Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 16
कुशनाभकन्याशतविवाहः — The Marriage of Kuśanābha’s Hundred Daughters
and the Birth of Brahmadatta
लक्ष्म्या समुदितो ब्राह्म्या ब्रह्मभूतो महातपा:।ब्राह्मेण तपसा युक्तं पुत्रमिच्छामि धार्मिक।।1.33.16।।
lakṣmyā samudito brāhmyā brahmabhūto mahātapāḥ | brāhmeṇa tapasā yuktaṃ putram icchāmi dhārmika ||
“O dakilang tapasvin, nagniningning sa brahmanikong karangalan at wari’y si Brahmā mismo—O matuwid na banal, ninanais ko ang isang anak na may brahmanikong tapas.”
Bestowed with the great asceticism and brilliance of a brahmin, you look like Brahma. O righteous one, I desire a son endowed with the ascetic virtues of a brahmin.
FAQs
Dharma is framed as valuing spiritual excellence: the desired offspring is not sought for power or pleasure but for brahmanical virtue and disciplined austerity.
Somadā states her boon-request to the pleased sage Cūlī: she asks for a son possessing brahmanical tapas.
Somadā’s aspirational purity—her wish aligns progeny with spiritual discipline and righteous character.