Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 19

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तां शुक्लक्षौमसंवीतां व्रतयोगेन कर्शिताम्।तर्पयन्तीं ददर्शाद्भिर्देवतां देववर्णिनीम्।।।।

Transliteration

tāṃ śuklakṣaumasaṃvītāṃ vratayogena karśitām |

tarpayantīṃ dadarśādbhir devatāṃ devavarṇinīm ||

Translation

ਉਸ ਨੇ ਕੌਸਲਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਖਿਆ—ਚਿੱਟੇ ਕ੍ਸ਼ੌਮ ਵਸਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਢੱਕੀ, ਵਰਤ-ਯੋਗ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਨਾਲ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ ਹੋਈ, ਦੇਵ-ਸਮਾਨ ਵਰਣ ਵਾਲੀ—ਜੋ ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਰਪਣ ਵਜੋਂ ਜਲ ਅਰਪਿਤ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• शुक्ल-क्षौम-संवीताम्: clad in white linen/silk
• शुक्ल-क्षौम-संवीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षौम (प्रातिपदिक) + संवीत (कृदन्त; सम्+वे/वी धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘शुक्लं क्षौमम्’ + ‘संवीता’ (wrapped/covered)

• व्रत-योगेन: by the practice of vows
• व्रत-योगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष)

• कर्शिताम्: emaciated
• कर्शिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्शित (कृदन्त; कृश् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तर्पयन्तीम्: propitiating/satisfying
• तर्पयन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तर्पयन्ती (कृदन्त; तृप् धातु, णिच्, शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle), परस्मैपदी-प्रयोगार्थ

• ददर्श: saw/beheld
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अद्भिः: with water
• अद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/अद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अप्-शब्दः बहुवचन-प्रयोगः), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘water’

• देवताम्: the deity/deities
• देवताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देव-वर्णिनीम्: having divine complexion
• देव-वर्णिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘देवस्य वर्णः यस्याः सा’

Context

Kausalya, emaciated due to observance of vows and clad in white silk looked like a celestial being. She was engaged in offering libations to the deities.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• devatāḥ (deities)
• udaka (water/libations)
• vrata (vow)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as self-discipline and devotion: vows (vrata) and worship are undertaken with sincerity, even at personal hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma encounters his mother Kauśalyā in a worshipful state, actively offering water to the deities as part of her observances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s steadfast piety and austerity—her devotion is visible in her simplicity, restraint, and ritual focus.