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
“ผลสุกงอมแห่งกรรมของข้าพเจ้าเป็นเช่นไรเล่า จึงทำให้ข้าพเจ้าหิวและกระหาย? และมีอาหารใดสำหรับข้าพเจ้า ข้าแต่เทพ—โปรดตรัสบอกเถิด โอ ศรีปิตามหะ”
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.