Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 18

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

देवकार्यनिमित्तं च तत्रापश्यत्समुद्यतम्।दध्यक्षतं घृतं चैव मोदकान्हविषस्तथा।।2.20.17।।लाजान्माल्यानि शुक्लानि पायसं कृसरं तथा।समिध: पूर्णकुम्भांश्च ददर्श रघुनन्दनः।।2.20.18।।

Transliteration

devakāryanimittaṃ ca tatrāpaśyat samudyatam |

dadhyakṣataṃ ghṛtaṃ caiva modakān haviṣas tathā ||

lājān mālyāni śuklāni pāyasaṃ kṛsaraṃ tathā |

samidhaḥ pūrṇakumbhāṃś ca dadarśa raghunandanaḥ ||

Translation

ദേവകാര്യത്തിനായി അവിടെ ഒരുക്കിയിരുന്ന സർവ്വ സാമഗ്രികളും അവൻ കണ്ടു: ദധി-അക്ഷതം, ഘൃതം, മോദകങ്ങൾ, ഹവിഷ്യവും; ലാജ, ശ്വേതമാലകൾ, പായസം, കൃസരവും; സമിധകളും പൂർണ്ണകുംഭങ്ങളും—ഇവയെല്ലാം രഘുനന്ദനൻ ദർശിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• लाजान्: parched grains
• लाजान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (masculine, accusative case, plural)

• माल्यानि: garlands
• माल्यानि: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (neuter, accusative case, plural)

• शुक्लानि: white
• शुक्लानि: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (neuter, accusative, plural; adjective qualifying माल्यानि)

• पायसम्: rice-milk pudding
• पायसम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (neuter, accusative, singular)

• कृसरम्: kṛsara (rice dish, often with sesame/beans)
• कृसरम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (neuter, accusative, singular)

• तथा: and also / likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम्/समुच्चयार्थे (indeclinable; adverb/conjunctive sense: 'also/likewise')

• समिधः: sacrificial fuel-sticks
• समिधः: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समिध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (feminine, accusative, plural)

• पूर्णकुम्भान्: filled pots (water-jars)
• पूर्णकुम्भान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ण + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (पूर्णः कुम्भः); पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (masculine, accusative, plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधक-निपातः (indeclinable; conjunction 'and')

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (perfect, 3rd person singular, active)

• रघुनन्दनः: Raghunandana (Rama)
• रघुनन्दनः: कर्ता (agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघु + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समासः (रघोः नन्दनः); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (masculine, nominative, singular)

Context

There Rama saw curd, grains of rice, clarified butter, sweetmeats, oblations, parched grain, white garlands, porridge of cooked rice mixed with sesame seeds, sacrirficial faggots, vessels filled with water, etc. kept ready for religious rites.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Raghunandana)
• akṣata
• ghṛta
• havis
• lāja
• mālya (white garlands)
• pāyasa

FAQs

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

Dharma is maintained through faithful performance of sacred duties—ritual readiness symbolizes steadiness in righteous living.

What is the narrative situation?

The text reiterates the inventory of items prepared for worship, emphasizing the solemn religious atmosphere surrounding the household.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The household’s dharmic discipline (especially the queen’s devotional regimen) is highlighted through the completeness of preparations.