एव ब्रवीषि माम्

diṣṭyā tu idānīm arthe asmin svayam eva bravīṣi mām

SYNONYMS

b, 37a| diṣṭyā tu: providentially, but | idānīm asmin arthe: now, in this, import / topic | svayam eva mām bravīṣi: yourself, alone, to me, you are speaking | yatra mahāmuniḥ agastyaḥ: = where, Agastya, great sage is there | ayam te ākhyāmi: that, I tell, you. |

TRANSLATION

"But providentially you alone raised this topic with me, Rama, I will tell you where that great sage Agastya is. [4-11-36b, 37a]

VERSE 37

योजनानि आश्रमात् तात याहि चत्वारि वै ततः
दक्षिणेन महान् श्रीमान् अगस्त्य भ्रातुर् आश्रमः

yojanāni āśramāt tāta yāhi catvāri vai tataḥ
dakṣiṇena mahān śrīmān agastya bhrātur āśramaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, c| āśramāt catvāri yojanāni yāhi: from this hermitage, four, yojana-s, you go | tāta: oh, dear one | tataḥ dakṣiṇena agastya bhrātuḥ mahān śrīmān āśramaḥ: then on west side, Agastya, brother's, great, glorious, hermitage [is there.] |

TRANSLATION

"On your going four yojana-s from this hermitage, oh, dear Rama, there is the great and glorious hermitage of Agastya's brother on the southern side. [4-11-37b, c]

VERSE 38

स्थली प्राय वनोद्देशे पिप्पली वन शोभिते
बहु पुष्प फले रम्ये नाना विहग नादिते

sthalī prāya vanoddeśe pippalī vana śobhite
bahu puṣpa phale ramye nānā vihaga nādite

SYNONYMS

pippalī vana śobhite: pippali = with trees [long pepper,] thickets, adorned with | bahu puṣpa phale: with many, flowers, fruits | ramye: spectacular | nānā vihaga nādite: with various, birds, reechoed | sthalī prāya: land, high [plateau] | vanāt deśe: in forest, place [that hermitage is there.] |

TRANSLATION

"That hermitage is there on a plateau in a spectacular place of that forest which is adorned with many flowers and fruits, thickets of long pepper, and reechoed with the callings of various birds. [4-11-38]

VERSE 39

पद्मिन्यो विविधाः तत्र प्रसन्न सलिल आशयाः
हंस कारण्डव आकीर्णाः चक्रवाक उपशोभिताः

padminyo vividhāḥ tatra prasanna salila āśayāḥ
haṃsa kāraṇḍava ākīrṇāḥ cakravāka upaśobhitāḥ

SYNONYMS

, 40a| tatra: there are | prasanna salila āśayāḥ: with tranquil, waters, receptacles | hamsa kāraṇḍava ākīrṇāḥ: with swans, francolin partridges, teeming with | cakravāka upa śobhitāḥ: with ruddy gees, beautified with | vividhāḥ padminyaḥ: diverse, lakes [will be there] | rāma: Rama | tatra ekām rajanīm vyuṣya: there, one, night, staying | prabhāte: in morning | gamyatām: be gone. |

TRANSLATION

"There are diverse lakes that are receptacles for tranquil waters, that are teeming with swans and partridges, beautified with ruddy geese, and Rama staying there for a night you may proceed in the next morning. [4-11-39, 40a]

VERSE 40

दक्षिणाम् दिशम् आस्थाय वन षण्डस्य पार्श्वतः

dakṣiṇām diśam āsthāya vana ṣaṇḍasya pārśvataḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 41a| vana ṣaṇḍasya pārśvataḥ: forest's, clump, on side of | dakṣiṇām diśam āsthāya: southern, direction, on taking course | yojanam antaram gatvā = one yojana, aftervard: beyond, on going | tatra agastya āśrama padam: there, Agastya's, hermitage, [you will find.] |

TRANSLATION

"On going one yojana beyond, taking the southward course on the side of the forest clump you will find Agastya's hermitage. [4-11-40b, 41a]

VERSE 41

रमणीये वनोद्देशे बहु पादप शोभिते

ramaṇīye vanoddeśe bahu pādapa śobhite

SYNONYMS

b, 42| ramaṇīye bahu pādapa śobhite: pleasant, with divers, trees, adorned with | tatra vanoddeśe vaidehī lakṣmaṇaḥ ca tvayā saha ramsyate: in that, woodlands, Vaidehi, Lakshmana, also, you, along with, will enjoy | bahu pādapa sam yutaḥ: with divers, trees, abounding in | saḥ vanouddeśaḥ ramyaḥ hi: that, woodland, is delightful, isn't it. |

TRANSLATION

"Seetha and Lakshmana will enjoy those woodlands adorned with diverse pleasant trees, as the woodlands abounding with diverse trees will naturally be delightful, isn't it. [4-11-41b, 42]

VERSE 43

यदि बुद्धिः कृता द्रष्टुम् अगस्त्यम् तम् महामुनिम्
अद्य एव गमने बुद्धिम् रोचयस्व महामते

yadi buddhiḥ kṛtā draṣṭum agastyam tam mahāmunim
adya eva gamane buddhim rocayasva mahāmate

SYNONYMS

mahā mate: oh, great, ingenious Rama | yadi buddhiḥ kṛtā: if, mind, is made up | draṣṭum agastyam tam mahāmunim: to see, Agastya, that, great sage | adya eva gamane: today, only, in going | buddhim rocayasva: thinking, resolve. |

TRANSLATION

"If your mind is made up to see that great sage Agastya, oh, great ingenious Rama, resolve your thinking in going only today." So said Sage Suteekshna to Rama. [4-11-43]

VERSE 44

इति रामो मुनेः श्रुत्वा सह भ्रात्रा अभिवाद्य च
प्रतस्थे अगस्त्यम् उद्दिश्य सानुगः सह सीतया

iti rāmo muneḥ śrutvā saha bhrātrā abhivādya ca
pratasthe agastyam uddiśya sānugaḥ saha sītayā

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: thus, Rama | muneḥ iti śrutvā: of sage, that is said, on listening | saha bhrātrā abhivādya ca: with, brother, reverenced, also | sa anu gaḥ saha sītayā: with, follower [Lakshmana,] with Seetha | pratasthe agastyam uddiśya: journeyed, Agastya, aiming at. |

TRANSLATION

On listening that which is said by the sage, Rama revered that sage along with his brother, and then he journeyed with Seetha and his follower Lakshmana aiming to reach Agastya. [4-11-44]

