Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 32 of 119 · 45 verses
Rama Gives Away His Wealth; Trijata’s Staff
Lakshmana brings Suyajna from his fire-house. After the evening rites they come to Rama’s splendid house. Rama honours him with gold armlets, earrings, jewels on gold threads, bracelets and other gems, and at Sita’s urging says: “Take this necklace with its gold thread and this girdle for your wife; Sita, her friend, gives them as she leaves for the forest, and these armlets and fine bangles, and this couch with its fine coverlet. And the elephant Shatrunjaya, which my uncle gave me, I give you with a thousand gold coins.” Suyajna blesses Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.
Rama tells Lakshmana to honour the brahmanas Agastya and Kaushika with jewels as rain nourishes crops, and with a thousand cows, gold, silver and gems; to give the learned Taittiriya teacher who blesses Kausalya a carriage, maidservants and silks until he is satisfied; to reward the old minister and charioteer Citraratha with jewels, clothes, wealth, animals and a thousand cows; to give the many Katha and Kalapa students, who only study and are loved by the great, eighty carriages full of jewels, a thousand loads of rice, two hundred bulls and a thousand cows for curd and ghee; and a thousand each to the band of girdled students who come to Kausalya, so that she is pleased with his gift. Lakshmana gives it all, like Kubera. To his weeping dependants Rama gives each a living, and asks that his and Lakshmana’s houses be kept occupied until he returns. He has all his wealth brought out, a huge heap, and gives it to brahmanas, children, the old and the poor.
There is a poor brahmana, Trijata of the Garga line, tawny-haired, who scrapes a living in the forest with ploughshare, spade and plough. His young wife, with their small children, tells the old man: “Put down the ploughshare and spade and do as I say; go and see righteous Rama, and perhaps you will get something.” He wraps his scrap of cloth around himself and goes; no one stops him, radiant as Bhrigu or Angiras, until the fifth courtyard. “I am poor and have many sons, prince; I live by scraping in the forest. Look after me.” Rama, joking, says: “I have not yet given away even one thousand cows. As far as you can throw your staff, you shall have.” In a flurry, Trijata ties his cloth around his waist, whirls his staff and throws it with all his strength. It flies across the Sarayu and falls among thousands of cows near a bull. Rama embraces him and has all the cows up to that bank driven to his hermitage. “Don’t be angry; it was a joke. I wanted to see your power, which is hard to match. Ask for anything else. Truly, my wealth is for brahmanas, and giving it rightly to you brings fame.” Trijata and his wife, delighted, take the herd and bless him. Rama distributes his wealth, earned by dharma, among all his dependants, and no one, brahmana, friend, servant, poor man or beggar, goes away unsatisfied.
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ततः शासनमाज्ञाय भ्रातुः प्रियकरं हितम् । गत्वा स प्रविवेशाशु सुयज्ञस्य निवेशनम् ॥ १ ॥
Then, taking his brother’s command, beneficial and pleasing, he went and quickly entered Suyajna’s house.
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Rama Gives Away His Wealth; Trijata’s Staff 1 min read.
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तं विप्रमग्न्यगारस्थं वन्दित्वा लक्ष्मणोऽब्रवीत् । सखेऽभ्यागच्छ पश्य त्वं वेश्म दुष्करकारिणः ॥ २ ॥
Saluting the brahmana in his fire-house, Lakshmana said: “Friend, come and see the house of one who is doing a hard thing.”
ततः संध्यामुपास्थाय गत्वा सौमित्रिणा सह । ऋद्धं स प्राविशल्लक्ष्म्या रम्यं रामनिवेशनम् ॥ ३ ॥
Then, having performed the twilight rites, he went with Saumitri and entered Rama’s lovely house, rich with splendour.
तमागतं वेदविदं प्राञ्जलिः सीतया सह । सुयज्ञमभिचक्राम राघवोऽग्निमिवार्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥
As he came, that knower of the Veda, Raghava went forward with Sita, palms joined, to meet Suyajna, as one goes to a fire duly worshipped.
