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."
एवमुक्त्वा फलैर्मूलैः पुष्पैश्चान्यैश्च राघवम्। पूजयित्वा यथाकामं ततोऽगस्त्यस्तमब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus, and having honored Rāghava with fruits, roots, flowers, and other offerings as he wished, Agastya then spoke to him.
इदं दिव्यं महच्चापं हेमवज्रविभूषितम्। वैष्णवं पुरुषव्याघ्र निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा
"This divine, great bow, adorned with gold and diamonds, belonging to Viṣṇu, was fashioned by Viśvakarman, O tiger among men."
अमोघः सूर्यसंकाशो ब्रह्मदत्तः शरोत्तमः। दत्तौ मम महेन्द्रेण तूणी चाक्षय्यसायकौ
"This unfailing arrow, shining like the sun, was given by Brahmā; these two inexhaustible quivers were given to me by Mahendra."
सम्पूर्णौ निशितैर्बाणैर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः। महाराजतकोशोऽयमसिर्हेमविभूषितः
"These quivers are filled with sharp arrows, blazing like fire; and this sword, with a golden sheath, is adorned with gold."
अनेन धनुषा राम हत्वा संख्ये महासुरान्। आजहार श्रियं दीप्तां पुरा विष्णुर्दिवौकसाम्
With this bow, O Rāma, Viṣṇu once slew mighty demons in battle and seized radiant glory among the gods.
तद्धनुस्तौ च तूणी च शरं खड्गं च मानद। जयाय प्रतिगृह्णीष्व वज्रं वज्रधरो यथा
Accept this bow, these two quivers, arrows, and sword for victory, O bestower of honor, just as Indra accepts the thunderbolt.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः समस्तं तद्वरायुधम्। दत्त्वा रामाय भगवानगस्त्यः पुनरब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus, the illustrious sage Agastya, radiant in power, gave all those divine weapons to Rāma and then spoke again.
thumb|त्रयोदशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen now to the thirteenth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Araṇya Kāṇḍa.
राम प्रीतोऽस्मि भद्रं ते परितुष्टोऽस्मि लक्ष्मण। अभिवादयितुं यन्मां प्राप्तौ स्थः सह सीतया
Rāma, I am pleased with you—may good fortune be yours. I am satisfied, O Lakṣmaṇa, that you have come with Sītā to pay your respects to me.
अध्वश्रमेण वां खेदो बाधते प्रचुरश्रमः। व्यक्तमुत्कण्ठते वापि मैथिली जनकात्मजा
Perhaps you are both weary from the journey, troubled by great fatigue, or perhaps Sītā, daughter of Janaka, is clearly longing for her home.
एषा च सुकुमारी च खेदैश्च न विमानिता। प्राज्यदोषं वनं प्राप्ता भर्तृस्नेहप्रचोदिता
Though she is delicate, she has not faltered from hardship; urged by love for her husband, she has entered this forest, despite its many dangers.
यथैषा रमते राम इह सीता तथा कुरु। दुष्करं कृतवत्येषा वने त्वामभिगच्छती
Just as Sītā finds joy here, O Rāma, so should you; she has done what is difficult, following you into the forest.
एषा हि प्रकृतिः स्त्रीणामासृष्टे रघुनन्दन। समस्थमनुरज्यन्ते विषमस्थं त्यजन्ति च
This is the nature of women, O descendant of Raghu: they are devoted when all is well, but abandon one who is in distress.
शतह्रदानां लोलत्वं शस्त्राणां तीक्ष्णतां तथा। गरुडानिलयोः शैघ्र्यमनुगच्छन्ति योषितः
Women follow the fickleness of lightning, the sharpness of weapons, and the swiftness of Garuḍa and the wind.
इयं तु भवतो भार्या दोषैरेतैर्विवर्जिता। श्लाघ्या च व्यपदेश्या च यथा देवीष्वरुन्धती
But your wife is free from these faults; she is worthy of praise and renown, like the goddess Arundhatī.
अलंकृतोऽयं देशश्च यत्र सौमित्रिणा सह। वैदेह्या चानया राम वत्स्यसि त्वमरिंदम
This place is made auspicious, O subduer of foes, where you will dwell with Saumitri and with this Vaidehī, Sītā.
एवमुक्तस्तु मुनिना राघवः संयताञ्जलिः। उवाच प्रश्रितं वाक्यमृषिं दीप्तमिवानलम्
Thus addressed by the sage, Rāghava, with hands joined in reverence, spoke respectfully to the radiant seer, like fire itself.
धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुंगवः। गुणैः सभ्रातृभार्यस्य गुरुर्नः परितुष्यति
Blessed and favored am I, for the foremost of sages is pleased with the virtues of my brother's wife and me, and is satisfied with us as a teacher.
किं तु व्यादिश मे देशं सोदकं बहुकाननम्। यत्राश्रमपदं कृत्वा वसेयं निरतः सुखम्
But please, direct me to a place with water and many trees, where I may build a hermitage and dwell happily in devotion.
ततोऽब्रवीन्मुनिश्रेष्ठः श्रुत्वा रामस्य भाषितम्। ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं धर्मात्मा ततोवाच वचः शुभम्
Then the best of sages, having heard Rāma's words, pondered for a moment, and, righteous in soul, spoke these auspicious words.