Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 103, Shloka 12

पिण्डदानदर्शनम्

The Queens Behold Rama’s Śrāddha Offering

Devanagari script

चतुरन्तां महीं भुक्त्वा महेन्द्रसदृशो विभुः।कथमिङ्गुदिपिण्याकं स भुक्ते वसुधाधिपः।।2.103.12।।

Transliteration

caturantāṁ mahīṁ bhuktvā mahendrasadṛśo vibhuḥ |

katham iṅgudipiṇyākaṁ sa bhukte vasudhādhipaḥ || 2.103.12 ||

Translation

¿Cómo puede el señor de la tierra—poderoso, semejante a Indra—que antes gozó del dominio de toda la región, comer una torta hecha de pulpa de iṅgudī?

Word by Word

• caturantām: four-bounded
• caturantām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur-anta (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + अन्त)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying mahīm

• mahīm: the earth
• mahīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bhuktvā: having enjoyed
• bhuktvā: Kriyā-pūrvakāla (क्रिया-पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; prior action to main verb

• mahendra-sadṛśaḥ: like Mahendra (Indra)
• mahendra-sadṛśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahendra-sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक; महेन्द्र + सदृश)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying vibhuḥ/vasudhādhipaḥ

• vibhuḥ: the mighty one (king)
• vibhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-अव्यय)

• iṅgudi-piṇyākam: ingudi-cake (pressed pulp)
• iṅgudi-piṇyākam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṅgudi-piṇyāka (प्रातिपदिक; इङ्गुदि + पिण्याक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhunkte: eats
• bhunkte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• vasudhādhipaḥ: lord of the earth
• vasudhādhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā-adhipa (प्रातिपदिक; वसुधा + अधिप)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to saḥ/vibhuḥ

Context

How can Indra-like Dasaratha, having ruled the earth bounded by four oceans, eat a cake of ingudi pulp?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Indra (Mahendra) (as comparison)

FAQs

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

Impermanence of worldly power: dharma reminds that kingship and luxury pass, while duty (rites and remembrance) remains—even in austere conditions.

What is the narrative situation?

A queen contrasts Daśaratha’s former imperial splendor with the simple forest-based offering now made for him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverent mourning—honoring the departed by recalling his greatness and feeling the sting of changed fortune.