Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 4
तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च
Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas
तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य रामस्त्वात्मनि शङ्कितः।कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदमृषिं कुलपतिं ततः।।2.116.4।।
teṣām autsukyam ālakṣya rāmas tv ātmani śaṅkitaḥ | kṛtāñjalir uvācedam ṛṣiṃ kulapatiṃ tataḥ || 2.116.4 ||
Seeing their anxious agitation, Rāma grew concerned within himself; then, with palms joined in reverence, he addressed the sage who was the hermitage-chief.
Those sages, glancing at Rama with suspicious eyes, knitting their eye-brows and murmering among themselves, conversed secretly.
FAQs
Dharma here is expressed as humility and reverence: even a prince like Rāma approaches spiritual elders respectfully and seeks clarification rather than reacting with pride.
Rāma observes the sages’ unease and decides to ask the hermitage-chief directly, approaching with proper respect.
Rāma’s vinaya (humility) and self-scrutiny—he assumes responsibility and seeks to understand if any fault has arisen.