Shloka 26
षष्ठस्सर्गः — तपस्विरक्षणे राजधर्मोपदेशः
Sarga 6: The Sages’ Appeal and Instruction on Royal Duty
दत्त्वाऽभयं चापि तपोधनानां धर्मे धृतात्मा सह लक्ष्मणेन।तपोधनैश्चापि सभाज्यवृत्तः सुतीक्ष्णमेवाभिजगाम वीरः।।।।
dattvā’bhayaṁ cāpi tapodhanānāṁ dharme dhṛtātmā saha lakṣmaṇena |
tapodhanaiś cāpi sabhājyavṛttaḥ sutīkṣṇam evābhijagāma vīraḥ || 3.6.26 ||
พระรามผู้กล้า ผู้มั่นคงในธรรม—ผู้มีความประพฤติควรแก่การสักการะ—ได้ประทาน “อภัย” คือความคุ้มครองปลอดภัยแก่เหล่าฤๅษีผู้มั่งคั่งด้วยตบะ แล้วเสด็จไปยังสุตีกษณ์ พร้อมพระลักษมณ์และบรรดามุนีเหล่านั้น
Vaikhanasas, Valakhilyas, sages who continuously wash their bodies, Marichakas Asmakuttas sages who live on leaves only, those who have teeth like mortar, Unmajjakas, those who use limbs as their bed, those who practise penance without using a bed, those who do penance in the open, unmindful of rain or Sun or wind, those who live on water only, those who penance under the open sky, those who carry on penance on high places like the mountaintop, those who recline on bare ground only, those who observe fast as a part of religious tradition, those selfrestrained men, those who mutter sacred mantras, those who constantly perform penance and those who stand under the blazing Sun in summer placing fire on four sides while performing penanceall these types of sages met Rama in the hermitage of Sarabhanga.
FAQs
Protecting the righteous (especially ascetics) is a central duty: Rāma turns moral authority into concrete assurance—abhaya—grounded in dharma.
After meeting the sages, Rāma promises them safety and then proceeds onward with Lakṣmaṇa to visit the sage Sutīkṣṇa.
Rāma’s steadfastness and protectorhood: dhṛtātmā (firm in righteousness) and sabhājyavṛtta (honour-worthy conduct).