Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 17

भरद्वाजाश्रमप्राप्तिः

Arrival at Bharadvāja’s Hermitage and Counsel toward Citrakūṭa

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रस्य धीमतः।उपानयत धर्मात्मा गामर्घ्यमुदकं ततः।।।।

Transliteration

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā rājaputrasya dhīmataḥ |

upānayat dharmātmā gām arghyam udakaṁ tataḥ ||

Translation

Nghe lời ấy của vị vương tử trí tuệ, bậc hiền nhân tâm hằng thuận pháp liền đem đến một con bò đực, nước và lễ vật arghya—những phẩm cúng kính dâng khách quý.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tad: that
• tad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of vacanam)

• vacanam: speech / words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु) + ktvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having heard'

• rāja-putrasya: of the prince
• rāja-putrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('king's son' = prince), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dhīmataḥ: of the wise
• dhīmataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of rājaputrasya)

• upānayat: brought / offered
• upānayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√nī (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• dharmātmā: the righteous-souled (sage)
• dharmātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि ('one whose self is dharma' = righteous-souled), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• gām: a cow (for offering)
• gām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (go is f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• arghyam: arghya-offering
• arghyam: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• udakam: water
• udakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Context

The ascetic who practised severe penance offered them different kinds of food and drink made from roots and fruits available in the forest. He also provided them a place to rest in.

Characters & Entities

• Rama (prince)
• Bharadvaja (sage, implied)
• Arghya
• Water (udaka)

FAQs

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

Atithi-dharma (duty to a guest): the sage responds to Rama’s truthful words by offering the traditional honors—showing that righteousness is practiced through concrete acts of hospitality.

What is the narrative situation?

After listening to Rama, Bharadvaja performs guest-reception by arranging customary offerings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity and propriety—Bharadvaja’s careful observance of the ethical code of welcoming guests.