Shloka 3.39.15

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Aranyakanda 39): राक्षसस्य रामत्रासवर्णनम् / The Demon’s Account of Rama-Fear

Devanagari script

अपि रामसहस्राणि भीतः पश्यामि रावण।रामभूतमिदं सर्वमरण्यं प्रतिभाति मे।।।।

Transliteration

api rāmasahasrāṇi bhītaḥ paśyāmi rāvaṇa | rāmabhūtam idaṁ sarvam araṇyaṁ pratibhāti me ||

Translation

O Rāvaṇa, in my fear I see even thousands of Rāmas; this entire forest appears to me as though it has become nothing but Rāma.

Context

O Ravana! I see in my fear thousands of Ramas. The entire forest appears to me as though filled with Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• forest (araṇya)

FAQs

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

Dharma is inescapable: the presence of righteous order presses upon the wrongdoer until he abandons harmful intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Directly addressing Rāvaṇa, the speaker confesses overwhelming fear—hallucinating countless Rāmas and perceiving the whole forest as pervaded by him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s moral and martial supremacy: his very name and presence dominate the psyche of those aligned with adharma.