Shloka 95
Rāma’s Meeting with Agastya: Gift-Ethics (Dāna) and the Tale of King Śveta
कस्येयं कर्मणः पक्तिः क्षुत्पिपासे यतो हि मे । आहारः कश्च मे देव ब्रूहि त्वं श्रीपितामह
kasyeyaṃ karmaṇaḥ paktiḥ kṣutpipāse yato hi me | āhāraḥ kaśca me deva brūhi tvaṃ śrīpitāmaha
“Apakah buah masak karmaku sehingga aku merasa lapar dan dahaga? Dan apakah makanan bagiku, wahai Dewa—jelaskanlah, wahai Śrī Pitāmaha.”
Unspecified petitioner addressing Brahmā as “Śrīpitāmaha”
Concept: Hunger and thirst can manifest as karmic fruition; one should inquire into causes and remedies through dharmic counsel.
Application: When suffering arises, replace blame with inquiry: examine past neglect of duties (especially hospitality/charity) and adopt corrective giving and service.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A weary soul, radiant yet visibly parched, kneels before Brahmā in a lotus-born pavilion of creation. The petitioner’s hands are folded in trembling humility as subtle waves of heat-haze and thirst rise around them, while Brahmā’s calm gaze suggests hidden karmic law about to be revealed.","primary_figures":["Brahmā (Śrīpitāmaha)","Unnamed petitioner/soul"],"setting":"A cosmic lotus-court with layered petals like terraces, faint constellations in the background, and a small water-vessel left conspicuously untouched to symbolize unmet need.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","saffron gold","pearl white","deep indigo","copper brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Brahmā seated on a grand lotus throne with four faces and ornate crown, the petitioner kneeling with folded hands, heavy gold leaf halos, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, stylized lotus pavilion, sacred implements (kamandalu, akṣamālā) rendered with embossed gold.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a serene lotus-court floating in a cool indigo cosmos, Brahmā delicately painted with refined facial features, the petitioner thin and anxious, subtle heat-haze near the ground, fine floral borders, lyrical clouds and distant stars, gentle pastel shading.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, Brahmā with characteristic large eyes and layered jewelry, the petitioner in humble posture, lotus mandala backdrop, warm red-yellow-green pigments, temple-wall aesthetic with rhythmic ornamental bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus motifs filling the border, central scene of Brahmā on a lotus with symmetrical floral patterns, the petitioner at the base, deep blue background with gold highlights, intricate vines and stylized sacred vessels, devotional textile composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["low temple bell","soft conch in distance","vast silence","faint wind over lotus leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kasyeyaṃ = kasya+iyam (a+i→e); kaśca = kaḥ+ca (visarga sandhi).
FAQs
It means the “ripening” or “fruition” of past actions—how karma matures into lived experience, here expressed as hunger and thirst.
“Pitāmaha” means “Grandfather,” a traditional epithet for Brahmā as a primordial progenitor; “Śrī” adds reverence.
The verse frames bodily needs as part of karmic causality and invites inquiry into rightful sustenance—encouraging responsibility, humility, and seeking guidance from higher wisdom.