Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 8

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

अथर्षिर्जरया वृद्धस्तपसा च जरां गतः।वेपमान इवोवाच रामं भूतदयापरम्।।2.116.8।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.116.8

Transliteration

atha ṛṣir jarayā vṛddhas tapasā ca jarāṃ gataḥ | vepamāna ivovāca rāmaṃ bhūtadayāparam || 2.116.8 ||

Translation

Then an ascetic—aged by years and worn by austerity—spoke, as if trembling, to Rāma, who is deeply compassionate to all beings.

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Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (then)

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जरया: by old age
• जरया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वृद्धः: aged
• वृद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘ऋषिः’)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• जराम्: old age
• जराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गतः: having attained
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having reached/attained’

• वेपमानः: trembling
• वेपमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘trembling’

• इव: as if
• इव: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रामम्: to Rama
• रामम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भूत-दया-परम्: devoted to compassion for beings
• भूत-दया-परम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + दया (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भूतेषु दया यस्य सः/दया-परः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘रामम्’)

Context

Has Sita devoted in her service to me and engaged in serving you failed to follow the conduct befitting a woman?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• ṛṣi (aged ascetic)
• bhūtas (beings/creatures)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed through compassion and respectful speech: the elder ascetic addresses Rāma recognizing his universal kindness, setting a truthful and gentle tone for counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma’s questions, an elderly sage prepares to respond, physically frail yet authoritative through tapas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s bhūta-dayā (compassion to all beings), acknowledged as a defining trait.