Valmiki Ramayana 2.15.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 7

अभिषेकसज्जा तथा सुमन्त्रस्य प्रेषणम्

Coronation Preparations and Sumantra’s Commission

Setting: Ayodhyā palace/ritual hall (abhiṣeka preparation area)Ritual setup (kalasha arrangement)

Devanagari script

सलाजाः क्षीरिभिश्छन्ना घटाः काञ्चनराजताः ॥७॥

पद्मोत्पलयुता भान्ति पूर्णाः परमवारिणा ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.15.7

Transliteration

salājāḥ kṣīribhiś channā ghaṭāḥ kāñcanarājatāḥ ||7||

padmōtpalayutā bhānti pūrṇāḥ paramavāriṇā |

Translation

सोने और चांदी के बरतन थे, उनपर ताज़े हरे पत्ते थे। उसमें कमल और नील-कमल दिए थे। वो सब पानी से भरके चमक रहे थे।

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Word by Word

• सलाजाः: with puffed grain
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + लाजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (स- = ‘with’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (घटाः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

• क्षीरिभिः: with milky/sappy (leaves/coverings)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (छन्नाः—आवरणद्रव्य)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• छन्नाः: covered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (घटाः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• घटाः: pots; vessels
• Type: Noun
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• काञ्चनराजताः: of gold and silver
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन + राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (काञ्चनं च राजतं च); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (घटाः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Dvandva

• पद्मोत्पलयुताः: with lotuses and waterlilies
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + उत्पल + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (पद्मं च उत्पलं च) + क्त-प्रत्यय ‘युत’ (endowed with); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (घटाः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Dvandva

• भान्ति: shine
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• पूर्णाः: filled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय कृदन्त (filled); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (घटाः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• परमवारिणा: with excellent/holy water
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (परमं वारि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• क्षीरिभिश्छन्ना → क्षीरिभिः छन्नाः
• पद्मोत्पलयुता → पद्मोत्पलयुताः

Context

Gold and silver vessels filled with holy water and puffed corn, adorned with lotuses, water lilies and leaves from trees rich in sap shone.

The teaching

Auspicious action is supported by careful preparation—purity, beauty, and completeness in ritual materials reflect inner readiness.

Ethical theme

Ritual dharma (maṅgala/saṃskāra)

For your practice

Use as contemplation for śuddhi and maṅgala before japa/pujā; kalasha as symbol of fullness (pūrṇatā).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Auspicious, lustrous, ritual-ready

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Ritual preparation
• Auspiciousness (maṅgala)

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• padma (lotus)
• utpala (water-lily)
• lājā (puffed grain)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through careful observance of auspicious rites: purity and beauty are not vanity but a disciplined expression of respect for sacred action and truthful intention.

What is the narrative situation?

Ritual items are arranged—pots of consecrated water, decorated with sacred flora and auspicious grains—signaling a formal ceremony or major transition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverent attentiveness: the organizers’ meticulous preparation reflects sincerity and respect toward dharmic procedure.