Chapter 12

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

स प्रविश्य आश्रम पदम् लक्ष्मणो राघव अनुजः
अगस्त्य शिष्यम् आसाद्य वाक्यम् एतद् उवाच ह

sa praviśya āśrama padam lakṣmaṇo rāghava anujaḥ
agastya śiṣyam āsādya vākyam etad uvāca ha

SYNONYMS

rāghava anujaḥ saḥ lakṣmaṇaḥ: Raghava's, younger brother, he, that Lakshmana | āśrama padam praviśya: hermitage's, threshold, on entering | agastya śiṣyam āsādya: Agastya's, disciple, on reaching | vākyam etat uvāca ha: sentence, this one, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On entering the hermitage Lakshmana, the younger brother of Raghava, reached Agastya's disciple and spoke this sentence to him. [3-12-1]

VERSE 2

राजा दशरथो नाम ज्येष्ठः तस्य सुतो बली
रामः प्राप्तो मुनिम् द्रष्टुम् भार्यया सह सीतया

rājā daśaratho nāma jyeṣṭhaḥ tasya suto balī
rāmaḥ prāpto munim draṣṭum bhāryayā saha sītayā

SYNONYMS

daśarathaḥ nāma rājā: Dasharatha, named, king was there | tasya jyeṣṭhaḥ sutaḥ =: his, eldest, son | balī: dynamic one | rāmaḥ: Rama | bhāryayā sītayā saha: his wife, Seetha, along with | munim draṣṭum prāptaḥ: sage, to see has arrived. |

TRANSLATION

"A king named Dasharatha was there, his eldest son and the dynamic one, Rama has arrived along with his wife Seetha to see the sage. [3-12-2]

VERSE 3

लक्ष्मणो नाम तस्य अहम् भ्राता तु अवरजो हितः
अनुकूलः च भक्तः च यदि ते श्रोत्रम् आगतः

lakṣmaṇo nāma tasya aham bhrātā tu avarajo hitaḥ
anukūlaḥ ca bhaktaḥ ca yadi te śrotram āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

aham tu: I am, but | tasya avarajaḥ: his, laterer, younger one | lakṣmaṇaḥ nāma bhrātā: Lakshmana, named, brother | hitaḥ anukūlaḥ ca: loyal, adherent one, also | bhaktaḥ ca: dedicated one, also | te śrotram āgataḥ yadi: to your, ear, has come, if at all [if ever you have heard.] |

TRANSLATION

"I am his loyal, dedicated, and adherent younger brother named Lakshmana, if ever you have heard of us. [3-12-3]

VERSE 4

ते वयम् वनम् अत्युग्रम् प्रविष्टाः पितृ शासनात्
द्रष्टुम् इच्छ्हामहे सर्वे भगवन्तम् निवेद्यताम्

te vayam vanam atyugram praviṣṭāḥ pitṛ śāsanāt
draṣṭum icchhāmahe sarve bhagavantam nivedyatām

SYNONYMS

te: such as we are | vayam pitṛ śāsanāt ati ugram vanam praviṣṭāḥ: we, by our father's decree, entered, awful, forests | sarve bhagavantam draṣṭum icchāmahe: we all, godly sage, to see, we wish to | nivedyatām: let it be informed. |

TRANSLATION

"Such as we are, we entered the awful forest at the decree of our father, and we wiush to see the godly sage, let this be informed to him." Said Lakshmana to the disciple of Agastya. [3-12-4]

VERSE 5

तस्य तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्य तपोधनः
तथा इति उक्त्वा अग्नि शरणम् प्रविवेश निवेदितुम्

tasya tad vacanam śrutvā lakṣmaṇasya tapodhanaḥ
tathā iti uktvā agni śaraṇam praviveśa niveditum

