Shloka 9
Ārṣṭiṣeṇa’s Siddhi and the Tīrtha-Boons; Sindhudvīpa–Devāpi Brāhmaṇya; Viśvāmitra’s Tapas Begins
वैशम्पायन उवाच पुरा वै दण्डकारण्ये राघवेण महात्मना,वने विचरतो राजन्नस्थि भिनत्त्वास्फुरत् तदा । वैशम्पायनजीने कहा--नृपश्रेष्ठ! पूर्वकालकी बात है, रघुकुलतिलक महात्मा श्रीरामचन्द्रजीने दण्डकारण्यमें रहते समय जब राक्षसोंके संहारका विचार किया, तब तीखी धारवाले धुरसे जनस्थानमें उस दुरात्मा राक्षसका मस्तक काट दिया। वह कटा हुआ मस्तक उस महान् वनमें ऊपरको उछला और दैवयोगसे वनमें विचरते हुए महोदर मुनिकी जाँधमें जा लगा। नरेश्वर! उस समय उनकी हड्डी छेदकर वह भीतरतक घुस गया
vaiśampāyana uvāca | purā vai daṇḍakāraṇye rāghaveṇa mahātmanā | vane vicarato rājann asthi bhittvā asphurat tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Long ago, O best of kings, in the Daṇḍaka forest, while the great-souled scion of Raghu was roaming in the wilderness, a bone was suddenly pierced and struck with force.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse functions as an illustrative recollection: even when a righteous agent acts in a broader struggle, the ripple-effects of violence and the workings of fate (daiva) can produce unforeseen harm, reminding listeners to reflect on causality, responsibility, and the fragility of embodied life.
Vaiśampāyana begins an old account set in the Daṇḍaka forest: while Rāma (Rāghava) is moving about in the wilderness, a bone is described as forcefully piercing/striking—introducing a larger incident in which a severed head/bone fragment, propelled by circumstance, ends up injuring someone.