Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 19

कामाश्रम

प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū–Gaṅgā Confluence

Devanagari script

अर्घ्यं पाद्यं तथाऽतिथ्यं निवेद्य कुशिकात्मजे।रामलक्ष्मणयो: पश्चादकुर्वन्नतिथिक्रियाम्।।।।

Transliteration

arghyaṃ pādyaṃ tathātithyaṃ nivedya kuśikātmaje |

rāmalakṣmaṇayoḥ paścād akurvan atithikriyām ||

Translation

କୁଶିକାତ୍ମଜ (ବିଶ୍ୱାମିତ୍ର)ଙ୍କୁ ଅର୍ଘ୍ୟ, ପାଦ୍ୟ ଓ ଯଥୋଚିତ ଆତିଥ୍ୟ ନିବେଦନ କରି, ପରେ ରାମ-ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଅତିଥିକ୍ରିୟା କଲେ।

Word by Word

• arghyam: respectful offering (arghya)
• arghyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular)

• pādyam: water for washing feet
• pādyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• tathā: and/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction/adverbial particle (समुच्चय/अन्वय)

• ātithyam: hospitality
• ātithyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātithya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• nivedya: having offered/presented
• nivedya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vid (विद्) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action)

• kuśikātmaje: to the son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśikātmaje: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika-ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: kuśikasya ātmajaḥ; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī? actually Caturthī vibhakti (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; proper epithet of Viśvāmitra

• rāma-lakṣmaṇayoḥ: of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
• rāma-lakṣmaṇayoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (itaretara): rāmaś ca lakṣmaṇaś ca; Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Dvivacana (dual)

• paścāt: afterwards/thereafter
• paścāt: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• akurvan: they performed/did
• akurvan: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (plural); parasmaipada

• atithi-kriyām: acts of hospitality to a guest
• atithi-kriyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: atitheḥ kriyā; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

After extending hospitality to the son of Kusika (Viswamitra) with respectful offerings, and water for washing feet they played the host to Rama and Lakshmana.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra (Kuśikātmaja)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Arghya
• Pādya

FAQs

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

Atithi-dharma: honoring guests with proper reception rites is a concrete practice of righteousness and truthfulness in social life.

What is the narrative situation?

The sages welcome Viśvāmitra first with formal offerings, and then extend the same guest-honors to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect and humility—recognizing spiritual stature and fulfilling duties of hospitality without neglect.