Valmiki Ramayana 1.23.20: Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 20

कामाश्रम

प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū-Gaṅgā Confluence

Devanagari script

सत्कारं समनुप्राप्य कथाभिरभिरञ्जयन् ।

यथार्हमजपन् सन्ध्यामृषयस्ते समाहिताः ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.23.20

Transliteration

satkāraṃ samanuprāpya kathābhir abhirañjayan |

yathārham ajapan sandhyām ṛṣayas te samāhitāḥ ||20||

Translation

रिशियों ने उन्हे बहुत रिस्पेक्ट दिया। बात-चीत में उनका दिल खुश हो गया। फिर शांत होके संध्या पाठ किया। सब सही तरीके से किया।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• satkāram: honor/reception
• satkāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: sat + kāra (good + honoring); Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• samanuprāpya: having obtained/received
• samanuprāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-anu-√prāp (प्राप्) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā

• kathābhiḥ: with stories/conversation
• kathābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana

• abhirañjayan: delighting/pleasing
• abhirañjayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√rañj (रञ्ज्)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agreeing with ṛṣayaḥ

• yathārham: as is proper/according to due rite
• yathārham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + arha (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: yathā arham; adverb (manner)

• ajapan: they recited/muttered
• ajapan: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (जप्)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (imperfect), Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• sandhyām: the twilight prayer (sandhyā)
• sandhyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ṛṣayaḥ: the sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• samāhitāḥ: composed/collected (in mind)
• samāhitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धा) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate adjective of ṛṣayaḥ

Context

Having received due hospitality, they delighted them (ascetics) with their talk. The rishis with composed minds recited their evening prayer as usual.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛṣis (sages)
• Sandhyā (twilight prayers)

FAQs

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

Even amid social exchange, Dharma is maintained by not neglecting daily spiritual disciplines; regular practice steadies Satya in life.

What is the narrative situation?

After hospitality and conversation, the sages return to their customary sandhyā recitation with composed minds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Samādhāna (mental composure) and consistency in duty—performing what is proper at the proper time.