Shloka 10

Raghunātha’s Entry into the City

Ayodhyā Festival Preparations and Procession

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मण्यः पात्रहस्ताश्च दूर्वाहारिद्रसंयुताः । सुवासिन्यो महाराजं रामं नीराजयंतु ताः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇyaḥ pātrahastāśca dūrvāhāridrasaṃyutāḥ | suvāsinyo mahārājaṃ rāmaṃ nīrājayaṃtu tāḥ

Translation

吉祥なる既婚の婦人たち――バラモンに敬虔に仕え、手に祭器を携え、ドゥールヴァ草と鬱金を備える者たち――が、大王よ、ラーマ王にアーラティ（灯明奉献）を捧げますように。

Word by Word

ब्राह्मण्यःbrāhmaṇa women

पात्रहस्ताःholding vessels in their hands

चand

दूर्वाdūrvā grass

हारिद्रturmeric

संयुताःprovided/combined (with)

सुवासिन्यःauspiciously dressed women

महाराजम्the great king

रामम्Rāma

नीराजयन्तुlet them perform ārati/ceremonial waving of lights

ताःthose (women)

Speaker

Narrative instruction (speaker not explicitly identifiable from the single verse excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: पात्रहस्ताश्च = पात्रहस्ताः + च; दूर्वाहारिद्रसंयुताः = दूर्वा + हारिद्र + संयुताः; नीराजयंतु = नीराजयन्तु

Characters & Entities

Rāma

FAQs

What is “nīrājana” (ārati) as implied in this verse?

Nīrājana is an auspicious rite of welcoming and protection in which lights (and often other auspicious items) are waved before a revered person or deity to invoke wellbeing and ward off inauspiciousness.

Why are dūrvā grass and turmeric mentioned together here?

Dūrvā and turmeric are classic markers of auspiciousness in Hindu ritual culture: dūrvā is used in blessings and offerings, while turmeric symbolizes purity, prosperity, and marital auspiciousness.

What ethical or cultural value does the verse emphasize?

It highlights dharmic social order and auspicious conduct—honoring righteous kingship (Rāma), respecting Brahmins, and performing protective rites through culturally sanctioned symbols of blessing and wellbeing.