Valmiki Ramayana 1.48.8: Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 8

अहल्याशापवर्णनम्

The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā

Setting: Sumati’s realm (likely Aṅga; court of Romapāda/Sumati tradition)Halt during journey toward Mithilā

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रवचश्श्रुत्वा राजा परमहर्षितः ।

अतिथी परमौ प्राप्तौ पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ ॥८॥

पूजयामास विधिवत्सत्कारार्हौ महाबलौ ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.48.8

Transliteration

viśvāmitravacaś śrutvā rājā paramaharṣitaḥ |

atithī paramau prāptau putrau daśarathasya tau ||8||

pūjayāmāsa vidhivat satkārārhau mahābalau |

Translation

राजा ने विश्वामित्र की बात सुनी और बहुत खुश हुआ। दशरथ के दोनों बेटे मेहमान बनके आए थे। राजा ने उनकी बहुत इज्जत की और अच्छे से खाना खिलाया।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• viśvāmitra-vacaḥ: Viśvāmitra's words
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Pañcamī? no; actually Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa; vacaḥ = Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd/प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; compound sense: 'of Viśvāmitra' (षष्ठी)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• śrutvā: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), 'having heard' (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• rājā: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• parama-harṣitaḥ: exceedingly delighted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + harṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √hṛṣ)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying rājā; harṣita = past passive participle sense 'delighted'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• atithī: two guests
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• paramau: most excellent, distinguished (two)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; qualifying atithī/putrau
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• prāptau: arrived
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; used adjectivally: 'having arrived'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• putrau: two sons
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; apposition to atithī
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• daśarathasya: of Daśaratha
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• tau: those two
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; demonstrative pronoun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• pūjayāmāsa: honoured, received
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect/past), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana (singular); intensive/causative nuance not required here; meaning 'honoured/worshipped'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• vidhivat: duly, according to rite
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb; 'according to rule/rite'
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• satkāra-arhau: worthy of honour
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; upapada-tatpuruṣa: 'worthy of honour'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• mahā-balau: very mighty (two)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; qualifying tau/putrau
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• viśvāmitravacaśśrutvā = viśvāmitra-vacaḥ + śrutvā (visarga before ś -> śś)
• vidhivatsatkārārhau = vidhivat + satkāra-arhau
• mahābalau = mahā-balau (karmadhāraya)

Context

After hearing Viswamitra, the king (Sumati) got exceedingly delighted and extendedhospitality in accordance with tradition to the highly valiant sons of Dasaratha, the distinguished guests worthy of honour.

The teaching

Atithi-satkāra is a pillar of rāja-dharma; honoring the worthy brings auspiciousness to host and realm.

Ethical theme

Atithi-dharma / rāja-dharma

Devotion and practice

Practice reverence and service toward guests and saints; cultivate humility before dharma-bearing persons.

Deity praised

Rāma (implicitly as worthy of pūjā)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Welcoming, reverent, auspicious

Themes

• Dharma
• Atithi-dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Sumati
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Atithi-dharma: honoring guests—especially worthy visitors—according to established righteous custom (vidhi), without neglect or delay.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa arrive with Viśvāmitra, and King Sumati, pleased by Viśvāmitra’s words, receives the princes with due ceremonial hospitality.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumati’s maryādā (propriety) and generosity—he recognizes worth and responds with respectful, dharmic welcome.