Valmiki Ramayana · Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 7
उत्तमेनाभिसंयुक्ता हर्षेणार्थपरा सती। राममाता धनं किन्नु जनेभ्यस्सम्प्रयच्छति
uttamenābhisaṃyuktā harṣeṇārthaparā satī| rāmamātā dhanaṃ kinnu janebhyassamprayacchati
Why is Rama's mother, forever interested in the accumulation of money gifting away her wealth to men with great joy?
— M.N. Dutt (1891)
Commentary
Manthara asks: why is Rama's mother distributing wealth with such joy? The question reveals her framework — she sees Kausalya's generosity not as love but as political spending. Every act of celebration is, to Manthara, an act of factional consolidation.
दानहर्ष