rakṣāṁsi

 The word "rakṣāṁsi" is written in Devanagari 

as "रक्षांसि"

The Sanskrit word "rakṣāṁsi" generally means "demons" 

or "rākṣasas" and is most commonly used in classical 

texts to denote malevolent or supernatural beings of 

a demonic nature.

Definition and Context

In the Bhagavad-gītā 17.4, the term appears as yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi, 

describing those who are in the mode of passion and worship 

demonic beings, with "rakṣāṁsi" signifying rākṣasas or demons 

of passionate nature

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 . Here it is contrasted 

with worship of devān (demigods) in the mode of goodness 

and pretas or spirits in ignorance.

In the Manu Smṛti (3.170), "rakṣāṁsi" refers to being possessed 

by or the consumers of certain forbidden offerings, again identifying 

them as demons or malevolent entities

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 .

In the Rāmāyaṇa (3.12.68), "rakṣāṁsi" explicitly identifies the 

rākṣasas who oppose righteous heroes, reinforcing its sense 

as beings of a demonic or adversarial character 

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Grammatical Notes

• Form: plural neuter or masculine in Sanskrit, depending on 
• context.
• Root: Derived from "rakṣa," meaning “to protect” or sometimes 
• associated with beings that attack or disturb, leading to the 
• noun referring to rākṣasas.
• Usage: Often used in literary and religious Sanskrit to refer 
• to demonic, supernatural, or spiritually disruptive entities.

Summary

Thus, "rakṣāṁsi" denotes demons or rākṣasas, malevolent beings 

often depicted as adversaries of gods or heroes, and its context 

in texts like the Bhagavad-gītā marks the type of worship or influence 

such beings exert in the material modes of passion or darkness 

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