Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 20
द्वात्रिंशस्सर्गः
Gifts to Suyajna and the Brahmins; Trijata’s Petition and Rama’s Charity
ये चेमे कठकालापा बहवो दण्डमाणवाः।।2.32.18।।नित्यस्वाध्यायशीलत्वान्नान्यत्कुर्वन्ति किञ्चन।अलसा स्वादुकामाश्च महतां चापि सम्मताः।।2.32.19।।तेषामशीतियानानि रत्नपूर्णानि दापय।शालिवाहसहस्रं च द्वे शते भद्रकां स्तथा।।2.32.20।।व्यञ्जनार्थं च सौमित्रे गोसहस्रमुपाकुरु।
teṣām aśītiyānāni ratnapūrṇāni dāpaya |
śālivāha-sahasraṃ ca dve śate bhadrakāṃs tathā || 2.32.20 ||
vyañjanārthaṃ ca saumitre go-sahasram upākuru |
Hãy cho họ tám mươi cỗ xe chất đầy châu báu, lại cấp một nghìn con bò đực khỏe để kéo chở lúa thóc, cùng hai trăm con bò tốt nữa. Và này Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), hãy sắp đặt thêm một nghìn con bò cái để lo việc chuẩn bị thức ăn.
O Lakshmana many brahmacharis with a staff (as a mark of religious authority) wellversed in Katha and Kalapa portions of the Vedas engaged daily in the study of the Vedas and nothing else. Not active otherwise, they are fond of delicious food and are respected even by great people. Give them eighty carts filled with gems, a thousand bulls capable of carrying paddy, and two hundred oxen capable of ploughing land and a thousand cows for preparing food (with milk products).
FAQs
Rāma directs Lakṣmaṇa to give substantial gifts (ratna, carts, bulls, cows) to learned brahmacārins, showing dharma as responsible generosity (dāna) and honoring Vedic study, even amid personal hardship.
Satya appears as integrity in action: Rāma’s resolve to uphold righteous conduct is made concrete through ordered, transparent giving—ensuring that his values are enacted consistently, not merely spoken.