जातरूपमयैर्मुख्यैरङ्गदैः कुण्डलैः शुभैः । सहेमसूत्रैर्मणिभिः केयूरैर्वलयैरपि ॥ ५ ॥
अन्यैश्च रत्नैर्बहुभिः काकुत्स्थः प्रत्यपूजयत् । सुयज्ञं स तदोवाच रामः सीताप्रचोदितः ॥ ६ ॥
With the finest gold armlets and lovely earrings, with jewels on gold threads, with upper-arm bands and bracelets, and with many other gems, Kakutstha honoured him. Then Rama, urged by Sita, said to Suyajna:
हारं च हेमसूत्रं च भार्यायै सौम्य हारय । रशनां चाथ सा सीता दातुमिच्छति ते सखी ॥ ७ ॥
“Take this necklace and gold thread for your wife, gentle one; and Sita, her friend, wishes to give her this girdle.
अङ्गदानि च चित्राणि केयूराणि शुभानि च । प्रयच्छति सखी तुभ्यं भार्यायै गच्छती वनम् ॥ ८ ॥
“These bright armlets and lovely bangles your friend gives you for your wife, as she goes to the forest.
पर्यङ्कमग्र्यास्तरणं नानारत्नविभूषितम् । तमपीच्छति वैदेही प्रतिष्ठापयितुं त्वयि ॥ ९ ॥
“And this couch with its fine coverlet, adorned with many jewels, Vaidehi also wishes to establish with you.
नागः शत्रुंजयो नाम मातुलोऽयं ददौ मम । तं ते निष्कसहस्रेण ददामि द्विजपुङ्गव ॥ १० ॥
“The elephant named Shatrunjaya, which my uncle gave me, I give to you with a thousand gold coins, bull among brahmanas.”
इत्युक्तः स तु रामेण सुयज्ञः प्रतिगृह्य तत् । रामलक्ष्मणसीतानां प्रयुयोजाशिषः शिवाः ॥ ११ ॥
So addressed by Rama, Suyajna accepted it and pronounced auspicious blessings on Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.
अथ भ्रातरमव्यग्रं प्रियं रामः प्रियंवदम् । सौमित्रिं तमुवाचेदं ब्रह्मेव त्रिदशेश्वरम् ॥ १२ ॥
Then Rama said to his calm, beloved, sweet-spoken brother Saumitri, as Brahma to the lord of the gods:
अगस्त्यं कौशिकं चैव तावुभौ ब्राह्मणोत्तमौ । अर्चयाहूय सौमित्रे रत्नैः सस्यमिवाम्बुभिः ॥ १३ ॥
“Agastya and Kaushika, those two best of brahmanas: summon them and honour them with jewels, Saumitri, as rain honours crops.
तर्पयस्व महाबाहो गोसहस्रेण राघव । सुवर्णरजतैश्चैव मणिभिश्च महाधनैः ॥ १४ ॥
“Satisfy them with a thousand cows, mighty-armed Raghava, with gold and silver and very valuable gems.
कौसल्यां च य आशीर्भिर्भक्तः पर्युपतिष्ठति । आचार्यस्तैत्तिरीयाणामभिरूपश्च वेदवित् ॥ १५ ॥
तस्य यानं च दासीश्च सौमित्रे सम्प्रदापय । कौशेयानि च वस्त्राणि यावत् तुष्यति स द्विजः ॥ १६ ॥
“The teacher of the Taittiriyas, learned and worthy, who devotedly attends Kausalya with blessings: give him a carriage and maidservants, Saumitri, and silk garments, until that brahmana is satisfied.
सूतश्चित्ररथश्चार्यः सचिवः सुचिरोषितः । तोषयैनं महार्हैश्च रत्नैर्वस्त्रैर्धनैस्तथा ॥ १७ ॥
पशुकाभिश्च सर्वाभिर्गवां दशशतेन च । ये चेमे कठकालापा बहवो दण्डमाणवाः ॥ १८ ॥
“The charioteer Citraratha, our noble, long-serving minister: satisfy him with costly jewels, clothes and wealth, with all kinds of small animals and a thousand cows. And these many staff-carrying students of the Katha and Kalapa schools,
नित्यस्वाध्यायशीलत्वान्नान्यत् कुर्वन्ति किंचन । अलसाः स्वादुकामाश्च महतां चापि सम्मताः ॥ १९ ॥
“who, devoted to constant study, do nothing else, who are idle and fond of good food, and yet esteemed by the great:
तेषामशीतियानानि रत्नपूर्णानि दापय । शालिवाहसहस्रं च द्वे शते भद्रकांस्तथा ॥ २० ॥
“have eighty carriages filled with jewels given to them, and a thousand loads of rice, and two hundred bhadraka bulls;
व्यञ्जनार्थं च सौमित्रे गोसहस्रमुपाकुरु । मेखलीनां महासङ्घः कौसल्यां समुपस्थितः । तेषां सहस्रं सौमित्रे प्रत्येकं सम्प्रदापय ॥ २१ ॥
“and for their curds and ghee, Saumitri, provide a thousand cows. A great band of girdled students waits on Kausalya; give each of them a thousand, Saumitri.
