Chapter 81 — Uttara Kanda, Sarga 81

Valmiki Ramayana — Uttara Kanda

Verse 81.17

तस्यासौ दण्डविषयो विन्ध्यशैवलयोनृप॥ शप्तो ब्रह्मर्षिणा तेन वैधर्म्य सहिते कृते। ततः प्रभृति काकुत्स्थ दण्डकारण्यमुच्यते॥

tasyāsau daṇḍaviṣayo vindhyaśaivalayonṛpa|| śapto brahmarṣiṇā tena vaidharmya sahite kṛte| tataḥ prabhṛti kākutstha daṇḍakāraṇyamucyate||

English Meaning

O Rāma, in the golden age, the province between the mountains Vindhya and Saivala comprising Danda's territories, imprecated by the Brāhmaṇa saint, in consequence of the iniquity of the vicious souled, was reduced into a desert. From that time it passes by the name of Dandaka forest.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)