ततः कर्तुं तपोविघ्नं सर्वदेवैर्नियोजिताः। प्रधानाप्सरसः पञ्च विद्युच्चलितवर्चसः
Then, to obstruct his austerity, all the gods appointed five chief apsarases, radiant as lightning.
अप्सरोभिस्ततस्ताभिर्मुनिर्दृष्टपरावरः। नीतो मदनवश्यत्वं देवानां कार्यसिद्धये
By those apsarases, the sage, who had seen the highest and lowest, was brought under the sway of passion, for the gods’ purpose to be fulfilled.
ताश्चैवाप्सरसः पञ्च मुनेः पत्नीत्वमागताः। तटाके निर्मितं तासां तस्मिन्नन्तर्हितं गृहम्
Those five apsarases became the wives of the sage; in the lake, a house was built for them, concealed within.
तत्रैवाप्सरसः पञ्च निवसन्त्यो यथासुखम्। रमयन्ति तपोयोगान्मुनिं यौवनमास्थितम्
There, the five apsarases dwell as they please, delighting the sage, who has embraced youth, with their ascetic practices and union.
तासां संक्रीडमानानामेष वादित्रनिःस्वनः। श्रूयते भूषणोन्मिश्रो गीतशब्दो मनोहरः
The sound of instruments, mixed with the jingling of ornaments, and enchanting songs, is heard from their playful activities.
आश्चर्यमिति तस्यैतद् वचनं भावितात्मनः। राघवः प्रतिजग्राह सह भ्रात्रा महायशाः
‘Wonderful!’—thus, the noble-minded Rāghava accepted the sage’s words, together with his illustrious brother.
एवं कथयमानः स ददर्शाश्रममण्डलम्। कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तं ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या समावृतम्
As he was speaking thus, he beheld the circle of hermitages, surrounded by kusa grass and bark garments, and filled with the divine radiance of Brahman.
प्रविश्य सह वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च राघवः। तदा तस्मिन् स काकुत्स्थः श्रीमत्याश्रममण्डले
Rāghava entered there together with Vaidehī and Lakṣmaṇa, into that splendid circle of hermitages.
उषित्वा स सुखं तत्र पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः। जगाम चाश्रमांस्तेषां पर्यायेण तपस्विनाम्
He stayed there comfortably, honored by the great sages, and then visited the hermitages of those ascetics in turn.
येषामुषितवान् पूर्वं सकाशे स महास्त्रवित् । क्वचित् परिदशान् मासानेकसंवत्सरं क्वचित्
He, the master of mighty weapons, had previously dwelt among them, sometimes for several months, sometimes for a whole year.
क्वचिच्च चतुरो मासान् पञ्च षट् च परान् क्वचित्। अपरत्राधिकान् मासानध्यर्धमधिकं क्वचित्
At times he stayed four months, five, or six in other places; elsewhere, he remained for more months, sometimes more than half a year.
त्रीन् मासानष्टमासांश्च राघवो न्यवसत् सुखम्। तत्र संवसतस्तस्य मुनीनामाश्रमेषु वै
Rāghava lived happily for three months and eight months in those hermitages of the sages.
रमतश्चानुकूल्येन ययुः संवत्सरा दश। परिसृत्य च धर्मज्ञो राघवः सह सीतया
As he dwelled there in harmony, ten years passed; and Rāghava, knowledgeable in righteousness, journeyed about with Sītā.
सुतीक्ष्णस्याश्रमपदं पुनरेवाजगाम ह। स तमाश्रममागम्य मुनिभिः परिपूजितः
He again arrived at the hermitage of Suteekṣṇa, and upon reaching it, was honored by the sages.
तत्रापि न्यवसद् रामः किंचित् कालमरिंदमः। अथाश्रमस्थो विनयात् कदाचित् तं महामुनिम्
Even there, Rāma, the subduer of foes, stayed for some time; then, while residing in the hermitage, he respectfully approached the great sage.