SYNONYMS

tapaḥ dhanaḥ: ascetically, rich [disciple of Agastya] | tasya lakṣmaṇasya tat vacanam śrutvā: his, Lakshmana's, that, word, on hering | tathā iti uktvā: like that, thus, saying | agni śaraṇam praviveśa niveditum: fire, sanctum, entered, to submit to sage. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing that sentence of Lakshmana that disciple who is ascetically rich replied 'agreed, ' and he entered the sanctum of Ritual-fire to submit the same to Agastya. [3-12-5]

PURPORT

This sanctum where the Altar of Fire is established will be well deep inside these hermitages. One arrives at the Altar of Fire after passing through many places designated to particular deities, where fire oblations are conducted. These places of worship occurring before the hall of homa are listed in the coming verses.
VERSE 6

स प्रविश्य मुनिश्रेष्ठम् तपसा दुष्प्रधर्षणम्
कृत अंजलिः उवाच इदम् राम आगमनम् अञ्जसा

sa praviśya muniśreṣṭham tapasā duṣpradharṣaṇam
kṛta aṃjaliḥ uvāca idam rāma āgamanam añjasā

SYNONYMS

, 7a| agastasya sammataḥ śiṣyaḥ: to Agastya, agreeable, disciple | saḥ añjasā praviśya: he, quickly, entered | kṛta anjaliḥ: on making palm-fold | lakṣmaṇena yathā uktam eva: by Lakshmana, as said, that, alone | tapasā duṣ pra dharṣaṇam = by ascesis, irrefutable sage: to Agastya | muni śreṣṭham: to sage, the eminent | rāma āgamanam: about Rama's, arrival | idam uvāca: this, said. |

TRANSLATION

He that agreeable disciple of sage quickly approached the irrefutable sage by his asceticism, made palm-fold and said this to the eminent sage about about the arrival of Rama, exactly as said by Lakshmana. [3-12-6, 7a]

VERSE 7

पुत्रौ दशरथस्य इमौ रामो लक्ष्मण एव च

putrau daśarathasya imau rāmo lakṣmaṇa eva ca

SYNONYMS

b, 8a| rāmaḥ lakṣmaṇa eva ca: Rama, Lakshmana, thus, also | daśarathasya imau putrau: Dasharatha's, these, sons | bhāryayā sītayā saha: wife, Seetha, with | praviṣṭau āśramapadam: entered, hermitage's, threshold. |

TRANSLATION

"Sons of King Dasharatha, Rama and also thus Lakshmana have entered the threshold of hermitage along with the wife of Rama, namely Seetha. [3-12-7b, 8a]

VERSE 8

द्रष्टुम् भवन्तम् आयातौ शुश्रूषार्थम् अरिन्दमौ

draṣṭum bhavantam āyātau śuśrūṣārtham arindamau

SYNONYMS

b, 9a| arindamau: enemy-destroyers those Rama and Lakshmana | bhavantam draṣṭum: you, to see | śuśrūṣa artham āyātau: to serve you, for te urpose of, they have come | atra yat anantaram: there [in this regard,] what, next is to be done | tat tvam ājñāpayitum arhasi: that, you, to order, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Those two enemy-destroyers have come cherishing to see and serve you, hence it will be apt of you to order what next is to be done in this regard." Said disciple to the sage. [3-12-8b, 9a]

VERSE 9

ततः शिष्यात् उपश्रुत्य प्राप्तम् रामम् स लक्ष्मणम्

tataḥ śiṣyāt upaśrutya prāptam rāmam sa lakṣmaṇam

SYNONYMS

b, 10a| tataḥ śiṣyāt: then, from disciple | sa lakṣmaṇam rāmam prāptam: with, Lakshmana, Rama, has come | upaśrutya: on hearing | vaidehīm ca mahābhāgām: Vaidehi, also, highly, fortunate one | idam vacanam abravīt: this, word, said. |

TRANSLATION

Having heard from the disciple that Rama has arrived with Lakshmana and with highly fortunate Seetha the sage said this to him. [3-12-9b, 10a]

