Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 10
तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च
Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas
Addressed to RamaSetting: Tapovana / forest hermitage region (Daṇḍaka context)
त्वन्निमित्तमिदं तावत्तापसान्प्रतिवर्तते ।
रक्षोभ्यस्तेन संविग्नाः कथयन्ति मिथः कथाः ॥१०॥
tvannimittam idaṃ tāvat tāpasān prativartate |
rakṣobhyaḥ tena saṃvignāḥ kathayanti mithaḥ kathāḥ ||10||
இது உன் காரணத்தாலேயே தவசிகளிடத்தில் ஏற்பட்டது; ராக்ஷசர்களால் அவர்கள் அச்சமடைந்து, ஒருவரோடு ஒருவர் வரவிருப்பதைப் பற்றி பேசுகின்றனர்।
Sandhi Notes
- त्वन्निमित्तम् = त्वत् + निमित्तम्
- तापसान्प्रतिवर्तते = तापसान् + प्रतिवर्तते
- रक्षोभ्यस्तेन = रक्षोभ्यः + तेन
There is apprehension for ascetics from the demons on acount of your presence here. That is why they are conversing with one another about the likely fall-out.
The teaching
When the righteous are distressed, ignoring their fear becomes adharma; compassion must translate into protection and right action.
Duties in tension
- Rāma’s desire to live unobtrusively in exile vs obligation to address fear and protect tapasvins
- Ascetics’ pursuit of peace vs need to seek protection against violence
- Ethical theme
- Rakṣaṇa_dharma
- How it resolves
- Recognition of threat leading toward protective action
For your practice
Encourages sensitivity to collective anxiety and responsibility for one’s impact; supports the practice of offering safety (abhaya-dāna).
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Bhayanaka (fear), with Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Alarmed, whispering, pressing
Themes
- Dharma
- Ethics
- Raksha (protection)
- Satya (truthful warning)
- Ahimsa vs. threat
Distinguishing true agency: while Rāma is said to be the nimitta, the real adharma-agent is the rākṣasa; echoes the inquiry into cause and responsibility.
Muṇḍaka’s concern with fearlessness (abhaya) as a mark of higher grounding—here its absence signals dharmic disturbance.
- Lakshmana and Rama
- Younger brother advising/alerting elder brother (concerned)
- Rama and Ascetics
- Protector-cause of attention; his presence draws conflict (compassionate)
- Ascetics and Rakshasas
- Threatened community vs predatory attackers (fearful)
- Ascetics and Ascetics
- Community counsel; mutual discussion under fear (anxious)
Rāmāyaṇa 3.5 (sages explain rākṣasa harassment to Rāma); Rāmāyaṇa 1.23–1.24 (yajña threatened; sages distressed)
Vedic yajña-protection theme: rākṣasas as disruptors of sacred rites
Ayodhyākāṇḍa forest episodes leading into Araṇyakāṇḍa’s Khara/Rāvaṇa arc
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn
Lower register on "संविग्नाः"; quickened articulation on "कथयन्ति मिथः कथाः" to mimic murmuring
FAQs
Truthful counsel given for protection—speaking frankly to prevent harm is a form of dharma (हितवचन).
An ascetic explains to Rāma that the hermits’ anxiety is linked to rākṣasa hostility triggered by Rāma’s presence.
Responsible speech and communal concern—the ascetics prioritize the safety of the hermitage community.
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