Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 18

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

तैर्दुरात्मभिरामृष्टानाश्रमान्प्रजिहासवः।गमनायान्यदेशस्य चोदयन्त्यृषयोऽद्य माम्।।2.116.18।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.116.18

Transliteration

tair durātmabhir āmṛṣṭān āśramān prajihāsavaḥ |

gamanāyānyadeśasya codayanty ṛṣayo ’dya mām ||2.116.18||

Translation

Ahora los sabios, deseosos de abandonar los eremitorios mancillados por esos malvados, me instan hoy a partir hacia otra región.

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Word by Word

• apakṣipanti: they throw away
• apakṣipanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• sruk-bhāṇḍān: ladles and vessels
• sruk-bhāṇḍān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sruk (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; dvandva: srucaḥ ca bhāṇḍāni ca (ladles and vessels)

• agnīn: fires
• agnīn: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• siñcanti: they drench / pour (water)
• siñcanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sic (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• vāriṇā: with water
• vāriṇā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• kalaśān: water-pots
• kalaśān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• pramadhnanti: they smash / destroy
• pramadhnanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√math (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• havane: in the sacrifice
• havane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• samupasthite: when it is about to begin
• samupasthite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Temporal-locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-upa-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past participle (क्त), Napuṃsaka Saptamī Ekavacana agreeing with havane; ‘when (it) has arrived/is about to commence’

Context

Now all these sages are urging me to abandon this hermitage infested by these wicked rakshasas and move to another region.

Characters & Entities

• āśrama (hermitage)
• rakṣasas (implied by context: durātmāḥ)

FAQs

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

When dharmic life becomes impossible due to persistent adharma, withdrawal to preserve spiritual practice can be justified; the verse highlights safeguarding tapas and satya-based ritual life.

What is the narrative situation?

Because the hermitages are being defiled by wicked aggressors, the sages press their leader to relocate to a safer region.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and responsibility: the sages prioritize the continuity of sacred duties over attachment to a particular place.