Valmiki Ramayana 2.91.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 19

भरद्वाजाश्रमे भरतसैन्यस्य दिव्यात्मिथ्यम् / Divine Hospitality to Bharata’s Army at Bharadvaja’s Hermitage

Spoken by BharadvajaSetting: Bharadvāja-āśrama (near Prayāga)Places named: Kuru land (Kurūṣu), Kubera’s forest (Kauvera)Bharata’s journey to meet Rāma in exile

Devanagari script

वनं कुरुषु यद्दिव्यं वासोभूषणपत्रवत् ।

दिव्यनारीफलं शश्वत्तत्कौबेरमिहैतु च ॥१९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.91.19

Transliteration

vanaṃ kuruṣu yad divyaṃ vāsobhūṣaṇapatravat |

divyanārīphalaṃ śaśvat tat kauberam ihaitu ca ||19||

Translation

കുരുദേശത്തിലെ കുബേരന്റെ ആ ദിവ്യവനം ഇവിടെ വരട്ടെ—അവിടെ ഇലകളേ വസ്ത്രവും ആഭരണവും ആകുന്നു; ദിവ്യനാരിമാരോ സദാ അതിന്റെ ‘ഫലങ്ങൾ’പോലെ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു।

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Word by Word

• वनम्: forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र कर्तृपदत्वे प्रथमा
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• कुरुषु: among/in the Kurus
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; ‘in the land of the Kurus’
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• यत्: which
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम् (relative)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• वासोभूषणपत्रवत्: with leaves as garments and ornaments
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासस्-भूषण-पत्र-वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासः वासांसि च भूषणानि च (द्वन्द्व-भाव) + पत्रवत् (having leaves as ...)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• दिव्यनारीफलम्: having celestial women as fruits
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य-नारी-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासः दिव्याः नार्यः फलानि यस्य (बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थ) / नारीरूपं फलम् (कर्मधारय-सम्भव)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• शश्वत्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शश्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always/ever)
• Role: Kāla (काल)

• तत्: that
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम् इति परामर्शः (that)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• कौबेरम्: Kubera’s
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौबेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘belonging to Kubera’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• इह: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• एतु: let it come
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक
• Role: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)

Sandhi Notes

• यत्+दिव्यम् → यद्दिव्यं
• तत्+कौबेरम् → तत्कौबेरम्
• इह+एतु → इहैतु

Context

Let Kubera's divine forest situated in the land of Kurus, where leaves serve as raiment and ornaments and celestial women as its fruits come here.

The teaching

Dharma of hospitality may legitimately employ abundance; yet the imagery also cautions that luxury is a tool for honoring guests, not an end in itself.

Ethical theme

Atithi-dharma

For your practice

Invites reflection on non-attachment amid abundance; encourages offering one’s best (within means) to guests and sacred causes.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shringara (love)

Mood

Opulent, enchanted, luxuriant

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Atithi-dharma
• Divine-abundance

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kubera

FAQs

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

The dharmic ideal of honoring guests without miserliness: abundance is invoked not for indulgence alone, but to ensure guests are received with dignity and care.

What is the narrative situation?

To host Bharata’s large entourage, Bharadvāja calls for a wondrous, Kubera-associated forest of plenty to manifest at the hermitage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Magnanimity—Bharadvāja’s readiness to provide the best possible welcome, matching royal-scale needs through ascetic power.