VERSE 45

पश्यन् वनानि चित्राणि पर्वतां च अभ्र संनिभान्
सरांसि सरितः चैव पथि मार्ग वश अनुगतान्

paśyan vanāni citrāṇi parvatāṃ ca abhra saṃnibhān
sarāṃsi saritaḥ caiva pathi mārga vaśa anugatān

SYNONYMS

, 46| paśyan: on viewing | citrāṇi vanāni: beautiful, forests | abhra samnibhān parvatām ca: to clouds, similar, mountains, also | sarāmsi: lakes | saritaḥ ca eva: rivers, also, thus | pathi: on pathway | mārga vaśa anu gatān: walkway, along, following -- that are flowing | sutīkṣṇena upadiṣṭena: by Suteekshna, indicated | tena pathā: by that, path | sukham gatvā: happily, on going | parama sam hṛṣṭaḥ: very highly gladdened | lakṣmaṇam idam vākyam abravīt: to Lakshmana, this, sentence, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

While viewing beautiful forests, cloud-like mountains, lakes, and rivers that are flowing following the pathways, Rama happily journeyed on the pathway indicated by sage Suteekshna, then he gladly spoke this sentence to Lakshmana. [4-11-45, 46]

VERSE 47

एतद् एव आश्रम पदम् नूनम् तस्य महात्मनः
अगस्त्यस्य मुनेर् भ्रातुर् दृश्यते पुण्य कर्मणः

etad eva āśrama padam nūnam tasya mahātmanaḥ
agastyasya muner bhrātur dṛśyate puṇya karmaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

etat eva: this, alone is | mahā ātmanaḥ puṇya karmaṇaḥ: of great souled one, with pious deeds | agastyasya bhrātuḥ: of Agastya's, brother | tasya muneḥ āśrama padam: of that, sage, hermitage | dṛśyate: that apears | nūnam: must be. |

TRANSLATION

"Definitely this alone appears to be the hermitage of Sage Agastya's brother, one with great soul and pious deeds. [4-11-47]

VERSE 48

यथा हि इमे वनस्य अस्य ज्ञाताः पथि सहस्रशः
संनताः फल भरेण पुष्प भारेण च द्रुमाः

yathā hi ime vanasya asya jñātāḥ pathi sahasraśaḥ
saṃnatāḥ phala bhareṇa puṣpa bhāreṇa ca drumāḥ

SYNONYMS

pathi phala bhareṇa puṣpa bhāreṇa ca: on way, by fruit's, weight, by flower's, weight, too | sam natāḥ: much, bowed | drumāḥ: of trees | sahasraśaḥ: in thousands | asya vanasya: of this, forest | yathā hi ime: as to how, to me | jñātāḥ: known [seen] |

TRANSLATION

"As how thousands of trees are bowing under the weight of flowers and fruit on the pathway, thereby I perceive it to be the hermitage of Agastya's bother. [4-11-48]

VERSE 49

पिप्पलीनाम् च पक्वानाम् वनाद् अस्माद् उपागतः
गन्धो अयम् पवन उत्क्षिप्तः सहसा कटुकोदयः

pippalīnām ca pakvānām vanād asmād upāgataḥ
gandho ayam pavana utkṣiptaḥ sahasā kaṭukodayaḥ

SYNONYMS

sahasā: suddenly | pavana ut kṣiptaḥ: by wind, upraised | kaṭukodayaḥ: sour-smell | pakvānām: ripened | pippalīnām: of pippali fruits | ayam gandhaḥ: this, aroma | asmāt vanāt upa agataḥ: from this, forest, came closer. |

TRANSLATION

"Upraised by the wind the sour-smell of pippali fruits is suddenly coming closer from the forest. [4-11-49]

VERSE 50

तत्र तत्र च दृश्यन्ते संक्षिप्ताः काष्ठ संचयाः
लूनाः च परिदृश्यन्ते दर्भा वैदूर्य वर्चसः

tatra tatra ca dṛśyante saṃkṣiptāḥ kāṣṭha saṃcayāḥ
lūnāḥ ca paridṛśyante darbhā vaidūrya varcasaḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra tatra: there, there | sam kṣiptāḥ kāṣṭha samcayāḥ: heaped up, firewood, heaps | dṛśyante: are visible | lūnāḥ: snipped | vaidūrya varcasaḥ: Lapis Lazuli-like [gemlike,] in tinge | darbhā: sacred grass | pari dṛśyante: all over, can be seen. |

TRANSLATION

"Here and there visible are the well heaped heaps of firewood, and all over appearing is the sacred grass snipped at its top and gemlike in its tinge. [4-11-50]

VERSE 51

एतत् च वन मध्यस्थम् कृष्ण अभ्र शिखर उपमम्
पावकस्य आश्रमस्थस्य धूमाग्रम् संप्रदृश्यते

etat ca vana madhyastham kṛṣṇa abhra śikhara upamam
pāvakasya āśramasthasya dhūmāgram saṃpradṛśyate

SYNONYMS

āśramasthasya: inside hermitage | pāvakasya: ritual fire's | kṛṣṇa abhra śikhara upamam: black, cloud, vertex, in similarity | vana madhyastham: forest's, in midst of | etat dhūma agram: this, smoke's, vertex | sam pra dṛśyate: very, clearly, visible. |

TRANSLATION

"From inside the hermitage in the midst of this forest the vertex of smoke from ritual fire is clearly visible as high as the vertex of a black rainy cloud. [4-11-51]

VERSE 52

विविक्तेषु च तीर्थेषु कृत स्नाना द्विजातयः
पुष्प उपहारम् कुर्वन्ति कुसुमैः स्वयम् आर्जितैः

vivikteṣu ca tīrtheṣu kṛta snānā dvijātayaḥ
puṣpa upahāram kurvanti kusumaiḥ svayam ārjitaiḥ

SYNONYMS

vivikteṣu tīrtheṣu: sacred, also, in streams | kṛta snānā dvijātayaḥ: on performing, bath, twice-born ones [Brahmans] | svayam ārjitaiḥ kusumaiḥ: personally, collected, with flowers | puṣpa upahāram kurvanti: flower, offering, making. |

TRANSLATION

"On performing bathing in sacred streams the Brahmans are making flower offerings to gods, called puSpa bali , with the flowers that are personally collected by them. [4-11-52]

PURPORT

If flowers for worship are taken from someone else, half of the merit of that worship goes to the one who gave those flowers. Hence the flowers are to be plucked by the worshipper alone, that too from his flower garden. They are not to be stolen, begged, carried in palms, or in upper cloth, but to be carried in a big size leaf. "Best are the flowers brought personally, medium is the forest-born, purchased are the worse, and those that are brought by others, the worst."
VERSE 53