उपासीनः स काकुत्स्थः सुतीक्ष्णमिदमब्रवीत्। अस्मिन्नरण्ये भगवन्नगस्त्यो मुनिसत्तमः
Seated, the descendant of Kakutstha spoke to Suteekṣṇa: 'O revered one, the eminent sage Agastya dwells in this forest.'
वसतीति मया नित्यं कथाः कथयतां श्रुतम्। न तु जानामि तं देशं वनस्यास्य महत्तया
'I have always heard tales of him being recounted, but I do not know the location of his hermitage, due to the vastness of this forest.'
कुत्राश्रमपदं रम्यं महर्षेस्तस्य धीमतः। प्रसादार्थं भगवतः सानुजः सह सीतया
'Where is the delightful hermitage of that wise great sage? For the sake of the revered one, I wish to approach him with my brother and Sītā.'
अगस्त्यमधिगच्छेयमभिवादयितुं मुनिम्। मनोरथो महानेष हृदि सम्परिवर्तते
'I wish to go to Agastya and pay respects to the sage; this great desire revolves in my heart.'
यदहं तं मुनिवरं शुश्रूषेयमपि स्वयम्। इति रामस्य स मुनिः श्रुत्वा धर्मात्मनो वचः
'That I might serve that foremost sage myself—' Hearing these words of Rāma, the righteous one, the sage replied.
सुतीक्ष्णः प्रत्युवाचेदं प्रीतो दशरथात्मजम्। अहमप्येतदेव त्वां वक्तुकामः सलक्ष्मणम्
Suteekṣṇa, pleased, addressed the son of Daśaratha: 'I too wished to tell you this, together with Lakṣmaṇa.'
अगस्त्यमभिगच्छेति सीतया सह राघव। दिष्ट्या त्विदानीमर्थेऽस्मिन् स्वयमेव ब्रवीषि माम्
'Go to Agastya, Rāghava, together with Sītā; by fortune, you yourself now ask me about this matter.'
अयमाख्यामि ते राम यत्रागस्त्यो महामुनिः। योजनान्याश्रमात् तात याहि चत्वारि वै ततः। दक्षिणेन महान् श्रीमानगस्त्यभ्रातुराश्रमः
'I will tell you, Rāma, where the great sage Agastya is. From this hermitage, dear one, go four yojanas south; there is the splendid hermitage of Agastya's brother.'
स्थलीप्रायवनोद्देशे पिप्पलीवनशोभिते। बहुपुष्पफले रम्ये नानाविहगनादिते
'In a region mostly open land, adorned with groves of pippala trees, charming with many flowers and fruits, and resounding with the calls of various birds.'
पद्मिन्यो विविधास्तत्र प्रसन्नसलिलाशयाः। हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णाश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः
There, various kinds of lotus ponds with clear waters are found, crowded with swans and cranes, and beautified by chakravaka ducks.
तत्रैकां रजनीं व्युष्य प्रभाते राम गम्यताम्। दक्षिणां दिशमास्थाय वनखण्डस्य पार्श्वतः
Having spent one night there, O Rama, in the morning you should proceed, taking the southern direction along the edge of the forest tract.
तत्रागस्त्याश्रमपदं गत्वा योजनमन्तरम्। रमणीये वनोद्देशे बहुपादपशोभिते
There, after traveling a yojana, you will reach the hermitage of Agastya, in a delightful part of the forest adorned with many trees.
रंस्यते तत्र वैदेही लक्ष्मणश्च त्वया सह। स हि रम्यो वनोद्देशो बहुपादपसंयुतः
There, Vaidehī and Lakshmana will rejoice together with you, for that charming forest region is rich with many trees.
यदि बुद्धिः कृता द्रष्टुमगस्त्यं तं महामुनिम्। अद्यैव गमने बुद्धिं रोचयस्व महामते
If you have resolved to see that great sage Agastya, O wise one, then today fix your mind on going there.
इति रामो मुनेः श्रुत्वा सह भ्रात्राभिवाद्य च। प्रतस्थेऽगस्त्यमुद्दिश्य सानुगः सह सीतया
Thus, having heard the sage’s words, Rama, together with his brother, offered obeisance and set out toward Agastya, accompanied by Sita.