Shloka 14

दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

कामं तपःप्रभावेन शक्ता हन्तुं निशाचरान्।चिरार्जितं तु नेच्छामस्तपः खण्डयितुं वयम्।।3.10.14।।

Transliteration

kāmaṃ tapaḥprabhāvena śaktā hantuṃ niśācarān | cirārjitaṃ tu necchāmas tapaḥ khaṇḍayituṃ vayam ||

Translation

“แท้จริง ด้วยอานุภาพแห่งตบะ พวกเราสามารถสังหารพวกนิศาจรผู้ท่องราตรีได้ แต่พวกเราไม่ปรารถนาจะทำลายตบะที่สั่งสมมาช้านาน”

Word by Word

• कामम्: indeed / granted
• कामम्: Vākyopapatti/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुमत्यर्थक-निपात (concessive particle: 'granted/indeed')

• तपःप्रभावेन: by the power of penance
• तपःप्रभावेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपःप्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तपस् + प्रभाव (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'तपसः प्रभावः')

• शक्ताः: able
• शक्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (वयम्) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), कर्मार्थे—'to kill'

• निशाचरान्: night-rangers (demons)
• निशाचरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः निशा + चर (तत्पुरुषः: 'निशायां चरः')

• चिरार्जितम्: earned over a long time
• चिरार्जितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिरार्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) √अर्ज्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तपः)

• तु: but, however
• तु: Virodha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (adversative particle)

• न: not
• न: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• इच्छामः: we wish
• इच्छामः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• तपः: penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• खण्डयितुम्: to break/diminish
• खण्डयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खण्डय् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Niśācaras (rākṣasas/demons)
• Tapas (austerity/penance)
• Rāma (implied addressee)

FAQs

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

Dharma as role-appropriate restraint: ascetics may possess power, but they preserve tapas and spiritual aims rather than employing destructive force; protection is sought through kṣatriya duty.

What is the narrative situation?

The sages explain why they do not simply destroy the rākṣasas themselves: they avoid actions that would disrupt or diminish their long-earned austerity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint and commitment to spiritual discipline—choosing preservation of tapas over immediate retaliation.