Aranya Kanda/Aranya Kanda Sarga 12
Book III : Aranya Kanda - The Forest Trek
Aranya Kanda Sarga 12 in English
Chapter [Sarga] 12 - Entering the hermitage of Sage Agastya
Introduction - Rama, Lakshmana, and Seetha enter the hermitage of Sage Agastya. Sage Agastya is also waiting to receive Rama for along time, and now receives them with all honours, sagaciously perceiving Rama as Vishnu incarnate. Sage Agastya gives a divine bow of Vishnu, two quivers with ever replenishing with arrows, and a golden sword in a golden sheath to Rama, saying that with the very same armoury Vishnu once eradicated evil on earth.
1. On entering the hermitage Lakshmana, the younger brother of Raghava, reached Agastya's disciple and spoke this sentence to him. [3-12-1]
2. A king named Dasharatha was there, his eldest son and the dynamic one, Rama has arrived along with his wife Seetha to see the sage. [3-12-2]
3. I am his loyal, dedicated, and adherent younger brother named Lakshmana, if ever you have heard of us. [3-12-3]
4. Such as we are, we entered the awful forest at the decree of our father, and we wish to see the godly sage, let this be informed to him." Said Lakshmana to the disciple of Agastya. [3-12-4]
5. On hearing that sentence of Lakshmana that disciple who is ascetically rich replied 'agreed, ' and he entered the sanctum of Ritual-fire to submit the same to Agastya. [3-12-5]
This sanctum where the Altar of Fire is established will be well deep inside these hermitages. One arrives at the Altar of Fire after passing through many places designated to particular deities, where fire oblations are conducted. These places of worship occurring before the hall of homa are listed in the coming verses.
6, 7a. He that agreeable disciple of sage quickly approached the irrefutable sage by his asceticism, made palm-fold and said this to the eminent sage about about the arrival of Rama, exactly as said by Lakshmana. [3-12-6, 7a]
7b, 8a. Sons of King Dasharatha, Rama and also thus Lakshmana have entered the threshold of hermitage along with the wife of Rama, namely Seetha. [3-12-7b, 8a]
8b, 9a. Those two enemy-destroyers have come cherishing to see and serve you, hence it will be apt of you to order what next is to be done in this regard." Said disciple to the sage. [3-12-8b, 9a]
9b, 10a. Having heard from the disciple that Rama has arrived with Lakshmana and with highly fortunate Seetha the sage said this to him. [3-12-9b, 10a]
10b, 11a. My heart is indeed yearning for his arrival, and after this long a time Rama providentially came to see me." [3-12-10b, 11a]
11b, 12a. Go forth and make welcome to Rama, Lakshmana and to Seetha, and they be entered here, why you have not invited them as yet? [3-12-11b, 12a]
Agastya is waiting for long to receive Rama to handover a great bow, quivers and sword. Agastya himself an eliminator of demons and Rama's mission is also the same. Therefore, on hearing that "Rama arrived " his ears are said to have received an ear-pleasing experience, karNa aananda anubhava. Maheshvara Tirtha.
