Shloka 6

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

अथ राजा दशरथ: प्रियातिथिमुपस्थितम्।।।।दृष्ट्वा परमसत्कारै: पूजार्हं समपूजयत्।

Transliteration

atha rājā daśarathaḥ priyātithim upasthitam | dṛṣṭvā paramasatkāraiḥ pūjārhaṃ samapūjayat ||

Translation

तब राजा दशरथ ने आए हुए प्रिय अतिथि को देखकर, जो पूजन के योग्य थे, उन्हें परम सत्कार और आदर से विधिवत् पूजित किया।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: असम्बद्ध (Discourse adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), काल/अनन्तरार्थक — 'then/thereupon'

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग — 'king'

• दशरथः: Daśaratha
• दशरथः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) / विशेष्य (Apposition to 'rājā')
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग — proper name

• प्रियातिथिम्: the dear guest
• प्रियातिथिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (seen/received)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय + अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; समास: प्रियः अतिथिः (कर्मधारय) — 'dear guest'

• उपस्थितम्: arrived/present
• उपस्थितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + स्था (धातु) + उपस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय; द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग — 'arrived/present' (qualifying priyātithim)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/gerundial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund) — 'having seen'

• परमसत्कारैः: with highest honors
• परमसत्कारैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + सत्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग — 'with supreme honors'; समास: परमः सत्कारः (कर्मधारय)

• पूजार्हम्: worthy of honor
• पूजार्हम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of guest)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजा + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; समास: पूजायाः अर्हः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) — 'worthy of worship'

• समपूजयत्: honored
• समपूजयत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद — 'honored/worshipped'

Context

King Dasaratha, then accorded a warm welcome to the honoured guest.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Atithi-dharma: receiving a guest with honour is a moral obligation, especially for kings, sustaining trust and social righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha meets an arriving guest and performs formal hospitality with exceptional respect.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courtesy and generosity: Daśaratha models royal propriety by honouring the guest as ‘pūjārha’ (worthy of reverence).