ततः सुतीक्ष्णस्य वचनम् यथा सौम्य मया श्रुतम्
अगस्त्यस्य आश्रमो भ्रातुर् नूनम् एष भविष्यति

tataḥ sutīkṣṇasya vacanam yathā saumya mayā śrutam
agastyasya āśramo bhrātur nūnam eṣa bhaviṣyati

SYNONYMS

saumya: oh, gentle Lakshmana | tataḥ sutīkṣṇasya vacanam: thus, by Suteekshna's, words | yathā mayā śrutam: as, by me, heard | eṣa nūnam agastyasya bhrātuḥ āśramaḥ: this, definitely, Agastya's, brother's, hermitage | bhaviṣyati: shall be. |

TRANSLATION

"Thus by the words of Sage Suteekshna as I have heard, oh, gentle Lakshmana, this hermitage shall definitely be that of Sage Agastya's brother. [4-11-53]

VERSE 54

निगृह्य तरसा मृत्युम् लोकानाम् हित काम्यया
यस्य भ्रात्रा कृता इयम् दिक् शरण्या पुण्य कर्मणा

nigṛhya tarasā mṛtyum lokānām hita kāmyayā
yasya bhrātrā kṛtā iyam dik śaraṇyā puṇya karmaṇā

SYNONYMS

yasya bhrātrā: whose, brother is | puṇya karmaṇā: of meritorious deeds -- of Agastya | lokānām hita kāmyayā: for world, well-being, wishing for | tarasā nigṛhya mṛtyum: by his efficacy, controlling, death | iyam dik śaraṇyā: this, region, liveable | kṛtā: is made. |

TRANSLATION

"Whose brother is Sage Agastya with meritorious deeds, who wishing well-being of the world controlled death by his efficacy, and who made this southern region a liveable region, this must be the hermitage of such a sage, such Agatya's brother. [4-11-54]

VERSE 55

इह एकदा किल क्रूरो वातापिः अपि च इल्वलः
भ्रातरौ सहितौ आस्ताम् ब्राह्मणघ्नौ महा असुरौ

iha ekadā kila krūro vātāpiḥ api ca ilvalaḥ
bhrātarau sahitau āstām brāhmaṇaghnau mahā asurau

SYNONYMS

ekadā iha brāhmaṇa ghnau: once, here, Brahmans, killers of | krūraḥ vātāpiḥ api ca ilvalaḥ: cruel ones, Vaataapi, even, also, Ilvala | bhrātarau mahā asurau sahitau āstām kila: brothers, dreadful demons, together, they were here, they say. |

TRANSLATION

"Once upon a time verily cruel demon brothers Vaataapi and Ilvala were here together, and they the dreadful demons, they say, used to be Bhraman-killers. [4-11-55]

VERSE 56

धारयन् ब्राह्मणम् रूपम् इल्वलः संस्कृतम् वदन्
आमंत्रयति विप्रान् स श्राद्धम् उद्दिश्य निर्घृणः

dhārayan brāhmaṇam rūpam ilvalaḥ saṃskṛtam vadan
āmaṃtrayati viprān sa śrāddham uddiśya nirghṛṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

dhārayan brāhmaṇam rūpam: disguising, Bhraman's, semblance | ilvalaḥ: Ilvala | sam skṛtam vadan: sophisticatedly, speaking | āmantrayati viprān: invite, Brahman | sa śrāddham uddiśya: obsequial ceremony, purpose of | nir ghṛṇaḥ: pitiless ones. |

TRANSLATION

"Disguising in Bhraman's semblance and speaking sophisticatedly that Ilvala used to invite Brahmans for the purpose of obsequial ceremonies, where Brahman are fed after usual ceremony to appeases their manes. [4-11-56]

PURPORT

Here the word sam skR^ita is another point for discussion for commentators saying that the demon Ilvala used to speak in chaste Sanskrit. This is one version. The other is as above speaking sophisticatedly. But as could be seen all the raakshasa-s are Vedic pundits and thus there is no oddity in their speaking chaste Sanskrit. Hence their luring or sophisticated talk to entice Brahmans is taken valid. The following verse also has the same word, meaning refinement.
VERSE 57

भ्रातरम् संस्कृतम् कृत्वा ततः तम् मेष रूपिणम्
तान् द्विजान् भोजयामास श्राद्ध दृष्टेन कर्मणा

bhrātaram saṃskṛtam kṛtvā tataḥ tam meṣa rūpiṇam
tān dvijān bhojayāmāsa śrāddha dṛṣṭena karmaṇā

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | meṣa rūpiṇam: in ram's, form | tam bhrātaram: that, brother [Vaataapi,] is | sam skṛtam kṛtvā: perfecting, made to [cooked deliciously] | tataḥ śrāddha dṛṣṭena karmaṇā: then, according to obsequial rites, and deeds | tān dvijān bhojayāmāsa: them, Brahman, he was feeding. |

TRANSLATION

Then Ilvala used to make his brother Vaataapi into a ram, perfect that ram's meat into deliciously cooked food, and used to feed Brahmans according to obsequial rites and deeds. [4-11-57]

VERSE 58

ततो भुक्तवताम् तेषाम् विप्राणाम् इल्वलो अब्रवीत्
वातापे निष्क्रमस्व इति स्वरेण महता वदन्

tato bhuktavatām teṣām viprāṇām ilvalo abravīt
vātāpe niṣkramasva iti svareṇa mahatā vadan

SYNONYMS

tataḥ teṣām viprāṇām bhuktavatām: then, those, Brahmans, when surfeited | ilvalaḥ mahatā svareṇa vadan: Ilvala, with loud voice, shouting | vātāpe niṣ kramasva iti abravīt: oh, Vaataapi, you exit, thus, he said [use to say] |

TRANSLATION

"When those Brahmans are surfeited with that ram's meat, then Ilvala used to shout loudly, "oh, Vaataapi, you may come out." [4-11-58]

VERSE 59

ततो भ्रातुर् वचः श्रुत्वा वातापिः मेषवत् नदन्
भित्त्वा भित्वा शरीराणि ब्राह्मणानाम् विनिष्पतत्

tato bhrātur vacaḥ śrutvā vātāpiḥ meṣavat nadan
bhittvā bhitvā śarīrāṇi brāhmaṇānām viniṣpatat

SYNONYMS

tataḥ vātāpiḥ bhrātuḥ vacaḥ śrutvā: then, Vaataapi, brother's, words, on listening | nadan meṣa vat: bleating, like, a ram | bhittvā bhitvā: tearing, tearing | śarīrāṇi brāhmaṇānām: bodies, of Brahman | vi niṣ patat: used to lunge out. |

