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

Setting: Ayodhya (Kauśalyā’s quarters)

Devanagari script

स मातरमभिक्रान्तामुपसंगृह्य राघवः ।

परिष्वक्तश्च बाहुभ्यामुपाघ्रातश्च मूर्धनि ॥२१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.21

Transliteration

sa mātaram abhikrāntām upasaṃgṛhya rāghavaḥ |

pariṣvaktaś ca bāhubhyām upāghrātaś ca mūrdhani ||21||

Translation

เมื่อพระมารดาเสด็จเข้ามาใกล้ ราฆวะก็รับไว้ด้วยความเคารพ; แล้วนางโอบกอดด้วยแขนทั้งสอง และจุมพิตพร้อมสูดดมที่พระเศียรของพระองค์

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Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandhi Notes

• मातरमभिक्रान्ताम् = मातरम् + अभिक्रान्ताम्
• अभिक्रान्तामुपसंगृह्य = अभिक्रान्ताम् + उपसंगृह्य
• बाहुभ्यामुपाघ्रातः = बाहुभ्याम् + उपाघ्रातः

Context

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

The teaching

Reverence and affection can coexist: the son honors, the mother blesses—dharma is embodied through touch and restraint.

Ethical theme

Pitṛ-mātṛ-sevā (filial piety)

For your practice

Supports bhāva-sādhana: cultivating tenderness, gratitude, and receptivity to blessings (āśīrvāda) as a spiritual disposition.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Embracing, reassuring, intimate

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryādā (respect to parents)
• Mātṛvandana
• Itihāsa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

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.