अम्बा यथा नो नन्देच्च कौसल्या मम दक्षिणाम् । तथा द्विजातींस्तान् सर्वाँल्लक्ष्मणार्चय सर्वशः ॥ २२ ॥
“So that our mother Kausalya may rejoice in my gift, Lakshmana, honour all those brahmanas in every way.”
ततः पुरुषशार्दूलस्तद् धनं लक्ष्मणः स्वयम् । यथोक्तं ब्राह्मणेन्द्राणामददाद् धनदो यथा ॥ २३ ॥
Then Lakshmana, tiger among men, himself gave that wealth to the chief brahmanas as he had been told, like Kubera.
अथाब्रवीद् बाष्पगलांस्तिष्ठतश्चोपजीविनः । स प्रदाय बहुद्रव्यमेकैकस्योपजीवनम् ॥ २४ ॥
Then, having given much property to each of his dependants for their living, he spoke to them as they stood, their throats choked with tears:
लक्ष्मणस्य च यद् वेश्म गृहं च यदिदं मम । अशून्यं कार्यमेकैकं यावदागमनं मम ॥ २५ ॥
“Lakshmana’s house and this house of mine must each be kept occupied until I return.”
इत्युक्त्वा दुःखितं सर्वं जनं तमुपजीविनम् । उवाचेदं धनाध्यक्षं धनमानीयतां मम ॥ २६ ॥
Having said this to all those grieving dependants, he said to his treasurer: “Let my wealth be brought.”
ततोऽस्य धनमाजह्रुः सर्व एवोपजीविनः । स राशिः सुमहांस्तत्र दर्शनीयो ह्यदृश्यत ॥ २७ ॥
Then all his dependants brought his wealth, and a very great heap was seen there, a sight to see.
ततः स पुरुषव्याघ्रस्तद् धनं सहलक्ष्मणः । द्विजेभ्यो बालवृद्धेभ्यः कृपणेभ्यो ह्यदापयत् ॥ २८ ॥
Then the tiger among men, with Lakshmana, had that wealth given to brahmanas, to children and the old, and to the wretched.
तत्रासीत् पिङ्गलो गार्ग्यस्त्रिजटो नाम वै द्विजः । क्षतवृत्तिर्वने नित्यं फालकुद्दाललाङ्गली ॥ २९ ॥
There was a tawny brahmana of the Garga line named Trijata, who always made a scant living in the forest with ploughshare, spade and plough.
तं वृद्धं तरुणी भार्या बालानादाय दारकान् । अब्रवीद् ब्राह्मणं वाक्यं स्त्रीणां भर्ता हि देवता ॥ ३० ॥
His young wife, bringing their little children, said to that old brahmana (for to women the husband is a deity):
अपास्य फालं कुद्दालं कुरुष्व वचनं मम । रामं दर्शय धर्मज्ञं यदि किंचिदवाप्स्यसि ॥ ३१ ॥
“Throw away the ploughshare and spade and do as I say. Show yourself to righteous Rama; perhaps you will get something.”
स भार्याया वचः श्रुत्वा शाटीमाच्छाद्य दुश्छदाम् । स प्रातिष्ठत पन्थानं यत्र रामनिवेशनम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Hearing his wife’s words, he wrapped himself in his scrap of cloth, which barely covered him, and set out on the road to Rama’s house.
