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.
तत्र गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं कृत्वा सौमित्रिणा सह। रमस्व त्वं पितुर्वाक्यं यथोक्तमनुपालयन्
Go there, establish your hermitage with Saumitri, and delight yourself, faithfully following your father's command as spoken.
विदितो ह्येष वृत्तान्तो मम सर्वस्तवानघ। तपसश्च प्रभावेण स्नेहाद् दशरथस्य च
All this story of yours is known to me, O sinless one, by the power of asceticism and out of affection for Daśaratha.
हृदयस्थं च ते च्छन्दो विज्ञातं तपसा मया। इह वासं प्रतिज्ञाय मया सह तपोवने
By my austerity, I have discerned the desire that dwells in your heart—your wish to reside here with me in this forest hermitage.
अतश्च त्वामहं ब्रूमि गच्छ पञ्चवटीमिति। स हि रम्यो वनोद्देशो मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते
Therefore, I say to you: go to Pañcavaṭī, for that woodland region is delightful, and there Maithilī will find joy.
स देशः श्लाघनीयश्च नातिदूरे च राघव। गोदावर्याः समीपे च मैथिली तत्र रंस्यते
That place is praiseworthy, not too far away, O Rāghava, and it is near the Godāvarī river; there Maithilī will find happiness.
प्राज्यमूलफलैश्चैव नानाद्विजगणैर्युतः। विविक्तश्च महाबाहो पुण्यो रम्यस्तथैव च
Abundant with roots and fruits, filled with many kinds of birds, secluded, O mighty-armed one, sacred and beautiful as well.
भवानपि सदाचारः शक्तश्च परिरक्षणे। अपि चात्र वसन् राम तापसान् पालयिष्यसि
You are ever righteous and capable of protection; and, dwelling here, O Rāma, you will also safeguard the ascetics.
एतदालक्ष्यते वीर मधूकानां महावनम्। उत्तरेणास्य गन्तव्यं न्यग्रोधमपि गच्छता
This great forest of madhūka trees is seen here, O hero; passing to its north, you must proceed, and you will also come upon a banyan tree.
ततः स्थलमुपारुह्य पर्वतस्याविदूरतः। ख्यातः पञ्चवटीत्येव नित्यपुष्पितकाननः
Then, ascending the plateau not far from the mountain, you will reach the well-known Pañcavaṭī, a grove ever blooming with flowers.
अगस्त्येनैवमुक्तस्तु रामः सौमित्रिणा सह। सत्कृत्यामन्त्रयामास तमृषिं सत्यवादिनम्
Thus addressed by Agastya, Rāma, together with Saumitri, respectfully took leave of that truthful sage.
तौ तु तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातौ कृतपादाभिवन्दनौ। तमाश्रमं पञ्चवटीं जग्मतुः सह सीतया
Having received his permission, and after bowing at his feet, the two, along with Sītā, went to the hermitage at Pañcavaṭī.
गृहीतचापौ तु नराधिपात्मजौ विषक्ततूणी समरेष्वकातरौ। यथोपदिष्टेन पथा महर्षिणा प्रजग्मतुः पञ्चवटीं समाहितौ
The two sons of the king, armed with bows, quivers fastened, undaunted in battle, proceeded with focused minds to Pañcavaṭī by the path the great sage had shown.
thumb|चतुर्दशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे चतुर्दशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen now to the fourteenth sarga. Thus ends the fourteenth sarga in the Araṇyakāṇḍa of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
अथ पंचवटीम् गच्चन्न् अन्तरा रघुनन्दनः । आससाद महाकायम् गृध्रम् भीम पराक्रमम् ॥३-१४-
Then, as he journeyed toward Pañcavaṭī, the delight of the Raghu line encountered a great-bodied vulture of terrifying might.
तम् दृष्ट्वा तौ महाभागौ वनस्थम् राम लक्ष्मणौ । मेनाते राक्षसम् पक्षिम् ब्रुवाणौ को भवान् इति ॥३-१४-
Seeing him dwelling in the forest, the illustrious Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa thought him a rākṣasa-bird and asked, 'Who are you?'
स तौ मधुरया वाचा सौम्यया प्रीणयन्न् इव । उवाच वत्स माम् विद्धि वयस्यम् पितुर् आत्मनः ॥३-१४-
He, with gentle and pleasing words, as if to gladden them, replied, 'My children, know me as a friend of your father.'
स तम् पितृ सखम् मत्वा पूजयामास राघवः । स तस्य कुलम् अव्यग्रम् अथ पप्रच्छ नाम च ॥३-१४-
Taking him for his father's companion, Rāghava honored him, and then inquired about his lineage and his name.
रामस्य वचनम् श्रुत्वा कुलम् आत्मानम् एव च । आचचक्षे द्विजः तस्मै सर्वभूत समुद्भवम् ॥३-१४-
Hearing Rāma's words, the bird revealed to him his lineage and origin, telling of his birth among all creatures.
पूर्वकाले महाबाहो ये प्रजापतयो अभवन् । तान् मे निगदतः सर्वान् आदितः शृणु राघव ॥३-१४-
In ancient times, O mighty-armed one, there were the progenitors of beings; hear from me, O Rāghava, as I recount them all from the beginning.
कर्दमः प्रथमः तेषाम् विकृतः तद् अनन्तरम् । शेषः च संश्रयः चैव बहु पुत्रः च वीर्यवान् ॥३-१४-
Kardama was the first among them, then Vikṛta after him; then Śeṣa, Saṃśraya, and the valiant Bahuputra.