Shloka 23

षष्ठस्सर्गः — तपस्विरक्षणे राजधर्मोपदेशः

Sarga 6: The Sages’ Appeal and Instruction on Royal Duty

Devanagari script

विप्रकारमपाक्रष्टुं राक्षसैर्भवतामिमम्।पितुस्तु निर्देशकरः प्रविष्टोऽहमिदं वनम्।।।।

Transliteration

viprakāram apākraṣṭuṃ rākṣasair bhavatām imam | pituḥ tu nirdeśakaraḥ praviṣṭo'ham idaṃ vanam ||

Translation

ਰਾਕਸ਼ਸਾਂ ਨੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਜੋ ਇਹ ਅਤਿਆਚਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਦੂਰ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ—ਅਤੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਦੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਦੀ ਪਾਲਣਾ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ—ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਵਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• विप्रकारम्: harm/insult, wrongdoing
• विप्रकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (acc. sg.)

• अपाक्रष्टुम्: to ward off / remove
• अपाक्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अपा√कृष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• राक्षसैः: by the demons
• राक्षसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृ (instr. pl.)

• भवताम्: of you (hon.)
• भवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (आदरार्थ), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (gen. pl.)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (acc. sg.)

• पितुः: of (my) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (gen. sg.)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• निर्देशकऱः: executor of instructions
• निर्देशकऱः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्देश-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (one who carries out an instruction)

• प्रविष्टः: entered
• प्रविष्टः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (acc. sg.)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

Context

I came into this forest in obedience to my father's orders to repel the aggression of demons against you.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasas
• Rāma’s father (Daśaratha, implied)
• Forest (Araṇya)

FAQs

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

Dharma is twofold: filial obedience (carrying out the father’s command) and public duty (removing violence against the righteous).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains that his presence in the forest includes a duty to repel rākṣasa attacks on ascetics.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Duty-bound integrity: Rāma presents himself as ‘nirdeśakara’—one who faithfully executes rightful instruction.