The Leaf-Hut at Panchavati

Shloka 1 (aranya.15.1)

ततः पञ्चवटीं गत्वा नानाव्यालमृगायुताम् । उवाच भ्रातरं रामो लक्ष्मणं दीप्ततेजसम् ॥ 15.1 ॥

tataḥ pañcavaṭīṃ gatvā nānāvyālamṛgāyutām | uvāca bhrātaraṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇaṃ dīptatejasam || 15.1 ||

Then, having gone to Panchavati, thronged with many serpents and predators, Rama said to his splendidly radiant brother Lakshmana:

Shloka 2 (aranya.15.2)

आगताः स्म यथोद्दिष्टममुं देशं महर्षिणा । अयं पञ्चवटीदेशः सौम्य पुष्पितकाननः ॥ 15.2 ॥

āgatāḥ sma yathoddiṣṭamamuṃ deśaṃ maharṣiṇā | ayaṃ pañcavaṭīdeśaḥ saumya puṣpitakānanaḥ || 15.2 ||

"We have arrived, gentle one, at the very region the sage pointed out; this, with its flowering groves, is the land of Panchavati.

Shloka 3 (aranya.15.3)

सर्वतश्चार्यतां दृष्टिः कानने निपुणो ह्यसि । आश्रमः कतरस्मिन् नो देशे भवति संमतः ॥ 15.3 ॥

sarvataścāryatāṃ dṛṣṭiḥ kānane nipuṇo hyasi | āśramaḥ katarasmin no deśe bhavati saṃmataḥ || 15.3 ||

Cast your eyes about everywhere, for you are skilled in matters of the forest; where in this land would it be fitting for us to make our hermitage?

Shloka 4 (aranya.15.4)

रमते यत्र वैदेही त्वमहं चैव लक्ष्मण । तादृशो दृश्यतां देशः संनिकृष्टजलाशयः ॥ 15.4 ॥

ramate yatra vaidehī tvamahaṃ caiva lakṣmaṇa | tādṛśo dṛśyatāṃ deśaḥ saṃnikṛṣṭajalāśayaḥ || 15.4 ||

Find such a place, Lakshmana, where Vaidehi, you, and I may all take delight, close to a body of water,

Shloka 5 (aranya.15.5)

वनरामण्यकं यत्र जलरामण्यकं तथा । संनिकृष्टं च यत्र स्यात् समित्पुष्पकुशोदकम् ॥ 15.5 ॥

vanarāmaṇyakaṃ yatra jalarāmaṇyakaṃ tathā | saṃnikṛṣṭaṃ ca yatra syāt samitpuṣpakuśodakam || 15.5 ||

where the woodland is lovely and the water lovely too, and where firewood, flowers, kusha grass, and water are all close at hand."

Shloka 6 (aranya.15.6)

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः संयताञ्जलिः । सीतासमक्षं काकुत्स्थमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 15.6 ॥

evamuktastu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇaḥ saṃyatāñjaliḥ | sītāsamakṣaṃ kākutsthamidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 15.6 ||

Thus addressed by Rama, Lakshmana, with hands folded, spoke this word to Kakutstha in Sita's presence:

Shloka 7 (aranya.15.7)

परवानस्मि काकुत्स्थ त्वयि वर्षशतं स्थिते । स्वयं तु रुचिरे देशे क्रियतामिति मां वद ॥ 15.7 ॥

paravānasmi kākutstha tvayi varṣaśataṃ sthite | svayaṃ tu rucire deśe kriyatāmiti māṃ vada || 15.7 ||

"O Kakutstha, so long as you live — even for a hundred years — I am wholly dependent on you; tell me yourself in which delightful place it should be built."

Shloka 8 (aranya.15.8)

सुप्रीतस्तेन वाक्येन लक्ष्मणस्य महाद्युतिः । विमृशन् रोचयामास देशं सर्वगुणान्वितम् ॥ 15.8 ॥

suprītastena vākyena lakṣmaṇasya mahādyutiḥ | vimṛśan rocayāmāsa deśaṃ sarvaguṇānvitam || 15.8 ||

Greatly pleased by these words of Lakshmana, that most radiant one, having reflected, chose a place endowed with every excellent quality.

