Shloka 5

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

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

वसन्तो धर्मनिरता वने मूलफलाशनाः।न लभन्ते सुखं भीता राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः।।।।

Transliteration

vasanto dharmaniratā vane mūlaphalāśanāḥ |

na labhante sukhaṃ bhītā rākṣasaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ ||

Translation

വനത്തിൽ വസിച്ച് ധർമ്മനിരതരായി, മൂലഫലങ്ങൾ ആഹാരമാക്കി ജീവിക്കുന്ന മുനിമാർ, ക്രൂരകർമ്മികളായ രാക്ഷസന്മാരുടെ ഭയത്തിൽ സന്തോഷം കണ്ടെത്തുന്നില്ല.

Word by Word

• vasantaḥ: dwelling/residing
• vasantaḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘dwelling’

• dharmaniratāḥ: engaged in dharma
• dharmaniratāḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + nirata (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘dharma-nirata’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of (munayaḥ implied)

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī (7), Ekavacana

• mūlaphalāśanāḥ: eating roots and fruits
• mūlaphalāśanāḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūla + phala + āśana (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (possibly dvandva-internal + tatpuruṣa) ‘mūla-phala-āśana’ = root-and-fruit-eaters; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha particle

• labhante: obtain
• labhante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ present, Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2), Ekavacana

• bhītāḥ: afraid
• bhītāḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīta (प्रातिपदिक; √bhī + kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of subject

• rākṣasaiḥ: by demons
• rākṣasaiḥ: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3), Bahuvacana

• krūrakarmabhiḥ: of cruel deeds
• krūrakarmabhiḥ: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra + karman (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi ‘those whose deeds are cruel’; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of rākṣasaiḥ

Context

The sages living in the forest, eating roots and fruits and ever engaged in righteous activities are afraid of the depredations of the demons, with their happiness gone.

Characters & Entities

• vana (forest)
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights the vulnerability of those committed to righteous living; it implies the kingly/heroic duty to protect dharmic communities from violent oppression.

What is the narrative situation?

Forest sages describe how rākṣasas terrorize them, disrupting their peaceful ascetic life in Daṇḍaka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sages’ steadfastness in dharma and austerity is emphasized, setting the moral ground for Rāma’s protective duty.