Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 14

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

दर्शयन्ति हि बीभत्सैः क्रूरैर्भीषणकैरपि।नानारूपैर्विरूपैश्च रूपैर्विकृतदर्शनैः।।2.116.14।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.116.14

Transliteration

darśayanti hi bībhatsaiḥ krūraiḥ bhīṣaṇakair api |

nānārūpair virūpaiś ca rūpair vikṛtadarśanaiḥ ||

Translation

അവർ പലവിധ രൂപങ്ങളിൽ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നു—ഭീകരവും ക്രൂരവും, ഭയങ്കരവും വികൃതദർശനവുമുള്ള, വിരൂപവും കാണാൻ വെറുപ്പുളവാക്കുന്നതുമായ രൂപങ്ങളിൽ.

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Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• yadāprabhṛti: since the time when
• yadāprabhṛti: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय) + prabhṛti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (adverbial compound): ‘from the time when…’; kāla-avyaya

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (emphatic/causal particle)

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Saptamī (Locative/7th), Ekavacana

• āśrame: hermitage
• āśrame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• tāta: dear child
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• vartase: you reside / you live
• vartase: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

• tadāprabhṛti: since then
• tadāprabhṛti: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय) + prabhṛti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; kāla-avyaya: ‘from that time’

• rakṣāṃsi: rakshasas
• rakṣāṃsi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• viprakurvanti: torment / harass
• viprakurvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-pra-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• tāpasān: ascetics
• tāpasān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

Context

They appear in various distorted forms now rapacious, now fearful, now deformed.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasas
• tapasvins (ascetics)

FAQs

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

Dharma opposes intimidation—using terror and deception to break spiritual practice is portrayed as a violation demanding protection.

What is the narrative situation?

The ascetics describe the methods of harassment: rākṣasas frighten them by appearing in grotesque forms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance under fear—ascetics persist despite psychological terror, highlighting steadfastness in tapas.