Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 19

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

तत्पुरा राम शारीरामुपहिंसां तपस्विषु।दर्शयन्ति हि दुष्टास्ते त्यक्ष्याम इममाश्रमम्।।2.116.19।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.116.19

Transliteration

tat purā rāma śārīrām upahiṁsāṁ tapasviṣu |

darśayanti hi duṣṭās te tyakṣyāma imam āśramam ||2.116.19||

Translation

Ô Rāma, dès l’abord ces êtres corrompus infligent même des violences physiques aux ascètes; c’est pourquoi nous avons décidé d’abandonner cet ermitage.

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Word by Word

• taiḥ: by those
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• durātmabhiḥ: by the wicked-souled (ones)
• durātmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• āmṛṣṭān: defiled / infested
• āmṛṣṭān: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√mṛś (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga Dvitīyā Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of āśramān; sense: ‘touched/defiled/infested’

• āśramān: hermitages
• āśramān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• prajihāsavaḥ: wishing to leave
• prajihāsavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pra-√hā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: desiderative/intentive noun from √hā with suffix (as in jihāsā); Puṃliṅga Prathamā Bahuvacana; ‘wishing to abandon/flee’

• gamanāya: for going
• gamanāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Caturthī (Dative/4th), Ekavacana; purpose dative

• anya-deśasya: of another region
• anya-deśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: anyaḥ deśaḥ (another region)

• codayanti: urge / impel
• codayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cud (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• ṛṣayaḥ: sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• adya: now
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; kāla-vācaka (today/now)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

O Rama, those vile creatures resort to physical violence against ascetics, we have therefore, resolved to quit this ashram.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• tapasvin (ascetics)
• āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Ahimsa and reverence for tapas are central; harming ascetics is presented as a grave breach of dharma that compels the community to seek safety to continue truth-centered practice.

What is the narrative situation?

The leader explains that the attackers have escalated from disruption to direct physical harm, prompting the decision to leave the āśrama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity and resolve: the sages choose a course that preserves their dharmic obligations rather than endure increasing violence.