Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 13
तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च
Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas
Addressed to RamaSetting: आश्रमः (वन-प्रदेशः)
त्वं यदाप्रभृति ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रमे तात वर्तसे ।
तदाप्रभृति रक्षांसि विप्रकुर्वन्ति तापसान् ॥१३॥
tvaṃ yadāprabhṛti hy asminnāśrame tāta vartase |
tadāprabhṛti rakṣāṃsi viprakurvanti tāpasān ||13||
Drogie dziecko, odkąd przebywasz w tym pustelni, rakszasy niepokoją ascetów.
Sandhi Notes
- धृष्टश्च → dhṛṣṭaḥ ca
- जितकाशी च → jitakāśī ca
- अवलिप्तश्च → avaliptaḥ ca
- पापश्च → pāpaḥ ca
- त्वां च → tvām ca
O dear child, ever since you started residing in this hermitage rakshasas have been tormenting the ascetics.
The teaching
सत्कर्म-स्थाने विघ्नाः आगच्छन्ति; कारण-चिन्तनात् परं उपाय-निश्चयः आवश्यकः।
Duties in tension
- अतिथि/आश्रित-स्वीकार बनाम समुदाय-रक्षा
- तपः-पालन बनाम हिंसक-उत्पात-प्रतिरोध
- Ethical theme
- आश्रम-धर्मः
- How it resolves
- Seeking-protection/appeal (रक्षणार्थं निवेदन)
For your practice
विघ्न-बोधः, गुरु/समुदाय-समक्ष निवेदन, साधन-स्थैर्यं; रक्षोघ्न-भावना/प्रार्थना उपयुक्ता।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Bhayanaka (fear), with Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Uneasy, accusatory, distressed
Themes
- Dharma
- Ethics
- Satya (truthful testimony)
- Raksha (protection)
- Tapas
मुण्डकोपनिषद् 1.2 (परिक्ष्य लोकान्… वैराग्य) इव—बाह्य-उत्पातेषु अपि साधन-स्थैर्यं।
वाल्मीकि-रामायण 1.21.1-1.21.3 (राक्षसैः यज्ञविघ्नः); वाल्मीकि-रामायण 3.11-3.12 (दण्डकारण्ये मुनि-पीडा)
ऋग्वेद (रक्षोहन-प्रार्थनाः)
अयोध्याकाण्ड 2.116.14-16 (राक्षस-रूपवर्णन-उत्पातः)
अनुष्टुप्
Narrative
मन्द-करुण; अन्ते उद्वेग-उच्चस्वरः
FAQs
Accountability to consequences—dharma requires noticing how one’s presence affects others and responding to protect the vulnerable.
The ascetics connect the increase in rākṣasa harassment with the period of Rāma’s residence in their hermitage.
Honest reporting for the sake of safety—sharing uncomfortable truths to seek a remedy.
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