Shloka 9 (aranya.15.9)

स तं रुचिरमाक्रम्य देशमाश्रमकर्मणि । हस्तौ गृहीत्वा हस्तेन रामः सौमित्रिमब्रवीत् ॥ 15.9 ॥

sa taṃ ruciramākramya deśamāśramakarmaṇi | hastau gṛhītvā hastena rāmaḥ saumitrimabravīt || 15.9 ||

Going over that delightful spot, fit for the work of a hermitage, Rama, taking his hand in his own, spoke thus to Saumitri:

Shloka 10 (aranya.15.10)

अयं देशः समः श्रीमान् पुष्पितैस्तरुभिर्वृतः । इहाश्रमपदं सौम्य यथावत् कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ 15.10 ॥

ayaṃ deśaḥ samaḥ śrīmān puṣpitaistarubhirvṛtaḥ | ihāśramapadaṃ saumya yathāvat kartumarhasi || 15.10 ||

"This place is level, prosperous, and surrounded by flowering trees; here, gentle one, you should duly build our hermitage.

Shloka 11 (aranya.15.11)

इयमादित्यसंकाशैः पद्मैः सुरभिगन्धिभिः । अदूरे दृश्यते रम्या पद्मिनी पद्मशोभिता ॥ 15.11 ॥

iyamādityasaṃkāśaiḥ padmaiḥ surabhigandhibhiḥ | adūre dṛśyate ramyā padminī padmaśobhitā || 15.11 ||

Not far from here is seen a lovely lotus-pond, adorned with lotuses fragrant and radiant as the sun,

Shloka 12 (aranya.15.12)

यथाख्यातमगस्त्येन मुनिना भावितात्मना । इयं गोदावरी रम्या पुष्पितैस्तरुभिर्वृता ॥ 15.12 ॥

yathākhyātamagastyena muninā bhāvitātmanā | iyaṃ godāvarī ramyā puṣpitaistarubhirvṛtā || 15.12 ||

— just as the self-realized sage Agastya had described. And here too is the lovely Godavari, encircled by flowering trees,

Shloka 13 (aranya.15.13)

हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णा चक्रवाकोपशोभिता । नातिदूरे न चासन्ने मृगयूथनिपीडिता ॥ 15.13 ॥

haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇā cakravākopaśobhitā | nātidūre na cāsanne mṛgayūthanipīḍitā || 15.13 ||

thronged with swans and karandava ducks, graced by ruddy geese — neither too far nor too near, and astir with herds of deer.

Shloka 14 (aranya.15.14)

मयूरनादिता रम्याः प्रांशवो बहुकन्दराः । दृश्यन्ते गिरयः सौम्य फुल्लैस्तरुभिरावृताः ॥ 15.14 ॥

mayūranāditā ramyāḥ prāṃśavo bahukandarāḥ | dṛśyante girayaḥ saumya phullaistarubhirāvṛtāḥ || 15.14 ||

Mountains are seen, delightful with the calls of peacocks, lofty, with many caves, gentle one, covered over with trees in bloom.

Shloka 15 (aranya.15.15)

सौवर्णे राजतैस्ताम्रैर्देशे देशे च धातुभिः । गवाक्षिता इवाभान्ति गजाः परमभक्तिभिः ॥ 15.15 ॥

sauvarṇe rājataistāmrairdeśe deśe ca dhātubhiḥ | gavākṣitā ivābhānti gajāḥ paramabhaktibhiḥ || 15.15 ||

With veins of gold, silver, and copper ore in place after place, they gleam like latticed windows, and shine like elephants adorned with fine paintings.

Shloka 16 (aranya.15.16)

सालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च खर्जूरैः पनसाम्रकैः । नीवारैस्तिमिशैश्चैव पुंनागैश्चोपशोभिताः ॥ 15.16 ॥

sālaistālaistamālaiśca kharjūraiḥ panasāmrakaiḥ | nīvāraistimiśaiścaiva puṃnāgaiścopaśobhitāḥ || 15.16 ||

This land is graced by sala, palmyra, tamala, date-palm, jackfruit, and mango trees, and adorned too with wild-rice grasses, tinisha trees, and punnaga trees.