12b, 13a. Thus said by the great-souled sage and the knower of virtue, the disciple adored him with palm-fold saying that "as you say." [3-12-12b, 13a]
13b, 14a. Then that disciple went out with a little perplexity and said this to Lakshmana, "Where is this Rama? He may come to see the sage and let him enter hermitage on his own." Said that disciple to Lakshmana. [3-12-13b, 14a]
14b, 15a. Then on going out to the exterior of that hermitage along with that disciple, Lakshmana has shown him Rama and Janaka's daughter Seetha. [3-12-14b, 15a]
15b, 16a. While that disciple repeated the obliging words of Agastya entered that reception-worthy Rama into hermitage on receiving him well. [3-12-15b, 16a]
16b, 17a. And then Rama entered the hermitage with Seetha and Lakshmana looking over it which is overspread with docile deer. [ 3-12-16b, 17a]
17b, 18, 19, 20, 21a. Rama entered inside the hermitage and saw therein the sanctus of Brahma, Fire-god, Vishnu, Indra, Vivasvat - the Sun-god, Soma - the Moon-god, Bhaga - one among the twelve Suns, and the sanctusms of Kubera, [Wealth-Management-god, are seen and passed by the three of them, sanctums of Dhata, Vidhata - Vedic deities created by Brahma to help Svayambhuu Manu, santucm of Vaayu - the Air-god, and also like that the sanctum of great-soloed VaruNa - the Rain-god who also wields noose, and the sanctum of Gayatri - the presiding deity of gnosis, sanctum of Vasus - eight of them, and the sanctum of cobra's king - aadi sheSa, the divine Thousand-headed serpent that bears this globe on its head, and on which Vishnu reclines, and even the sanctum of Garuda - the Divine Eagle and the vehicle of Vishnu, and the half brother of aadi sheSa, and the sanctum of Kartikeya - chief of gods army, second son of Shiva, and the sanctum of Dharma - Dharmaraaja, presiding deity of Virtue-Vice-Time of living beings, in-charge of the hell. [17b, 18, 19, 20, 21a]
These sanctums are particular holy places in hermitages where those designated deities will be invoked for worship. These will be seventeen in general, as said in Vedic doctrine, yo vai sapta dasha - Defined by seventeen letters. On passing through all these places, the place of homa kunDa , Altar of Fire will come. Hence, usually none will be allowed inside the hermitages, and all are supposed to stay in aashrama padam , the hermitage's threshold, a porch or portico minus its roofing. As such Rama wanted an entry in to hermitage.
21b, 22a. Then encircled by disciples the sage Agastya came out quickly, and Rama saw him who is glowing brilliant before all the other sages. [3-12-21b, 22a]
In the list of sanctums said above no place is said for Shiva, on which earlier commentators discussed much. Of them Govindaraja stated, "Shiva has no worshipfulness in Vaishnavaite way, hence his sanctum is unsaid: atra p¨jya daivateÿu rudrasya anup˜d˜n˜t a-p¨jyatvam uktam | adhun˜ kaiscit p¨jya m˜nat˜ tu t˜masa þ˜stra anurodhaneti bodhyam|| Others contradicted this, saying that when Shiva's son, Kaartikeya is adorable, why not his Father? Rama Tilaka states agniratra rudraH The naming of Agni, Fire-god, as in 17th verse itself is Rudra, namely Shiva. ShiromaNi commentary also puts in the same way ' tatra agni shabdena shambhuH ucyate By the nomenclature of Fire, Shiva is to be construed.
22b, 23. On seeing the brilliantly glowing sage among those sages, he that bold Rama said this sentence to Lakshmana, the fortifier of fortune, "Here comes the godly sage, Lakshmana, by his eminence I comprehend him as a depository of all ascesis." [3-12-22b, 23]
24. That dexterous Rama on saying about that sun-like radiant sage Agastya, he that descendent of Raghu fell on the feet of Agastya touching them reverentially. [3-12-24]
25. Then he who is a delight to the on lookers that noble-hearted Rama on revering the sage along with Lakshmana and Seetha, the princess from Videha, stood aside with his palms adjoined. [3-12-25]
26. Offering seat and water that sage received Rama, and even on exchanging pleasantries that sage said to him, "please be seated." [3-12-26]
27. Having completed his personal worship to Fire-god, and having offered water and other formalities to guest, that sage gave viands to guests according to his hermitic observances. [3-12-27]
The hermit's observances include the ritual to Fire-god before food. In some case one has to personally light the fire, cook his own food to the chanting of hymns, like Agastya which is an observances called viashva devam Even now these are observed by some Vedic Brahmans.
