Ramayana of valmiki and Kamban -aranyakanda-6-RamameetsAgastya

[Guest guest]

6. Meeting with Agasthya and going to Panchavati

 

The sage on hearing about the arrival of Rama, was eager to see him and asked him to be brought in without delay. When Rama entered the asrama, the sage himself came to receive him.

 

After following the usual athithisathkara , Agasthya gave Rama the bow of Vishnu, which was made by Visvakarma and given to him by Indra along with the quiver , arrow and a gold sword. This is the bow taken from Parasurama and which Rama gave to Varuna. It has returned to him as the time for Ravana vadha was nearing.

 

Then Agasthya praised Rama as being the most welcome guest who is the protector of dharma of the whole world and thus worthy of worship and honour. The sage meanst that Rama was the Lord Himself who protects the whole world and He is to be worshipped and honoured.

 

Agasthya also praised Seetha saying that in spite of being a princess she had accompanied Rama to the forest unmindful of the hardships therein. Thus she had done the impossible, dhushkaram krthavathee eshaa, Agasthya said that normally women are fickle-minded and thoughtless and favour only the one with wealth. But Seetha was like Arundhathi, being the best pathivratha. Agasthya extolled Seetha, fully well knowing the vital part she was going to play in Ravanavadha.

 

Then the sage asked Rama to dwell there itself with Seetha and Lakshmana. Rama with folded hands asked him to show a suitable place for them to live in the forest and the sage after deep meditation, told them about Panchavati and blessed him that he was going to stay there for the rest of his forest life which he undertook on the word of his father. Rama , surprised, asked how did the sage knew about his exile and Agasthya replied that through his power of yoga he knew everything and also what was in the mind of Rama. This was said because at first the sage told Rama to stay there itself for the rest of his forest life but Rama asked him to show the suitable place for them to live. Through his meditation the sage came to know the purpose of the incarnation of Rama and suggested Panchavati because the rakshasas would not come to his hermitage out of fear for the sage and the slaying of Khara and later Ravana would not have been possible if Rama stayed there.

 

Then Agasthya directed them to Panchavati, the place so called because of the presence of five banyan trees there. They went towards Panchavati when they saw a big eagle perched on a banyan tree , whom Rama suspected to be a rakshasa. The bird told them sweetly that it was a friend of Dasaratha. It was jatayu, the brother of Sampathi, both being the sons of Aruna, who was the brother of Garuda. Jatayu told them that it will guard Seetha when Rama and Laksmana go for hunting.

 

With Seetha and Lakshmana Rama went to Panchavati along with Jatayu as though to burn the enemies like moths by the fire, ripoon dhiDhakshan salabhaan iva analaH, says Valmiki, to denote the beginning of the events that would lead to Ravanavadha.