Shloka 4

Devanagari script

तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य रामस्त्वात्मनि शङ्कितः।कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदमृषिं कुलपतिं ततः।।2.116.4।।

Transliteration

teṣām autsukyam ālakṣya rāmas tv ātmani śaṅkitaḥ | kṛtāñjalir uvācedam ṛṣiṃ kulapatiṃ tataḥ || 2.116.4 ||

Translation

Als Rāma ihre unruhige Erregung bemerkte, wurde er innerlich besorgt; daraufhin sprach er, die Hände ehrfürchtig gefaltet, zu dem Weisen, dem Vorsteher der Einsiedelei.

Word by Word

तेषाम्of them

औत्सुक्यम्anxiety/eagerness

आलक्ष्यhaving noticed

रामःRama

तुindeed/but

आत्मनिin himself

शङ्कितःapprehensive

कृताञ्जलिःwith folded palms

उवाचsaid

इदम्this

ऋषिम्to the sage

कुलपतिम्the hermitage-chief

ततःthen

Context

Those sages, glancing at Rama with suspicious eyes, knitting their eye-brows and murmering among themselves, conversed secretly.

Characters & Entities

Rāma

kulapati (hermitage-chief)

Ṛ

ṛṣi (sage)

tapasvins (ascetics)

FAQs

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

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.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma observes the sages’ unease and decides to ask the hermitage-chief directly, approaching with proper respect.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s vinaya (humility) and self-scrutiny—he assumes responsibility and seeks to understand if any fault has arisen.