Valmiki Ramayana 1.49.17 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 17

अहल्याशापमोक्षः

The Release of Ahalya and Indra’s Restoration

Devanagari script

स्मरन्ती गौतमवच: प्रतिजग्राह सा च तौ।।।।पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथाऽऽतिथ्यं चकार सुसमाहिता।प्रतिजग्राह काकुत्स्थो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा।।।।

Transliteration

smarantī gautama-vacaḥ pratijagrāha sā ca tau |

pādyam arghyaṃ tathā ātithyaṃ cakāra su-samāhitā |

pratijagrāha kākutstho vidhi-dṛṣṭena karmaṇā ||

Translation

గౌతముని వచనాలను స్మరించుకుంటూ ఆమె ఆ ఇద్దరినీ యథోచిత గౌరవంతో స్వీకరించింది. సుసమాహిత మనస్సుతో పాద్యము, అర్ఘ్యము, అతిథ్యసత్కారము విధివిధానంగా నిర్వహించింది; కాకుత్స్థ రాముడు కూడా శాస్త్రోక్త విధి ప్రకారం ఆ కర్మలను స్వీకరించాడు.

Word by Word

• smarantī: remembering
• smarantī: Karta (कर्ता) (participial, qualifying ‘sā’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); ‘remembering’

• gautama-vacaḥ: Gautama's words
• gautama-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म) of ‘smarantī’
• Type: Noun
• Root: gautama (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘Gautamasya vacaḥ’; Napuṃsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• pratijagrāha: received
• pratijagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-grah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्) perfect, Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात) conjunction ‘and’

• tau: those two (them)
• tau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd), Dvivacana (द्विवचन)

Context

On seeing Ahalya, her body purified by the power of penance at Gautama's command, the devatas worshipfully exclaimed, 'Excellent, Excellent!'

Characters & Entities

• Ahalya
• Gautama
• Rama (Kakutstha)
• Lakshmana (implied by ‘tau’)

FAQs

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

Atithi-dharma: honoring guests with prescribed courtesies, performed with sincerity and mental composure; dharma is not only action but the disciplined attitude behind it.

What is the narrative situation?

After Ahalya’s restoration, she welcomes Rama (and Lakshmana) remembering Gautama’s instruction, offering traditional hospitality rites which Rama accepts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ahalya’s mindful propriety and Rama’s maryādā—accepting hospitality according to established tradition.