भृग्वङ्गिरःसमं दीप्त्या त्रिजटं जनसंसदि । आपञ्चमायाः कक्ष्याया नैतं कश्चिदवारयत् ॥ ३३ ॥
No one stopped Trijata, radiant as Bhrigu or Angiras, in the crowd, until the fifth courtyard.
स राममासाद्य तदा त्रिजटो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । निर्धनो बहुपुत्रोऽस्मि राजपुत्र महाबल ॥ ३४ ॥
क्षतवृत्तिर्वने नित्यं प्रत्यवेक्षस्व मामिति । तमुवाच ततो रामः परिहाससमन्वितम् ॥ ३५ ॥
Reaching Rama, Trijata said: “I am poor and have many sons, mighty prince. I always make a scant living in the forest; look after me.” Then Rama said to him, full of jest:
गवां सहस्रमप्येकं न च विश्राणितं मया । परिक्षिपसि दण्डेन यावत्तावदवाप्स्यसे ॥ ३६ ॥
“I have not yet given away even one thousand cows. As far as you can throw your staff, so many you shall have.”
स शाटीं परितः कट्यां सम्भ्रान्तः परिवेष्ट्य ताम् । आविध्य दण्डं चिक्षेप सर्वप्राणेन वेगतः ॥ ३७ ॥
In a flurry he wrapped the cloth around his waist, whirled his staff and threw it with all his strength and speed.
स तीर्त्वा सरयूपारं दण्डस्तस्य कराच्च्युतः । गोव्रजे बहुसाहस्रे पपातोक्षणसंनिधौ ॥ ३८ ॥
Crossing to the far side of the Sarayu, the staff, flown from his hand, fell among many thousands of cows near a bull.
तं परिष्वज्य धर्मात्मा आ तस्मात् सरयूतटात् । आनयामास ता गावस्त्रिजटस्याश्रमं प्रति ॥ ३९ ॥
Righteous Rama embraced him and had all those cows, up to that bank of the Sarayu, brought to Trijata’s hermitage.
उवाच च तदा रामस्तं गार्ग्यमभिसान्त्वयन् । मन्युर्न खलु कर्तव्यः परिहासो ह्ययं मम ॥ ४० ॥
And Rama, comforting that Gargya, said: “Surely you must not be angry; this was a joke of mine.
इदं हि तेजस्तव यद् दुरत्ययं तदेव जिज्ञासितुमिच्छता मया । इमं भवानर्थमभिप्रचोदितो वृणीष्व किंचेदपरं व्यवस्यसि ॥ ४१ ॥
“I wanted to test this power of yours, which is hard to surpass. Urged on, you have gained this; if you wish anything more, choose it.
ब्रवीमि सत्येन न ते स्म यन्त्रणां धनं हि यद्यन्मम विप्रकारणात् । भवत्सु सम्यक्प्रतिपादनेन मयार्जितं चैव यशस्करं भवेत् ॥ ४२ ॥
“I tell you truly, there is no restraint: whatever wealth of mine there is, is for brahmanas; giving it rightly to you, what I have earned will bring me fame.”
ततः सभार्यस्त्रिजटो महामुनि- र्गवामनीकं प्रतिगृह्य मोदितः । यशोबलप्रीतिसुखोपबृंहिणी- स्तदाशिषः प्रत्यवदन्महात्मनः ॥ ४३ ॥
Then the great sage Trijata with his wife, receiving the herd of cows, rejoiced, and pronounced on the great soul blessings that increase fame, strength, love and happiness.
स चापि रामः प्रतिपूर्णपौरुषो महाधनं धर्मबलैरुपार्जितम् । नियोजयामास सुहृज्जने चिराद् यथार्हसम्मानवचः प्रचोदितः ॥ ४४ ॥
And Rama, of complete manhood, at last, prompted by fitting words of honour, distributed among his dependants the great wealth earned by the strength of dharma.
द्विजः सुहृद् भृत्यजनोऽथवा तदा दरिद्रभिक्षाचरणश्च यो भवेत् । न तत्र कश्चिन्न बभूव तर्पितो यथार्हसम्माननदानसम्भ्रमैः ॥ ४५ ॥
Brahmana, friend or servant, or whoever was poor and lived by begging: there was no one there who was not satisfied by fitting honour, gifts and eager care.