Shloka 15

षष्ठस्सर्गः — तपस्विरक्षणे राजधर्मोपदेशः

Sarga 6: The Sages’ Appeal and Instruction on Royal Duty

Devanagari script

सोऽयं ब्राह्मणभूयिष्ठो वानप्रस्थगणो महान्।त्वन्नाथोऽनाथवद्राम राक्षसैर्वध्यते भृशम्।।।।

Transliteration

so 'yaṃ brāhmaṇabhūyiṣṭho vānaprasthagaṇo mahān |

tvannātho 'nāthavad rāma rākṣasair vadhyate bhṛśam ||

Translation

Ô Rāma, cette grande communauté d’ascètes des forêts—pour la plupart des brahmanes—bien qu’ayant en toi son seigneur, est cruellement massacrée par les rākṣasas, comme si elle était sans protecteur.

Word by Word

एहिcome

पश्यsee

शरीराणिbodies

मुनीनाम्of sages

भावितात्मनाम्of self-disciplined (sages)

हतानाम्of the slain

राक्षसैःby demons

घोरैःterrible

बहूनाम्of many

बहुधाin many places/ways

वनेin the forest

Context

One fourth of the supreme merit a sage earns by living on fruits and roots, accrues to the king through which the people are protected righteously.

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Sages (vānaprasthas)

Brahmins

Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma demands protection of the vulnerable; the verse frames unchecked violence against ascetics as a failure of the protective order that righteous power is meant to uphold.

What is the narrative situation?

Sages report ongoing attacks by rākṣasas and stress the urgency: despite Rāma’s presence as a rightful protector, they are being killed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sages’ truthfulness and moral urgency in petitioning; and by implication, Rāma’s expected virtue of protective justice.