Shloka 19
द्वात्रिंशस्सर्गः
Gifts to Suyajna and the Brahmins; Trijata’s Petition and Rama’s Charity
ये चेमे कठकालापा बहवो दण्डमाणवाः।।2.32.18।।नित्यस्वाध्यायशीलत्वान्नान्यत्कुर्वन्ति किञ्चन।अलसा स्वादुकामाश्च महतां चापि सम्मताः।।2.32.19।।तेषामशीतियानानि रत्नपूर्णानि दापय।शालिवाहसहस्रं च द्वे शते भद्रकां स्तथा।।2.32.20।।व्यञ्जनार्थं च सौमित्रे गोसहस्रमुपाकुरु।
mekhalīnāṃ mahāsaṅghaḥ kausalyāṃ samupasthitaḥ |
teṣāṃ sahasraṃ saumitre pratyekaṃ sampradāpaya ||
Una gran multitud de brahmacārines ceñidos con mekhalā se presentó ante Kauśalyā; a cada uno de ellos, oh Saumitrī, concédele mil como dádiva sagrada.
O Lakshmana many brahmacharis with a staff (as a mark of religious authority) wellversed in Katha and Kalapa portions of the Vedas engaged daily in the study of the Vedas and nothing else. Not active otherwise, they are fond of delicious food and are respected even by great people. Give them eighty carts filled with gems, a thousand bulls capable of carrying paddy, and two hundred oxen capable of ploughing land and a thousand cows for preparing food (with milk products).
FAQs
Equitable giving: dharma is expressed by ensuring that each dependent student receives an appropriate, individually assigned share—fairness with generosity.
Rāma directs Lakṣmaṇa to distribute standardized gifts to a large body of brahmacārins connected with Kausalyā’s household.
Justice and orderliness: the instruction ‘to each’ highlights systematic, non-arbitrary charity.