Valmiki Ramayana 1.49.18: Bala Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 18

अहल्याशापमोक्षः

The Release of Ahalya and Indra’s Restoration

Devanagari script

स्मरन्ती गौतमवच: प्रतिजग्राह सा च तौ।।1.49.17।।पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथाऽऽतिथ्यं चकार सुसमाहिता।प्रतिजग्राह काकुत्स्थो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा।।1.49.18।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.49.18

Transliteration

smarantī gautama-vacaḥ pratijagrāha sā ca tau || 1.49.17 ||

pādyam arghyaṃ tathā ātithyaṃ cakāra su-samāhitā |

pratijagrāha kākutstho vidhi-dṛṣṭena karmaṇā || 1.49.18 ||

Translation

Sambil mengingati sabda Gautama, beliau menyambut mereka dengan penuh penghormatan—mempersembahkan air basuhan kaki, arghya, dan layanan tetamu dengan perhatian sepenuhnya; dan Kakutstha (Rama) menerimanya melalui perbuatan yang disahkan oleh adat dan tradisi.

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Word by Word

• pādyam: water for washing feet
• pādyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• arghyam: offering of respect
• arghyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) adverb/conjunction ‘and also/likewise’

• ātithyam: hospitality
• ātithyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātithya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• cakāra: performed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्) perfect, Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• su-samāhitā: well-composed
• su-samāhitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied ‘sā’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + sam-ā-dhā (धातु) → samāhita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त/PPP) used adjectivally; Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); ‘well-composed/concentrated’

• pratijagrāha: received (accepted)
• pratijagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-grah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्) perfect, Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• kākutsthaḥ: Kakutstha (Rama)
• kākutsthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• vidhi-dṛṣṭena: prescribed by rule
• vidhi-dṛṣṭena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘karmaṇā’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘vidhinā dṛṣṭa’ (as per rule/tradition); Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग) (agreeing with ‘karmaṇā’), Tṛtīyā (तृतीया/3rd), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• karmaṇā: by (ritual) acts
• karmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (तृतीया/3rd), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Context

Brilliant Gautam, the great ascetic, along with Ahalya, worshipped Rama according to tradition, with delight and continued with his austerities.

Characters & Entities

• Ahalya
• Gautama
• Rama (Kakutstha)
• Lakshmana (implied)

FAQs

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

Hospitality as dharma: right conduct is expressed through respectful reception and adherence to established rites, performed with inner steadiness and truthfulness of intent.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration reiterates Ahalya’s formal welcome of Rama and Lakshmana and Rama’s acceptance according to customary procedure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and reverence (in Ahalya) and disciplined adherence to maryādā (in Rama).