VERSE 10

दिष्ट्या रामः चिरस्य अद्य द्रष्टुम् माम् समुपागतः

diṣṭyā rāmaḥ cirasya adya draṣṭum mām samupāgataḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 11a| diṣṭyā: providentially | rāmaḥ: Rama | cirasya mām draṣṭum: after a long, me, to see | adya sam upa agataḥ: today, he came my nearby | asya āgamanam prati: his, arrival, towards | mayā manasā kānkṣitam hi: by me, by heart, yearned for, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"My heart is indeed yearning for his arrival, and after this long a time Rama providentially came to see me." [3-12-10b, 11a]

VERSE 11

गम्यताम् सत्कृतो रामः स भार्यः सह लक्ष्मणः

gamyatām satkṛto rāmaḥ sa bhāryaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 12a| gamyatām: go forth | rāmaḥ sa bhāryaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ: Rama be, with, wife, with, Lakshmana | sat kṛtaḥ: make welcome | me samīpam praveśyatām: in my, proximity, be entered | kim asau na praveśitaḥ: why, he is, not, entered [as yet.] |

TRANSLATION

"Go forth and make welcome to Rama, Lakshmana and to Seetha, and they be entered here, why you have not invited them as yet? [3-12-11b, 12a]

PURPORT

Agastya is waiting for long to receive Rama to handover a great bow, quivers and sword. Agastya himself an eliminator of demons and Rama's mission is also the same. Therefore, on hearing that "Rama arrived " his ears are said to have received an ear-pleasing experience, karNa aananda anubhava . Maheshvara Tirtha.
VERSE 12

एवम् उक्तः तु मुनिना धर्मज्ञेन महात्मना

evam uktaḥ tu muninā dharmajñena mahātmanā

SYNONYMS

b, 13a| dharmajñena mahātmanā muninā: by virtue-knower, by great soul, by sage | evam uktaḥ tu: thus, one who is said | śiṣyaḥ: disciple | niyata anjaliḥ abhivādya tathā iti abravīt: having done, with palm-fold, having adored, 'thus it will be done', he said. |

TRANSLATION

Thus said by the great-souled sage and the knower of virtue, the disciple adored him with palm-fold saying that "as you say." [3-12-12b, 13a]

VERSE 13

तदा निष्क्रम्य संभ्रान्तः शिष्यो लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत्

tadā niṣkramya saṃbhrāntaḥ śiṣyo lakṣmaṇam abravīt

SYNONYMS

b, 14a| tadā śiṣyaḥ sam bhrāntaḥ: then, disciple, a little perplexed | niṣ kramya: on going out | lakṣmaṇam abravīt: to Lakshmana, said | asau rāmaḥ kva: this, Rama, where is he | munim draṣṭum etu: sage, to see, let him come | praviśatu svayam: enter, on his own. |

TRANSLATION

Then that disciple went out with a little perplexity and said this to Lakshmana, "Where is this Rama? He may come to see the sage and let him enter hermitage on his own." Said that disciple to Lakshmana. [3-12-13b, 14a]

VERSE 14

ततो गत्वा आश्रम पदम् शिष्येण सह लक्ष्मणः

tato gatvā āśrama padam śiṣyeṇa saha lakṣmaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 15a| tataḥ lakṣmaṇaḥ śiṣyeṇa saha: Lakshmana, disciple, along with | gatvā āśrama padam: having gone, of hermitage's, exterior | kākutstham: at Rama | janakātmajām sītām ca: at Janaka's daughter, Seetha, also | darśayāmāsa: started to show. |

TRANSLATION

Then on going out to the exterior of that hermitage along with that disciple, Lakshmana has shown him Rama and Janaka's daughter Seetha. [3-12-14b, 15a]

VERSE 15

तम् शिष्यः प्रश्रितम् वाक्यम् अगस्त्य वचनम् ब्रुवन्

tam śiṣyaḥ praśritam vākyam agastya vacanam bruvan

SYNONYMS

b, 16a| śiṣyaḥ: disciple | praśritam agastya vacanam bruvan: obliging [words,] Agastya's, word of, while telling [repeating] | satkāra arham: reception, worthy | su satkṛtam: well, receiving | prāveśayat yathā nyāyam: entered, as per, procedure. |

