Valmiki Ramayana 2.91.72-74: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shlokas 72-74
भरद्वाजाश्रमे भरतसैन्यस्य दिव्यात्मिथ्यम् / Divine Hospitality to Bharata’s Army at Bharadvaja’s Hermitage
पात्रीणां च सहस्राणि स्थालीनां नियुतानि च ।
न्यर्बुधानि च पात्राणि शातकुम्भमयानि च ॥७२॥
स्थाल्यः कुम्भ्य करम्भ्य श्च दधिपूर्णास्सुसंस्कृताः ।
यौवनस्थस्य गौरस्य कपित्थस्य सुगन्धिनः ॥७३॥
ह्रदाः पूर्णा रसालस्य दध्नश्श्वेतस्य चापरे ।
बभूवुः पायसस्यान्ये शर्करायावसञ्चयाः ॥७४॥
pātrīṇāṃ ca sahasrāṇi sthālīnāṃ niyutāni ca |
nyarbudhāni ca pātrāṇi śātakumbhamayāni ca ||72||
sthālyaḥ kumbhya karambhya śca dadhipūrṇāssusaṃskṛtāḥ |
yauvanasthasya gaurasya kapitthasya sugandhinaḥ ||73||
hradāḥ pūrṇā rasālasya dadhnaśśvetasya cāpare |
babhūvuḥ pāyasasyānye śarkarāyāvasañcayāḥ ||74||
ആയിരക്കണക്കിന് പാത്രങ്ങളും ലക്ഷക്കണക്കിന് സ്ഥാലികളും കോടിക്കണക്കിന് പാത്രങ്ങളും അവയെല്ലാം സ്വർണ്ണം കൊണ്ട് നിർമ്മിച്ചവയുമായിരുന്നു. മൺകുടങ്ങളും കുംഭങ്ങളും കരംഭങ്ങളും നന്നായി തയ്യാറാക്കിയ തൈര് നിറച്ചവയായിരുന്നു, യൗവനാവസ്ഥയിലുള്ള പശുവിന്റെ നിറമുള്ള, സുഗന്ധമുള്ള കപിത്ഥത്തിന്റെ നിറത്തിലുള്ള വെള്ള തൈര്. ചില കുളങ്ങൾ മാമ്പഴരസം നിറച്ചവയായിരുന്നു, മറ്റു ചിലത് വെള്ള തൈര് നിറച്ചവയും, മറ്റു ചിലത് പായസവും മധുരം ചേർത്ത യവം കുന്നുകളും നിറച്ചവയായിരുന്നു.
There were thousands of pots, lakhs of plates, crores of vessels -- all made of gold and filled with wellgarnished food. Curd was kept in earthern pots like jugs and jars and pots with a wide mouth. Tanks were formed, some filled with white curd of good flavour and of the colour of woodapple, some with white curd blended with spices and some with payasam and heaps of barely powder mixed with sugar.
FAQs
The verse exemplifies the sacred dharma of atithi-seva (hospitality to guests). Guha, recognizing Bharata as a guest and kinsman of his beloved Rama, provides extraordinary hospitality befitting royalty. The abundance of food and provisions, thousands of gold vessels, tanks filled with delicacies, reflects the principle that a host should offer the best of what they have to their guests. This generosity transcends political concerns and demonstrates that dharma demands honor and care for all who seek shelter.
Bharata and his massive army have arrived at Chitrakoot seeking Rama. Guha, who had initially feared Bharata's intentions, now recognizes his genuine devotion to Rama and provides lavish hospitality to the entire army. The verse describes the extraordinary provisions that have been arranged, gold vessels by the thousands, tanks filled with various delicacies, and abundant food supplies, all prepared to honor Bharata and his retinue during their stay.
Guha's virtue of magnanimous hospitality (atithi-seva) and his capacity to recognize genuine dharma in others are emphasized. Despite his earlier suspicions, Guha now serves Bharata with the same devotion he would offer Rama himself. The extraordinary scale of provisions, described in astronomical numbers, reflects Guha's commitment to treating every guest as divine. This also highlights Bharata's virtue, as his genuine love for Rama has moved Guha to extend such honor.
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