Rama reaches Panchavati
One day Rama desired to meet the great sage Agastya. He asked permission from the neighboring sages, who said that would be good. The sages said near Agastya's ashrama was a forest of full of long pepper plants. That was a nice place to stay too.

Rama traveled towards that part of the forest and stayed there the night. The next day they went towards the ashrama of the sage. On the way, Rama said this was the place where Agastya had killed Rakshasas. Lakshmana wanted to know how a brahmana was able to do this. Rama then said he would tell the story of Ilvala and Vatapi.

Ilvala and Vatapi were two rakshasha brothers. They knew magic and would use that to entice their prey. Vatapi would take the form of a sheep and kill the brahmanas. The two brothers would invite the brahmanas for a feast. Ilvala would serve the brahmanas meat of the sheep, which was Vatapi. The brahmanas would have a feast and once they were done, Ilvala would call out to his brother. Vatapi would tear the stomachs of the brahmanas and come out, thus killing the brahmanas.

Agastya heard this and decided to get rid of the two brothers. He went to the place where rakshasa brothers stayed and got himself invited for a feast.

Delighted, Ilvala said he would serving sheep, to which Agastya gladly accepted the invite.
When Agastya started the meal, he invoked Ganga. The water of the river entered his water pot. Taking a few sips of the water, he then stared gulping down the cooked meat.

After sometime, Ilvala started calling out to Vatapi. Vatapi, who had been fully digested could not come out. When Ilvala went to attack the sage, Agastya produced a stream of fire, which burnt Ilvala to death.

Ending the tale, Rama said this is how Agastya had killed the two brothers.

They went near the ashrama and asked a disciple of Agastya to announce that they had come. Without permission, they did not dare enter.

Agastya asked to quickly bring Rama inside as none but the Lord had come there. He welcomed Rama, Lakshmana and Sita and prepared a grand feast in their honor. They stayed the night there.

In the morning, Rama spoke to Agastya and told him about he happened to be in the forest with his brother and wife. He then asked the sage, what would be an appropriate place for them to stay.

The sage said on the banks of River Godavari, was a place called Panchavati. That would be the ideal place for them. The sage also gave Rama, a bow designed by the great Vishwakarma.

Taking leave of the sage, the three went southwards. In forests, they met the great bird Jatayu., who came to greet them, and introduced himself as a friend of Dashratha. He took them to the place called Panchavati.

Lakshmana then asked Rama where they would stay. Pointing to the banks of the river Godavari, Rama said that would be the ideal place. Full of flowering trees and bees slying around, the place was very peaceful and beautiful.

Lakshmana quickly built a hut for them. Burning a fire at the entrance of the hut, they worshiped the fire god and entered their new hut.

Jatayu who was them all through, took leave.

Rama would get up early in the morning and go for a bath in the river. Lakshmana would then go to gather fruits from the forest.

Sita was happy spending her days. If she ever felt sad, one look at Rama and her sadness would vanish.

Thus their days passed in Panchavati.

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