Shloka 1.51.5

शतानन्दोपदेशः — Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

अपि रामे महातेजा मम माता यशस्विनी।वन्यैरुपाहरत्पूजां पूजार्हे सर्वदेहिनाम्।।।।

Transliteration

api rāme mahātejā mama mātā yaśasvinī |

vanyair upāharat pūjāṁ pūjārhe sarvadehinām ||

Translation

O great one, did my illustrious mother offer worship to Rāma—worthy of reverence for all embodied beings—using offerings gathered from the forest?

Context

Did my highly lustrous and celebrated mother offer homage to Rama, worthy of reverence by all living beings, with things available in the forest?

Characters & Entities

• Śatānanda
• Viśvāmitra
• Ahalyā (implied)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through reverence and right recognition: honoring the truly worthy (pūjārha) with whatever one has (forest offerings) shows sincerity, humility, and truthfulness of devotion.

What is the narrative situation?

Śatānanda asks if Ahalyā, upon seeing Rāma, performed appropriate worship despite her austere forest circumstances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and devotion: offering simple worship from available means reflects inner purity rather than external wealth.