Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 2

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

ये तत्र चित्रकूटस्य पुरस्तात्तापसाश्रमे।राममाश्रित्य निरतास्तानलक्षयदुत्सुकान्।।2.116.2।।

Transliteration

ye tatra citrakūṭasya purastāt tāpasāśrame |

rāmam āśritya niratās tān alakṣayad utsukān ||2.116.2||

Translation

وہاں چترکوٹ کے سامنے واقع تپسویوں کے آشرم میں، رام نے اُن رِشیوں کو دیکھا جو اُس کی پناہ لے کر وہیں رہنے کے ارادے سے تھے، مگر اب بےچین اور مضطرب نظر آتے تھے۔

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धि-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• चित्रकूटस्य: of Chitrakuta
• चित्रकूटस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रकूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पुरस्तात्: in front
• पुरस्तात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (in front)

• तापस-आश्रमे: in the ascetics' hermitage
• तापस-आश्रमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तापसानाम् आश्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having taken refuge in
• आश्रित्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having resorted to / having taken refuge in’

• निरताः: engaged/intent
• निरताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘ये’)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अलक्षयत्: noticed/observed
• अलक्षयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• उत्सुकान्: anxious/eager
• उत्सुकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्सुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तान्’)

Context

Rama observed that the sages who earlier sought to stay with him near his hermitageunder his protection on chitrakuta were filled with anxiety (now).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Citrakūṭa
• ṛṣis (sages)

FAQs

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

The dharma of refuge and protection: sages rely on righteous kings/warriors for safety so spiritual truth (satya) and austerity can continue unhindered.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma sees a change in the sages’ demeanor at the Citrakūṭa hermitage: those who had settled under his protection are now visibly anxious.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s attentiveness and compassion: he notices the distress of those under his protection, signaling responsible guardianship.