Shloka 15

दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

बहुविघ्नं तपो नित्यं दुश्चरं चैव राघव।तेन शापं न मुञ्चामो भक्ष्यमाणाश्च राक्षसैः।।।।

Transliteration

bahuvighnaṃ tapo nityaṃ duścaraṃ caiva rāghava | tena śāpaṃ na muñcāmo bhakṣyamāṇāś ca rākṣasaiḥ ||

Translation

おおラाघァヴァよ、苦行は常に多くの障りに満ち、修することはまことに難しい。ゆえに我らは、たとえ羅刹に喰らわれようとも、呪詛を放たぬ。

Word by Word

• बहुविघ्नम्: full of many obstacles
• बहुविघ्नम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'बहवः विघ्नाः यस्य तत्' (तपः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• तपः: penance
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative)

• दुश्चरम्: hard to practice
• दुश्चरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुश्चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तपः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphasis)

• राघव: O Raghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तेन: therefore / by that
• तेन: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/by that)

• शापम्: curse
• शापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• मुञ्चामः: we release/utter
• मुञ्चामः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• भक्ष्यमाणाः: being eaten
• भक्ष्यमाणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (वयम्) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• च: even/and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• राक्षसैः: by demons
• राक्षसैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Context

'O Rama! it is difficult to perform penance which is ever full of obstacles. Therefore, we do not pronounce curses even if eaten up by demons'.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Rākṣasas
• Tapas
• Śāpa (curse)

FAQs

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

Dharma is forbearance aligned with one’s discipline: ascetics maintain restraint and do not weaponize spiritual power (curses) even under threat, prioritizing the integrity of tapas.

What is the narrative situation?

The sages clarify their non-retaliation: despite severe danger, they do not curse the rākṣasas, and thus request Rāma’s protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣamā (forgiveness/forbearance) and steadfastness in spiritual practice amid suffering.