पुष्पितान् पुष्पिताग्राभिर्लताभिरुपशोभितान्। ददर्श रामः शतशस्तत्र कान्तारपादपान्
There, Rāma saw hundreds of forest trees adorned with blossoming creepers whose tips were covered in flowers.
हस्तिहस्तैर्विमृदितान् वानरैरुपशोभितान्। मत्तैः शकुनिसङ्घैश्च शतशः प्रतिनादितान्
Some were trampled by elephants' trunks, some were brightened by monkeys, and hundreds resounded with the cries of intoxicated flocks of birds.
ततोऽब्रवीत् समीपस्थं रामो राजीवलोचनः। पृष्ठतोऽनुगतं वीरं लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मिवर्धनम्
Then Rāma, lotus-eyed, spoke to Lakṣmaṇa, the increaser of prosperity, the heroic one who followed behind him.
स्निग्धपत्रा यथा वृक्षा यथा क्षान्ता मृगद्विजाः। आश्रमो नातिदूरस्थो महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः
The trees have glossy leaves, the animals and birds are gentle, and not far from here is the hermitage of the great sage whose mind is purified.
अगस्त्य इति विख्यातो लोके स्वेनैव कर्मणा। आश्रमो दृश्यते तस्य परिश्रान्तश्रमापहः
That hermitage, renowned in the world as belonging to Agastya, is seen here—by his own deeds, it removes the fatigue of those who are weary.
प्राज्यधूमाकुलवनश्चीरमालापरिष्कृतः। प्रशान्तमृगयूथश्च नानाशकुनिनादितः
The forest is filled with thick smoke, adorned with garlands of bark-cloth, peaceful with calm herds of deer, and resounding with various birds.
निगृह्य तरसा मृत्युं लोकानां हितकाम्यया। दक्षिणा दिक् कृता येन शरण्या पुण्यकर्मणा
He, desiring the welfare of the worlds, subdued Death by force, and by his virtuous deeds made the southern quarter a place of refuge.
तस्येदमाश्रमपदं प्रभावाद् यस्य राक्षसैः। दिगियं दक्षिणा त्रासाद् दृश्यते नोपभुज्यते
This is the hermitage of that one, whose power caused the southern quarter to be feared by the Rākṣasas—visible, but not enjoyed by them.
यदाप्रभृति चाक्रान्ता दिगियं पुण्यकर्मणा। तदाप्रभृति निर्वैराः प्रशान्ता रजनीचराः
From the time this quarter was taken over by the virtuous one, from that time the night-roaming beings have been peaceful and free from enmity.
नाम्ना चेयं भगवतो दक्षिणा दिक्प्रदक्षिणा। प्रथिता त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्धर्षा क्रूरकर्मभिः
This southern quarter, named after the blessed one, is renowned in the three worlds and cannot be overcome by those of cruel deeds.
मार्गं निरोद्धुं सततं भास्करस्याचलोत्तमः। संदेशं पालयंस्तस्य विन्ध्यशैलो न वर्धते
To always block the path of the sun, the great Vindhya mountain, obeying his command, does not grow higher.
अयं दीर्घायुषस्तस्य लोके विश्रुतकर्मणः। अगस्त्यस्याश्रमः श्रीमान् विनीतमृगसेवितः
This is the illustrious hermitage of Agastya, long-lived and famed for his deeds, served by well-behaved deer.
एष लोकार्चितः साधुर्हिते नित्यं रतः सताम्। अस्मानधिगतानेष श्रेयसा योजयिष्यति
He is a virtuous sage, honored by the worlds, always devoted to the welfare of the good; he will unite us, who have arrived, with what is best.
आराधयिष्याम्यत्राहमगस्त्यं तं महामुनिम्। शेषं च वनवासस्य सौम्य वत्स्याम्यहं प्रभो
Here I will worship Agastya, that great sage, and, gentle one, I will spend the remainder of our forest dwelling, O lord.