TRANSLATION

While that disciple repeated the obliging words of Agastya entered that reception-worthy Rama into hermitage on receiving him well. [3-12-15b, 16a]

VERSE 16

प्रविवेश ततो रामः सीतया सह लक्ष्मणः

praviveśa tato rāmaḥ sītayā saha lakṣmaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 17a| tataḥ rāmaḥ sītayā saha lakṣmaṇaḥ: then, Rama, Seetha, with, Lakshmana | praśānta hariṇa ākīrṇam: docile, deer, overspread with | āśramam avalokayan: hermitage, on looking over |

TRANSLATION

And then Rama entered the hermitage with Seetha and Lakshmana looking over it which is overspread with docile deer. [ 3-12-16b, 17a]

VERSE 17

स तत्र ब्रह्मणः स्थानम् अग्नेः स्थानम् तथैव च

sa tatra brahmaṇaḥ sthānam agneḥ sthānam tathaiva ca

SYNONYMS

b, 18, 19, 20, 21a| saḥ tatra brahmaṇaḥ sthānam: he [Rama,] therein, Brahma's, sanctum | tathaiva ca: like, that also | agneḥ sthānam: Fire's, sanctum | viṣṇoḥ sthānam: Vishnu's, sanctum | mahendrasya sthānam: Mahendra's sanctum | caiva: also, like that | vivasvataḥ: Vivasvat [Sun] | soma sthānam: Soma [Moon's] sanctum | bhaga sthānam: Bhaga's, sanctum | sthānam kauberam eva ca: sanctum, of Kubera, like that, also | dhātuḥ vidhātuḥ sthānam ca: Dhaata, Vidhaata sanctums, also | vāyoḥ sthānam: Vaayu's [Air-god's,] sanctum | sthānam ca pāśa hastasya: sanctum, also, of Noose-wielder | vāruṇasya mahātmanaḥ: of Rain-god, great soul | sthānam tathaiva gāyatryā: sanctum, also like that, of Gayatri | vasūnām sthānam eva ca: Vasu-s, sanctum, also | sthānam ca nāga rājasya: sanctum, of cobra's, king [aadi sheSa] | garuḍa sthānam eva ca: GaruDa [Divine Eagle] sanctum of, also | kārtikeyasya ca sthānam: Kaartikeya's, also, sanctum | dharma sthānam ca: Dharma's, sanctum, also | paśyati: saw. |

TRANSLATION

Rama entered inside the hermitage and saw therein the sanctus of Brahma, Fire-god, Vishnu, Indra, Vivasvat - the Sun-god, Soma - the Moon-god, Bhaga - one among the twelve Suns, and the sanctusms of Kubera, [Wealth-Management-god, are seen and passed by the three of them, sanctums of Dhaata, Vidhaata - Vedic deities created by Brahma to help Svayambhuu Manu, santucm of Vaayu - the Air-god, and also like that the sanctum of great-soloed VaruNa - the Rain-god who also wields noose, and the sanctum of Gayatri - the presiding deity of gnosis, sanctum of Vasus - eight of them, and the sanctum of cobra's king - aadi sheSa, the divine Thousand-headed serpent that bears this globe on its head, and on which Vishnu reclines, and even the sanctum of GaruDa - the Divine Eagle and the vehicle of Vishnu, and the half brother of aadi sheSa, and the sanctum of Kaartikeya - chief of gods army, second son of Shiva, and the sanctum of Dharma - Dharmaraaja, presiding deity of Virtue-Vice-Time of living beings, in-charge of the hell. [17b, 18, 19, 20, 21a]

