Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 23

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तवन्तं स्तंराम राजपुत्रस्तपस्विनम्।न शशाकोत्तरैर्वाक्यैरवरोद्धुं समुत्सुकम्।।2.116.23।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.116.23

Transliteration

ity uktavantaṁ taṁ rāma rājaputras tapasvinam |

na śaśākottarair vākyair avaroddhuṁ samutsukam ||2.116.23||

Translation

Ainsi parlant, cet ascète brûlait de partir, et le prince Rāma ne put le retenir par des paroles en retour.

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Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• uktavantam: the one who had spoken
• uktavantam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) + uktavat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle) = 'said'

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• rāma: O Rama
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• rājaputraḥ: the king's son
• rājaputraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājaputra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः राज्ञः पुत्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tapasvinam: the ascetic
• tapasvinam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• śaśāka: was able
• śaśāka: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• uttaraiḥ: with answering (replying)
• uttaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextually), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• vākyaḥ: by words
• vākyaḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (vākyaḥ = vākyaḥ? correct form: vākyaiḥ)

• vākyaiḥ: by words
• vākyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• avaroddhum: to restrain/hold back
• avaroddhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rudh (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive/तुमुन्), 'अव-रुद्धुम्'

• samutsukam: eager/anxious
• samutsukam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samutsuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (of tapasvinam)

Context

It was not possible for prince Rama to hold back by mere words that ascetic who was saying like this and was anxious to quit the hermitage.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• tapasvin (ascetic)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring the agency of the wise; when an ascetic decides for communal welfare, righteous conduct avoids coercion and accepts limits of debate.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite Rāma’s response, the ascetic leader remains intent on leaving, and Rāma cannot stop him through speech alone.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Restraint and respect: Rāma does not force the ascetic to stay, reflecting humility before spiritual elders.