Shloka 2.116.6

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च (Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas)

Devanagari script

प्रमादाच्चरितं कच्चित्किञ्चिन्नावरजस्य मे।लक्ष्मणस्यर्षिभिदृष्टं नानुरूपमिवात्मनः।।2.116.6।।

Transliteration

kaccic chuśrūṣamāṇā va śuśrūṣaṇaparā mayi | pramadābhyucitāṃ vṛttiṃ sītā yuktaṃ na vartate || 2.116.7 ||

Translation

“Or has Sītā—though devoted to serving me and attentive to serving you—failed to maintain, in proper measure, the conduct considered fitting for a woman?”

Context

Have the sages found my younger brother Lakshmana doing something unbecoming of him through inadvertence?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• kulapati (sage)

FAQs

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

The verse reflects dharma as social propriety within an āśrama: Rāma checks whether any breach of expected decorum has occurred, aiming to protect harmony and trust.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, trying to understand the sages’ discomfort, asks whether Sītā has unintentionally violated norms of conduct expected in that setting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s carefulness and concern for reputational and ethical clarity—he seeks to remove doubt through inquiry.