PURPORT

These sanctums are particular holy places in hermitages where those designated deities will be invoked for worship. These will be seventeen in general, as said in Vedic doctrine, yo vai sapta dasha - Defined by seventeen letters. On passing through all these places, the place of homa kunDa , Altar of Fire will come. Hence, usually none will be allowed inside the hermitages, and all are supposed to stay in aashrama padam , the hermitage's threshold, a porch or portico minus its roofing. As such Rama wanted an entry in to hermitage.
VERSE 21

ततः शिष्यैः परिवृतो मुनिर् अपि अभिनिष्पतत्

tataḥ śiṣyaiḥ parivṛto munir api abhiniṣpatat

SYNONYMS

b, 22a| tataḥ śiṣyaiḥ pari vṛtaḥ: then, by disciples, encircled | muniḥ api abhi niṣpatat: sage, even, came out quickly | rāmaḥ dīpta tejasam munīnām agrataḥ: Rama, he who is glowing, brilliant, sages, before | tam dadarśa: him [sage,] has seen. |

TRANSLATION

Then encircled by disciples the sage Agastya came out quickly, and Rama saw him who is glowing brilliant before all the other sages. [3-12-21b, 22a]

PURPORT

In the list of sanctums said above no place is said for Shiva, on which earlier commentators discussed much. Of them Govindaraja stated, "Shiva has no worshipfulness in Vaishnavaite way, hence his sanctum is unsaid: atra puujya daivateShu rudrasya anupaadaanaat a-puujyatvam uktam | adhunaa kaiscit puujya maanataa tu taamasa shaastra anurodhaneti bodhyam|| Others contradicted this, saying that when Shiva's son, Kaartikeya is adorable, why not his Father? Rama Tilaka states agniratra rudraH The naming of Agni, Fire-god, as in 17th verse itself is Rudra, namely Shiva. ShiromaNi commentary also puts in the same way ' tatra agni shabdena shambhuH ucyate By the nomenclature of Fire, Shiva is to be construed.
VERSE 22

अब्रवीत् वचनम् वीरो लक्ष्मणम् लक्ष्मिवर्धनम्

abravīt vacanam vīro lakṣmaṇam lakṣmivardhanam

SYNONYMS

b, 23| vīraḥ: bold one Rama | lakṣmaṇam lakṣmi vardhanam: to Lakshmana, fortune, fortifier | abravīt vacanam: said, sentence | lakṣmaṇa: oh, Lakshmana | agastyaḥ bhagavān ṛṣiḥ: Agastya, godly, sage | bahiḥ niṣkrāmati: to outside, exiting | audāryeṇa imam tapasām nidhānam [iti]: by eminence, him, for all ascesis, depository, [thus] | ava gacchāmi: I am comprehending. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing the brilliantly glowing sage among those sages, he that bold Rama said this sentence to Lakshmana, the fortifier of fortune, "Here comes the godly sage, Lakshmana, by his eminence I comprehend him as a depository of all ascesis." [3-12-22b, 23]

VERSE 24

एवम् उक्त्वा महाबाहुः अगस्त्यम् सूर्य वर्चसम्
जग्राह आपतत् तस्य पादौ च रघुनन्दन

evam uktvā mahābāhuḥ agastyam sūrya varcasam
jagrāha āpatat tasya pādau ca raghunandana

SYNONYMS

mahābāhuḥ: great-armed [dexterous] one Rama | agastyam sūrya varcasam: of Agastya, of sun's, radiance | evam uktvā: thus, saying | tasya pādau ca raghunandana: his [Agastya's,] feet, also, Raghu's descendent | jagrāha āpatat: taken [touched reverentially,] on falling. |

TRANSLATION

That dexterous Rama on saying about that sun-like radiant sage Agastya, he that descendent of Raghu fell on the feet of Agastya touching them reverentially. [3-12-24]

