Following the sage’s guidance, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana arrived at the place described to them—a beautiful region known as Panchavati, a forest blooming with flowers. Rama, gentle in his manner, invited Sita to look all around, for she was skilled in the ways of the forest. He asked her, “In which place here do you think our hermitage should be built?” Then, turning to Lakshmana, Rama said, “Find such a place, Lakshmana, where Vaidehi, you, and I may delight, and which is near a water source. Seek a spot where the forest is charming and the water delightful, and where firewood, flowers, sacred grass, and water are all close at hand.” Thus addressed, Lakshmana, with joined palms, spoke in the presence of Sita, “O Kakutstha, I am dependent on you, even if you remain here a hundred years; but command me to build the hermitage myself in a pleasing place.” Rama was greatly pleased by Lakshmana’s words, and thoughtfully chose a spot endowed with every virtue. He approached that delightful place for their hermitage, took Lakshmana by the hand, and said, “This land is level and splendid, covered with blossoming trees. Here, gentle one, you should properly build the hermitage. Nearby is a lovely lotus pond, fragrant and shining like the sun, adorned with blooming lotuses. As the sage Agastya, whose soul is pure, described, this is the beautiful Godavari, surrounded by flowering trees. It is filled with swans and cranes, graced by chakravaka ducks, neither too far nor too close, and frequented by herds of deer. Charming hills are seen, tall and full of many caves, resounding with peacocks and covered with blossoming trees. They are adorned with sala, palmyra, tamala, date, and jackfruit trees, as well as nivara, tinisha, and punnaga trees. They are covered with mango, ashoka, tilaka, ketaka, and champaka trees, with flowering shrubs and vines of many kinds. There are also chariot, sandalwood, nipa, parnasa, and lakucha trees, along with dhava, ashvakarna, khadira, shami, kimshuka, and patala trees. This place is holy, delightful, and rich with many animals and birds; here, O Saumitri, we shall dwell together with this bird.” Upon Rama’s instruction, Lakshmana, destroyer of foes and endowed with great strength, quickly built his brother’s hermitage. He constructed a spacious leaf-hut with a firm earthen floor, well-supported by long posts and beautifully made with bamboo. He spread shami branches, tied them securely, and covered the hut well with kusa, kasa grass, reeds, and leaves. Lakshmana leveled the pleasant ground and, for Raghava’s sake, made a most excellent and admirable dwelling. Then, Lakshmana went to the Godavari river, bathed, gathered lotuses, and returned fulfilled. After making an offering of flowers and performing the rites of peace as prescribed, he showed Rama the hermitage he had built. Seeing that beautiful hermitage made by Lakshmana, Raghava, together with Sita, felt the highest joy in the leaf-hut. Greatly delighted, Rama embraced Lakshmana with both arms, and spoke to him with deep affection and warmth, “I am pleased with you for this great deed you have done, O noble one. It is for this reason that I have given you this embrace. O Lakshmana, one who understands the feelings of others, who is grateful, and who knows righteousness—such a son as you, my father did not have.” Having spoken thus to Lakshmana, Raghava, the increaser of prosperity, remained happily in that fruitful place. For some time, that righteous one dwelled there, attended by Sita and Lakshmana, as happily as a god in heaven. Now, listen to the sixteenth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa. As Raghunandana was going towards Panchavati, he encountered a great-bodied vulture of terrifying strength. Seeing him dwelling in the forest, the illustrious Rama and Lakshmana thought him to be a rakshasa in the form of a bird, and asked, “Who are you?” Then, with a sweet and gentle voice, as if to please them, the vulture replied, “My child, know me as a friend of your father.” Thinking him to be his father’s friend, Raghava honored him and then inquired about his lineage and name. Hearing Rama’s words, the twice-born one told him of his lineage and origin, which arose from all beings. He said, “O mighty-armed one, in ancient times, those who were the progenitors—listen as I recount them all from the beginning, O Raghava. Kardama was the first of them, then Vikrita after him; then Shesha, Samshraya, and Bahuputra, who was powerful. Sthanu, Marichi, Atri, and Kratu, who was very mighty; Pulastya, Angiras, Prachetas, and also Pulaha. Daksha, Vivasvan, Aparā, and Arishtanemi, O Raghava; and Kashyapa, of great splendor, was the last among them. It is well known that Daksha, the progenitor, had sixty illustrious daughters, O Rama, all of great fame.” Thus, the story unfolds as Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana settle in the enchanting Panchavati, and encounter the noble vulture, who reveals his ancient lineage.