Valmiki Ramayana 2.91.42: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 42

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

Setting: Banks of the manifested rivers near Bharadvaja-ashramaPlaces named: Bharadvaja-ashramaHospitality encampment for Bharata’s party

Devanagari script

तासामुभयतः कूलं पाण्डुमृत्तिकलेपनाः ।

रम्याश्चावसधा दिव्या ब्रह्मणस्तु प्रसादजाः ॥४२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.91.42

Transliteration

tāsām ubhayataḥ kūlaṃ pāṇḍu-mṛttikā-lepanāḥ |

ramyāś cāvasadhā divyā brahmaṇas tu prasādajāḥ ||42||

Translation

ఆ నదుల ఇరువైపుల తీరాలపై తెల్లని మట్టితో పూతపూసిన రమ్యమైన దివ్య నివాసాలు ప్రత్యక్షమయ్యాయి—బ్రహ్మదేవుని అనుగ్రహజనితమైనవి॥

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• तासाम्: of those (rivers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) — pronoun ‘of those’
• Role: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)

• उभयतः: on both sides
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); दिक्/देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)
• Role: अधिकरण (अव्ययेन/Locative sense)

• कूलम्: bank, shore
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object; ‘(they had) bank’)

• पाण्डु-मृत्तिका-लेपनाः: plastered with pale/white clay
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डु (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक) + लेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): पाण्डुया मृत्तिकया लेपनम् येषाम्; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (Plural) — agreeing with ‘आवासधाः’
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• रम्याः: charming
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (Plural) — agreeing with ‘आवासधाः’
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: समुच्चय (Coordinator)

• आवासधाः: dwellings, houses
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवासध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (Plural)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• दिव्याः: celestial, divine
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (Plural) — agreeing with ‘आवासधाः’
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)

• तु: indeed, and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: ‘indeed/but’)
• Role: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (Discourse particle)

• प्रसाद-जाः: born of (his) grace
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जन्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: प्रसादात् जाताः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (Plural) — agreeing with ‘आवासधाः’
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• तासामुभयतः → तासाम् + उभयतः
• रम्याश्चावसधा → रम्याः + च + आवासधाः
• ब्रह्मणस्तु → ब्रह्मणः + तु
• प्रसादजा: → प्रसादजाः

Context

On both the banks of those rivers, charming, celestial houses plastered with white clay appeared by the grace of Brahma.

The teaching

When hospitality is aligned with dharma, grace supplies what is needed—shelter and purity arise as supports for righteous endeavor.

Ethical theme

Prasāda/atithi-dharma

Devotion and practice

Cultivates trust in prasāda and the value of creating pure, supportive spaces for guests and seekers.

Deity praised

Brahmā (implicitly, as source of prasāda)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Celestial, serene, resplendent

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Divine grace
• Hospitality
• Wonder

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• rivers

FAQs

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

The verse reinforces that dharmic action attracts support: when hospitality and righteousness are upheld, divine grace manifests as protection and comfort for others.

What is the narrative situation?

As part of the miraculous reception, splendid dwellings arise along the banks of the newly appeared rivers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sanctity of the sage’s environment—purity and merit that can become a shelter for guests.