Shloka 1.16.28

पायसप्रादुर्भावः — The Manifestation of the Divine Payasa and the Avatara Resolution

Devanagari script

कौसल्यायै नरपति: पायसार्धं ददौ तदा।अर्धादर्धं ददौ चापि सुमित्रायै नराधिप:।।1.16.27।।कैकेय्यै चावशिष्टार्धं ददौ पुत्रार्थकारणात्। प्रददौ चावशिष्टार्धं पायसस्यामृतोपमम्।।1.16.28।। अनुचिन्त्य सुमित्रायै पुनरेव महीपति:।एवं तासां ददौ राजा भार्याणां पायसं पृथक् ।।1.16.29।।

Transliteration

evam uktāḥ surāḥ sarve pratyūcur viṣṇum avyayam | mānuṣīṃ tanum āsthāya rāvaṇaṃ jahi saṃyuge ||

Translation

Thus addressed, all the gods replied to the imperishable Viṣṇu: “Assume a human body, and in battle slay Rāvaṇa.”

Context

Then Dasaratha gave half the portion of payasam to Kausalya, half of the remaining half to Sumitra, half of the remaining portion (oneeighth of original) to Kaikeyi for the sake of a son. On further thinking, he gave the remaining oneeighth portion to Sumitra. In this manner the king divided and distributed the payasam among his wives separately.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• surāḥ (gods)
• Rāvaṇa
• human embodiment (mānuṣī tanu)
• battle (saṃyuga)

FAQs

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

Restoration of dharma through righteous intervention: when adharma becomes overwhelming, divine power aligns with human embodiment to re-establish moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods, responding within the larger cosmic crisis caused by Rāvaṇa, urge Viṣṇu to incarnate as a human to defeat him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to loka-saṃgraha (the welfare and stability of the world): the divine is asked to take on limitation for the sake of justice.