Shloka 9

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

Fear

Devanagari script

तापसं नियताहारं सर्वभूतहिते रतम्।सोऽहं वनगतं रामं परिभूय महाबलम्।।3.39.8।।तापसोऽयमिति ज्ञात्वा पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन्।अभ्यधावं हि संक्रुद्धस्तीक्ष्ण शृङ्गो मृगाकृतिः।।3.39.9।।जिघांसुरकृतप्रज्ञस्तं प्रहारमनुस्मरन्।

Transliteration

tāpasaṃ niyatāhāraṃ sarvabhūtahite ratam |

so ’haṃ vanagataṃ rāmaṃ paribhūya mahābalam ||

tāpaso ’yam iti jñātvā pūrvavairam anusmaran |

abhyadhāvaṃ hi saṃkruddhas tīkṣṇaśṛṅgo mṛgākṛtiḥ ||

jighāṃsur akṛtaprajñas taṃ prahāram anusmaran |

Translation

ラーマは強力であったが、質素な食事をとり、あらゆる生き物の幸福に尽くしていた。単なる森の苦行者と彼を侮り、かつての恨みを思い出し、以前彼から受けた一撃の教訓を忘れて、私は鋭い角を持つ獣の姿をとり、愚かにも彼を殺そうとして激怒して突進した。

Word by Word

• tena: by him
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana

• muktāḥ: released
• muktāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √muc (मुच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Bahuvacana (Plural); 'released'

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; numeral adjective

• bāṇāḥ: arrows
• bāṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• śitāḥ: sharp
• śitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक/PPP)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; 'sharp'

• śatrunibarhaṇāḥ: enemy-destroying
• śatrunibarhaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + nibarhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: śatrūṇāṃ nibarhaṇāḥ (destroyers of enemies)

• vikṛṣya: having drawn
• vikṛṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √kṛṣ (कृष् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त): 'having drawn (back)'

• balavat: powerfully
• balavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-like adjectival usage; here qualifying action: 'strongly/mightily' (indeclinable accusative neuter form used adverbially)

• cāpam: bow
• cāpam: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'vikṛṣya')
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

• suparṇānilanissvanāḥ: whizzing like Garuḍa/wind
• suparṇānilanissvanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suparṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anila (प्रातिपदिक) + nissvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: suparṇasya anilasya ca nissvana iva (having a sound like Garuḍa/wind)

Context

Although Rama was very strong, he was living on restricted diet, engaged in the welfare of all beings. Treating him as a mere ascetic living in the forest, remembering my past hostility with him and disregarding his (fatal) blow, I ran towards him angrily, assuming the form of a sharp-horned animal with an intention to kill him.

Characters & Entities

• Marīca
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that dharmic power is rooted in self-restraint and universal goodwill; prideful contempt for such virtue leads to self-destruction.

What is the narrative situation?

Marīca recalls attacking Rāma in the forest after dismissing him as only an ascetic, driven by old hostility and anger.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s restraint (niyatāhāra) and benevolence toward all beings (sarvabhūtahita) are emphasized as marks of true strength.