With gentle affection, Rāma spoke, “Dear one, have a necklace and a golden chain brought for your wife; and Sītā, my companion, wishes also to send her a girdle.” He continued, “Sītā wishes to gift your wife, who is accompanying you to the forest, with splendid anklets and beautiful armlets.” Rāma added, “Vaidehī also asks that you arrange for a couch, excellently spread and adorned with various jewels.” Turning to the brāhmaṇa Suyajña, Rāma said, “This elephant named Śatruṃjaya, which my maternal uncle gave me, I now give to you, best of Brāhmaṇas, along with a thousand gold coins.” Thus addressed, Suyajña gratefully accepted the gifts and, in return, bestowed auspicious blessings upon Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā. With kindness, Rāma then spoke to his dear and composed brother Saumitri, his words as gentle as Brahmā’s to the lord of the gods: “Saumitri, honor Agastya and Kauśika, those two foremost Brāhmaṇas, inviting them with jewels as crops are with water. O mighty-armed Rāghava, satisfy them with a thousand cows, gold and silver, gems, and great wealth. And the teacher of the Taittirīyas, learned in the Vedas and devoted, who attends upon Kausalyā with blessings—give him a vehicle, attendants, and silk garments, Saumitri, as much as that Brāhmaṇa desires. And the charioteer Citraratha, the honored counselor who has long served—satisfy him as well with costly jewels, garments, and wealth.” Rāma continued, “With all the herds and with a thousand cows, and those many Kaṭhaka reciters and staff-bearing youths here—because they are always devoted to their daily recitation, doing nothing else, fond of comfort yet respected by the great—for them, have eighty vehicles filled with jewels given, and two hundred fine oxen, and a thousand measures of rice. And, Saumitri, for their maintenance, provide a thousand cows; a great assembly of girdled women has come to Kausalyā—give each of them a thousand, Saumitri. So that my mother Kausalyā may rejoice in her offering, honor all those twice-born ones completely, Lakṣmaṇa.” As instructed, Lakṣmaṇa, best of men, himself gave that wealth to the foremost Brāhmaṇas, like the god of wealth. He then addressed the dependents, his throat choked with tears, having given much wealth and providing each with their livelihood: “Let the house of Lakṣmaṇa and this house of mine not be empty for each one until my return.” Having thus spoken to all those dependents, who were distressed, he said to the treasurer, “Bring my wealth.” All the dependents brought his wealth, and a great heap was seen there, truly impressive. Then that tiger among men, together with Lakṣmaṇa, distributed that wealth to Brāhmaṇas, to the young and old, and to the needy. Among those present was a tawny-haired Brāhmaṇa of the Garga lineage named Trijaṭa, who lived by tilling the forest, always using plough and spade. His young wife, taking their children, said to him, “Set aside the plough and spade, do as I say; show yourself to righteous Rāma—perhaps you will obtain something.” With a radiance equal to Bhrigu and Angiras, Trijaṭa was not stopped by anyone up to the fifth enclosure of the assembly. Approaching Rāma, Trijaṭa spoke, “Prince, mighty one, I am poor and have many children. I always live by tilling the forest; please consider me.” Rāma, with a touch of humor, replied, “Not even a single one of a thousand cows has been given by me; as much as you encircle with your staff, that much you shall receive.” In haste, Trijaṭa wrapped his cloth around his waist, drew his staff, and hurled it with all his strength. The staff, released from his hand, crossed over the Sarayu river and fell amidst a great herd of cows, near the oxen. Embracing him on the bank of the Sarayu, the righteous one then led those cows toward Trijaṭa’s hermitage. Rāma gently consoled the descendant of Garga, saying, “You should not be angry; this was only a jest of mine. Indeed, this is your power, which is insurmountable. Wishing to know it, I urged you for this very reason. Now, choose any other boon you desire. I declare truthfully, you shall not be restrained by me. Whatever wealth of mine you wish, let it be properly given to you, so that I may gain both merit and fame.” The great sage Trijaṭa, with his wife, joyfully accepted the herd of cows, and in return offered blessings that increased Rāma’s fame, strength, and happiness. Rāma, whose manliness was complete, continued to distribute the great wealth he had righteously acquired among his friends, prompted by words of proper honor. Whether a twice-born friend, a servant, or a poor beggar—there was no one left unsatisfied, each receiving gifts and honors as was fitting. Now, listen to the thirty-third sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa: Having given much wealth to the brāhmaṇas, together with Vaidehī, the two descendants of Raghu set out with Sītā to see their father.