Shloka 17 (aranya.15.17)

चूतैरशोकैस्तिलकैश्चम्पकैः केतकैरपि । पुष्पगुल्मलतोपेतैस्तैस्तैस्तरुभिरावृताः ॥ 15.17 ॥

cūtairaśokaistilakaiścampakaiḥ ketakairapi | puṣpagulmalatopetaistaistaistarubhirāvṛtāḥ || 15.17 ||

It is covered too with mango, ashoka, tilaka, champaka, and ketaki trees, and with all manner of trees entwined with flowering shrubs and creepers.

Shloka 18 (aranya.15.18)

चन्दनैः स्यन्दनैर्नीपैः पनसैर्लकुचैरपि । धवाश्वकर्णखदिरैः शमीकिंशुकपाटलैः ॥ 15.18 ॥

candanaiḥ syandanairnīpaiḥ panasairlakucairapi | dhavāśvakarṇakhadiraiḥ śamīkiṃśukapāṭalaiḥ || 15.18 ||

It is graced too by sandalwood, syandana, nipa, parnasa, and lakucha trees, and by dhava, ashvakarna, khadira, shami, kimshuka, and patala trees.

Shloka 19 (aranya.15.19)

इदं पुण्यमिदं मेध्यमिदं बहुमृगद्विजम् । इह वत्स्याम सौमित्रे सार्धमेतेन पक्षिणा ॥ 15.19 ॥

idaṃ puṇyamidaṃ medhyamidaṃ bahumṛgadvijam | iha vatsyāma saumitre sārdhametena pakṣiṇā || 15.19 ||

This land is sacred, this is delightful, this is full of many deer and birds; here, Saumitri, let us dwell, together with this bird Jatayu."

Shloka 20 (aranya.15.20)

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा । अचिरेणाश्रमं भ्रातुश्चकार सुमहाबलः ॥ 15.20 ॥

evamuktastu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā | acireṇāśramaṃ bhrātuścakāra sumahābalaḥ || 15.20 ||

Thus told by Rama, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes and mighty of strength, quickly built the hermitage for his brother.

Shloka 21 (aranya.15.21)

पर्णशालां सुविपुलां तत्र संघातमृत्तिकाम् । सुस्तम्भां मस्करैर्दीर्घैः कृतवंशां सुशोभनाम् ॥ 15.21 ॥

parṇaśālāṃ suvipulāṃ tatra saṃghātamṛttikām | sustambhāṃ maskarairdīrghaiḥ kṛtavaṃśāṃ suśobhanām || 15.21 ||

There he made a very spacious leaf-hut, its ground levelled and packed with earth, firmly pillared with long bamboo poles, its bamboo framework well fashioned,

Shloka 22 (aranya.15.22)

शमीशाखाभिरास्तीर्य दृढपाशावपाशितम् । कुशकाशशरैः पर्णैः सुपरिच्छादितां तथा ॥ 15.22 ॥

śamīśākhābhirāstīrya dṛḍhapāśāvapāśitam | kuśakāśaśaraiḥ parṇaiḥ suparicchāditāṃ tathā || 15.22 ||

spread over with shami branches and firmly lashed with cords, and well thatched over with kusha, kasha, and reed leaves.

Shloka 23 (aranya.15.23)

समीकृततलां रम्यां चकार सुमहाबलः । निवासं राघवस्य अर्थे प्रेक्षणीयमनुत्तमम् ॥ 15.23 ॥

samīkṛtatalāṃ ramyāṃ cakāra sumahābalaḥ | nivāsaṃ rāghavasya arthe prekṣaṇīyamanuttamam || 15.23 ||

That mighty Lakshmana made its floor even and lovely — a dwelling for Raghava beyond compare, a delight to behold.

