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.
पश्यन् वनानि चित्राणि पर्वतांश्चाभ्रसंनिभान्। सरांसि सरितश्चैव पथि मार्गवशानुगान्
Beholding the wondrous forests, mountains resembling clouds, lakes, and rivers that lay along their path,
सुतीक्ष्णेनोपदिष्टेन गत्वा तेन पथा सुखम्। इदं परमसंहृष्टो वाक्यं लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्
Following the path indicated by Sutikshna, they went comfortably, and Rama, exceedingly delighted, spoke these words to Lakshmana:
एतदेवाश्रमपदं नूनं तस्य महात्मनः। अगस्त्यस्य मुनेर्भ्रातुर्दृश्यते पुण्यकर्मणः
Surely this is the hermitage of that great-souled sage, Agastya, the virtuous brother, as it now appears before us.
यथा हीमे वनस्यास्य ज्ञाताः पथि सहस्रशः। संनताः फलभारेण पुष्पभारेण च द्रुमाः
For, as we have seen along the way, thousands of trees are bent with the weight of fruit and flowers in this forest.
पिप्पलीनां च पक्वानां वनादस्मादुपागतः। गन्धोऽयं पवनोत्क्षिप्तः सहसा कटुकोदयः
And from this forest comes the pungent fragrance, suddenly carried by the wind, of ripe pippali peppers.
तत्र तत्र च दृश्यन्ते संक्षिप्ताः काष्ठसंचयाः। लूनाश्च परिदृश्यन्ते दर्भा वैदूर्यवर्चसः
Here and there are seen piles of gathered wood, and darbha grass, shining like cat’s eye gem, is found cut and lying about.
एतच्च वनमध्यस्थं कृष्णाभ्रशिखरोपमम्। पावकस्याश्रमस्थस्य धूमाग्रं सम्प्रदृश्यते
And in the midst of the forest, resembling the peak of a dark cloud, the column of smoke from the hermitage fire is visible.
विविक्तेषु च तीर्थेषु कृतस्नाना द्विजातयः। पुष्पोपहारं कुर्वन्ति कुसुमैः स्वयमर्जितैः
In secluded bathing places, twice-born sages, having performed their ablutions, offer flowers they have gathered themselves.
ततः सुतीक्ष्णवचनं यथा सौम्य मया श्रुतम्। अगस्त्यस्याश्रमो भ्रातुर्नूनमेष भविष्यति
Therefore, gentle one, as I have heard from Sutikshna, this must indeed be the hermitage of Agastya’s brother.
निगृह्य तरसा मृत्युं लोकानां हितकाम्यया। यस्य भ्रात्रा कृतेयं दिक्शरण्या पुण्यकर्मणा
For the sake of the world’s welfare, his brother, a doer of virtuous deeds, subdued Death by force, and made this southern region a sanctuary.