Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 9

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

सोऽपश्यत्पुरुषं तत्र वृद्धं परमपूजितम्।उपविष्टं गृहद्वारि तिष्ठतश्चापरान्बहून्।।।।

Transliteration

so 'paśyat puruṣaṃ tatra vṛddhaṃ paramapūjitam |

upaviṣṭaṃ gṛhadvāri tiṣṭhataś cāparān bahūn ||

Translation

അവിടെ അവൻ അത്യന്തം പൂജ്യനായ ഒരു വൃദ്ധപുരുഷനെ കണ്ടു—വീട്ടുവാതില്ക്കൽ ഇരിക്കുന്നവനെയും, സമീപത്ത് പലരും നില്ക്കുന്നതും.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपश्यत्: saw, beheld
• अपश्यत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुरुषम्: a man
• पुरुषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• वृद्धम्: aged, old
• वृद्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• परमपूजितम्: highly revered
• परमपूजितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-पूजित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) पूजित from √पूज्; उपसर्ग/विशेषण 'परम'

• उपविष्टम्: seated
• उपविष्टम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past active/PPP in sense) from √विश् with उपसर्ग उप; विशेषण

• गृहद्वारि: at the house-door, at the entrance
• गृहद्वारि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह-द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गृहस्य द्वारम्)

• तिष्ठतः: of one standing / standing
• तिष्ठतः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) from √स्था; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (standing person's)

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

• अपरान्: other
• अपरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

Context

Rama beheld a highly venerable elderly man seated at the entrance of the residence and many others standing (near-by).

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

The verse supports dharma through social order and reverence: elders and respected persons are acknowledged in liminal spaces (doorways), reflecting norms of respect and proper conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama approaches the inner residence, he encounters a revered elder seated at the entrance with many attendants/others standing around.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for elders and awareness of decorum—Rama is shown moving through spaces where honor and protocol matter.