Valmiki Ramayana 2.91.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 20

भरद्वाजाश्रमे भरतसैन्यस्य दिव्यात्मिथ्यम् / Divine Hospitality to Bharata’s Army at Bharadvaja’s Hermitage

Spoken by Bharadvaja

Devanagari script

इह मे भगवान् सोमो विधत्तामन्नमुत्तमम् ।

भक्ष्यंभोज्यं च चोष्यं च लेह्यं च विविधं बहु ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.91.20

Transliteration

iha me bhagavān somo vidhattām annam uttamam |

bhakṣyaṃ bhojyaṃ ca coṣyaṃ ca lehyaṃ ca vividhaṃ bahu ||20||

Translation

Niech mi tu czczigodny Soma przyzna najdoskonalsze pożywienie, obfite i różnorodne: to, które się je, gryzie, sączy i liże.

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Word by Word

• इह: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• मे: for me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• भगवान्: venerable/lordly
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सोमः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• सोमः: Soma (Moon)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• विधत्ताम्: let him provide/arrange
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; सकर्मक
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• अन्नम्: food
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अन्नम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• भक्ष्यम्: food to be eaten
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक; √भक्ष्-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत् भक्ष्यते (edible)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• भोज्यम्: food to be consumed
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज्-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be enjoyed/consumed’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक
• Role: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)

• चोष्यम्: food to be sucked
• Type: Noun
• Root: चोष्य (प्रातिपदिक; √चुष्/चोष्-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be sucked’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक
• Role: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)

• लेह्यम्: food to be licked
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेह्य (प्रातिपदिक; √लिह्-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be licked’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक
• Role: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)

• विविधम्: various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (अन्नम्/भक्ष्यादि) इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• बहु: much/many
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘much/many’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• विधत्ताम्+अन्नम् → विधत्तामन्नम्
• अन्नम्+उत्तमम् → अन्नमुत्तमम्
• भक्ष्यम्+भोज्यम् → भक्ष्यंभोज्यं
• च+ओष्यम् → चोष्यम्

Context

Let the blessed Moon furnish me with excellent food of every kind -- solid, liquid, soft and those which are to be sucked and licked in great variety and quantity.

The teaching

Even bodily needs are sought through reverent alignment with the divine order; nourishment becomes sanctified when requested with restraint and ritual intent.

Ethical theme

Ācāra (right conduct) / devatā-bhakti

Devotion and practice

Model for saṅkalpa with humility; cultivating gratitude and purity regarding food (āhāra-śuddhi).

Deity praised

Soma

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mantra

इह मे भगवान् सोमो विधत्तामन्नमुत्तमम्

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Invocatory, abundant, ritual-calm

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Atithi-dharma
• Ritual-invocation

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Soma (Moon)

FAQs

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

Responsible care for guests: dharma includes ensuring nourishment suited to different needs, reflecting thoughtful, comprehensive hospitality.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharadvāja continues his invocation, requesting Soma to supply abundant, high-quality provisions for Bharata’s visiting party.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical compassion—hospitality is made concrete through food and sustenance, not merely words of welcome.