Shloka 6

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

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

काले काले च निरता नियमैर्विविधैर्वने।भक्ष्यन्ते राक्षसैर्भीमैर्नरमांसोपजीविभिः।।।।

Transliteration

kāle kāle ca niratā niyamair vividhair vane |

bhakṣyante rākṣasair bhīmair nara-māṃsopajīvibhiḥ ||

Translation

വനത്തിൽ കാലാകാലങ്ങളിൽ വിവിധ നിയമാനുഷ്ഠാനങ്ങളിൽ നിരതരായിരിക്കുമ്പോഴും, മനുഷ്യാംസം ആഹാരമാക്കി ജീവിക്കുന്ന ഭീകരരാക്ഷസന്മാർ അവരെ ഭക്ഷിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• kāle: at (a) time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7), Ekavacana; repetition indicates distributive ‘at times’

• kāle: again at (a) time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7), Ekavacana; repeated for emphasis ‘time after time’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya-nipāta

• niratāḥ: engaged
• niratāḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘engaged’

• niyamaiḥ: with observances/rules
• niyamaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3), Bahuvacana

• vividhaiḥ: various
• vividhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of niyamaiḥ

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

• bhakṣyante: are eaten
• bhakṣyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ present, Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; karmaṇi (passive) sense ‘are eaten’

• rākṣasaiḥ: by demons
• rākṣasaiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• bhīmaiḥ: dreadful
• bhīmaiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of rākṣasaiḥ

• naramāṃsopajīvibhiḥ: living on human flesh
• naramāṃsopajīvibhiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nara + māṃsa + upajīvin (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘nara-māṃsa-upajīvin’ = living on human flesh; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of rākṣasaiḥ

Context

The sages engrossed in various austerities in the forest have been victims to the dreadful demons living on human flesh.

Characters & Entities

• vana (forest)
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns predation on the innocent; the verse frames rākṣasa violence as adharma that demands righteous intervention.

What is the narrative situation?

The sages explain that despite their disciplined life of niyamas, they are attacked and eaten by fearsome rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sages’ perseverance in austerity and moral discipline, even under threat.