Valmiki Ramayana 1.51.5 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 5

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

अपि रामे महातेजा मम माता यशस्विनी।वन्यैरुपाहरत्पूजां पूजार्हे सर्वदेहिनाम्।।।।

Transliteration

api rāme mahātejā mama mātā yaśasvinī |

vanyair upāharat pūjāṁ pūjārhe sarvadehinām ||

Translation

ഹേ മഹാതേജസ്വീ, സർവ്വ ദേഹികളാലും പൂജ്യനായ രാമനു എന്റെ യശസ്വിനിയായ മാതാവ് വന്യോപഹാരങ്ങളാൽ പൂജ അർപ്പിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ?

Word by Word

• अपि: whether
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative/particle)

• रामाय: to Rāma
• रामाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• कथितम्: told/related
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि (‘was told’)

• यथा-वृत्तम्: as it occurred
• यथा-वृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + वृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, धातु: वृत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (‘as it happened’)

• पुरातनम्: ancient/old
• पुरातनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यथावृत्तम्/कथितम्)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मातुः)

• मातुः: of (my) mother
• मातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महातेजः: O great-splendoured one
• महातेजः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः

• दैवेन: by fate/by divine will
• दैवेन: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• दुरनुष्ठितम्: ill-performed/misdone
• दुरनुष्ठितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग) + अनु+स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्म)

Context

Did my highly lustrous and celebrated mother offer homage to Rama, worthy of reverence by all living beings, with things available in the forest?

Characters & Entities

• Śatānanda
• Viśvāmitra
• Ahalyā (implied)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through reverence and right recognition: honoring the truly worthy (pūjārha) with whatever one has (forest offerings) shows sincerity, humility, and truthfulness of devotion.

What is the narrative situation?

Śatānanda asks if Ahalyā, upon seeing Rāma, performed appropriate worship despite her austere forest circumstances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and devotion: offering simple worship from available means reflects inner purity rather than external wealth.