Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 19

कामाश्रम

प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū–Gaṅgā Confluence

Devanagari script

अर्घ्यं पाद्यं तथाऽतिथ्यं निवेद्य कुशिकात्मजे।रामलक्ष्मणयो: पश्चादकुर्वन्नतिथिक्रियाम्।।।।

Transliteration

arghyaṃ pādyaṃ tathātithyaṃ nivedya kuśikātmaje |

rāmalakṣmaṇayoḥ paścād akurvan atithikriyām ||

Translation

Sau khi dâng arghya, nước rửa chân (pādya) và lễ tiếp đãi đúng phép lên hiền giả—con của Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)—các vị ấy lại cử hành nghi lễ nghênh tiếp Rāma và Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

• arghyam: respectful offering (arghya)
• arghyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular)

• pādyam: water for washing feet
• pādyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• tathā: and/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction/adverbial particle (समुच्चय/अन्वय)

• ātithyam: hospitality
• ātithyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātithya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• nivedya: having offered/presented
• nivedya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vid (विद्) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action)

• kuśikātmaje: to the son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśikātmaje: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika-ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: kuśikasya ātmajaḥ; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī? actually Caturthī vibhakti (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; proper epithet of Viśvāmitra

• rāma-lakṣmaṇayoḥ: of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
• rāma-lakṣmaṇayoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (itaretara): rāmaś ca lakṣmaṇaś ca; Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Dvivacana (dual)

• paścāt: afterwards/thereafter
• paścāt: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• akurvan: they performed/did
• akurvan: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (plural); parasmaipada

• atithi-kriyām: acts of hospitality to a guest
• atithi-kriyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: atitheḥ kriyā; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

After extending hospitality to the son of Kusika (Viswamitra) with respectful offerings, and water for washing feet they played the host to Rama and Lakshmana.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra (Kuśikātmaja)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Arghya
• Pādya

FAQs

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

Atithi-dharma: honoring guests with proper reception rites is a concrete practice of righteousness and truthfulness in social life.

What is the narrative situation?

The sages welcome Viśvāmitra first with formal offerings, and then extend the same guest-honors to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect and humility—recognizing spiritual stature and fulfilling duties of hospitality without neglect.