Valmiki Ramayana 1.30.2 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 2

सिद्धाश्रम

यज्ञरक्षणम् — Protection of Viśvāmitra’s Sacrifice at Siddhāśrama

Devanagari script

भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छावो यस्मिन् काले निशाचरौ।संरक्षणीयौ तौ ब्रह्मन्नातिवर्तेत तत्क्षणम्।।।।

Transliteration

bhagavan śrotum icchāvo yasmin kāle niśācarau | saṃrakṣaṇīyau tau brahman nātivarteta tatkṣaṇam ||

Translation

Ehrwürdiger, wir möchten hören, zu welcher Zeit jene zwei Nachtwandler kommen werden, damit wir auf der Hut sein können; o Brahmane, lass diesen Augenblick nicht an uns vorübergehen.

Word by Word

• भगवन्: O venerable one
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Masculine, Vocative, Singular)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु: श्रु) + tumun (कृत्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (भावे), श्रवणार्थे (to hear)

• इच्छावः: we two are desirous
• इच्छावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣ (धातु: इष्) + a (प्रातिपदिक इच्छ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; 'इच्छा' भाववाचक-विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative, Dual: 'desirous')

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• काले: time
• काले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• निशाचरौ: the two night-rangers (rākṣasas)
• निशाचरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (निशायां चरतः) (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

• संरक्षणीयौ: to be protected
• संरक्षणीयौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-rakṣ (धातु: रक्ष्) + anīya (कृत्)
• Form: अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be protected'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmarṣi
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Masculine, Vocative, Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• अतिवर्तेत: should pass beyond/elapse
• अतिवर्तेत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-vṛt (धातु: वृत्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Optative, 3rd person, Singular)

• तत्क्षणम्: that moment
• तत्क्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (तत् क्षणम्) (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

Context

"O adorable Brahmarshi, we want to know around what time the rakshasas will make their appearance so that the sacrifice can be protected. Let not that moment pass".

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied by dual: icchāvo)
• Viśvāmitra
• yajña (implied: protection of sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires foresight and disciplined preparation: protection of a righteous act (yajña) is best achieved through timely knowledge and readiness.

What is the narrative situation?

Before the attack, Rāma requests Viśvāmitra to specify when the two rākṣasas will appear so they can guard the sacrifice effectively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and responsibility: Rāma seeks guidance from the sage and prioritizes effective protection over impulsive action.