Valmiki Ramayana 1.30.2: Bala Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 2

सिद्धाश्रम

यज्ञरक्षणम् · Protection of Viśvāmitra’s Sacrifice at Siddhāśrama

Spoken by Rama to ViśvāmitraSetting: Siddhashrama (yajña setting)Pre-battle vigilance before the rākṣasas’ arrival

Devanagari script

भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छावो यस्मिन् काले निशाचरौ ।

संरक्षणीयौ तौ ब्रह्मन्नातिवर्तेत तत्क्षणम् ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.30.2

Transliteration

bhagavan śrotum icchāvo yasmin kāle niśācarau |

saṃrakṣaṇīyau tau brahman nātivarteta tatkṣaṇam ||2||

Translation

ब्राह्मण जी, हम सुन्ना चाहते हैं कि वो दोनों राक्षस कब आयेंगे। हमें उनसे बचने का टाइम पता होना चाहिए। ऐसा मत होना कि वो वक्त निकल जाये।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• भगवन्: O venerable one
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Masculine, Vocative, Singular)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु: श्रु) + tumun (कृत्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (भावे), श्रवणार्थे (to hear)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

• इच्छावः: we two are desirous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣ (धातु: इष्) + a (प्रातिपदिक इच्छ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; 'इच्छा' भाववाचक-विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative, Dual: 'desirous')
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• यस्मिन्: in which
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• काले: time
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• निशाचरौ: the two night-rangers (rākṣasas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (निशायां चरतः) (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• संरक्षणीयौ: to be protected
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-rakṣ (धातु: रक्ष्) + anīya (कृत्)
• Form: अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be protected'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• तौ: those two
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmarṣi
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Masculine, Vocative, Singular)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• अतिवर्तेत: should pass beyond/elapse
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-vṛt (धातु: वृत्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Optative, 3rd person, Singular)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• तत्क्षणम्: that moment
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (तत् क्षणम्) (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• श्रोतुमिच्छावो = श्रोतुम् + इच्छावः
• ब्रह्मन्नातिवर्तेत = ब्रह्मन् + न + अतिवर्तेत
• तत्क्षणम् = तत् + क्षणम्

Context

"O adorable Brahmarshi, we want to know around what time the rakshasas will make their appearance so that the sacrifice can be protected. Let not that moment pass".

The teaching

Dharma requires preparedness: knowing the right time and guarding the vulnerable supports the success of sacred work.

Ethical theme

Rakṣaṇa (protection) / apramāda (vigilance)

For your practice

Model of sevā to guru and protection of sacred practice; encourages vigilance in one’s own sādhana against ‘night-ranger’ distractions.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Watchful, urgent, dutiful

Themes

• Dharma
• Duty
• Preparedness
• Satya (truth-seeking inquiry)
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied by dual: icchāvo)
• Viśvāmitra
• yajña (implied: protection of sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires foresight and disciplined preparation: protection of a righteous act (yajña) is best achieved through timely knowledge and readiness.

What is the narrative situation?

Before the attack, Rāma requests Viśvāmitra to specify when the two rākṣasas will appear so they can guard the sacrifice effectively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and responsibility: Rāma seeks guidance from the sage and prioritizes effective protection over impulsive action.