Shloka 2.32.36

द्वात्रिंशस्सर्गः — Gifts to Suyajna and the Brahmins; Trijata’s Petition and Rama’s Charity

Devanagari script

तमुवाच ततो राम: परिहास समन्वितम्।गवां सहस्रमप्येकं न नु विश्राणितं मया।।।।परिक्षिपसि दण्डेन यावत्तावदवाप्स्यसि।

Transliteration

tam uvāca tato rāmaḥ parihāsa-samanvitam | gavāṁ sahasram apy ekaṁ na nu viśrāṇitaṁ mayā || parikṣipasi daṇḍena yāvat tāvat avāpsyasi |

Translation

Then Rāma spoke to him in a playful tone: “I have not yet bestowed even a thousand cows. Cast your staff—whatever distance it reaches, to that extent you shall obtain cows.”

Context

Rama jokingly replied to him, I have not yet gifted one thousand cows. Throw your staff and the cows on the space your staff covers will be yours.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Trijaṭa
• cows
• staff (daṇḍa)

FAQs

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

Dharma of dāna: the righteous respond to need with generosity; even playful speech can serve compassion when it leads to real relief.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama answers Trijaṭa’s plea by proposing a test-like, playful method to determine the scale of the gift—measured by the staff’s throw.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s generosity and approachable compassion—he uplifts the poor without harshness.