Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— सस्नौ गोदावरीं पुण्यां भार्यानुजसमन्वितः। रामस्त्रिभुवनारामः स्थापयन् धर्मपद्धतिम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Rāma, delight of the three worlds, bathed in the sacred Godāvarī with his wife and younger brother, establishing the path of dharma by his example.
Passage 2
ययौ पञ्चवटीं पुण्यां कुञ्जपुञ्जमनोरमाम्। उवाच लक्ष्मणं तत्र भक्तिप्रह्वशिरोधरम्॥२॥
He entered sacred Pañcavaṭī, delightful with clusters of bowers, and addressed Lakṣmaṇa, whose head was bowed in devotion.
Passage 3
इह वत्स्यामि सौमित्रे नूनं वर्षाणि कानिचित्। मुनेः सर्वज्ञवर्यस्य निदेशात् कुम्भजन्मनः॥३॥
“Son of Sumitrā, we shall surely live here for some years, following the direction of the pot-born sage, foremost among the all-knowing.
Passage 4
रच्येतां पर्णशाले द्वे इह स्थाने मनोरमे। आत्मनो योगक्षेमार्थं भ्रातुश्च गृहिणो मम॥४॥
“Build two leaf cottages in this lovely place: one for your own security and one for your married elder brother.
Passage 5
दृढवंशस्तम्भयुते वेत्रशाखासुनिर्मिते। सान्द्रपर्णततिच्छन्ने शाले द्वे इह कल्पय॥५॥
“Construct two cottages here with strong bamboo pillars, well-made cane branches, and roofs covered by dense layers of leaves. Rāma's Plan to Restore the Sages
Passage 6
आवसथ्याग्निमाधाय जुह्वानः प्रतिवासरम्। वृत्तिं वनफलैः कुर्वन्निह स्थास्याम्यहं सखे॥६॥
“Establishing the household fire, offering into it each day, and living upon forest fruits, I shall remain here, my friend.
Passage 7
वनमेतद्बहुफलं कन्दमूलदलान्वितम्। योगक्षेमाय नो नित्यं भविष्यति न संशयः॥७॥
“This forest is rich in fruit, tubers, roots, and leaves; without doubt it will continually provide for our sustenance and well-being.
Passage 8
वनेऽस्मिन् दुष्टसत्त्वानि विनेयानि मया मुहुः। येषां भयेन वै शून्याः पर्णशाला द्विजन्मनाम्॥८॥
“I must repeatedly subdue the wicked beings in this forest, through fear of whom the twice-born sages' leaf cottages stand empty.
Passage 9
भयान्मुनिकुलानीमान्यतः स्थानाद् दुद्रुवुः। तानि भक्त्या समानीय प्रतिवासयितास्म्यहम्॥९॥
“These communities of sages fled this place in fear. I shall respectfully bring them back and restore them to their dwellings.
Passage 10
जनस्थानमितः स्थानादविदूरेऽस्ति लक्ष्मण। प्रायस्तत्रापि मुनयो रक्षोभीता वसन्ति न॥१०॥
“Janasthāna is not far from this place, Lakṣmaṇa, and there too the sages generally cannot remain because they fear the rākṣasas.
Passage 11
स्वाहास्वधावषट्कारध्वनिः प्रोषित एव च। रक्षसां भयतो विप्राः प्राणरक्षणतत्पराः॥११॥
“The sounds of svāhā, svadhā, and vaṣaṭ have departed, for the brāhmaṇas, terrified by the rākṣasas, are intent only upon saving their lives.
Passage 12
भक्षिता भक्ष्यमाणाश्च वाडवा राक्षसाधमैः। पश्येमान्यस्थिवृन्दानि तेषामेव पुरस्तव॥१२॥
“Brāhmaṇas have been devoured and are still being devoured by the vilest rākṣasas. See before you these very heaps of their bones.
Passage 13
पुनः संजीवयिष्यामि तानहं ब्राह्मणोत्तमान्। दास्यन्ति ते प्रमुदितास्तुभ्यं मह्यं शुभाशिषः॥१३॥
“I shall restore those eminent brāhmaṇas to life and hope; delighted, they will give auspicious blessings to you and me.
