Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 21

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

स मातरमभिक्रान्तामुपसंगृह्य राघवः।परिष्वक्तश्च बाहुभ्यामुपाघ्रातश्च मूर्धनि।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.21

Transliteration

sa mātaram abhikrāntām upasaṃgṛhya rāghavaḥ |

pariṣvaktaś ca bāhubhyām upāghrātaś ca mūrdhani ||

Translation

अभिक्रान्तां मातरं राघवः उपसंगृह्य; सा च बाहुभ्यां परिष्वज्य मूर्धनि च उपाघ्रात्।

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Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभिक्रान्ताम्: who had come near
• अभिक्रान्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिक्रान्त (कृदन्त; अभि+क्रम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to मातरम्)

• उपसंगृह्य: having respectfully taken/held
• उपसंगृह्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+सम्+ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• परिष्वक्तः: was embraced
• परिष्वक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिष्वक्त (कृदन्त; परि+स्वञ्ज्/ष्वञ्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘was embraced’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• बाहुभ्याम्: with (both) arms
• बाहुभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन (Instrumental dual)

• उपाघ्रातः: was smelled/kissed
• उपाघ्रातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप+आ+घ्राण् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• मूर्धनि: on the head/forehead
• मूर्धनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

Context

The scion of the Raghus saw his mother coming and bowed her. She held him in both her arms and kissed his forehead.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Respect to parents is dharma: reverent reception and affectionate bonds are shown as proper conduct within maryādā.

What is the narrative situation?

Mother and son meet—Kauśalyā embraces Rāma, and he receives her with respectful demeanor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s humility and filial propriety, matched by Kauśalyā’s nurturing affection.