Valmiki Ramayana 2.116.15: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 15

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

अप्रशस्तैशुचिभिस्सम्प्रयोज्य च तापसान्।प्रतिध्नन्त्यपरान्क्षिप्रमनार्याः पुरतः स्थिताः।।2.116.15।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.116.15

Transliteration

apraśastaiḥ aśucibhiḥ samprayojya ca tāpasān |

pratighnanty aparān kṣipram anāryāḥ purataḥ sthitāḥ ||

Translation

Đứng ngay trước mặt, bọn tiểu nhân ấy dùng những cách trái pháp và ô uế để hại các vị khổ hạnh; rồi lại mau chóng đánh gục cả những người khác.

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Word by Word

• darśayanti: they show / display
• darśayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada; causative sense (ṇic): ‘make (them) see/show’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta

• bībhatsaiḥ: with disgusting
• bībhatsaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bībhatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (or used adjectivally), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of rūpaiḥ

• krūraiḥ: cruel
• krūraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of rūpaiḥ

• bhīṣaṇakaiḥ: frightening
• bhīṣaṇakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīṣaṇaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of rūpaiḥ

• api: also / even
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; sambhāvanā/samuccaya (also/even)

• nānā-rūpaiḥ: with various forms
• nānā-rūpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: nānā + rūpa; Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of rūpaiḥ

• virūpaiḥ: deformed
• virūpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of rūpaiḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• rūpaiḥ: by forms / in forms
• rūpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• vikṛta-darśanaiḥ: with grotesque-looking (forms)
• vikṛta-darśanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya: vikṛtaṃ darśanaṃ yeṣāṃ (having distorted appearance); viśeṣaṇa of rūpaiḥ

Context

Those wicked rakshasas employ forbidden and dirty means against ascetics and kill them by suddenly appearing in front of them.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasas (anāryāḥ implied)
• tapasvins (ascetics)

FAQs

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

Purity and non-violence are dharmic standards; violating them through deceitful, impure tactics and murder is a clear mark of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The ascetics explain that rākṣasas not only frighten them but also attack and kill using impure, forbidden methods.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment—identifying adharma precisely so righteous protection can be justified and targeted.