Passage 14
ये केचित्सम्मुखे चात्र भविष्यन्ति निशाचराः। तानहं शातयिष्यामि बाणवह्नेः पतङ्गकान्॥१४॥
“Whatever night-roamers confront me here, I shall strike them down like moths falling into the fire of my arrows.
Passage 15
इति कृत्यं निवसतोरत्र नौ सृष्टिसौख्यकृत्। इत्थं मुनेः कुम्भयोनेरादेशः सफलो भवेत्॥१५॥
“This is the duty that will make our residence here bring happiness to creation; in this way the command of the pot-born sage will be fulfilled.” Lakṣmaṇa Builds the Cottages
Passage 16
इत्यार्येण समादिष्टो लक्ष्मणः प्रेमसम्प्लुतः। तथैव कृतवांस्तत्र पर्णशालाद्वयं सुधीः॥१६॥
Thus instructed by his elder brother, wise Lakṣmaṇa, flooded with love, built the two leaf cottages exactly as directed.
Passage 17
निकृत्य करवालेन वंशस्तम्भान् हरिद्रुचीन्। रम्या वेत्रलताश्चैव पर्णसंदोहशालिनीः॥१७॥
With his sword he cut green-hued bamboo pillars, lovely cane vines, and branches laden with masses of leaves.
Passage 18
अत्राकल्पयत् सावकाशां पर्णशालां दृढीयसीम्। आर्यस्य दारयुक्तस्य चिरसंवसनोचिताम्॥१८॥
There he made a spacious and sturdy leaf cottage fit for his married elder brother's long residence.
Passage 19
आत्मने चैव संक्षिप्तामारादेव विनिर्ममे। प्रससाद प्रियायुक्तो भ्रातुः कृत्येन राघवः॥१९॥
Nearby he built a smaller one for himself. Rāghava, accompanied by his beloved, was pleased by his brother's work. The Household Fire and First Night
Passage 20
तत्रावसथ्यमाधाय रामो मन्त्रविधानवित्। यथासम्पन्नहविषा जुहाव वनवृत्तिमान्॥२०॥
Rāma, versed in the prescribed mantras, established the household fire there and, living by the forest, offered whatever oblation was available.
Passage 21
कन्दैर्मूलैः फलैः शाकैर्मांसैः कृष्णमृगोद्भवैः। होमावशिष्टैर्विधिवद्बुभुजे सकुटुम्बकः॥२१॥
With his family he duly ate the remnants of the offering—tubers, roots, fruits, greens, and meat from black antelope.
Passage 22
तस्यागमनमाज्ञाय दिव्ये पञ्चवटीवने। तस्यामेव निशि प्राप्ताः स्वाश्रमान् मुनिपुङ्गवाः॥२२॥
Learning that he had entered divine Pañcavaṭī, the foremost sages returned to their hermitages that very night.
Passage 23
रामः प्रियासहित आत्तसहर्षलीलः संवार्तयन् विविधमार्गवनप्रवृत्तीः। सुष्वाप पर्णसदने धृततूणचापस्त्रैलोक्यकण्टकनिरासनिबद्धचेताः॥२३॥
Rāma, joyfully at ease with his beloved, spoke with her about the many roads and happenings of the forest. Keeping quiver and bow beside him and his mind fixed upon removing the thorns of the three worlds, he slept in the leaf dwelling.
Passage 24
सौमित्रिरार्यचरणाहितचित्तवृत्तिरारूढचापनिहितैकशरः प्रकामम्। तस्थौ वने कटिनिबद्धनिषङ्गयुग्मो रक्षन् विनिद्रनयनः प्रियपर्णशालाम्॥२४॥
The son of Sumitrā, his mind placed at his elder brother's feet, stood in the forest with bow strung, one arrow set, twin quivers bound at his waist, and sleepless eyes guarding the cherished leaf cottage.
Passage 25
इत्थं सुधीर्हृदयतः प्रथमां निशां तां गोदावरीनिकटपञ्चवटीवनस्थः। सौमित्रिरार्यचरणौ रहसि प्रसुप्ते संजाग्रदेव निभृताप्तमनिर्निनाय॥२५॥
Thus wise Lakṣmaṇa, dwelling in Pañcavaṭī near the Godāvarī, passed that first night with a calm and steadfast mind, keeping watch while his revered elders slept privately. Thus ends Chapter 139, “The First Arrival in the Forest of Pañcavaṭī,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.