Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 15

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

सा क्षौमवसना हृष्टा नित्यं व्रतपरायणा।अग्निं जुहोति स्म तदा मन्त्रवत्कृतमङ्गला।।।।

Transliteration

sā kṣauma-vasanā hṛṣṭā nityaṃ vrata-parāyaṇā | agniṃ juhoti sma tadā mantra-vat kṛta-maṅgalā || 2.20.15 ||

Translation

ਸੂਖਮ ਕਸ਼ੌਮ ਵਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਹರ್ಷਿਤ, ਨਿੱਤ ਵ੍ਰਤਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਤ ਉਹ ਮੰਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਸਮੇਤ ਅੱਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਹੁਤੀਆਂ ਪਾਂਦੀ ਸੀ; ਮੰਗਲ ਕਰਮ ਪੂਰੇ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्षौमवसना: wearing fine linen/silk garments
• क्षौमवसना: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षौम-वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (क्षौमं वसनं यस्याः/या) 'clad in linen/silk'

• हृष्टा: joyful
• हृष्टा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त from √हृष्; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: काल/आवृत्ति (Time/Frequency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/आवृत्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• व्रतपरायणा: devoted to vows
• व्रतपरायणा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत-परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (व्रते परायणा = devoted to vows)

• अग्निम्: fire (Agni)
• अग्निम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जुहोति: offers oblations
• जुहोति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्म: (in past narration)
• स्म: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; भूतार्थे लट्-सहायक (past narrative particle)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• मन्त्रवत्: according to the mantras
• मन्त्रवत्: रीति/प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्रवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्धितान्त-निपात (adverbial) = 'with mantras/according to mantras'

• कृतमङ्गला: having performed auspicious rites
• कृतमङ्गला: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त 'कृत' from √कृ; कर्मधारय: कृतं मङ्गलं यस्याः/या

Context

Always engaged in the observance of vows, Kausalya (then) clad in silk cloth was performing rituals of auspiciousness, offering oblations to the fire-god in accordance with mantras (Vedic hymns).

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā (implied)
• Agni
• mantras

FAQs

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

Household dharma is upheld through disciplined vows and correct ritual action; devotion is expressed with order, purity, and mantra-guided practice.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā is engaged in morning rites—homa/oblations into Agni—performed with mantras and auspicious observances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Religious discipline (vrata) and steadiness in sacred duty, reflecting a life oriented toward satya and dharma.