Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 12: Agastya Requests Rāma to Protect the Sages
Text 3.12.54
O greatly austere sage, all of this place in its entirety was unfit for residence. Tell [Me] the facts regarding how it was built [and made into] a place fit for residence. I am very curious.
śrutvā tu vacanaṁ tasya rāmasya madhurākṣaram
pratyuvāca tato rāmam agastyo bhagavān ṛṣiḥ
śrutvā tu = hearing; vacanam = words; tasya rāmasya = Rāma’s; madhura-akṣaram = spoken so sweetly; pratyuvāca tataḥ = replied as follows; rāmam = to Rāma; agastyaḥ = Agastya; bhagavān = the powerful; ṛṣiḥ = sage.
Hearing Rāma’s words spoken so sweetly, the powerful sage Agastya replied to Rāma as follows.