VERSE 25

अभिवाद्य तु धर्मात्मा तस्थौ रामः कृतांजलिः
सीतया सह वैदेह्या तदा रामः स लक्ष्मणः

abhivādya tu dharmātmā tasthau rāmaḥ kṛtāṃjaliḥ
sītayā saha vaidehyā tadā rāmaḥ sa lakṣmaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā rāmaḥ: then, he who is a delight to onlookers, that Rama | vaidehyā sītayā saha sa lakṣmaṇaḥ: Videha's princess, Seetha, along with, and with Lakshmana | abhivādya tu dharmātmā: addressing himself, but, noble-hearted one | kṛta anjaliḥ: palms-adjoined | tasthau: stood aside. |

TRANSLATION

Then he who is a delight to the on lookers that noble-hearted Rama on revering the sage along with Lakshmana and Seetha, the princess from Videha, stood aside with his palms adjoined. [3-12-25]

VERSE 26

प्रतिगृह्य च काकुत्स्थम् अर्चयित्वा आसन उदकैः
कुशल प्रश्नम् उक्त्वा च आस्यताम् इति सो।अब्रवीत्

pratigṛhya ca kākutstham arcayitvā āsana udakaiḥ
kuśala praśnam uktvā ca āsyatām iti so|abravīt

SYNONYMS

arcayitvā āsana udakaiḥ: offering, seat, water | kākutstham prati gṛhya: Rama, is received | kuśala praśnam uktvā ca: well-being, inquiries, spoke, also [exchanging pleasantries] | āsyatām iti saḥ abravīt: 'be seated', thus, he [sage,] said. |

TRANSLATION

Offering seat and water that sage received Rama, and even on exchanging pleasantries that sage said to him, "please be seated." [3-12-26]

VERSE 27

अग्निम् हुत्वा प्रदाय अर्घ्यम् अतिथिन् प्रतिपूज्य च
वानप्रस्थेन धर्मेण स तेषाम् भोजनम् ददौ

agnim hutvā pradāya arghyam atithin pratipūjya ca
vānaprasthena dharmeṇa sa teṣām bhojanam dadau

SYNONYMS

saḥ agnim hutvā: he [the sage,] fire, having worshipped [for himself] | pradāya arghyam: having offered, water | atithim prati pūjya ca: guest, having worshipped [with other formalities,] also | vānaprasthena dharmeṇa: by hermit's, observances | teṣām bhojanam dadau: for them, food, he gave. |

TRANSLATION

Having completed his personal worship to Fire-god, and having offered water and other formalities to guest, that sage gave viands to guests according to his hermitic observances. [3-12-27]

PURPORT

The hermit's observances include the ritual to Fire-god before food. In some case one has to personally light the fire, cook his own food to the chanting of hymns, like Agastya which is an observances called viashva devam Even now these are observed by some Vedic Brahmans.
VERSE 28

प्रथमम् च उपविश्य अथ धर्मज्ञो मुनिपुंगवः
उवाच रामम् आसीनम् प्रांजलिम् धर्मकोविदम्

prathamam ca upaviśya atha dharmajño munipuṃgavaḥ
uvāca rāmam āsīnam prāṃjalim dharmakovidam

SYNONYMS

atha dharma jñaḥ muni pungavaḥ: then, well, informed one -shrewd, sage, eminent | prathamam upaviśya: at the outset, taking a seat | āsīnam: one who took seat [later] | prānjalim: one with adjoined palms | dharma kovidam = one vho in arts of virtue, proficient: well-advised, prudent | rāmam: to Rama | uvāca: spoke to. |

TRANSLATION

Then that eminent and shrewd sage Agastya in righteousness took his seat at the outset, and spoke to prudent Rama of righteousness itself, and who by now is sitting with his palms adjoined. [3-12-28]

VERSE 29

अग्निम् हुत्वा प्रदाय अर्घ्यम् अतिथिम् प्रतिपूजयेत्
अन्यथा खलु काकुत्स्थ तपस्वी समुदाचरन्
दुःसाक्षी इव परे लोके स्वानि मांसानि भक्षयेत्

agnim hutvā pradāya arghyam atithim pratipūjayet
anyathā khalu kākutstha tapasvī samudācaran
duḥsākṣī iva pare loke svāni māṃsāni bhakṣayet

