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

Devanagari script

तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य रामस्त्वात्मनि शङ्कितः ।

कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदमृषिं कुलपतिं ततः ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.116.4

Transliteration

teṣām autsukyam ālakṣya rāmas tv ātmani śaṅkitaḥ |

kṛtāñjalir uvācedam ṛṣiṃ kulapatiṃ tataḥ ||4||

Translation

ເມື່ອພຣະຣາມເຫັນຄວາມກະວົນກະວາຍຂອງພວກທ່ານ ກໍເກີດຄວາມຫ່ວງໃນພຣະຫົວໃຈ; ແລ້ວພຣະອົງປະນົມມືດ້ວຍຄວາມເຄົາລົບ ແລະກ່າວຕໍ່ດາບສີຜູ້ເປັນຫົວໜ້າອາສຣົມວ່າ.

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Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• औत्सुक्यम्: anxiety/eagerness
• Type: Noun
• Root: औत्सुक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘आलक्ष्य’ इत्यस्य कर्म
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• आलक्ष्य: having noticed
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); ‘having noticed’
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• रामः: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तु: indeed/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)
• Role: Nipata (निपात)

• आत्मनि: in himself
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in himself/in his mind’
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• शङ्कितः: apprehensive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्कित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘रामः’)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• कृताञ्जलिः: with folded palms
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (कृतः अञ्जलिः यस्य सः/कृतः अञ्जलिः = folded hands); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• इदम्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वाक्यकर्म (object: ‘this’)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ऋषिम्: to the sage
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘उवाच’ इत्यस्य सम्प्रदानवत् कर्म (addressed object)
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)

• कुलपतिम्: the hermitage-chief
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘ऋषिम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)

• ततः: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then/thereupon)
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• तेषामौत्सुक्यमालक्ष्य = तेषाम् + औत्सुक्यम् + आलक्ष्य
• रामस्त्वात्मनि = रामः + तु + आत्मनि
• कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदम् = कृताञ्जलिः + उवाच + इदम्

Context

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

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• kulapati (hermitage-chief)
• ṛṣi (sage)
• tapasvins (ascetics)

FAQs

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

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.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma observes the sages’ unease and decides to ask the hermitage-chief directly, approaching with proper respect.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s vinaya (humility) and self-scrutiny—he assumes responsibility and seeks to understand if any fault has arisen.