Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 14

तपस्विनाम् औत्सुक्यं राक्षसत्रासश्च

Ascetics’ Anxiety and the Fear of Rakshasas

Devanagari script

दर्शयन्ति हि बीभत्सैः क्रूरैर्भीषणकैरपि।नानारूपैर्विरूपैश्च रूपैर्विकृतदर्शनैः।।2.116.14।।

Transliteration

darśayanti hi bībhatsaiḥ krūraiḥ bhīṣaṇakair api |

nānārūpair virūpaiś ca rūpair vikṛtadarśanaiḥ ||

Translation

他们以种种形相现身——丑恶、凶残、可怖，或畸形怪状，令人不忍目睹。

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• yadāprabhṛti: since the time when
• yadāprabhṛti: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय) + prabhṛti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (adverbial compound): ‘from the time when…’; kāla-avyaya

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (emphatic/causal particle)

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Saptamī (Locative/7th), Ekavacana

• āśrame: hermitage
• āśrame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

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

• vartase: you reside / you live
• vartase: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

• tadāprabhṛti: since then
• tadāprabhṛti: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय) + prabhṛti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; kāla-avyaya: ‘from that time’

• rakṣāṃsi: rakshasas
• rakṣāṃsi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• viprakurvanti: torment / harass
• viprakurvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-pra-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• tāpasān: ascetics
• tāpasān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

Context

They appear in various distorted forms now rapacious, now fearful, now deformed.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasas
• tapasvins (ascetics)

FAQs

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

Dharma opposes intimidation—using terror and deception to break spiritual practice is portrayed as a violation demanding protection.

What is the narrative situation?

The ascetics describe the methods of harassment: rākṣasas frighten them by appearing in grotesque forms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance under fear—ascetics persist despite psychological terror, highlighting steadfastness in tapas.