SYNONYMS

agnim hutvā: fire is, worshipping | pradāya arghyam: giving, water | atithim pratipūjayet: guest is, worshipped | kākutstha: oh, Rama | anyathā samudācaran tapasvī: otherwise, if practices, a hermit | duḥ sākṣī iva: false, deponent, like | pare loke: in other, world | svāni māṃsāni bhakṣayet: own, flesh, eats. |

TRANSLATION

"Worshipping the fire, giving water and worshipping the guest a hermit should receive a guest and feed him, and if a hermit practices contrarily, oh, Rama, he is destined to eat his own flesh like a false deponent in other world say, hell. [3-12-29]

PURPORT

A guest is one who enables the host to go to heavens. iShTo vaa yadi vaa dveShyo muurkhaH paNDita eva vaa | sampraapte vaishvadeva ante so atithi svarga sa~NkramaH || "May he be dear one or despised, stupid or scholar, one who comes at the end of fire worship before meals, he leads the host to heavens" - paraashara suutra . Any false deponent giving a false witness not only goes to hell but also is destined to eat his own flesh there. Same is the case with the host, who does not perform his daily chores to entertain his guest.
VERSE 30

राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य धर्मचारी महारथः
पूजनीयः च मान्यः च भवान् प्राप्तः प्रिय अतिथिः

rājā sarvasya lokasya dharmacārī mahārathaḥ
pūjanīyaḥ ca mānyaḥ ca bhavān prāptaḥ priya atithiḥ

SYNONYMS

rājā sarvasya lokasya: king, of all, world | dharma cārī: righteousness, treader in the path of | mahā rathaḥ: great, charioteer | pūjanīyaḥ ca: venerable, also | mānyaḥ ca: estimable, also | priya atithiḥ: as dear, guest | bhavān prāptaḥ =: you, have arrived. |

TRANSLATION

"You are the king of all the world, the treader in the path of righteousness, great charioteer of probity, and you are the venerable and estimable one, and you have arrived as my dear guest. [3-12-30]

PURPORT

The other way of rendering is: raajaa sarvasya lokasya ruler, of all, three worlds, hence you are Vishnu; mahaa rathaH great, charioteer of mortal souls through karmic cycles, thus Narayana; puujaniiya venerable one even in daily worship, hence Vishnu; maanyaH credible one by those who aspire salvation, Narayana; priya atithi much desired guest than the routine sage/mortal guests, hence god. Thus, it is said that Sage Agastya realised Rama as Vishnu and eulogised Rama incarnation. Even the daily puuja worship is conducted in a manner of treating the deity as a symbolic guest in the household. Here that deity himself is the real guest, i.e., Narayana.
VERSE 31

एवम् उक्त्वा फलैः मूलैः पुष्पैः च अन्यैः च राघवम्
पूजयित्वा यथा कामम् ततो अगस्त्यः तम् अब्रवीत्

evam uktvā phalaiḥ mūlaiḥ puṣpaiḥ ca anyaiḥ ca rāghavam
pūjayitvā yathā kāmam tato agastyaḥ tam abravīt

SYNONYMS

evam uktvā: thus, saying | rāghavam: Raghava is | phalaiḥ mūlaiḥ puṣpaiḥ ca anyaiḥ ca: with fruits, tubers, flowers, also, others, also | pūjayitvā yathā kāmam: adored, as desired, according to his ardency | tataḥ agastyaḥ tam abravīt: then, Agastya, him [to Rama,] said. |

TRANSLATION

Saying thus, Agastya adored Raghava well with fruits, tubers, flowers and others according to his ardency, and then he said this to Rama. [3-12-31]

VERSE 32

इदम् दिव्यम् महत् चापम् हेम वज्र विभूषितम्
वैष्णवम् पुरुषव्याघ्र निर्मितम् विश्वकर्मणा

idam divyam mahat cāpam hema vajra vibhūṣitam
vaiṣṇavam puruṣavyāghra nirmitam viśvakarmaṇā

