Valmiki Ramayana 1.66.2: Bala Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 2
शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः
The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow
Addressed to ViśvāmitraSetting: मिथिला-राजसभा/प्रासादPlaces named: मिथिला
तमर्चयित्वा धर्मात्मा शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा ।
राघवौ च महात्मानौ तदा वाक्यमुवाच ह ॥२॥
tam arcayitvā dharmātmā śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā |
rāghavau ca mahātmānau tadā vākyam uvāca ha ||2||
जनक ने विश्वामित्र की शास्त्रों के हिसाब से पूजा की। फिर उन्होंने राम और लक्ष्मण की भी इज्जत की। दोनों बड़े लोग थे। उसके बाद जनक ने बात करनी शुरू की।
Sandhi Notes
- तमर्चयित्वा = तम् + अर्चयित्वा
- वाक्यमुवाच = वाक्यम् + उवाच (म् + उ)
The virtuous Janaka paid respects to Viswamitra and the high-souled Rama and Lakshmana in accordance with the sastras and spoke:
The teaching
शास्त्रविहितेन सत्कर्मणा महापुरुषान् अर्चयेत्—राज्ञः धर्मः शिष्टाचारश्च।
- Ethical theme
- Ācāra-dharma / rāja-dharma
For your practice
सत्सङ्ग-सेवा, गुरु-पूजन, विधि-निष्ठा—भक्ति/कर्मयोगस्य आधारः।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Ritual propriety, dignified, auspicious
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Maryada
- Itihasa
- Ethics
- Hospitality
- Ritual propriety
Śāstra-guided action (vidhi) as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; honoring the wise as honoring Brahman-in-manifest.
Guru-satkara ethos resonant with 'ācārya devo bhava' (later Taittirīya-śikṣā tradition; thematic echo).
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa: repeated courtly honoring of sages (e.g., Ayodhyā court scenes with Vasiṣṭha/Viśvāmitra)
Gṛhya-sūtra style hospitality/ārghya-pādya rites (general ritual background)
Bālakāṇḍa Mithilā reception sequence leading to bow episode and Sītā-svayaṃvara context
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn
Steady madhyama with gentle nyāsa on 'धर्मात्मा'
FAQs
Dharma here is expressed as maryādā (proper conduct): honouring teachers, guests, and worthy persons through śāstra-guided actions rather than impulse or pride.
Janaka formally welcomes and honours Viśvāmitra and the two princes, and prepares to speak—setting the stage for his account of Sītā and the bow.
Janaka’s virtue of dhārmikatā—disciplined righteousness shown through respectful, scripturally appropriate hospitality.
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