TRANSLATION

"Then on listening his brother's words Vaataapi used to lunge out bleating like a ram, tearing and rending the bodies of those Brahmans. [4-11-59]

VERSE 60

ब्राह्मणानाम् सहस्राणि तैः एवम् काम रूपिभिः
विनाशितानि संहत्य नित्यशः पिशित अशनैः

brāhmaṇānām sahasrāṇi taiḥ evam kāma rūpibhiḥ
vināśitāni saṃhatya nityaśaḥ piśita aśanaiḥ

SYNONYMS

taiḥ [tābhyām]: by those two brothers | piśita aśanaiḥ: raw meat, eaters kaama ruupibhiH = them, thus, guise-changers | [or, piśita āśayā: for flesh, greedy ones] | brāhmaṇānām sahasrāṇi: Brahman, thousands | evam vi nāśitāni samhatya nityaśaḥ: this way, are ruined, together, always. |

TRANSLATION

"This way they the guise changing demons always ruined thousands of Brahmans together, greedy for raw-flesh as they are. [4-11-60]

PURPORT

Some say that the wording taiH they, is plural ad it is not accommodative, and some ancient text of unknown reference contained these words, taabhyaam evam paramtapa pishita ashayaa by them two, that way, Lakshmana, for pishita aashayaa raw meat, avaricious as they are, they used to kill.
VERSE 61

अगस्त्येन तदा देवैः प्रार्थितेन महर्षिणा
अनुभूय किल श्राद्धे भक्षितः स महा असुरः

agastyena tadā devaiḥ prārthitena maharṣiṇā
anubhūya kila śrāddhe bhakṣitaḥ sa mahā asuraḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | devaiḥ prārthitena: by gods, one who is prayed | maharṣiṇā agastyena: by great sage, Agastya | śrāddhe anubhūya: in obsequial rites, having relished | saḥ mahā asuraḥ bhakṣitaḥ kila: that, fiendish demon, is devoured, they say so. |

TRANSLATION

"Then by Sage Agastya, whom gods have prayed to end this demonic menace, and whom demon Ilvala invited to feast during obsequial rites, he that Agastya having relished the fiendish demon in the form of ram, they say, had finished him off. [4-11-61]

VERSE 62

ततः संपन्नम् इति उक्त्वा दत्त्वा हस्ते अवनेजनम्
भ्रातरम् निष्क्रमस्व इति च इल्वलः समभाषत

tataḥ saṃpannam iti uktvā dattvā haste avanejanam
bhrātaram niṣkramasva iti ca ilvalaḥ samabhāṣata

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | ilvalaḥ: Ilvala | sampannam iti ukvā: whether [ obsequial rites are] fulfilled?, thus, when asked | haste ava nejanam dattvā: in palms, lateral, hand-wash, having given | niṣ kramasva iti: come out, thus | bhrātaram samabhāṣata: with brother, conversed. |

TRANSLATION

"Then Ilvala while giving lateral hand wash into the palms of Agastya entered in the routine conversation of obsequies asking, "Is this rite fulfilled..." and he furthered it in calling his brother to come out. [4-11-62]

VERSE 63

स तदा भाषमाणम् तु भ्रातरम् विप्र घातिनम्
अब्रवीत् प्रहसन् धीमान् अगस्त्यो मुनि सत्तमः

sa tadā bhāṣamāṇam tu bhrātaram vipra ghātinam
abravīt prahasan dhīmān agastyo muni sattamaḥ

SYNONYMS

dhīmān muni sattamaḥ agastyaḥ: wise one, sage, the eminent, Agastya | bhrātaram tadā bhāṣamāṇam tu: with brother, that way, one who is conversing, but | vipra ghātinam saḥ abravīt prahasan: to Brahman, killer, to that Ilvala, spoke, mockingly. |

TRANSLATION

Then that wise and eminent sage Agastya spoke mockingly to Ilvala who is conversing that way to his brother to come out. [4-11-63]

VERSE 64

कुतो निष्क्रमितुम् शक्तिर् मया जीर्णस्य रक्षसः
भ्रातुः ते मेष रूपस्य गतस्य यम सादनम्

kuto niṣkramitum śaktir mayā jīrṇasya rakṣasaḥ
bhrātuḥ te meṣa rūpasya gatasya yama sādanam

SYNONYMS

mayā jīrṇasya meṣa rūpasya rakṣasaḥ: by me, digested, in ram's, form, demon is | gatasya yama sādanam: one who has gone [sent to,] to Terminator's, residence | te bhrātuḥ: to your, brother | kutaḥ śaktiḥ niṣkramitum: where is, energy, to come out. |

TRANSLATION

"Where is the energy for that ram shaped demon brother of yours to come out as I digested and sent him to the hellish residence of Terminator. [4-11-64]

PURPORT

This saying of Agastya has remained as an epigram till date. That demon Ilvala called out, "Vaataapi..." for which Agastya replied jiirNam 'digested...' and after repeating this exchange for some time, these questions and answers are combined to form this sentence: jiirNam jiirNam vaataapi jiirNam meaning that 'Vaataapi is digested...' In traditional upbringing, mothers used to say after feeding babies with milk or other nourishments, giving a mild exercise, jiirNam jiirNam Vaataapi jiirNam for many times. It means that mothers wished their babies should digest any indigestible or food ruinous to health, as has been digested by Sage Agastya. It is said Agastya prohibited any kind of meat to Brahmans, as meat food will be shearing their stomachs with it ram's horns from then on. He is also said to have cursed Brahmans to be diverse, braahmaNaanaam anekatvam as none will concur with the other.
VERSE 65

अथ तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भ्रातुर् निधन संश्रितम्
प्रधर्षयितुम् आरेभे मुनिम् क्रोधात् निशा चरः

atha tasya vacaḥ śrutvā bhrātur nidhana saṃśritam
pradharṣayitum ārebhe munim krodhāt niśā caraḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: then | bhrātuḥ nidhana sam śritam: brother's, demise, affirming | tasya vacaḥ śrutvā: his [sage's,] words, on hearing | krodhāt niśā caraḥ: in fury, night-walker | munim pra dharṣayitum ārebhe: at the sage, to assault, commenced to. |

TRANSLATION

"Then on hearing the words of sage Agastya affirming brother's demise, that night-walking demon furiously commenced to assault the sage. [4-11-65]