28. Then that eminent and shrewd sage Agastya in righteousness took his seat at the outset, and spoke to prudent Rama of righteousness itself, and who by now is sitting with his palms adjoined. [3-12-28]
29. Worshipping the fire, giving water and worshipping the guest a hermit should receive a guest and feed him, and if a hermit practices contrarily, oh, Rama, he is destined to eat his own flesh like a false deponent in other world say, hell. [3-12-29]
30. You are the king of all the world, the treader in the path of righteousness, great charioteer of probity, and you are the venerable and estimable one, and you have arrived as my dear guest. [3-12-30]
31. Saying thus, Agastya adored Raghava well with fruits, tubers, flowers and others according to his ardency, and then he said this to Rama. [3-12-31]
32, 33a. This sacred bow that is decorated with gold and diamonds is crafted by the divine architect Vishvakarma pertains to Vishnu, and these unwasteful arrows equalling sun in their blaze are the gift of Brahma. [3-12-32, 33a]
33b, 34. Also these two inexhaustible quivers packed with arrows that have the blaze of Ritual-fire, and this sword decorated in gold together with its sheath made up of excellent golden are once given to me by Indra. [3-12-33b, 34]
35. By this bow, oh, Rama, once Vishnu eliminated horrible demons in war and brought back radiant prosperity to the celestials. [3-12-35]
36. The bow, these two quivers, arrows, and the sword, oh, Rama, the endower of grace, receive and wield them to triumph over the demons as Indra would wield Thunderbolt. [3-12-36]
37. On saying thus that great resplendent and godly sage Agastya, gave all of those best weapons to Rama, and again spoke to Rama [3-12-37]
श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः ॥३-१२॥
स प्रविश्य आश्रम पदम् लक्ष्मणो राघव अनुजः । अगस्त्य शिष्यम् आसाद्य वाक्यम् एतद् उवाच ह ॥३-१२-१॥
राजा दशरथो नाम ज्येष्ठः तस्य सुतो बली । रामः प्राप्तो मुनिम् द्रष्टुम् भार्यया सह सीतया ॥३-१२-२॥
लक्ष्मणो नाम तस्य अहम् भ्राता तु अवरजो हितः । अनुकूलः च भक्तः च यदि ते श्रोत्रम् आगतः ॥३-१२-३॥
ते वयम् वनम् अत्युग्रम् प्रविष्टाः पितृ शासनात् । द्रष्टुम् इच्छामहे सर्वे भगवन्तम् निवेद्यताम् ॥३-१२-४॥
तस्य तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्य तपोधनः । तथा इति उक्त्वा अग्नि शरणम् प्रविवेश निवेदितुम् ॥३-१२-५॥
स प्रविश्य मुनिश्रेष्ठम् तपसा दुष्प्रधर्षणम् । कृत अंजलिः उवाच इदम् राम आगमनम् अञ्जसा ॥३-१२-६॥
यथा उक्तम् लक्ष्मणेन एव शिष्यः तस्य अगस्तस्य संमतः । पुत्रौ दशरथस्य इमौ रामो लक्ष्मण एव च ॥३-१२-७॥
प्रविष्टौ आश्रमपदम् सीतया सह भार्यया । द्रष्टुम् भवन्तम् आयातौ शुश्रूषार्थम् अरिन्दमौ ॥३-१२-८॥
यद् अत्र अनंतरम् तत् त्वम् आज्ञापयितुम् अर्हसि । ततः शिष्यात् उपश्रुत्य प्राप्तम् रामम् स लक्ष्मणम् ॥३-१२-९॥
वैदेहीम् च महाभागाम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् । दिष्ट्या रामः चिरस्य अद्य द्रष्टुम् माम् समुपागतः ॥३-१२-१०॥
