Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 42

द्वात्रिंशस्सर्गः

Gifts to Suyajna and the Brahmins; Trijata’s Petition and Rama’s Charity

Devanagari script

ब्रवीमि सत्येन नतेऽस्ति यन्त्रणाधनं हि यद्यन्मम विप्रकारणात्।भवत्सु सम्यक्प्रतिपादनेन तन्मयार्जितं प्रीतियशस्करं भवेत्।।।।

Transliteration

bravīmi satyena na te 'sti yantraṇāḥ |

dhanaṃ hi yadyan mama vipra-kāraṇāt |

bhavatsu samyak-pratipādanena tat

mayārjitaṃ prīti-yaśas-karaṃ bhavet ||

Translation

“Ta nói bằng sự thật: đối với ngài không hề có sự hạn chế nào. Bất cứ của cải nào của ta, vốn là để phụng sự các bà-la-môn; và khi ta đúng pháp bố thí cho những bậc như ngài, điều ta tích lũy sẽ trở thành nguồn hoan hỷ và danh thơm.”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Adverb of time

• sa-bhāryaḥ: together with (his) wife
• sa-bhāryaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; avyayībhāva-like usage 'with wife' (सह-भाव)

• strijaṭaḥ: Trijaṭa
• strijaṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strijaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahāmuniḥ: great sage
• mahāmuniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; समास: mahā + muni (कर्मधारय: 'great sage')

• gavām: of cows
• gavām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• anīkam: multitude; troop
• anīkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• pratigṛhya: having accepted
• pratigṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having accepted'

• moditaḥ: delighted
• moditaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: modita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate/qualifier of strijaṭaḥ

• yaśo-bala-prīti-sukha-upabṛṃhaṇīḥ: enhancing fame, strength, joy, and happiness
• yaśo-bala-prīti-sukha-upabṛṃhaṇīḥ: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśas + bala + prīti + sukha + upabṛṃhaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural; qualifies āśiṣaḥ; compound meaning 'enhancing fame, strength, joy, and happiness'

• tad: those
• tad: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Feminine, Accusative, Plural; qualifies āśiṣaḥ

• āśiṣaḥ: blessings
• āśiṣaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• pratyavadat: replied; uttered in return
• pratyavadat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ava-√vad (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/Past), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• mahātmanaḥ: to/of the great-souled (Rama)
• mahātmanaḥ: Sampradāna/Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्प्रदान/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular; bahuvrīhi: 'great-souled one' (epithet of Rāma)

Context

Truly speaking, there is no limit to seeking wealth. My wealth is specifically meant for brahmins. By distributing all the wealth earned by me, I get pleasure and renown.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Brāhmaṇas (vipra)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is dāna guided by propriety: wealth is not hoarded but offered to worthy recipients, and giving must be ‘samyak’—rightly and respectfully done.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma reassures the brāhmaṇa that there is no limit on what may be requested and frames his wealth as intended for brāhmaṇas, making the gift meaningful.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity aligned with righteousness—Rāma treats wealth as an instrument of dharma and social obligation.