Shloka 106
Rāma’s Meeting with Agastya: Gift-Ethics (Dāna) and the Tale of King Śveta
आहारं कुत्सितं चेमं राजर्षे किं पुनस्तव । सुरकार्यं महत्तेन सुकृतं तु महात्मना
āhāraṃ kutsitaṃ cemaṃ rājarṣe kiṃ punastava | surakāryaṃ mahattena sukṛtaṃ tu mahātmanā
হে ৰাজর্ষি! যদি এই আহাৰো নিন্দিত বুলি গণ্য হয়, তেন্তে তোমাৰ আহাৰৰ কথা ক’বা কেনেকৈ? তথাপি সেই মহৎ কৰ্মে মহাত্মাই দেৱকাৰ্যৰ এক বৃহৎ উপকাৰ সম্পন্ন কৰিলে।
Unspecified (context-dependent narrator/speaker in Adhyaya 36; exact dialogue pair not provided in the input)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cemaṃ = ca + imam; punastava = punar + tava.
FAQs
It contrasts the perceived lowliness of an offering (food) with the greatness of the spiritual outcome, emphasizing that sincere action can accomplish significant divine service (sura-kārya) and generate merit (sukṛta).
No. The verse implies that even if something appears humble or “contemptible,” the resulting merit can be great when the act serves a higher divine purpose.
Do not belittle modest means or simple offerings; evaluate actions by intention, dharmic purpose, and the beneficial results they produce.