Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 119, Shloka 4

अनसूयाप्रीतिदानम्

Anasūyā’s Blessing and the Forest Path

Devanagari script

रविरस्तङ्गतश्श्रीमानुपोह्य रजनीं शिवाम्।।2.119.3।।दिवसं प्रतिकीर्णानामाहारार्थं पतत्रिणाम्।सन्ध्याकाले निलीनानां निद्रार्थं श्रूयते ध्वनिः।।2.119.4।।

Transliteration

ucchiṣṭaṃ vā pramattaṃ vā tāpasaṃ dharmacāriṇam |

adanty asmin mahāraṇye tān nivāraya rāghava ||

Translation

Если подвижник, следующий дхарме, окажется нечист из-за остатков пищи или будет беспечен и без охраны, то в этом великом лесу ракшасы пожирают его. О Рагхава, удержи их и не допусти этого.

Word by Word

• divasam: during the day
• divasam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कालवाचक-उपपद (time-accusative)

• pratikīrṇānām: of those scattered about
• pratikīrṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√kṝ (कॄ विक्षेपे) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), बहुवचन-षष्ठी (Genitive plural/6th), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) (patatriṇām इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• āhāra-artham: for the sake of food
• āhāra-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive tatpuruṣa: āhārasya arthaḥ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया (accusative of purpose)

• patatriṇām: of birds
• patatriṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patatrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sandhyā-kāle: at twilight
• sandhyā-kāle: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (Locative tatpuruṣa: sandhyāyāṃ kālaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (time-locative)

• nilīnānām: of those that have settled/hidden (resting)
• nilīnānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√lī (ली श्लेषणे/शयने) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle/क्त), बहुवचन-षष्ठी (Genitive plural/6th), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) (patatriṇām इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• nidrā-artham: for the sake of sleep
• nidrā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidrā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nidrāyāḥ arthaḥ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया (accusative of purpose)

• śrūyate: is heard
• śrūyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु श्रवणे)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive voice), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• dhvaniḥ: a sound
• dhvaniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

The resplendent Sun has set. The auspcious night is drawing near. The birds who forage far and wide for food during the day return to their nests to rest for the night. You can hear them twittering.

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rama)
• Mahāraṇya (great forest)
• Tāpasa (ascetic)
• Rākṣasas (implied by context)

FAQs

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

Dharma emphasizes protection of dharma-practitioners: a ruler/warrior must safeguard even the vulnerable or imperfect, not only the vigilant and strong.

What is the narrative situation?

Ascetics petition Rama to stop rākṣasas who prey on hermits when they are inattentive or ritually compromised.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s expected virtue is rakṣaṇa (protective guardianship): the kṣatriya obligation to defend ascetics and uphold righteous order.