Shloka 23
तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम्
Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages
तथान्ये तापसास्सिद्धा रामं वैश्वानरोपमाः।न्यायवृत्ता यथान्यायं तर्पयामासुरीश्वरम्।।।।
tathānye tāpasāḥ siddhā rāmaṃ vaiśvānaropamāḥ |
nyāyavṛttā yathānyāyaṃ tarpayāmāsur īśvaram ||
ฉันนั้นแล ฤๅษีตบะผู้สำเร็จอื่น ๆ ผู้ดุจไวศวานระ (เพลิง) ประพฤติชอบตามธรรม ก็ได้บำรุงให้พระรามผู้เป็นอีศวรทรงอิ่มเอม ตามครรลองแห่งธรรม
The hermitages where various sacrificial offerings were made reverberated with Vedic chantings. Flowers were scattered all over. There was a lotuspond with lotuses. There were aged, selfrestrained sages glowing like the Sun or the fire, living on fruits and roots, clothed in bark and dark deerskin.
FAQs
Nyāya-driven dharma: righteousness is not only personal austerity but also fitting, principled conduct toward others—honoring a protector-guest in a ‘yathānyāya’ (proper) way.
The scene closes with additional groups of accomplished sages respectfully pleasing Rāma, affirming his moral authority and foreshadowing his role as protector in the forest.
The sages’ integrity (nyāyavṛtta) and Rāma’s status as a dharmic center—one whom the righteous naturally honor—are emphasized.