VERSE 66

सो अभ्यद्रवत् द्विजेंद्रम् तम् मुनिना दीप्त तेजसा
चक्षुषा अनल कल्पेन निर्दग्धो निधनम् गतः

so abhyadravat dvijeṃdram tam muninā dīpta tejasā
cakṣuṣā anala kalpena nirdagdho nidhanam gataḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he [demon] | dvij indram abhya dravat: to Bhraman, the best, towards, rushed [attempted to kill] | tam muninā dīpta tejasā: by him, by the sage, glowing, by his refulgence | cakṣuṣā anala kalpena nir dagdhaḥ: with eyes, fire, equalling, fully, burnt down | nidhanam gataḥ: doom, went into. |

TRANSLATION

"When that demon rushed towards that best Bhraman to kill, he that sage glowing with his own refulgence burnt him down just by his flame-like eyes and doomed him to death. [4-11-66]

VERSE 67

तस्य अयम् आश्रमो भ्रातुः तटाक वन शोभितः
विप्र अनुकंपया येन कर्म इदम् दुष्करम् कृतम्

tasya ayam āśramo bhrātuḥ taṭāka vana śobhitaḥ
vipra anukaṃpayā yena karma idam duṣkaram kṛtam

SYNONYMS

taṭāka vana śobhitaḥ: with, lakes, woods, embellishing with | ayam: this -- hermitage | yena: by whom | vipra anu kampayā: on Brahmans, with compassion | idam duṣ karam kṛtam: feat, this, impossible, deed, is done | tasya bhrātuḥ āśramaḥ: his, brother's, hermitage is this. |

TRANSLATION

"This hermitage embellishing with lake and woods belongs to the brother of Sage Agastya who has done this impossible deed just by his compassion towards Brahmans." So said Rama to Lakshmana and Seetha about Agastya. [4-11-67]

VERSE 68

एवम् कथयमानस्य तस्य सौमित्रिणा सह
रामस्य अस्तम् गतः सूर्यः संध्या कालो अभ्यवर्तत

evam kathayamānasya tasya saumitriṇā saha
rāmasya astam gataḥ sūryaḥ saṃdhyā kālo abhyavartata

SYNONYMS

tasya rāmasya: to that, Rama | saumitriṇā saha: Lakshmana, with | evam kathayamānasya: that way, while narrating | sūryaḥ astam gataḥ: sun, to dusk, went | sandhyā kālaḥ abhya vartata: vesperal, time, came close of. |

TRANSLATION

While Rama narrated that way to Lakshmana sun went into dusk and the vesperal time came close of him. [4-11-68]

VERSE 69

उपास्य पश्चिमाम् संध्याम् सह भ्रात्रा यथा विधि
प्रविवेश आश्रम पदम् तम् ऋषिम् च अभ्यवादयत्

upāsya paścimām saṃdhyām saha bhrātrā yathā vidhi
praviveśa āśrama padam tam ṛṣim ca abhyavādayat

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he that Rama | saha bhrātrā: with brother | yathā vidhi: as per, custom | upāsya paścimām sandhyām: worshipping, western, sunset | praviveśa āśrama padam: entered, hermitage's, threshold | tam ṛṣim ca abhyavādayat: that, sage is, also, greeted. |

TRANSLATION

Worshipping sunset along with brother as per custom, Rama entered that hermitage and greeted that sage. [4-11-69]

VERSE 70

सम्यक् प्रतिगृहीतः तु मुनिना तेन राघवः
न्यवसत् ताम् निशाम् एकाम् प्राश्य मूल फलानि च

samyak pratigṛhītaḥ tu muninā tena rāghavaḥ
nyavasat tām niśām ekām prāśya mūla phalāni ca

SYNONYMS

rāghavaḥ: Raghava is | tena muninā samyak prati gṛhītaḥ: by him, by sage, duly, well received | prāśya mūla phalāni: on dining, tubers, fruits | tām ekām niśām nyavasat: that, one night, [there] he spent. |

TRANSLATION

Raghava spent one night there when that sage received him well and when they dined on tubers and fruits. [4-11-70]

VERSE 71

तस्याम् रात्र्याम् व्यतीतायाम् उदिते रवि मण्डले
भ्रातरम् तम् अगस्त्यस्य आमंत्रयत राघवः

tasyām rātryām vyatītāyām udite ravi maṇḍale
bhrātaram tam agastyasya āmaṃtrayata rāghavaḥ

SYNONYMS

tasyām rātryām vyatītāyām: that, night, on passing by | udite ravi maṇḍale: risen, is Sun, in solar orbit | rāghavaḥ: Raghava | bhrātaram tam agastyasya: brother, that one, of Agastya | āmantrayata: took leave of. |

TRANSLATION

Raghava spent that night there and when sun rose in solar orbit he took leave of the brother of Sage Agastya saying the following. [4-11-71]

VERSE 72

अभिवादये त्वाम् भगवन् सुखम् स्म उष्यतो निशाम्
आमंत्रये त्वाम् गच्छ्हामि गुरुम् ते द्रष्टुम् अग्रजम्

abhivādaye tvām bhagavan sukham sma uṣyato niśām
āmaṃtraye tvām gacchhāmi gurum te draṣṭum agrajam

SYNONYMS

bhagavan: oh, godly sage | niśām sukham uṣyataḥ sma: night, comfortably, stayed, we have | abhivādaye tvām: I make an obeisance, to you | āmantraye tvām: I bid farewell, to you | te gurum agrajam draṣṭum gacchāmi: your, mentor, elder brother, to see, I proceed. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, godly sage, we stayed in the night comfortably, I now make an obeisance and bid farewell to you, as I wish to proceed to see your mentor and elder brother Agastya. [4-11-72]

VERSE 73

गम्यताम् इति तेन उक्तो जगाम रघु नन्दनः
यथा उद्दिष्टेन मार्गेण वनम् तत् च अवलोकयन्

gamyatām iti tena ukto jagāma raghu nandanaḥ
yathā uddiṣṭena mārgeṇa vanam tat ca avalokayan

SYNONYMS

gamyatām iti tena uktaḥ: you may go, thus, by him, one who is said | raghu nandanaḥ: Raghu's, such legatee Rama | tat vanam avalokayan: that, forest, on observing | yathā uddiṣṭena mārgeṇa: as, directed, of way | jagāma: he journeyed on. |

TRANSLATION

When the brother of Agastya said, "you may go," Rama the legatee of Raghu journeyed on the pathways as directed by Suteekshna, and on observing those woodlands. [4-11-73]

PURPORT

The name of this brother of Agastya is Sudarshana. But none calls him by that name and he is just called agastya bhraata , Agastya's brother.
VERSE 74

