Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 36
द्वात्रिंशस्सर्गः
Gifts to Suyajna and the Brahmins; Trijata’s Petition and Rama’s Charity
तमुवाच ततो राम: परिहास समन्वितम्।गवां सहस्रमप्येकं न नु विश्राणितं मया।।।।परिक्षिपसि दण्डेन यावत्तावदवाप्स्यसि।
tam uvāca tato rāmaḥ parihāsa-samanvitam | gavāṁ sahasram apy ekaṁ na nu viśrāṇitaṁ mayā || parikṣipasi daṇḍena yāvat tāvat avāpsyasi |
ततः रामः परिहाससमन्वितं तमुवाच— “मया नूनं गवां सहस्रमप्येकं न विश्राणितम्। दण्डेन परिक्षिप; यावद् यावत् तद् गच्छति, तावद् गोः प्राप्स्यसि।”
Rama jokingly replied to him, I have not yet gifted one thousand cows. Throw your staff and the cows on the space your staff covers will be yours.
FAQs
Dharma of dāna: the righteous respond to need with generosity; even playful speech can serve compassion when it leads to real relief.
Rama answers Trijaṭa’s plea by proposing a test-like, playful method to determine the scale of the gift—measured by the staff’s throw.
Rama’s generosity and approachable compassion—he uplifts the poor without harshness.