Valmiki Ramayana 2.91.55 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

संवाहन्त्यस्समापेतुर्नार्यो रुचिरलोचनाः।परिमृज्य तथाऽन्योन्यं पाययन्ति वराङ्गनाः।।।।

Transliteration

saṃvāhantyaḥ samāpetur nāryo ruciralocanāḥ |

parimṛjya tathā ’nyonyaṃ pāyayanti varāṅganāḥ ||

Translation

മനോഹരനേത്രങ്ങളുള്ള സ്ത്രീകൾ സംവാഹനം ചെയ്യാൻ മുന്നോട്ട് വന്നു; ഉത്തമവരാംഗനകൾ പരസ്പരം തുടച്ച്, അവർക്കു പാനം കൊടുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു—മാറിമാറി സേവിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• hayān: horses
• hayān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• gajān: elephants
• gajān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• kharān: donkeys
• kharān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• uṣṭrān: camels
• uṣṭrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• surabheḥ: of Surabhi
• surabheḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surabhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• sutān: offspring
• sutān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• abhojayan: fed
• abhojayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√bhuj (धातु, causative)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural; causative = "fed"

• vāhanapāḥ: keepers of the mounts/draught-animals
• vāhanapāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhana + pā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; vāhanān pālayanti iti = attendants/keepers of animals

• teṣām: for them/of them
• teṣām: Sampradāna/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Plural

• bhojyam: food
• bhojyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojya (प्रातिपदिक; √bhuj)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd), Singular; verbal adjective used as noun = "food"

• yathāvidhi: according to rule/duly
• yathāvidhi: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + vidhi (अव्यय + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषण)

Context

Some women with beautiful eyes quickly approached them for massaging. The best of ladies wiped their bodies dry and gave each other wine to drink.

FAQs

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

It continues the theme of अतिथि-धर्म—service rendered thoroughly to guests; at the same time, it foreshadows how indulgence can test self-control (dama) within dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After bathing and anointing, attendants massage, dry, and offer drinks to Bharata’s retinue as part of the lavish reception.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive service and refined care; the scene also implicitly contrasts external comfort with the need for inner discipline.