SYNONYMS

, 33a| puruṣavyāghra: oh, manly-tiger | hema vajra vibhūṣitam: gold, diamonds, decorated with | divyam mahat idam cāpam: sacred, great, this, bow | vaiṣṇavam: Vishnu [pertains to] | nirmitam viśvakarmaṇā: crafted by, Vishvkarma | sūrya samkāśaḥ: sun, equalling in blaze | amoghaḥ śara uttamaḥ: unwasteful, arrows, best | brahma dattaḥ: by Brahma, gifted by. |

TRANSLATION

"This sacred bow that is decorated with gold and diamonds is crafted by the divine architect Vishvakarma pertains to Vishnu, and these unwasteful arrows equalling sun in their blaze are the gift of Brahma. [3-12-32, 33a]

VERSE 33

दत्तो मम महेन्द्रेण तूणी च अक्षय सायकौ

datto mama mahendreṇa tūṇī ca akṣaya sāyakau

SYNONYMS

b, 34| a kṣaya sāyakau: un, exhausted, those that have arrows | niśitaiḥ: with sharp | jvaladbhiḥ iva pāvakaiḥ: blazing, like, Ritual-fire | bāṇaiḥ: with arrows | sampūrṇau: packed with | tūṇī ca: quivers, also | mama mahendreṇa dattau: to me, by Indra, [two in number] are given | mahā rajata kośaḥ: in excellent, golden, sheath | ayam hema vibhūṣitaḥ asiḥ: this one, gold, decorated with, sword | [mama mahendreṇa dattaḥ: to me, by Indra, given.] |

TRANSLATION

"Also these two inexhaustible quivers packed with arrows that have the blaze of Ritual-fire, and this sword decorated in gold together with its sheath made up of excellent golden are once given to me by Indra. [3-12-33b, 34]

VERSE 35

अनेन धनुषा राम हत्वा संख्ये महासुरान्
आजहार श्रियम् दीप्ताम् पुरा विष्णुर् दिव ओकसाम्

anena dhanuṣā rāma hatvā saṃkhye mahāsurān
ājahāra śriyam dīptām purā viṣṇur diva okasām

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | purā viṣṇūḥ samkhye: once, Vishnu, in war | anena dhanuṣā: by this, bow | hatvā mahāsurān: killed, horrible demons | diva okasām: in heavens, for dwellers | dīptām śriyam ājahāra: radiant, fortune, he fetched. |

TRANSLATION

"By this bow, oh, Rama, once Vishnu eliminated horrible demons in war and brought back radiant prosperity to the celestials. [3-12-35]

VERSE 36

तत् धनुः तौ च तूणि च शरम् खड्गम् च मानद
जयाय प्रतिगृह्णीष्व वज्रम् वज्रधरो यथा

tat dhanuḥ tau ca tūṇi ca śaram khaḍgam ca mānada
jayāya pratigṛhṇīṣva vajram vajradharo yathā

SYNONYMS

māna da = grace, accorder of: Rama | tat dhanuḥ tau ca tūṇi: that, bow, those two, also, quivers | śaram khaḍgam ca: arrow, sword, also | vajra dharaḥ vajram yathā: by Thunderbolt, wielder [Indra,] Thunderbolt, as with | jayāya pratigṛhṇīṣva: for triumph, you receive them. |

TRANSLATION

"The bow, these two quivers, arrows, and the sword, oh, Rama, the endower of grace, receive and wield them to triumph over the demons as Indra would wield Thunderbolt. [3-12-36]

VERSE 37

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe dvādaśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahātejāḥ bhagavān agastyaḥ: great resplendent, godly-sage, Agastya | evam uktvā: thus, on saying | samastam tat vara āyudham: all of, them, best, weapons | dattvā rāmāya: having given, to Rama | punaḥ abravīt: again, said. |

TRANSLATION

On saying thus that great resplendent and godly sage Agastya, gave all of those best weapons to Rama, and again spoke to Rama [3-12-37]