Shloka 3.6.6

षष्ठस्सर्गः — तपस्विरक्षणे राजधर्मोपदेशः (Sarga 6: The Sages’ Appeal and Instruction on Royal Duty)

Devanagari script

वैखानसा वालखिल्यास्सम्प्रक्षाला मरीचिपाः।अश्मकुट्टाश्च बहवः पत्राहाराश्च तापसाः।।3.6.2।।दन्तोलूखलिनश्चैव तथैवोन्मज्जकाः परे।गात्रशय्या अशय्याश्च तथैवाभ्रावकाशकाः।।3.6.3।।मुनयस्सलिलाहारावायुभक्षा स्तथापरे।आकाशनिलयाश्चैव तथा स्थण्डिलशायिनः।।3.6.4।।व्रतोपवासिनो दान्तास्तथाऽर्द्रपटवाससः।सजपाश्च तपोनित्यास्तथा पञ्चतपोऽन्विताः।।3.6.5।।सर्वे ब्राह्म्या श्रिया जुष्टा दृढयोगास्समाहिताः।शरभङ्गाश्रमे राममभिजग्मुश्च तापसाः।।3.6.6।।

Transliteration

dattvā’bhayaṁ cāpi tapodhanānāṁ dharme dhṛtātmā saha lakṣmaṇena |

tapodhanaiś cāpi sabhājyavṛttaḥ sutīkṣṇam evābhijagāma vīraḥ || 3.6.26 ||

Translation

Steadfast in dharma, the brave Rāma—whose conduct was worthy of reverence—granted the ascetics, rich in the wealth of tapas, an assurance of safety; and with Lakṣmaṇa, and with those very sages, he went on to Sutīkṣṇa.

Context

Vaikhanasas, Valakhilyas, sages who continuously wash their bodies, Marichakas Asmakuttas sages who live on leaves only, those who have teeth like mortar, Unmajjakas, those who use limbs as their bed, those who practise penance without using a bed, those who do penance in the open, unmindful of rain or Sun or wind, those who live on water only, those who penance under the open sky, those who carry on penance on high places like the mountaintop, those who recline on bare ground only, those who observe fast as a part of religious tradition, those selfrestrained men, those who mutter sacred mantras, those who constantly perform penance and those who stand under the blazing Sun in summer placing fire on four sides while performing penanceall these types of sages met Rama in the hermitage of Sarabhanga.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sutīkṣṇa
• Tapodhana (ascetics)

FAQs

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

Protecting the righteous (especially ascetics) is a central duty: Rāma turns moral authority into concrete assurance—abhaya—grounded in dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After meeting the sages, Rāma promises them safety and then proceeds onward with Lakṣmaṇa to visit the sage Sutīkṣṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfastness and protectorhood: dhṛtātmā (firm in righteousness) and sabhājyavṛtta (honour-worthy conduct).