Valmiki Ramayana 2.32.30 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 30

द्वात्रिंशस्सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तं वृद्धं तरुणी भार्या बालानादाय दारकान्।।।।अब्रवीद्बाह्मणं वाक्यं दारिद्र्येणाभिपीडिता।

Transliteration

taṃ vṛddhaṃ taruṇī bhāryā bālān ādāya dārakān | abravīd brāhmaṇaṃ vākyaṃ dāridryeṇābhipīḍitā ||

Translation

ആ വൃദ്ധ ബ്രാഹ്മണനോടു അവന്റെ യുവതിയായ ഭാര്യ ദാരിദ്ര്യത്താൽ പീഡിതയായി, ചെറുപുത്രന്മാരെ മുന്നിൽ കൊണ്ടുവന്ന് വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वृद्धम्: aged
• वृद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (तम्/ब्राह्मणम्)

• तरुणी: young woman
• तरुणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taruṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन to तरुणी

• बालान्: young
• बालान्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (दारकान्)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): "having taken"

• दारकान्: children, sons
• दारकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• ब्राह्मणम्: to the brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/To whom spoken)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दारिद्र्येण: by/through poverty
• दारिद्र्येण: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāridrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• अभिपीडिता: distressed, oppressed
• अभिपीडिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + pīḍita (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुं? (actually feminine) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle): "oppressed"; विशेषण (तरुणी/भार्या)

Context

After performing the twilight prayers, Suyajna along with Lakshmana went straight away and entered the beautiful and prosperous palace of Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Trijaṭa (implied aged brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse frames poverty as a moral test that calls forth compassion and responsible family care; it prepares the ground for dharmic relief through giving.

What is the narrative situation?

A poor brāhmaṇa household is depicted: the wife, distressed by deprivation, approaches her aged husband with their children, initiating dialogue.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The wife’s protective concern for her children and frankness in hardship—an appeal grounded in family duty.