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.
वैदेहीं च महाभागामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। दिष्ट्या रामश्चिरस्याद्य द्रष्टुं मां समुपागतः
He spoke these words to the noble Vaidehi: 'By fortune, Rama has come to see me today after a long time.'
मनसा कांक्षितं ह्यस्य मयाप्यागमनं प्रति। गम्यतां सत्कृतो रामः सभार्यः सहलक्ष्मणः
I too have longed in my heart for his arrival; let Rama, honored, proceed with his wife and Lakshmana.
अभिवाद्याब्रवीच्छिष्यस्तथेति नियताञ्जलिः। तदा निष्क्रम्य सम्भ्रान्तः शिष्यो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्
The disciple, having bowed, replied 'So be it,' with joined hands; then, stepping out in haste, he spoke to Lakshmana.
कोऽसौ रामो मुनिं द्रष्टुमेतु प्रविशतु स्वयम्। ततो गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं शिष्येण सह लक्ष्मणः
Who is this Rama? Let him come to see the sage and enter himself; then Lakshmana, together with the disciple, went to the hermitage.
दर्शयामास काकुत्स्थं सीतां च जनकात्मजाम्। तं शिष्यः प्रश्रितं वाक्यमगस्त्यवचनं ब्रुवन्
He presented Kakutstha and Sita, daughter of Janaka; the disciple, respectfully, spoke Agastya's words.
प्रावेशयद् यथान्यायं सत्कारार्हं सुसत्कृतम्। प्रविवेश ततो रामः सीतया सह लक्ष्मणः
He admitted them according to custom, honoring them as they deserved; then Rama entered, together with Sita and Lakshmana.
प्रशान्तहरिणाकीर्णमाश्रमं ह्यवलोकयन्। स तत्र ब्रह्मणः स्थानमग्नेः स्थानं तथैव च
Beholding the hermitage, tranquil and filled with deer, he saw there the abode of Brahmā, the place of Agni as well.
विष्णोः स्थानं महेन्द्रस्य स्थानं चैव विवस्वतः। सोमस्थानं भगस्थानं स्थानं कौबेरमेव च
He saw the place of Viṣṇu, of Mahendra, and also of Vivasvat, the place of Soma, of Bhaga, and likewise the place of Kubera.
धातुर्विधातुः स्थानं च वायोः स्थानं तथैव च। स्थानं च पाशहस्तस्य वरुणस्य महात्मनः
He saw the place of Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ, and also the place of Vāyu, and the abode of the great-souled Varuṇa, who holds the noose.
स्थानं तथैव गायत्र्या वसूनां स्थानमेव च। स्थानं च नागराजस्य गरुडस्थानमेव च
He saw likewise the place of Gāyatrī, the abode of the Vasus, the place of the serpent king, and the abode of Garuḍa.
कार्तिकेयस्य च स्थानं धर्मस्थानं च पश्यति। ततः शिष्यैः परिवृतो मुनिरप्यभिनिष्पतत्
He saw the place of Kārtikeya and the abode of Dharma; then, surrounded by his disciples, the sage himself came forth.
तं ददर्शाग्रतो रामो मुनीनां दीप्ततेजसाम्। अब्रवीद् वचनं वीरो लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मिवर्धनम्
Rāma saw that sage of blazing splendor approaching, and the heroic Rāma spoke these words to Lakṣmaṇa, increaser of prosperity.
बहिर्लक्ष्मण निष्क्रामत्यगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः। औदार्येणावगच्छामि निधानं तपसामिमम्
"Lakṣmaṇa, the venerable sage Agastya is coming out; by his generosity I recognize this as the very treasury of austerities."
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुरगस्त्यं सूर्यवर्चसम्। जग्राहापततस्तस्य पादौ च रघुनन्दनः
Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed Rāma, son of Raghu, grasped the feet of Agastya, radiant as the sun, as he descended.
अभिवाद्य तु धर्मात्मा तस्थौ रामः कृताञ्जलिः। सीतया सह वैदेह्या तदा रामः सलक्ष्मणः
Having offered his respects, the righteous Rāma stood with joined palms, together with Sītā of Videha and Lakṣmaṇa.
प्रतिगृह्य च काकुत्स्थमर्चयित्वाऽऽसनोदकैः। कुशलप्रश्नमुक्त्वा च आस्यतामिति सोऽब्रवीत्
Having received Kākutstha, honored him with a seat and water for washing, and after inquiring of his welfare, he said, "Please be seated."
अग्निं हुत्वा प्रदायार्घ्यमतिथीन् प्रतिपूज्य च। वानप्रस्थेन धर्मेण स तेषां भोजनं ददौ
Having offered oblations into the fire, presented water for washing, and duly honored the guests, he gave them food according to the rule of forest-dwellers.
प्रथमं चोपविश्याथ धर्मज्ञो मुनिपुंगवः। उवाच राममासीनं प्राञ्जलिं धर्मकोविदम्
Then, having first sat down, the foremost sage, knower of righteousness, spoke to Rāma, who was seated with joined palms and versed in dharma.
अग्निं हुत्वा प्रदायार्घ्यमतिथिं प्रतिपूजयेत्। अन्यथा खलु काकुत्स्थ तपस्वी समुदाचरन्। दुःसाक्षीव परे लोके स्वानि मांसानि भक्षयेत्
"Having offered oblations into the fire and presented water, one should duly honor a guest; otherwise, O Kākutstha, if an ascetic acts otherwise, he will, in the next world, eat his own flesh as a false witness does."
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य धर्मचारी महारथः। पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च भवान् प्राप्तः प्रियातिथिः
"The king, who is righteous and a mighty chariot-warrior, is the lord of all people; he is to be honored and respected, and you have arrived as a dear guest."