Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 55
भरद्वाजाश्रमे भरतसैन्यस्य दिव्यात्मिथ्यम् / Divine Hospitality to Bharata’s Army at Bharadvaja’s Hermitage
संवाहन्त्यस्समापेतुर्नार्यो रुचिरलोचनाः।परिमृज्य तथाऽन्योन्यं पाययन्ति वराङ्गनाः।।।।
saṃvāhantyaḥ samāpetur nāryo ruciralocanāḥ |
parimṛjya tathā ’nyonyaṃ pāyayanti varāṅganāḥ ||
રુચિર નેત્રવાળી નારીઓ સંવાહન કરવા આગળ આવી; અને શ્રેષ્ઠ વરાંગનાઓ પરસ્પર રીતે પુંછીને તેમને પાન કરાવતી—એકબીજાને વારે વારે સેવા કરતી।
Some women with beautiful eyes quickly approached them for massaging. The best of ladies wiped their bodies dry and gave each other wine to drink.
FAQs
It continues the theme of अतिथि-धर्म—service rendered thoroughly to guests; at the same time, it foreshadows how indulgence can test self-control (dama) within dharma.
After bathing and anointing, attendants massage, dry, and offer drinks to Bharata’s retinue as part of the lavish reception.
Attentive service and refined care; the scene also implicitly contrasts external comfort with the need for inner discipline.