Shloka 36

युधिष्ठिरकृष्णसंवादः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Appeal and Kṛṣṇa’s Assurance

Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 59

Devanagari script

तपस्विनां रक्षणार्थ सहस््राणि चतुर्दश । नरश्रेष्ठ श्रीरामचन्द्रजीने जनस्थानमें तपस्वी मुनियोंकी रक्षाके लिये चौदह हजार राक्षसोंका वध किया था

Transliteration

tapasvināṃ rakṣaṇārthaṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa | naraśreṣṭhaḥ śrīrāmacandrajīna janasthāne tapasvī munīnāṃ rakṣāyai caturdaśa-sahasra-rākṣasānāṃ vadhaṃ cakāra |

Translation

Narada said: For the protection of ascetics, the best of men, Sri Ramachandra, in Janasthana, slew fourteen thousand rakshasas in order to safeguard the austere sages. The statement upholds the ethical ideal that power and valor are to be exercised in defense of the innocent and in support of righteous spiritual life.

Word by Word

• तपस्विनाम्: of the ascetics
• तपस्विनाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• रक्षणार्थम्: for the purpose of protection
• रक्षणार्थम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षणार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sri Ramachandra (Rama)
• Janasthana
• Munis (ascetic sages)
• Rakshasas (fourteen thousand)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Strength and authority are ethically justified when used to protect the vulnerable and uphold dharma—here, safeguarding ascetics and their spiritual practice from violent disruption.

What is happening in the narrative?

Narada cites Rama’s deed at Janasthana—killing fourteen thousand rakshasas—to illustrate a precedent of righteous protection: a heroic figure intervenes decisively to defend sages engaged in austerities.