Shloka 6

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Aranyakanda 39): राक्षसस्य रामत्रासवर्णनम् / The Demon’s Account of Rama

Fear

Devanagari script

ऋषिमांसाशनः क्रूरस्त्रासयन्वनगोचरान्।तथा रुधिरमत्तोऽहं विचरन्धर्मदूषकः।।।।

Transliteration

ṛṣimāṃsāśanaḥ krūras trāsayan vanagocarān |

tathā rudhiramatto ’haṃ vicaran dharmadūṣakaḥ ||

Translation

残酷にも賢者たちの肉を喰らい、森の住人たちを恐怖に陥れ、血に酔いしれて、ダルマ（法）を汚す者として彷徨っていた。

Word by Word

• ऋषिमांसाशनः: eater of sages' flesh
• ऋषिमांसाशनः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋषि + मांस + आशन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to अहम्)

• क्रूरः: cruel
• क्रूरः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रासयन्: frightening
• त्रासयन्: Karta (कर्ता) (concomitant action)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रासय् (धातु; causative of √त्रस्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अहम्)

• वनगोचरान्: forest-dwellers
• वनगोचरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• रुधिरमत्तः: intoxicated with blood
• रुधिरमत्तः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुधिर + मत्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विचरन्: wandering
• विचरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अहम्)

• धर्मदूषकः: corrupter of dharma
• धर्मदूषकः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + दूषक (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √दूष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-ण्वुल्/क (agent noun)

Context

While thus roaming, I harmed the wanderers of the forest. Intoxicated with their bloodI used to frighten the righteous.

Characters & Entities

• Marīca
• ṛṣis (sages)
• forest-dwellers (vanagocarāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma is not only personal virtue but social order: spreading terror and corrupting righteousness damages the whole community and is condemned.

What is the narrative situation?

Marīca continues describing his former life of violence to justify why he now advises caution and restraint toward Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse underscores the need for self-control (dama) and compassion; Marīca’s former lack of these becomes a lesson.