नीवारान् पनसान् सालान् वन्जुलान् तिनिशान् तथा
चिरि बिल्वान् मधूकान् च बिल्वान् अथ च तिन्दुकान्

nīvārān panasān sālān vanjulān tiniśān tathā
ciri bilvān madhūkān ca bilvān atha ca tindukān

SYNONYMS

[avalokayan: on observing] | nīvārān panasān sālān: wild grain grass, Jack-fruit trees [Artocarpus integrifolia,] sala [Pentapetra arjuna,] vanjulaan tinishaan tathaa = Asoka [Janosia asoka,] lemon trees [Dalbergia Oujeinensis] | ciri bilvān: saplings of bilva [Eagle marmelos] | madhūkān ca: Madhuuka [Bassia latifolia] | bilvān atha ca: bilva trees, then, also | tindukān: tinduka trees [Diospyros tomenfosa.] |

TRANSLATION

On observing the wild grass that grows on its own giving wild grain, Jack-fruit trees, sala trees, Ashoka trees, lemons trees, saplings of bilva trees and also madhuka and bilva trees he journeyed. [4-11-74]

VERSE 75

पुष्पितान् पुष्पित अग्राभिर् लताभिर् उपशोभितान्
ददर्श रामः शतशः तत्र कान्तार पादपान्

puṣpitān puṣpita agrābhir latābhir upaśobhitān
dadarśa rāmaḥ śataśaḥ tatra kāntāra pādapān

SYNONYMS

, 76| rāmaḥ: Rama | hasti hastaiḥ vi mṛditān: by elephant's, trunk, verily, battered | vānaraiḥ upa śobhitān: with monkeys, well, adorned | mattaiḥ śataśaḥ śakuni sanghaiḥ ca nāditān: lusty, hundreds of, with birds, folks, also, reverberated | puṣpitān śataśaḥ kāntāra pādapān: flowered, hundreds of, forest, trees | puṣpita agrābhiḥ latābhiḥ upa śobhitān: flowered, with climbers, well, enriched by | [anuveṣṭitān: whorling the trees] | dadarśa: he saw. |

TRANSLATION

Rama has seen hundreds of flowered forest trees that are battered by the trunks of elephants, that are adorned with monkeys, reverberated by hundreds of lusty bird folks, and that are enriched by the flowered climbers whorled around them. [4-11-75, 76]

VERSE 77

ततो अब्रवीत् समीपस्थम् रामो राजीव लोचनः
पृष्ठतो अनुगतम् वीरम् लक्ष्मणम् लक्ष्मिवर्धनम्

tato abravīt samīpastham rāmo rājīva locanaḥ
pṛṣṭhato anugatam vīram lakṣmaṇam lakṣmivardhanam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | rāmaḥ rājīva locanaḥ: Rama, the lotus-eyed one | pṛṣṭhataḥ anugatam: at behind, following | vīram lakṣmi vardhanam: valiant one, glory-enriching one | samīpa stham lakṣmaṇam near, at hand, to ḻakśmana, abravīt: said. |

TRANSLATION

Then the lotus-eyed Rama said this to his follower Lakshmana who is a valiant and glory-enriching one and who is near at hand. [4-11-77]

VERSE 78

स्निग्ध पत्रा यथा वृक्षा यथा क्षान्ता मृग द्विजाः
आश्रमो न अतिदूरस्थो महर्षेर् भावित आत्मनः

snigdha patrā yathā vṛkṣā yathā kṣāntā mṛga dvijāḥ
āśramo na atidūrastho maharṣer bhāvita ātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

vṛkṣā yathā snigdha patrā: trees, as to how, have velvety, leaves | mṛga dvijāḥ yathā kṣāntā: animals, birds, as how, unwearied | [gauging by this] bhāvita ātmanaḥ maharṣeḥ: one with contemplative-soul, of great sage | āśramaḥ na ati dūra sthaḥ: hermitage, not, very, far, it is situated. |

TRANSLATION

"As to how the trees are appearing with velvety leaves, and as to how the animals and birds appear unwearied, thus gauging by this it appears that the hermitage of that contemplative soul Agastya is situated not very far from here. [4-11-78]

VERSE 79

अगस्त्य इति विख्यातो लोके स्वेन एव कर्मणा
आश्रमो दृश्यते तस्य परिश्रान्त श्रम अपहः

agastya iti vikhyāto loke svena eva karmaṇā
āśramo dṛśyate tasya pariśrānta śrama apahaḥ

SYNONYMS

svena karmaṇā eva: by his own, deed, only | agastya iti: Agastya, thus | vikhyātaḥ loke: he who is renowned, in world | tasya pari śrānta śrama apahaḥ: his, wearied one's, weary, alleviates | āśramaḥ dṛśyate: hermitage, it appears to be. |

TRANSLATION

"He who by his own deed is renowned in the world as Agastya, the stopper of mountain, it appears to be his hermitage that alleviates the weary of wearied ones. [4-11-79]

PURPORT

The name Agastya is cleavable like aga+ stha mountain, who stayed, stopped from excessive growth.
VERSE 80

प्राज्य धूम आकुल वनः चीर माला परिष्कृतः
प्रशान्त मृग यूथः च नाना शकुनि नादितः

prājya dhūma ākula vanaḥ cīra mālā pariṣkṛtaḥ
praśānta mṛga yūthaḥ ca nānā śakuni nāditaḥ

SYNONYMS

prājya dhūma ākula vanaḥ: huge, with smoke, overrun by, forest [nearby hermitage] | cīra mālā pariṣkṛtaḥ: jute cloths, garlands, overstuffed with | praśānta mṛga yūthaḥ ca: peaceful, deer, herds, also overcrowded with | nānā śakuni nāditaḥ: divers, birds, sonority [overloaded with.] |

TRANSLATION

"The forest nearby this hermitage is overrun by huge smoke from altars of fire, overstuffed with the garlands of jute cloth, overcrowded with the herds of peaceful deer, and also overloaded with sonority of the birds. [4-11-80]

VERSE 81

निगृह्य तरसा मृत्युम् लोकानाम् हित काम्यया
दक्षिणा दिक् कृता येन शरण्या पुण्य कर्मणा

nigṛhya tarasā mṛtyum lokānām hita kāmyayā
dakṣiṇā dik kṛtā yena śaraṇyā puṇya karmaṇā

SYNONYMS

nigṛhya tarasā mṛtyum: impeding, by might, death | lokānām hita kāmyayā: for worlds, well-being, wishing | dakṣiṇā dik: southern, extent | kṛtā yena śaraṇyā: made, by whom, liveable | puṇya karmaṇā: pious, deeds. |

