Valmiki Ramayana 2.32.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 4

द्वात्रिंशस्सर्गः · Gifts to Suyajna and the Brahmins; Trijata’s Petition and Rama’s Charity

Devanagari script

तमागतं वेदविदं प्राञ्जलिस्सीतया सह ।

सुयज्ञमभिचक्राम राघवोऽग्निमिवार्चितम् ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.32.4

Transliteration

tam āgataṁ vedavidaṁ prāñjaliḥ sītayā saha |

suyajñam abhicakrāma rāghavo ’gnim ivārcitam ||4||

Translation

ヴェーダに通暁するスヤジュニャが来ると、ラाघヴァ（ラーマ）はシーターとともに合掌し、聖なる火を礼拝するかのように彼を敬い、恭しく右繞した。

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Word by Word

• tam: him
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) सर्वनाम
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• āgatam: who has come
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agreeing with tam
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vedavidam: knower of the Vedas
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda-vid (प्रातिपदिक) [veda + √vid (धातु)]
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense: 'vedaṃ veda iti' (knower of Veda)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective used substantively 'with folded hands'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• sītayā: with Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular
• Role: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)

• saha: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; preposition-like particle governing Instrumental (तृतीया)
• Role: Sahakāraka (सह)

• suyajñam: Suyajna
• Type: Noun
• Root: suyajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper name
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• abhicakrāma: circumambulated / approached in reverence
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√kram (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• rāghavaḥ: Raghava (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper epithet of Rama
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• agnim: fire
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Upamāna (उपमान)

• iva: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; simile marker (उपमा-वाचक)
• Role: Upamādyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)

• arcitam: worshipped / honored
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √arc (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying suyajñam
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• tamāgataṃ → tam + āgatam
• vēdavidaṅ → vedavidam (anusvāra before v)
• prāñjalissītayā → prāñjaliḥ + sītayā
• suyajñamabhicakrāma → suyajñam + abhicakrāma
• rāghavō'gnimivārcitam → rāghavaḥ + agnim + iva + arcitam (visarga sandhi: o 'gni)

Context

On the arrival of sage Suyajna well-versed in the Vedas, both Rama and Sita offered obeisance to him as to fire-god and circumambulated him.

The teaching

Atithi-satkara and honoring the learned are themselves yajña; reverence to the Veda-knower sustains dharma.

Ethical theme

Ācāra-dharma (conduct toward guests/learned)

Devotion and practice

Models bhakti through humility: treat the wise/guest as sacred fire; practice añjali and respectful circumambulation as inner surrender.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Reverent, ritual, serene

Themes

• Dharma
• Respect for sages
• Vedic learning
• Hospitality
• Maryādā

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Sītā
• Suyajña
• Agni (as comparison)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes reverence toward Vedic knowledge and holy guests; honoring sages is treated as honoring sacred fire itself.

What is the narrative situation?

A Veda-versed sage named Suyajña arrives, and Rama and Sita greet him with ritual respect and circumambulation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama and Sita’s maryādā (propriety) and humility in honoring spiritual authority.