मनसा कांक्षितम् हि अस्य मया अपि आगमनम् प्रति । गम्यताम् सत्कृतो रामः स भार्यः सह लक्ष्मणः ॥३-१२-११॥
प्रवेश्यताम् समीपम् मे किम् असौ न प्रवेशितः । एवम् उक्तः तु मुनिना धर्मज्ञेन महात्मना ॥३-१२-१२॥
अभिवाद्य अब्रवीत् शिष्यः तथा इति नियत अंजलिः । तदा निष्क्रम्य संभ्रान्तः शिष्यो लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत् ॥३-१२-१३॥
क्व असौ रामो मुनिम् द्रष्टुम् एतु प्रविशतु स्वयम् । ततो गत्वा आश्रम पदम् शिष्येण सह लक्ष्मणः ॥३-१२-१४॥
दर्शयामास काकुत्स्थम् सीताम् च जनकात्मजाम् । तम् शिष्यः प्रश्रितम् वाक्यम् अगस्त्य वचनम् ब्रुवन् ॥३-१२-१५॥
प्रावेशयत् यथा न्यायम् सत्कार अर्ह सुसत्कृतम् । प्रविवेश ततो रामः सीतया सह लक्ष्मणः ॥३-१२-१६॥
प्रशान्त हरिण आकीर्णम् आश्रमम् हि अवलोकयन् । स तत्र ब्रह्मणः स्थानम् अग्नेः स्थानम् तथैव च ॥३-१२-१७॥
विष्णोः स्थानम् महेन्द्रस्य स्थानम् चैव विवस्वतः । सोम स्थानम् भग स्थानम् स्थानम् कौबेरम् एव च ॥३-१२-१८॥
धातुर् विधातुः स्थानम् च वायोः स्थानम् तथैव च । स्थानम् च पाश हस्तस्य वारुणस्य महात्मनः ॥३-१२-१९॥
स्थानम् तथैव गायत्र्या वसूनाम् स्थानम् एव च । स्थानम् च नागराजस्य गरुड स्थानम् एव च ॥३-१२-२०॥
कार्तिकेयस्य च स्थानम् धर्म स्थानम् च पश्यति । ततः शिष्यैः परिवृतो मुनिर् अपि अभिनिष्पतत् ॥३-१२-२१॥
तम् ददर्श अग्रतो रामो मुनीनाम् दीप्त तेजसम् । अब्रवीत् वचनम् वीरो लक्ष्मणम् लक्ष्मिवर्धनम् ॥३-१२-२२॥
बहिर् लक्ष्मण निष्क्रामति अगस्त्यो भगवान् ऋषिः । औदार्येण अवगच्छामि निधानम् तपसाम् इमम् ॥३-१२-२३॥
एवम् उक्त्वा महाबाहुः अगस्त्यम् सूर्य वर्चसम् । जग्राह आपतत् तस्य पादौ च रघुनन्दन ॥३-१२-२४॥
अभिवाद्य तु धर्मात्मा तस्थौ रामः कृतांजलिः । सीतया सह वैदेह्या तदा रामः स लक्ष्मणः ॥३-१२-२५॥
प्रतिगृह्य च काकुत्स्थम् अर्चयित्वा आसन उदकैः । कुशल प्रश्नम् उक्त्वा च आस्यताम् इति सोऽब्रवीत् ॥३-१२-२६॥
अग्निम् हुत्वा प्रदाय अर्घ्यम् अतिथिन् प्रतिपूज्य च । वानप्रस्थेन धर्मेण स तेषाम् भोजनम् ददौ ॥३-१२-२७॥
प्रथमम् च उपविश्य अथ धर्मज्ञो मुनिपुंगवः । उवाच रामम् आसीनम् प्रांजलिम् धर्मकोविदम् ॥३-१२-२८॥
अग्निम् हुत्वा प्रदाय अर्घ्यम् अतिथिम् प्रतिपूजयेत् । अन्यथा खलु काकुत्स्थ तपस्वी समुदाचरन् । दुःसाक्षी इव परे लोके स्वानि मांसानि भक्षयेत् ॥३-१२-२९॥
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य धर्मचारी महारथः । पूजनीयः च मान्यः च भवान् प्राप्तः प्रिय अतिथिः ॥३-१२-३०॥
एवम् उक्त्वा फलैः मूलैः पुष्पैः च अन्यैः च राघवम् । पूजयित्वा यथा कामम् ततो अगस्त्यः तम् अब्रवीत् ॥३-१२-३१॥
इदम् दिव्यम् महत् चापम् हेम वज्र विभूषितम् । वैष्णवम् पुरुषव्याघ्र निर्मितम् विश्वकर्मणा ॥३-१२-३२॥
अमोघः सूर्य संकाशो ब्रह्मदत्तः शर उत्तमः । दत्तो मम महेन्द्रेण तूणी च अक्षय सायकौ ॥३-१२-३३॥
संपूर्णौ निशितैः बाणैः ज्वलद्भिः इव पावकैः । महा रजत कोशो अयम् असिः हेमविभूषितः ॥३-१२-३४॥
अनेन धनुषा राम हत्वा संख्ये महासुरान् । आजहार श्रियम् दीप्ताम् पुरा विष्णुर् दिव ओकसाम् ॥३-१२-३५॥
तत् धनुः तौ च तूणि च शरम् खड्गम् च मानद । जयाय प्रतिगृह्णीष्व वज्रम् वज्रधरो यथा ॥३-१२-३६॥
एवम् उक्त्वा महा तेजाः समस्तम् तत् वर आयुधम् । दत्त्वा रामाय भगवान् अगस्त्यः पुनर् अब्रवीत् ॥३-१२-३७॥ इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः ॥३-१२॥