Shloka 20

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

बहुमूलफलं चित्रमविदूरादितो वनम्।पुराणाश्रममेवाहं श्रयिष्ये सगणः पुनः।।2.116.20।।

Transliteration

bahumūlaphalaṁ citram avidūrād ito vanam |

purāṇāśramam evāhaṁ śrayiṣye sagaṇaḥ punaḥ ||2.116.20||

Translation

Nicht weit von hier ist ein lieblicher Wald, reich an Wurzeln und Früchten; dort werde ich mit meinen Gefährten erneut in einer alten Einsiedelei Zuflucht nehmen.

Word by Word

• tat: therefore
• tat: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; used adverbially: ‘therefore/for that reason’

• purā: at first / formerly
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; kāla-vācaka (formerly/at first)

• rāma: O Rama
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• śārīrām: bodily / physical
• śārīrām: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śārīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of upahiṃsām

• upahiṃsām: violence / injury
• upahiṃsām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upahiṃsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• tapasviṣu: among the ascetics
• tapasviṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Target-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana

• darśayanti: they show / inflict visibly
• darśayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada; causative sense

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta

• duṣṭāḥ: the wicked ones
• duṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• tyakṣyāma: we shall abandon
• tyakṣyāma: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ lakāra (Periphrastic future), Uttama puruṣa (1st person), Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of āśramam

• āśramam: hermitage
• āśramam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

Not very far from here stands an ancient ashram in a lovely forest abounding in roots and fruits and I with my companions will seek shelter there.

Characters & Entities

• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is maintained by choosing conditions that allow righteous living; relocation is framed as a practical step to preserve spiritual discipline and truthful ritual life.

What is the narrative situation?

The leader identifies a nearby forest with an old hermitage as the new place of residence for the group.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Foresight and stewardship: the leader plans for the welfare of the whole community (sagaṇaḥ) while keeping their sacred aims intact.