Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— तानाशीभिरनन्दयामास भूयो गृहागतान् भगवान् कुम्भयोनिः। पाद्यार्घ्याद्यैरुपचारैः सहर्षं जग्राहाग्रे भूय युक्तो मुनीन्द्रैः॥१॥
Brahmā said: The divine pot-born sage, surrounded by foremost sages, again delighted the guests who had come to his home with blessings. Joyfully he received them before him with water for their feet, an offering of honor, and the other courtesies.
Passage 2
विधिवत्स्वासनासीनान् तानुवाच घटोद्भवः। लोपामुद्रासहासीनः सूर्यकल्पो महामुनिः॥२॥
When they were properly seated upon their own seats, the great pot-born sage, radiant like the sun and seated beside Lopāmudrā, addressed them.
Passage 3
स्वागतं वः सर्वलोकक्षेमाय चरथाटवीम्। अहो युष्माभिरद्यैष कृतार्थीकृत आश्रमः॥३॥
“Welcome to you who wander the forest for the welfare of all the worlds. Ah, today your presence has fulfilled the purpose of this hermitage.
Passage 4
यन्मे हुतं कृतं तप्तं तदद्य सफलं बभौ। यल्लोचनपथं जातः सदारः सानुजो भवान्॥४॥
“Every offering I have made, every rite I have performed, and every austerity I have practiced has borne fruit today, for you have entered my sight together with your wife and younger brother.
Passage 5
साक्षाद्धर्मोऽवतीर्णोऽसि द्विजदेवत्रयीहितः। त्वयि जाते रघोर्वंशे सम्पन्ना नो मनोरथाः॥५॥
“You are dharma itself descended for the good of the twice-born, the gods, and the threefold Veda. With your birth in Raghu's line, our hopes have been fulfilled.
Passage 6
नाशायासुरपक्षाणां क्रियते प्रार्थनं प्रभो। न ह्युदितमात्रेऽर्के तमस्तिष्ठति भूतले॥६॥
“Lord, our prayer is for the destruction of the demonic hosts, for darkness cannot remain upon the earth once the sun has risen. The Counsel to Rest at Pañcavaṭī
Passage 7
अपि विश्रम्यतां राम क्वाप्याश्रित्य शुभं स्थलम्। अजस्रं सञ्चरन्नेवं मनः खेदयसे मम॥७॥
“Rāma, please take shelter in some auspicious place and rest. By wandering without pause in this way, you distress my heart.
Passage 8
स्वभावसुकुमाराङ्गः क्व भवान् राजनन्दन। क्व चेयमटवी राम दर्भगर्भखरावनिः॥८॥
“Where is your naturally tender form, O prince, and where is this forest, Rāma, whose harsh ground bristles with darbha grass?
Passage 9
अयं च सुकुमाराङ्गस्तव भ्राता स्मरोपमः। इयं च राजदुहिता शिरीषमृदुविग्रहा॥९॥
“Your brother too is tender-limbed and resembles the god of love, while this king's daughter has a body soft as a śirīṣa blossom.
Passage 10
नैनान् खेदय नित्यं त्वमटमानो महाटवीम्। अतो विश्रम्यतां वीर क्वापि स्थाने मनोरमे॥१०॥
“Do not weary them by continually roaming the vast forest. Therefore, hero, rest in some delightful place.
Passage 11
अविदूरमितः प्रायः पुण्यं पञ्चवटीवनम्। विश्रामयोग्यं स्थानं ते तत्र तिष्ठ रघूद्वह॥११॥
“Not far from here lies the sacred forest of Pañcavaṭī, a place fit for your repose. Stay there, scion of Raghu.
Passage 12
यत्र गोदावरी पुण्या गङ्गा गौतमनिर्मिता। तस्यास्तीरावनिः पुण्या कुञ्जपुञ्जमनोरमा॥१२॥
“There flows the sacred Godāvarī, the Gaṅgā brought forth by Gautama. The holy land along her banks delights the heart with clusters of bowers.
Passage 13
तत्र तिष्ठ प्रियायुक्तो मोदयन् मुनिमण्डलीः। कोदण्डोदण्डदोर्दण्डः शासद्दुष्टांश्च विक्रमैः॥१३॥
“Remain there with your beloved, gladdening the communities of sages. With the Kodaṇḍa upon your mighty arm, discipline the wicked through your valor. The Sages' Suffering
Passage 14
तत्र त्वया निवसता जनस्थाननिवासिनः। वाडवा मुनिवर्याश्च सुखमेष्यन्ति राघव॥१४॥
“With you dwelling there, Rāghava, the brāhmaṇas and eminent sages who inhabit Janasthāna will find happiness.
Passage 15
प्रायेणोपद्रुता राम रक्षोभिर्मुनयोऽधुना। येषामाश्रमसद्मानि पूरितानि किलास्थिभिः॥१५॥
“The sages are now grievously afflicted by rākṣasas, Rāma; the grounds of their hermitages are said to be filled with bones.
Passage 16
भक्षिता भक्ष्यमाणाश्च ब्राह्मणा राक्षसाधमैः। तेषां भाग्येन रामेन्दो भवान् प्राप्तोऽस्ति सम्प्रति॥१६॥
“Brāhmaṇas have been devoured and are still being devoured by the vilest rākṣasas. By their good fortune, moon among the Raghus, you have now arrived.
