Tṛjāṭa Dāna

Tṛjāṭa Dāna is a short episode in the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. Before Rāma left for the forest, he gave his wealth away as dāna (gifts). A poor and very pious brāhmaṇa named Tṛjāṭa came to receive a gift, and Rāma gave to him.

The episode

Rāma had accepted Kaikeyī’s demand, and he had not yet left Ayodhyā. In that time he gave away his remaining wealth, jewels and belongings as dāna to brāhmaṇas, ṛshis and those in need. This giving was a way of completing his duty: a householder who was going to live in the forest was expected to give away his wealth first.

Among those who came to receive Rāma’s dāna was the brāhmaṇa Tṛjāṭa. He was learned but very poor, and he was deeply pious and ascetic in his ways. Rāma received him with respect and gave him dāna from his remaining wealth.

Rāma was in the middle of a great trouble of his own. He was being sent away from the throne, his father was broken, and his mother was weeping. Even so, he did not set aside the householder’s duty of dāna. He gave with the same generosity that marked his rule.

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa (the chapters on the gifts given before Rāma’s departure)