Hari Om.
Let us begin the thirteenth sarga of the araNya kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Having walked south from the hermitage of sage sutIkshNa the trio stopped by at the hermitage of sage agastya’s brother. The next morning they took leave of the sage and set out further south to meet the celebrated sage agastya himself recalling on the way the staunch commitment the sage has for doing good to mankind. Courteously they stop at the threshold of the hermitage and rAma send lakshmaNa to indicate his arrival. When the sage agastya learns about rAma’s advent, asks his disciple to bring him in immediately and demonstrating his anticipation he asks why was he made to wait at the threshold. Traditionally welcomed, rAma witnesses the grand hermitage of the sage with all the gods and goddesses gracing their abodes and immediately the sage himself comes by and meets rAma. After the initial courtesies, the sage immediately bestows on rAma, a mighty golden bow, pair of inexhaustible quivers with arrows and a sword all given by lord brahma and indra. Onwards…
The sage was delighted with the company of the trio and said – “O rAma, so nice of you to have stopped by along with lakshmaNa and sItA to pay respect to me. You all seem quite tired by the journey unto my hermitage. The daughter of janaka, sItA seems eager to rest. Despite being delicate, she is not cowed down by the difficulties of the forest life and out of her immense love for you, she has followed you. Therefore it behooves you to make it comfortable for her. Do as she wishes! She has indeed pulled off the most difficult task by following you to the forest. Generally, in the world, women are fair weather players! They accompany during happy times and give up during the difficult times. They are fickle like lightning, sharp as weapons and swift as the eagle or wind. But this sItA, your wife is free of those aspersions. She is admirable, pure and chaste like dEvi arundhati.
यं तु भवतो भार्या दोषैरेतैर्विवर्जिता।
श्लाघ्या च व्यपदेश्या च यथा देवी ह्यरुन्धती।।3.13.7।।
O subduer of enemies, rAma, the place where you make your abode here in the forest along with sItA and saumitRi will indeed be beautified by your presence”.
rAma was listening, folded his hands and said to the resplendent sage –
“I am indeed blessed and feel favored that a great sage such as yourself are happy with us three. Kindly direct me to a favorable place with abundance of water and forest produce to build our own hermitage and live there happily”.
The great sage thought for a while upon this request, contemplated and then assuredly said –
“O rAma, from here at a distance of two yOjanas is a place called panchvaTi which is well endowed with waters, animals and abundant forest produce, you may go there along with sItA and lakshmaNa and live there comfortably and happily fulfilling the promise you made to your father. In any case, most of the assigned time of the exile has been completed, the remaining time you may live there and then happily go back to the kingdom. Your father is indeed blessed to have been redeemed by his eldest son just like the king yayati of the yore.
धन्यस्ते जनको राम स राजा रघुनन्दन।।3.13.16।।
यस्त्वया ज्येष्ठपुत्रेण ययातिरिव तारितः।
I know everything about you by virtue of my penance and my love for king daSaratha. By virtue of my penance I can also divine your heart. Therefore after spending your time here with me in the hermitage I am asking you to goto panchavaTi.
हृदयस्थश्च ते छन्दो विज्ञातस्तपसा मया।।3.13.18।।
इहावासं प्रतिज्ञाय मया सह तपोवने।
अतश्च त्वामहं ब्रूमि गच्छ पञ्चवटीमिति।।3.13.19।।
The place is on the banks of river gOdAvarI, well endowed with fruits and roots, sylvan surroundings, visited by flocks of birds, sacred and delightful. I am sure sItA will enjoy her stay there. You are capable of protecting the sages while being there. Here look at the madhuka forest. Go to the north of that till you find a banyan tree. Walk up the terrain not far from the hill and you will find the forest of panchavaTi ever in full bloom”.
Directed thus by the truthful sage, the fearless brothers fell at his feet, took leave of him and wielding their bows walked along the path laid out by the sage to panchavaTi.
Here we conclude the the thirteenth sarga of the araNya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 3.14. jaTAyu’s narration of the creation
Previous: 3.12. agastya extends his arms for the mission
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
