Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 16
तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च
Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas
तेषु तेष्वाश्रमस्थानेष्वबुद्धमवलीय च।रमन्ते तापसां स्तत्र नाशयन्तोऽल्पचेतसः।।2.116.16।।
tēṣu tēṣv āśramasthānēṣv abuddham avalīya ca |
ramantē tāpasāṃs tatra nāśayanto 'lpacētasaḥ ||
તે અલ્પબુદ્ધિ રાક્ષસો ક્યારેક આ તો ક્યારેક તે આશ્રમસ્થાને અજાણ્યા રહી છુપાઈ જાય છે, અને ત્યાં તપસ્વીઓનો વિનાશ કરતાં આનંદ માણે છે.
These debased rakshasas, concealing themselves in various ashram sites takedelight in harassing and killing the ascetics.
FAQs
Dharma defends sacred spaces—turning hermitages into hunting grounds is shown as grave adharma that calls for restoration of safety and order.
The ascetics describe the rākṣasas’ stealth: they conceal themselves around hermitages and destroy ascetics for sport.
Commitment to the sanctity of tapas—by reporting these acts, the ascetics seek dharmic protection for spiritual practice.
Ask anything about this verse
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.