Ayodhya Kanda 105.10
Valmiki Ramayanam (IIT Kanpur) · Ayodhya Kanda 105 · Verse 10
Sanskrit Original
।। एषोपमा महाबाहो तमर्थं वेत्तु मर्हसि। यदि त्वमस्मान्वृषभो भर्ता भृत्यान्न शाधि हि।।
৷৷ ēṣōpamā mahābāhō! tamarthaṅ vēttu marhasi. yadi tvamasmānvṛṣabhō bhartā bhṛtyānna śādhi hi৷৷
O mightyarmed Rama, a man plants a tree, rears it till it grows into such a large tree with a big trunk that it becomes difficult for a dwarf to climb. When the tree flowers but does not bear fruit, the man who planted it gets no pleasure out of the purpose for which the tree was planted. Being a mighty protector, do not chastise us who are your servants. This is a simile. You may better comprehend its implications. (The meaning of the simile is that if you do not assume the throne, the desire of our father, who nurtured you right from your childhood and hoped that one day you will become king and rule the people, will be in vain.)