Shloka 1.51.2
शतानन्दोपदेशः — Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रस्य धीमत:।हृष्टरोमा महातेजाश्शतानन्दो महातपा:।।1.51.1।।गौतमस्य सुतो ज्येष्ठस्तपसा द्योतितप्रभ:।रामसन्दर्शनादेव परं विस्मयमागत:।।1.51.2।।
gautamasya suto jyeṣṭhas tapasā dyotita-prabhaḥ |
rāma-sandarśanād eva paraṃ vismayam āgataḥ ||
Śatānanda—Gautama’s eldest son, shining with the radiance born of austerity—was filled with profound wonder simply by beholding Rāma.
Satananda the eldest son of Gautama, a great sage who looked brilliant with the power of austerities was thrilled to hear the words of Viswamitra the intellectual and experienced great astonishment on beholding Rama.
The verse suggests that dharma has a recognizable ‘radiance’: the sight of a dharmic person (Rāma) naturally evokes reverence and awe in those refined by tapas and truth.
After hearing and interacting in Mithilā’s setting, the text describes Śatānanda’s inner response—his astonishment upon seeing Rāma.
Rāma’s inherent nobility (dharma-svarūpa) and Śatānanda’s spiritual sensitivity developed through austerity.