Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 16

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Devanagari script

प्रविश्य च तदा रामो मातुरन्त:पुरं शुभम्।ददर्श मातरं तत्र हावयन्तीं हुताशनम्।।।।

Transliteration

praviśya ca tadā rāmo mātur antaḥpuraṃ śubham | dadarśa mātaraṃ tatra hāvayantīṃ hutāśanam || 2.20.16 ||

Translation

പിന്നെ രാമൻ മാതാവിന്റെ ശുഭമായ അന്തഃപുരത്തിലേക്ക് പ്രവേശിച്ചു; അവിടെ ഹുതാശനമായ അഗ്നിയിൽ ആഹുതി അർപ്പിപ്പിക്കുന്ന മാതാവിനെ കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from √विश् with प्र; अव्ययवत्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मातुः: of (his) mother
• मातुः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अन्तःपुरम्: inner apartment
• अन्तःपुरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (antaḥpuram)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• हावयन्तीम्: causing (the offering), urging (priests)
• हावयन्तीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हू (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative present participle from √हू (हावयति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (mātaram)

• हुताशनम्: Agni (fire)
• हुताशनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत-आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (हुतं अश्नाति इति) = Agni

Context

Rama entered the auspicious inner apartment of his mother and saw her exhorting the priests to offer sacrificial oblations to Agni (fire-god).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Agni (Hutāśana)
• antaḥpura (inner apartments)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as continuity of sacred duty within family life: ritual worship and reverent household order frame the mother–son encounter.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma reaches Kauśalyā’s quarters and finds her in the midst of fire-worship, overseeing the oblations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s piety and careful performance of rites, and Rāma’s respectful approach to his mother’s sacred space.