Shloka 15

षष्ठस्सर्गः — तपस्विरक्षणे राजधर्मोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

सोऽयं ब्राह्मणभूयिष्ठो वानप्रस्थगणो महान्।त्वन्नाथोऽनाथवद्राम राक्षसैर्वध्यते भृशम्।।।।

Transliteration

so 'yaṃ brāhmaṇabhūyiṣṭho vānaprasthagaṇo mahān |

tvannātho 'nāthavad rāma rākṣasair vadhyate bhṛśam ||

Translation

Ó Rāma, esta grande comunidade de sábios habitantes da floresta—em sua maioria brâmanes—ainda que te tenha por senhor, está sendo ferozmente abatida pelos rākṣasas, como se não tivéssemos protetor.

Word by Word

• एहि: come
• एहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘come!’

• पश्य: see
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘see!’

• शरीराणि: bodies
• शरीराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मुनीनाम्: of sages
• मुनीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• भावितात्मनाम्: of self-disciplined (sages)
• भावितात्मनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भावित-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: भावित (ppp of √भू/√भावय् ‘cultivated’) + आत्मन्, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण (मुनीनाम् इति)

• हतानाम्: of the slain
• हतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of the slain’

• राक्षसैः: by demons
• राक्षसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• घोरैः: terrible
• घोरैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (राक्षसैः इति)

• बहूनाम्: of many
• बहूनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण (हतानाम्/मुनीनाम् इति)

• बहुधा: in many places/ways
• बहुधा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner: in many ways/places)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

Context

One fourth of the supreme merit a sage earns by living on fruits and roots, accrues to the king through which the people are protected righteously.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sages (vānaprasthas)
• Brahmins
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma demands protection of the vulnerable; the verse frames unchecked violence against ascetics as a failure of the protective order that righteous power is meant to uphold.

What is the narrative situation?

Sages report ongoing attacks by rākṣasas and stress the urgency: despite Rāma’s presence as a rightful protector, they are being killed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sages’ truthfulness and moral urgency in petitioning; and by implication, Rāma’s expected virtue of protective justice.