Valmiki Ramayana 2.103.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 103, Shloka 13
पिण्डदानदर्शनम्
The Queens Behold Rama’s Śrāddha Offering
अतो दुःखतरं लोके न किञ्चित्प्रतिभाति मा।यत्र रामः पितुर्दद्यादिङ्गुदिक्षोदमृद्धिमान्।।2.103.13।।
ato duḥkhataraṁ loke na kiñcit pratibhāti mā |
yatra rāmaḥ pitur dadyād iṅgudikṣodam ṛddhimān || 2.103.13 ||
अतो दुःखतरं लोके न किञ्चित्प्रतिभाति मे। यत्र रामः पितुर्दद्यादिङ्गुदिक्षोदपिण्याकम्॥
Rama (who was once) highly prosperous, had to offer the cake of ingudi pulp to his father. Nothing appears more painful to me than this in this world.
FAQs
Dharma persists despite loss of status: Rāma’s adherence to duty in poverty underscores that righteousness is not dependent on wealth or royal resources.
The queens witness the austere offering and express that this reversal—Rāma’s reduced circumstances while serving his father’s rites—is the sharpest pain.
Steadfast duty (niṣṭhā): Rāma performs the rite properly even when circumstances force simplicity.
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