Shloka 24 (aranya.15.24)

स गत्वा लक्ष्मणः श्रीमान् नदीं गोदावरीं तदा । स्नात्वा पद्मानि चादाय सफलः पुनरागतः ॥ 15.24 ॥

sa gatvā lakṣmaṇaḥ śrīmān nadīṃ godāvarīṃ tadā | snātvā padmāni cādāya saphalaḥ punarāgataḥ || 15.24 ||

Then that noble Lakshmana went to the river Godavari, bathed, and gathering lotuses and fruits, returned again.

Shloka 25 (aranya.15.25)

ततः पुष्पबलिं कृत्वा शान्तिं च स यथाविधि । दर्शयामास रामाय तदाश्रमपदं कृतम् ॥ 15.25 ॥

tataḥ puṣpabaliṃ kṛtvā śāntiṃ ca sa yathāvidhi | darśayāmāsa rāmāya tadāśramapadaṃ kṛtam || 15.25 ||

Then, having made flower-offerings and duly performed the rites of pacification, he showed that finished hermitage to Rama.

Shloka 26 (aranya.15.26)

स तं दृष्ट्वा कृतं सौम्यमाश्रमं सह सीतया । राघवः पर्णशालायां हर्षमाहारयत् परम् ॥ 15.26 ॥

sa taṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛtaṃ saumyamāśramaṃ saha sītayā | rāghavaḥ parṇaśālāyāṃ harṣamāhārayat param || 15.26 ||

Seeing that beautifully made hermitage, with Sita beside him, Raghava felt the greatest joy in that leaf-hut.

Shloka 27 (aranya.15.27)

सुसंहृष्टः परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां लक्ष्मणं तदा । अतिस्निग्धं च गाढं च वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ 15.27 ॥

susaṃhṛṣṭaḥ pariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ tadā | atisnigdhaṃ ca gāḍhaṃ ca vacanaṃ cedamabravīt || 15.27 ||

Then, greatly delighted, he embraced Lakshmana with both arms, and spoke this word to him, full of the deepest tenderness:

Shloka 28 (aranya.15.28)

प्रीतोऽस्मि ते महत् कर्म त्वया कृतमिदं प्रभो । प्रदेयो यन्निमित्तं ते परिष्वङ्गो मया कृतः ॥ 15.28 ॥

prīto'smi te mahat karma tvayā kṛtamidaṃ prabho | pradeyo yannimittaṃ te pariṣvaṅgo mayā kṛtaḥ || 15.28 ||

"I am pleased, dear one, at this great work you have done; for that very reason I have given you this embrace, which was rightly due to you.

Shloka 29 (aranya.15.29)

भावज्ञेन कृतज्ञेन धर्मज्ञेन च लक्ष्मण । त्वया पुत्रेण धर्मात्मा न संवृत्तः पिता मम ॥ 15.29 ॥

bhāvajñena kṛtajñena dharmajñena ca lakṣmaṇa | tvayā putreṇa dharmātmā na saṃvṛttaḥ pitā mama || 15.29 ||

You who know the heart, who are grateful and know righteousness, O Lakshmana — having you as if you were my own son, I have never felt that my righteous father is gone.

Shloka 30 (aranya.15.30)

एवं लक्ष्मणमुक्त्वा तु राघवो लक्ष्मिवर्धनः । तस्मिन् देशे बहुफले न्यवसत् स सुखं सुखी ॥ 15.30 ॥

evaṃ lakṣmaṇamuktvā tu rāghavo lakṣmivardhanaḥ | tasmin deśe bahuphale nyavasat sa sukhaṃ sukhī || 15.30 ||

Having said this to Lakshmana, Raghava, the enhancer of glory, dwelt on happily and contentedly in that fruit-abundant land.

Shloka 31 (aranya.15.31)

कंचित् कालं स धर्मात्मा सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च । अन्वास्यमानो न्यवसत् स्वर्गलोके यथामरः ॥ 15.31 ॥

kaṃcit kālaṃ sa dharmātmā sītayā lakṣmaṇena ca | anvāsyamāno nyavasat svargaloke yathāmaraḥ || 15.31 ||

That righteous Rama, attended by Sita and Lakshmana, dwelt there for some time, like one of the immortals dwelling in the heavenly world.