TRANSLATION

"He who impeding death by his yogic might and wishing well-being for worlds made this southern extent a liveable province by his pious deeds, his hermitage is this. [4-11-81]

PURPORT

There is some problem in copying. These stanzas of verse have already appeared above at 4-11-54.
VERSE 82

तस्य इदम् आश्रम पदम् प्रभावाद् यस्य राक्षसैः
दिक् इयम् दक्षिणा त्रासाद् दृश्यते न उपभुज्यते

tasya idam āśrama padam prabhāvād yasya rākṣasaiḥ
dik iyam dakṣiṇā trāsād dṛśyate na upabhujyate

SYNONYMS

yasya: whose | prabhāvāt: by influence | rākṣasaiḥ iyam dakṣiṇā dik: by demons, this, southern, quarter | trāsāt dṛśyate: appallingly, is seen [behold] | na upa bhujyate: not, enjoyed [even they fear to live here] | idam tasya āśrama padam: this one, his Agastya's, hermitage. |

TRANSLATION

"Under whose influence the demons behold this southern quarter appallingly, and they do not even venture to live here, such a sage Agastya's hermitage is this. [4-11-82]

VERSE 83

यदा प्रभृति च आक्रान्ता दिग् इयम् पुण्य कर्मणा
तदा प्रभृति निर् वैराः प्रशान्ता रजनी चराः

yadā prabhṛti ca ākrāntā dig iyam puṇya karmaṇā
tadā prabhṛti nir vairāḥ praśāntā rajanī carāḥ

SYNONYMS

yadā prabhṛti: when, from | puṇya karmaṇā: pious, deeded one iyam dik aakraantaa = this, quarter, is taken possession | tadā prabhṛti: from, then | rajanī carāḥ nir vairāḥ pra śāntāḥ [abhavat]: night, walkers, without, feud, they calmed down. |

TRANSLATION

"And from when that pious deeded Agastya took possession of this quarter, from then on the night walkers are calmed down and remained without feud. [4-11-83]

VERSE 84

नाम्ना च इयम् भगवतो दक्षिणा दिक् प्रदक्षिणा
प्रथिता त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्धर्षा क्रूर कर्मभिः

nāmnā ca iyam bhagavato dakṣiṇā dik pradakṣiṇā
prathitā triṣu lokeṣu durdharṣā krūra karmabhiḥ

SYNONYMS

pra dakṣiṇā = verily, vorthiest one [ dakśiṇa also means yogya, nipuṇa, kuśalī: expert, befitting one, dextrous one] | iyam dakṣiṇā dik: this, southern, quarter | bhagavataḥ nāmnā: of godly-saint Agastya, in the name of | prathitā triṣu lokeṣu: is known, in three, worlds | krūra karmabhiḥ: for those with cruel deeds | dur dharṣā: remained unattackable. |

TRANSLATION

"This very worthy southern quarter is known in the name of that godly saint Agastya and this remained unattackable to the demons with cruel deeds. [4-11-84]

VERSE 85

मार्गम् निरोद्धुम् सततम् भास्करस्य अचल उत्तमः
संदेशम् पालयन् तस्य विंध्य शैलो न वर्धते

mārgam niroddhum satatam bhāskarasya acala uttamaḥ
saṃdeśam pālayan tasya viṃdhya śailo na vardhate

SYNONYMS

śrīmān: glorious one | vi nīta mṛga [jana] sevitaḥ: well, behaved, by animals [by people,] adored by | ayam: this hermitage | bhāskarasya mārgam satatam niroddhum: sun's, path, always, to obstruct [wishing] | acala uttamaḥ vindhya śailaḥ: mountain, highest, Vindhya, mountain | yasya samdeśam pālayan: whose, directive, complying | na vardhate: not, heightening | tasya: of his [of Agastya] | loke vi śruta karmaṇaḥ: in world, one with renowned, deeds | dīrgha āyuṣaḥ: long, aged one's | [ayam: this one is ] | agastyasya āśramaḥ: Agastya's, hermitage. |

TRANSLATION

"Complying which sage's directive Mt. Vindhya ceased to heighten in order not to obstruct the path of the sun, such sage's hermitage is this who is renowned in the world by his deeds and whose longevity is inestimable, hence this glorious hermitage is adored by well-behaved animals and humans as well. [4-11-85, 86]

PURPORT

The name Agastya is derived from a famous act of this Sage. Mt. Meru is the highest peak on earth. By its nature it grows day by day, and stands first to be saluted by the rising sun in east every day. Jealous of this Mt. Meru, Mt. Vindhya started to rise to exceed the height of Mt. Meru, thus obstructing the sun's path. Then the day changed for night and the travel of Sun and Moon, the performance of Vedic rituals, which are bound by the solar lunar movement, went topsy-turvy. Then the gods prayed Agastya to do something to decrease the height of Mt. Meru. Agastya and his wife then were coming to Mt. Vindhya and seeing its height, he requested Mt. Vindhya, "Oh, Mountain King Vindhya, myself and my wife are going southward, and we are not able to climb this much height... kindly lower yourself, so that we old people climb you and go to the other side..." Mt. Vindhya being an ardent worshipper of sages and saints immediately lowered his height to the ground level, so that the old couple need not climb but just walk over him. Agastya and his wife on coming to the southern side of the mountain again requested Mt. Vindhya to be at this height only, for they will be returning soon to north. Mt. Vindhya readily agreed for that also, and it is lying like that even today. Because Agastya did not return to north on coming to south Mt. Vindhya is still believed to be at ground level. Thus the solar and lunar movement, seasons' revolve, Vedic calendars etc. are again put to normalcy. Thus the name Agastya, aga stha mountain, stopper, agam sthaasyati or, stabhnaati iti agastyaH . He played an important role in uplifting southern regions of India, namely Dravidian cultures. Hid wife is Lopaamudra, the saintly lady will be quoted in Lalitha Sahasra Naamaavali. The thousand name of Mother Universe.
VERSE 87

एष लोक अर्चितः साधुः हिते नित्यम् रतः सताम्
अस्मान् अधिगतान् एष श्रेयसा योजयिष्यति

eṣa loka arcitaḥ sādhuḥ hite nityam rataḥ satām
asmān adhigatān eṣa śreyasā yojayiṣyati

SYNONYMS

loka arcitaḥ: by world, esteemed | sādhuḥ: gentle one | eṣa satām hite nityam rataḥ: he, in respect of sagacious ones, always, interested | adhi gatān asmān śreyasā yoja yiṣyati: when we go to him, for us, beneficence, he accords. |

