Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 4
तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च
Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas
Setting: Forest hermitage (āśrama) under a kulapatiExile-journey; halting at hermitage and initiating dialogue
तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य रामस्त्वात्मनि शङ्कितः ।
कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदमृषिं कुलपतिं ततः ॥४॥
teṣām autsukyam ālakṣya rāmas tv ātmani śaṅkitaḥ |
kṛtāñjalir uvācedam ṛṣiṃ kulapatiṃ tataḥ ||4||
राम ने देखा कि रिशियों के चेहरे पर डर है। वो खुद भी डरने लगा कि क्या हो गया है। उसने अपने हाथ जोड़े और आश्रम के मुख्य रिशि से पूछा कि आप बताइए क्या हुआ है।
Sandhi Notes
- तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य = तेषाम् + औत्सुक्यम् + आलक्ष्य
- रामस्त्वात्मनि = रामः + तु + आत्मनि
- कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदम् = कृताञ्जलिः + उवाच + इदम्
Having observed their anxiety, Rama apprehending somethig in his mind approached the chief of the hermitage with folded palms and said:
The teaching
When doubt arises, respond with humility and direct inquiry to those established in dharma.
Duties in tension
- Kṣatriya self-assurance vs humility before spiritual authority
- Protecting companions/ashrama vs uncertainty about the cause of agitation
- Ethical theme
- Vinaya / consultative dharma
- How it resolves
- Seeking counsel from rightful authority (kulapati)
Devotion and practice
Cultivate añjali-bhāva and respectful questioning; approach teachers with humility in moments of uncertainty.
- Form of praise
- Vandana (salutation)
- Mantra
- kṛtāñjali (gesture as devotional act)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Bhayanaka (fear)
- Mood
- Reverent, inquiring, contained
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Respect to elders
- Maryādā (propriety)
- Hermitage etiquette
- Ethics
Turning inward to examine the self (ātma) and then approaching the knower for clarification—movement from manas (doubt) to buddhi (discernment).
Tad-vijñānārthaṃ sa gurum evābhigacchet—approach the teacher with humility when knowledge is needed (echo in spirit).
- Rama and Tapasvins
- Guest-disciple posture toward holy men; empathetic concern (concerned)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Rāma’s consistent vinaya toward elders and sages (motif-parallel); Bhagavad Gītā 4.34 (conceptual): praṇipāta and inquiry to the wise (thematic parallel)
Vedic etiquette of añjali and respectful address to ṛtvij/ṛṣi
Rāma’s repeated use of kṛtāñjali when addressing elders (contextual pattern)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn
Madhya sthāyi, steady and respectful
FAQs
Dharma here is expressed as humility and reverence: even a prince like Rāma approaches spiritual elders respectfully and seeks clarification rather than reacting with pride.
Rāma observes the sages’ unease and decides to ask the hermitage-chief directly, approaching with proper respect.
Rāma’s vinaya (humility) and self-scrutiny—he assumes responsibility and seeks to understand if any fault has arisen.
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