Valmiki Ramayana 2.32.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 24

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

Setting: Ayodhyā palace (service quarters/courtyard where attendants stand)Places named: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

अथाऽब्रवीद्बाष्पकलांस्तिष्ठतश्चोपजीविनः ॥२४॥

सम्प्रदायबहुद्रव्यमेकैकस्योपजीवनम् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.32.24

Transliteration

athābravīd bāṣpakalāṃs tiṣṭhataś copajīvinaḥ ||24||

sampradāya bahu dravyam ekaikasya upajīvanam |

Translation

Sesudah mengurniakan harta yang melimpah kepada setiap orang tanggungan sebagai bekal kehidupan, Rāma pun bersabda kepada para pelayan yang berdiri dengan tekak tersekat oleh air mata, katanya:

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Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandhi Notes

• अथाऽब्रवीत् = अथ + अब्रवीत्
• अब्रवीद्बाष्पकलान् = अब्रवीत् + बाष्पकलान्
• तिष्ठतश्चोपजीविनः = तिष्ठतः + च + उपजीविनः
• सम्प्रदायबहुद्रव्यम् = सम्प्रदाय + बहुद्रव्यम्
• एकैकस्योपजीवनम् = एकैकस्य + उपजीवनम्

Context

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

The teaching

True renunciation includes ensuring the welfare of those who relied on you; compassion completes duty.

Duties in tension

• Personal renunciation/exile vs. ongoing responsibility to dependents
• Emotional bonds vs. necessity of departure

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma / anukampā

How it resolves

Material provision and compassionate address before leaving

For your practice

Cultivates compassionate leadership and responsible detachment; encourages practitioners to settle obligations before spiritual undertakings.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Tear-choked, tender, parting

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Compassion
• Stewardship
• Dāna

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

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.