Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 24

द्वात्रिंशस्सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

अथाऽब्रवीद्बाष्पकलांस्तिष्ठतश्चोपजीविनः।।।।सम्प्रदायबहुद्रव्यमेकैकस्योपजीवनम्।

Transliteration

athābravīd bāṣpakalāṃs tiṣṭhataś copajīvinaḥ | sampradāya bahu dravyam ekaikasya upajīvanam ||

Translation

Ensuite, après avoir donné à chacun des dépendants d’abondantes richesses pour subsister, Rāma s’adressa à ces serviteurs qui se tenaient là, la gorge serrée de larmes, en disant :

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरक्रमवाचक अव्यय ("then/thereafter")

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बाष्पकलान्: tearful ones (with tears)
• बाष्पकलान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṣpa + kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष ("बाष्पस्य कलाः" = tear-drops/tearful persons; here: those with tears)

• तिष्ठतः: standing, remaining
• तिष्ठतः: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (context: accusative plural agreeing with बाष्पकलान्); परस्मैपद; "standing/remaining"

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• उपजीविनः: dependents
• उपजीविनः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upajīvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (object of अब्रवीत्); "dependents"

• सम्प्रदाय: having bestowed
• सम्प्रदाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + pra + dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive): "having bestowed/given"

• बहुद्रव्यम्: much wealth
• बहुद्रव्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu + dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ("बहु द्रव्यम्" = much wealth)

• एकैकस्य: of each one
• एकैकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व ("एकः च एकः" → distributive "each and every")

• उपजीवनम्: means of subsistence
• उपजीवनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upajīvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य (as subsistence)

Context

Rama then bestowed abundant wealth on each of the dependents as they stood with their throats choked with tears, saying:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma includes responsibility toward dependents: a righteous leader ensures the welfare and livelihood of those who rely on him, especially in times of separation.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma prepares for departure, he provides financial support to his household dependents and then speaks to them while they grieve.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s compassion and foresight—he anticipates hardship for others and safeguards their subsistence.