Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 15: Lakṣmaṇa Constructs an Āśrama for Rāma in Pañcavaṭī
Text 3.15.11
इयमादित्यसङ्काशैः पद्मैः सुरभिगन्धिभिः।
अदूरे दृश्यते रम्या पद्मिनी पद्मशोभिता॥
iyam āditya-saṅkāśaiḥ padmaiḥ surabhi-gandhibhiḥ
adūre dṛśyate ramyā padminī padma-śobhitā
iyam1 āditya-saṅkāśaiḥ = which shine like the sun; padmaiḥ = with lotuses; surabhi-gandhibhiḥ = and which charmed with their fragrance 1; adūre = not far [from here]; dṛśyate = can be seen; ramyā = it is pleasant; padminī = a lake; padma-śobhitā = beautified by Śrī.
A lake can be seen not far [from here]. Beautified by Śrī, it is pleasant with lotuses which shine like the sun and which charm with their fragrance.
Āditya-saṅkāśaiḥ also indicates that the lotuses bloomed because of the sun.1 Lord Hari was eternally present there in accordance with the statement:
tulasī-kānanaṁ yatra yatra padma-vanāni ca
vasanti vaiṣṇavā yatra tatra sannihito hariḥ
“Lord Hari is present wherever there is a garden of tulasī, wherever there are forests of lotuses and wherever the Vaiṣṇavas live.”
Surabhi-gandhibhiḥ also indicates that the lotuses were fragrant due to Lord Hari who is fully fragrant as indicated in the scriptures 2.
The lake was near Godāvarī. It was beautified by Śrī who was inseparable from Lord Hari who was always there.
This verse states that [the area near the lake] was fit for residence.