Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 8

अहल्याशापवर्णनम्

The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रवचश्श्रुत्वा राजा परमहर्षित:।अतिथी परमौ प्राप्तौ पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ।।।।पूजयामास विधिवत्सत्कारार्हौ महाबलौ।

Transliteration

viśvāmitravacaś śrutvā rājā paramaharṣitaḥ |

atithī paramau prāptau putrau daśarathasya tau ||

pūjayāmāsa vidhivat satkārārhau mahābalau ||

Translation

Hearing Viśvāmitra’s words, King Sumati was greatly delighted. Seeing the two sons of Daśaratha arrive as distinguished guests—mighty and worthy of honor—he welcomed and worshipfully hosted them according to proper custom.

Word by Word

• viśvāmitra-vacaḥ: Viśvāmitra's words
• viśvāmitra-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Pañcamī? no; actually Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa; vacaḥ = Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd/प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; compound sense: 'of Viśvāmitra' (षष्ठी)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), 'having heard' (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• parama-harṣitaḥ: exceedingly delighted
• parama-harṣitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + harṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √hṛṣ)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying rājā; harṣita = past passive participle sense 'delighted'

• atithī: two guests
• atithī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual

• paramau: most excellent, distinguished (two)
• paramau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; qualifying atithī/putrau

• prāptau: arrived
• prāptau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; used adjectivally: 'having arrived'

• putrau: two sons
• putrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; apposition to atithī

• daśarathasya: of Daśaratha
• daśarathasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; demonstrative pronoun

• pūjayāmāsa: honoured, received
• pūjayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect/past), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana (singular); intensive/causative nuance not required here; meaning 'honoured/worshipped'

• vidhivat: duly, according to rite
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb; 'according to rule/rite'

• satkāra-arhau: worthy of honour
• satkāra-arhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; upapada-tatpuruṣa: 'worthy of honour'

• mahā-balau: very mighty (two)
• mahā-balau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; qualifying tau/putrau

Context

After hearing Viswamitra, the king (Sumati) got exceedingly delighted and extendedhospitality in accordance with tradition to the highly valiant sons of Dasaratha, the distinguished guests worthy of honour.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Sumati
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Atithi-dharma: honoring guests—especially worthy visitors—according to established righteous custom (vidhi), without neglect or delay.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa arrive with Viśvāmitra, and King Sumati, pleased by Viśvāmitra’s words, receives the princes with due ceremonial hospitality.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumati’s maryādā (propriety) and generosity—he recognizes worth and responds with respectful, dharmic welcome.