अत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। अगस्त्यं नियताहाराः सततं पर्युपासते
Here, the gods with the Gandharvas, Siddhas, and supreme seers, all with restrained diets, constantly attend upon Agastya.
नात्र जीवेन्मृषावादी क्रूरो वा यदि वा शठः। नृशंसः पापवृत्तो वा मुनिरेष तथाविधः
Here, no liar, cruel, deceitful, or wicked person could live; such is the nature of this sage.
अत्र देवाश्च यक्षाश्च नागाश्च पतगैः सह। वसन्ति नियताहारा धर्ममाराधयिष्णवः
Here, the gods, Yakṣas, Nāgas, and birds, all with restrained diets, dwell, devoted to the worship of dharma.
अत्र सिद्धा महात्मानो विमानैः सूर्यसंनिभैः। त्यक्त्वा देहान् नवैर्देहैः स्वर्याताः परमर्षयः
Here, the great-souled Siddhas, in chariots shining like the sun, having abandoned their bodies, have ascended to heaven in new forms, these supreme seers.
यक्षत्वममरत्वं च राज्यानि विविधानि च। अत्र देवाः प्रयच्छन्ति भूतैराराधिताः शुभैः
The gods grant yaksha-hood, immortality, and various kingdoms here, when they are worshipped by beings with auspicious offerings.
आगताः स्माश्रमपदं सौमित्रे प्रविशाग्रतः। निवेदयेह मां प्राप्तमृषये सह सीतया
We have arrived at the hermitage, O Saumitri; enter first, and announce to the sage here that I have come, together with Sita.
thumb|द्वादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the twelfth chapter be heard. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Aranya Kāṇḍa, the twelfth chapter.
स प्रविश्याश्रमपदं लक्ष्मणो राघवानुजः। अगस्त्यशिष्यमासाद्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Lakshmana, the younger brother of Raghava, entered the hermitage and, approaching Agastya's disciple, spoke these words.
राजा दशरथो नाम ज्येष्ठस्तस्य सुतो बली। रामः प्राप्तो मुनिं द्रष्टुं भार्यया सह सीतया
There is a king named Dasharatha, whose eldest and mighty son, Rama, has come to see the sage, together with his wife Sita.
लक्ष्मणो नाम तस्याहं भ्राता त्ववरजो हितः। अनुकूलश्च भक्तश्च यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः
I am Lakshmana, his younger brother, devoted and favorable; if this has reached your ears.
ते वयं वनमत्युग्रं प्रविष्टाः पितृशासनात्। द्रष्टुमिच्छामहे सर्वे भगवन्तं निवेद्यताम्
We have entered this exceedingly wild forest by our father's command; we all wish to see the revered one, please announce us.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्य तपोधनः। तथेत्युक्त्वाग्निशरणं प्रविवेश निवेदितुम्
Hearing Lakshmana's words, the ascetic replied, 'So be it,' and entered the fire-sanctuary to announce them.
स प्रविश्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं तपसा दुष्प्रधर्षणम्। कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदं रामागमनमञ्जसा
Entering, he approached the foremost sage, difficult to disturb due to his austerity, and with joined palms, spoke of Rama's arrival directly.
यथोक्तं लक्ष्मणेनैव शिष्योऽगस्त्यस्य सम्मतः। पुत्रौ दशरथस्येमौ रामो लक्ष्मण एव च
As Lakshmana had said, the disciple esteemed by Agastya spoke: 'These are the sons of Dasharatha, Rama and Lakshmana.'
प्रविष्टावाश्रमपदं सीतया सह भार्यया। द्रष्टुं भवन्तमायातौ शुश्रूषार्थमरिंदमौ
They have entered the hermitage with Sita, their wife; the destroyers of foes have come to see you, desiring to serve.
यदत्रानन्तरं तत् त्वमाज्ञापयितुमर्हसि। ततः शिष्यादुपश्रुत्य प्राप्तं रामं सलक्ष्मणम्
Whatever is appropriate here, you should command; then, having heard from the disciple, the sage knew that Rama and Lakshmana had arrived.