Shloka 7

दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

ते भक्ष्यमाणा मुनयो दण्डकारण्यवासिनः।अस्मानभ्यवपद्येति मामूचुर्द्विजसत्तमा।।।।

Transliteration

te bhakṣyamāṇā munayo daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ |

asmān abhyavapadyeti mām ūcur dvija-sattamāḥ ||

Translation

Jene Munis des Daṇḍakāraṇya, die so zur Beute wurden, die Besten der Zweimalgeborenen, sprachen zu mir: „Komm uns zu Hilfe; wir suchen Zuflucht bei dir.“

Word by Word

• te: those
• te: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• bhakṣyamāṇāḥ: being eaten
• bhakṣyamāṇāḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhakṣ (धातु) + śāna (शानच्)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘being eaten’

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ: dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest
• daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṇḍaka-araṇya + vāsin (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘daṇḍakāraṇya-vāsin’ = dwelling in Daṇḍaka forest; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• asmān: us
• asmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (2), Bahuvacana

• abhyavapadya: come to (our) rescue
• abhyavapadya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-ava-√pad (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यप्), imperative-request sense in reported speech: ‘having come to (our) aid / having rescued’

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ūcuḥ: said/spoke
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) perfect, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• dvijasattamāḥ: best of brāhmaṇas
• dvijasattamāḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + sattama (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘dvija-sattama’ = best among twice-born; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; apposition to munayaḥ

Context

The ascetics, the best of brahmins living in Dandaka forest being eaten up like that besought me to come to their rescue.

Characters & Entities

• Daṇḍakāraṇya
• dvijas (brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Seeking refuge with a righteous protector is validated; it also invokes rāja-dharma—the duty to protect the vulnerable and uphold moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

The sages, suffering rākṣasa attacks, formally request Rāma to protect them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Trust in righteousness and rightful authority—approaching the dharmic hero for shelter.