TRANSLATION

"He that gentle sage who is always interested in the respect of sagacious ones is thus an esteemed one in the world, and for us when we approach him he accords beneficence. [4-11-87]

VERSE 88

आराधयिष्यामि अत्र अहम् अगस्त्यम् तम् महामुनिम्
शेषम् च वन वासस्य सौम्य वत्स्यामि अहम् प्रभो

ārādhayiṣyāmi atra aham agastyam tam mahāmunim
śeṣam ca vana vāsasya saumya vatsyāmi aham prabho

SYNONYMS

prabho: oh, adept one Lakshmana | aham atra tam mahā munim agastyam ārādhayiṣyāmi: I, there, him, the great sage, Agastya, I wish to worship | saumya: oh, gentle one | vana vāsasya śeṣam aham vatsyāmi: forest, dwelling, remainder of, I, [here] will live. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, adept Lakshmana, I wish to worship that great saint Agastya therein that hermitage, and oh, gentle one, I think of living the remainder of forest living here only. [4-11-88]

VERSE 89

अत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाः च परम ऋषयः
अगस्त्यम् नियत आहाराः सततम् पर्युपासते

atra devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāḥ ca parama ṛṣayaḥ
agastyam niyata āhārāḥ satatam paryupāsate

SYNONYMS

atra devāḥ: there, gods | sa gandharvāḥ siddhāḥ ca: with, gandharva-s, siddha-s, also | parama ṛṣayaḥ: exalt, sages | niyata āhārāḥ: controlled, dietary habits [by which he gained a regulatory self-discipline' | agastyam: at Agastya | satatam: always | pari upāsate: they worship. |

TRANSLATION

"There gods with gandharva-s, siddha-s, exalted sages will be worshipping Agastya who is self-regulating self-disciplinary. [4-11-89]

VERSE 90

न अत्र जीवेत् मृषावादी क्रूरो वा यदि वा शठः
नृशंसः पाप वृत्तो वा मुनिः एष तथा विधः

na atra jīvet mṛṣāvādī krūro vā yadi vā śaṭhaḥ
nṛśaṃsaḥ pāpa vṛtto vā muniḥ eṣa tathā vidhaḥ

SYNONYMS

mṛṣā vādī: lie, teller [liar] | krūraḥ vā: cruel one, either | yadi vā: or, else | śaṭhaḥ: deceiver | nṛ śamsaḥ: man, torturer | papa vṛttaḥ vā: sinful, in behaviour, either | atra na jīvet: there, not, he will be able to live | eṣa muniḥ tathā vidhaḥ: this, sage is, of that, nature. |

TRANSLATION

"There no liar can live, nor a savage, nor even a deceiver, nor a man-torturer, nor one with sinful behaviour, for that sage is of that nature. [4-11-90]

VERSE 91

अत्र देवाः च यक्षाः च नागाः च पतगैः सह
वसन्ति नियत आहारा धर्मम् आराधयिष्णवः

atra devāḥ ca yakṣāḥ ca nāgāḥ ca patagaiḥ saha
vasanti niyata āhārā dharmam ārādhayiṣṇavaḥ

SYNONYMS

atra devāḥ ca yakṣāḥ ca nāgāḥ ca patagaiḥ saha: there, gods, yaksha-s [celestials,] naagaa-s [reptiles,] pataga-s [birds,] together | vasanti: live | niyata āhārā: with controlled, dietary | dharmam: of dharma | ārādha yiṣṇavaḥ: worship, wishing to. |

TRANSLATION

"There the gods, celestials, reptiles, birds live together wishing to worship the Absolute with self-discipline. [4-11-91]

VERSE 92

अत्र सिद्धा महात्मानो विमानैः सूर्य सन्निभैः
त्यक्त्वा देहान् नवैर् देहैः स्वर् याताः परम ऋषयः

atra siddhā mahātmāno vimānaiḥ sūrya sannibhaiḥ
tyaktvā dehān navair dehaiḥ svar yātāḥ parama ṛṣayaḥ

SYNONYMS

atra siddhā mahātmānaḥ: there, accomplished, great souls | vimānaiḥ sūrya samnibhaiḥ: by aircrafts, sun, similar to | tyaktvā dehān: relinquishing, [mortal] bodies | navaiḥ dehaiḥ: with new, [celestial] bodies | svar yātāḥ: to heavens, rode on | parama ṛṣayaḥ: blest, sages. |

TRANSLATION

"There the blest and great souls of accomplished ascesis rode to heavens by aircrafts similar to sun in resplendence, on relinquishing their mortal bodies here and on obtaining new bodies. [4-11-92]

VERSE 93

यक्षत्वम् अमरत्वम् च राज्यानि विविधानि च
अत्र देवाः प्रयच्छ्हन्ति भूतैः आराधिताः शुभैः

yakṣatvam amaratvam ca rājyāni vividhāni ca
atra devāḥ prayacchhanti bhūtaiḥ ārādhitāḥ śubhaiḥ

SYNONYMS

śubhaiḥ bhūtaiḥ atra ārādhitāḥ devāḥ: by auspicious beings, there, worshipped, gods | yakṣatvam: state of celestials | amaratvam ca: immortality | rājyāni vividhāni ca: realms, many a, also | pra yacchanti: they will endow. |

TRANSLATION

"There gods will endow the state of celestials or immortals, or many realms of divine living to those auspicious beings that worship them. [4-11-93]

VERSE 94

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे एकादशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe ekādaśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

saumitre: oh, Soumitri | āgatāḥ sma āśrama padam: arrived at, we are, at hermitage's, threshold | praviśa agrataḥ: you enter, firstly | mām sītayā saha iha prāptam: me, Seetha, along with, here, arrived | nivedaya: you submit | ṛṣaye: to Sage |

TRANSLATION

"We arrived at the threshold of the hermitage, oh, Soumitri, you enter firstly and submit to Sage Agastya about my arrival at this place along with Seetha. [4-11-94]

PURPORT

This is an important point of Rama's speaking to Lakshmana for a protocol to enter the hermitage. Earlier all the three used to enter together, releasing bowstrings and in all their submissiveness. But here Rama wants to follow an imperial protocol to announce his arrival there. Rama is said to have asked Lakshmana to inform the sage that karta subject to eliminate - himself; and the object, or the instrument to eliminate Ravana, namely Seetha have come. Rama says in above verses that he would like to spend rest of the exile here in this hermitage. But Sage Agastya later asks him to proceed to Panchavati, i.e., towards the dominions of demons. For that and for keeping the sage informed about the arrival of time to eradicate Ravana, Rama seeks this protocol.