Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 13

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

त्वं यदाप्रभृति ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रमे तात वर्तसे।तदाप्रभृति रक्षांसि विप्रकुर्वन्ति तापसान्।।2.116.13।।

Transliteration

tvaṃ yadāprabhṛti hy asminnāśrame tāta vartase |

tadāprabhṛti rakṣāṃsi viprakurvanti tāpasān ||

Translation

亲爱的孩子，自从你住进这座道场以来，罗刹们便不断骚扰诸位苦行仙人。

Word by Word

• dhṛṣṭaḥ: impudent
• dhṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of (kharaḥ) understood

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

• jitakāśī: conqueror of Kashi / victorious
• jitakāśī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (प्रातिपदिक) + kāśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa: kāśīṃ jitaḥ (one who has conquered Kashi / appearing victorious)

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

• nṛśaṃsaḥ: cruel
• nṛśaṃsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛśaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

• puruṣādakaḥ: cannibal
• puruṣādakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa: puruṣān adatti/atti iti (man-eater)

• avaliptaḥ: arrogant
• avaliptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√lip (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga Prathamā Ekavacana; ‘smeared/overlaid’ → figuratively ‘haughty’

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

• pāpaḥ: sinful
• pāpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

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

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

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

• tāta: dear child
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha (negation particle)

• mṛṣyate: does not tolerate / will not pardon
• mṛṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada; meaning: ‘tolerates/pardons’

Context

O dear child, ever since you started residing in this hermitage rakshasas have been tormenting the ascetics.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• āśrama (hermitage)
• rākṣasas
• tapasvins (ascetics)

FAQs

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

Accountability to consequences—dharma requires noticing how one’s presence affects others and responding to protect the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

The ascetics connect the increase in rākṣasa harassment with the period of Rāma’s residence in their hermitage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Honest reporting for the sake of safety—sharing uncomfortable truths to seek a remedy.