Shloka 2.103.13

पिण्डदानदर्शनम् — The Queens Behold Rama’s Śrāddha Offering

Devanagari script

अतो दुःखतरं लोके न किञ्चित्प्रतिभाति मा।यत्र रामः पितुर्दद्यादिङ्गुदिक्षोदमृद्धिमान्।।2.103.13।।

Transliteration

ato duḥkhataraṁ loke na kiñcit pratibhāti mā |

yatra rāmaḥ pitur dadyād iṅgudikṣodam ṛddhimān || 2.103.13 ||

Translation

Nothing in this world seems more painful to me than this: that Rāma—once prosperous—must offer his father a cake of crushed iṅgudī.

Context

Rama (who was once) highly prosperous, had to offer the cake of ingudi pulp to his father. Nothing appears more painful to me than this in this world.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Iṅgudī
• Ritual offering (piṇḍa)

FAQs

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

Dharma persists despite loss of status: Rāma’s adherence to duty in poverty underscores that righteousness is not dependent on wealth or royal resources.

What is the narrative situation?

The queens witness the austere offering and express that this reversal—Rāma’s reduced circumstances while serving his father’s rites—is the sharpest pain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast duty (niṣṭhā): Rāma performs the rite properly even when circumstances force simplicity.