Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 25

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

दत्तमासनमालभ्य भोजनेन निमन्त्रितः।मातरं राघवः किञ्चिद्व्रीडात्प्रसार्याञ्जलिमब्रवीत्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.25

Transliteration

dattam āsanam ālabhya bhojanena nimantritaḥ |

mātaraṃ rāghavaḥ kiṃcid vrīḍāt prasāryāñjalim abravīt ||

Translation

Dipanggil ibunya untuk menjamah hidangan, Rāghava hanya menyentuh tempat duduk yang diberikan; lalu, dengan sedikit malu, baginda menghulurkan tangan beranjali dan berkata kepada ibunya.

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Word by Word

• दत्तम्: given/provided
• दत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दत्त (कृदन्त; दा धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to आसनम्)

• आसनम्: seat
• आसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आलभ्य: having touched/taken
• आलभ्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• भोजनेन: with food
• भोजनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• निमन्त्रितः: invited
• निमन्त्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निमन्त्रित (कृदन्त; नि+मन्त्र् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to राघवः)

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: a little
• किञ्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (a little)

• व्रीडात्: out of modesty/shame
• व्रीडात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी

• प्रसार्य: having extended
• प्रसार्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+सृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• अञ्जलिम्: folded hands (añjali)
• अञ्जलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

Invited (by Kausalya) to partake the food, Rama out of abashment only touched the seat provided to him and having stretched his folded palms spoke to his mother.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Kauśalyā
• āsana (seat)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes humble conduct: even in intimate family settings, respect, restraint, and proper etiquette are upheld.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā invites Rāma to eat; Rāma responds with restrained politeness, touching the seat and addressing her with folded hands.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s modesty and reverence—self-control in speech and gesture, reflecting disciplined character.