Shloka 16
दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka
Dharma of Refuge
तदर्ध्यमानान्रक्षोभिर्दण्डकारण्यवासिभिः।रक्ष नस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा त्वन्नाथा हि वयं वने।।।।
tad ardhyamānān rakṣobhir daṇḍakāraṇyavāsibhiḥ | rakṣa nas tvaṃ saha bhrātrā tvannāthā hi vayaṃ vane ||
پس دندکارنیہ کے رہنے والے راکشسوں کے ستائے ہوئے ہم لوگوں کی حفاظت کیجیے؛ آپ اپنے بھائی کے ساتھ ہماری رکھوالی کریں، کیونکہ اس جنگل میں ہم آپ ہی کو اپنا ناتھ (سرپرست) مانتے ہیں۔
'The demons, dwelling in the Dandaka forest are tormenting us. You alone are our lord in the forest. Do protect us with your brother.'
FAQs
Dharma as protective responsibility: those who seek refuge from adharma appeal to righteous power; the verse foregrounds the obligation of Rāma (and Lakṣmaṇa) to defend the vulnerable.
The sages conclude their plea, explicitly asking Rāma to guard them—together with his brother—against the forest-dwelling rākṣasas.
Rāma’s (and Lakṣmaṇa’s) guardianship and readiness to uphold dharma through protection, answering the trust placed in them by the ascetics.