Valmiki Ramayana 2.87.15: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 15

गुहसंवादः · रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम्

Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt

Spoken by Guha to BharataSetting: Gaṅgā riverbank near Guha’s settlementPlaces named: GaṅgāEarly exile hospitality episode; ethical decision about accepting gifts

Devanagari script

तत्सर्वं प्रत्यनुज्ञासीद्राम स्सत्यपराक्रमः ।

न तु तत्प्रत्यगृह्णात्स क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन् ॥१५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.87.15

Transliteration

tat sarvaṃ pratyanujñāsīd rāmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ |

na tu tat pratyagṛhṇāt sa kṣatradharmam anusmaran ||15||

Translation

राम ने सब का शुक्रिया कहा। पर उसने कुछ लिया नहीं। वो अपने खत्री धरम को याद कर रहा था।

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Word by Word

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• सर्वम्: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण of तत्)

• प्रत्यनुज्ञासीत्: accepted/assented to, acknowledged
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + अनु + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• रामः: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• सत्यपराक्रमः: whose prowess is truth / true-valiant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि ('सत्यं पराक्रमो यस्य सः')
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण of रामः)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)
• Role: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोध-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• प्रत्यगृह्णात्: accepted, took
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• सः: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• क्षत्रधर्मम्: duty of a Kshatriya
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('क्षत्रस्य धर्मः')
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object of अनुस्मरन्)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अनुस्मरन्: remembering
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier; concomitant action)

Sandhi Notes

• तत्सर्वं = तत् + सर्वम्
• प्रत्यनुज्ञासीद्रामः = प्रत्यनुज्ञासीत् + रामः
• राम स्सत्यपराक्रमः = रामः + सत्यपराक्रमः
• तत्प्रत्यगृह्णात् = तत् + प्रत्यगृह्णात्

Context

Rama whose prowess is his truth, acknowledged all that but remembering the duty enjoined on a kshatriya did not accept them.

The teaching

Honor the giver with gratitude, yet keep one’s role-dharma intact; refusal can be dharmic when done with gentleness and clarity.

Duties in tension

• Atithi-dharma: accepting a host’s gift to honor him
• Kṣatriya-dharma/apratigraha: not receiving gifts; maintaining giver-status and independence

Ethical theme

Role-duty vs. social courtesy

How it resolves

Role-based prioritization (varṇa/āśrama-dharma) with courteous acknowledgment

For your practice

Teaches sāttvika restraint and integrity—accepting respect without attachment to gain; useful for vrata and ethical discipline.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Self-restraint, dignity, principled calm

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Renunciation
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Self-restraint aligned with svadharma: Rāma honors the giver but maintains the discipline expected of a kṣatriya living by principled austerity.

What is the narrative situation?

After Guha offers abundant food, Rāma responds courteously but refuses to receive it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s satya (truthfulness) and maryādā (propriety) expressed as disciplined refusal without disrespect.