Shloka 30

पितृमरणश्रवणं जलक्रिया च

Hearing of Daśaratha’s death and the libation rites at Mandākinī

Devanagari script

इदं भुङ्क्ष्वमहाराज प्रीतो यदशना वयम्।यदन्नः पुरुषो भवति तदन्ना स्तस्य देवताः।।।।

Transliteration

idaṃ bhuṅkṣva mahārāja prīto yad aśanā vayam | yadannaḥ puruṣo bhavati tadannās tasya devatāḥ ||

Translation

„O großer König, sei gnädig und nimm diese Speise zu dir, wie wir sie jetzt selbst genießen; denn die Gottheiten, die einem Menschen zugeordnet sind, teilen eben die Nahrung, die er zu sich nimmt.“

Word by Word

idamthis (food/offering)

bhuṅkṣvapartake/eat

mahārājaO great king

prītaḥpleased/satisfied

yat-aśanāḥwe who eat (this)/we as eaters

vayamwe

yat-annaḥwhose food is whatever (he eats)

puruṣaḥa person/man

bhavatibecomes/is

tat-annāḥhaving the same food

tasyaof him

devatāḥthe deities (of his state)

Context

On hearing the thunderlike words spoken by Bharata afflicting the mind, like the thunderbolt hurled by Indra (enemy of demons) in a battle, Rama, the scorcher of enemies, stretching forth both his arms, fell down on the ground like a tree with flowering tops severed by an axe in the forest.

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Daśaratha

Devatāḥ (deities, as a ritual concept)

FAQs

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

Dharma is reverent reciprocity: the living share what they have with the departed through offerings, affirming responsibility, gratitude, and truthful remembrance (satya) toward one’s father.

What is the narrative situation?

After placing the offerings, Rāma formally invites his deceased father-king to accept the food-offering as part of the funeral rite.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial devotion joined with humility: Rāma offers what is available in exile, showing sincerity rather than display.