Passage 17
धर्मकर्मत्रयीश्रेयस्तपश्च ब्रह्मवर्चसम्। इदानीं रघुशार्दूल त्वत्कोदण्डबलाश्रितम्॥१७॥
“Dharma, sacred rites, the welfare of the threefold Veda, austerity, and spiritual radiance now depend upon the strength of your Kodaṇḍa, tiger of Raghu's line.
Passage 18
येषां सम्बन्धिनो दाराः पुत्रापत्यादयो जनाः। भक्षिता राक्षसै राम तेषां त्वं प्राणजीवितम्॥१८॥
“For those whose relatives—wives, sons, descendants, and others—have been devoured by rākṣasas, Rāma, you are their very life and breath.
Passage 19
इतः पञ्चवटीमेत्य नूनं विश्रम राघव। प्रायेण राक्षसानीकान्यत्र नित्यं चरन्ति हि॥१९॥
“Go from here to Pañcavaṭī and rest there, Rāghava. Hosts of rākṣasas continually roam in that region.
Passage 20
जहि तान् रघुशार्दूल राक्षसान् घोरकर्मणः। यैर्द्रावितं जगत्कृत्स्नं धर्मकर्मविलोपकैः॥२०॥
“Slay those rākṣasas of dreadful deeds, tiger of Raghu's line. Those destroyers of dharma and sacred rites have driven the whole world into terror.
Passage 21
एकाकी स भवान् एतान् हन्तुं शक्नोषि राक्षसान्। उद्धतात्तिमिरस्तोमान्न हि तेजांसि बिभ्यति॥२१॥
“You alone are able to kill these rākṣasas, for lights do not fear even swelling masses of darkness.
Passage 22
लोकानामसुरानीकैर्नित्यमुद्विग्नचेतसाम्। विप्राणां शोकतप्तानां मङ्गलं तव दर्शनम्॥२२॥
“For the worlds whose hearts are constantly troubled by demonic armies, and for the brāhmaṇas scorched by grief, the sight of you is auspicious.” Rāma's Reply
Passage 23
इत्युक्त्वा मुनिवर्येऽस्मिन् स्थिते मौनं महात्मनि। उवाच रघुशार्दूलः सानन्दप्रेमविह्वलः॥२३॥
When that eminent and great-hearted sage had spoken and fallen silent, the tiger of Raghu's line replied, overwhelmed with joyful affection.
Passage 24
यदाह मुनिशार्दूल भवान् लोकहितैषिणः। तत्तथैव श्रुतं ब्रह्मन् दुःखं लोकोपतापजम्॥२४॥
“Tiger among sages, what you have said out of concern for the world's welfare is just as I have heard it, brāhmaṇa: suffering has arisen from the torment of the people.
Passage 25
भवतामाशिषा ब्रह्मन् लोकश्रेयस्तपोभृताम्। बलमेतादृशं भावि दलनाय सुरद्विषाम्॥२५॥
“Through the blessing of ascetics such as you, who uphold austerity for the world's good, such strength will arise for crushing the enemies of the gods.
Passage 26
श्रूयते भगवान् विष्णुः स्थितो नारायणाश्रमे। तपस्यति यतो लोकाः कल्पन्ते श्रेयसे भृशम्॥२६॥
“It is heard that the divine Viṣṇu dwells in the hermitage of Nārāyaṇa and practices austerity, through which the worlds become abundantly established in well-being.
Passage 27
अतो भवादृशां ब्रह्मन् नाप्तव्यमिह किञ्चन। तपस्तु केवलं तेषां प्रजानां श्रेयसे भवेत्॥२७॥
“Therefore, brāhmaṇa, there is nothing here that those like you need to attain for yourselves; your austerity exists solely for the welfare of living beings.” A Night at the Hermitage
Passage 28
इत्थमालपता तेन तोषितो नितरां मुनिः। आहारं तस्य वन्याभिः संविधाभिरकल्पयत्॥२८॥
Deeply pleased by Rāma's words, the sage arranged a meal for him from the provisions of the forest.
Passage 29
लोपामुद्रा भगवती मुनिदारैः समावृता। सीतां सम्मानयामास प्राप्तां भाग्येन निजाश्रमे॥२९॥
The venerable Lopāmudrā, surrounded by the sages' wives, honored Sītā, who by good fortune had come to her hermitage.
Passage 30
आहारैरमृतास्वादैर्भोजयामास वत्सला। वन्यैरेव द्विजानीतैः कन्दमूलफलादिभिः॥३०॥
Affectionately she fed Sītā forest foods brought by the brāhmaṇas—roots, tubers, fruits, and other fare—whose flavor was like nectar.
Passage 31
ते वार्तयन्तः कुशलाः प्रवृत्तीर्मुनीन्द्रवर्यैर्मुनिदारकैश्च। सुखेन तां रात्रिमनैषुरत्र कुशास्तृतास्तीर्णशुभासनस्थाः॥३१॥
Seated there upon auspicious seats spread with kuśa grass, the accomplished travelers passed the night happily, exchanging news with the foremost sages and the young members of their households. Thus ends Chapter 136, “The Residence at Agastya's Hermitage,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.