Virādha-saṃvādaḥ — Encounter with Virādha in the Daṇḍakāraṇya (Aranya Kanda, Sarga 2)
अरण्यकाण्ड
At sunrise, after receiving hospitality from the sages, Rāma formally takes leave and penetrates deeper into the forest (3.2.1), with Lakṣmaṇa accompanying him through a terrain densely populated by animals, ominous sounds, and disrupted vegetation—an ecological signal of rākṣasa intrusion (3.2.2–3.2.3). The trio encounters a terrifying puruṣāda identified as Virādha, described through amplified physical imagery and trophies of slaughter, intensifying bhayānaka rasa (3.2.4–3.2.7). Virādha charges them, seizes Vaidehī (Sītā) onto his lap, and interrogates the brothers’ ascetic appearance while accusing them of violating tapas by living with a woman (3.2.9–3.2.11). He self-identifies as a rākṣasa who habitually consumes sages and declares intent to take Sītā and drink the brothers’ blood (3.2.12–3.2.13), causing Sītā’s fear and trembling (3.2.14–3.2.15). Rāma, anguished at her defilement by another’s touch, frames the moment as the swift fulfillment of Kaikeyī’s boons and articulates that this violation surpasses even the grief of paternal death or loss of kingdom (3.2.18–3.2.21). Lakṣmaṇa responds with controlled fury, reaffirming Rāma’s lordly stature and vowing immediate lethal retaliation; his speech channels redirected political anger into righteous protection (3.2.22–3.2.26). The chapter thus juxtaposes ascetic signifiers with moral legitimacy, clarifies the primacy of protecting Sītā and sages, and prepares the tactical transition from endurance to sanctioned violence in the forest.
Verse 3.2.1
कृतातिथ्योऽथ रामस्तु सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति।आम्नत्ऱ्य स मुनीन्सर्वान्वनमेवान्वगाहत।।।।
Then Rāma, having duly received hospitality, took leave of all the sages at sunrise and entered deeper into the forest.
Verse 3.2.2
नानामृगगणाकीर्णमृक्षशार्दूल सेवितम्।ध्वस्तवृक्षलतागुल्मं दुर्दर्शसलिलाशयम्।।।।निष्कूजनानाशकुनिझिल्लिकागणनादितम्।लक्ष्मणानुगतो रामो वनमध्यं ददर्श ह।।।।
With Lakṣmaṇa following him, Rāma beheld the heart of the forest—crowded with many herds of wild animals, frequented by bears and tigers; its trees, creepers, and shrubs crushed, its water-sources hard to find, and its depths echoing with the calls of many birds and the chirping of crickets.
Verse 3.2.3
नानामृगगणाकीर्णमृक्षशार्दूल सेवितम्।ध्वस्तवृक्षलतागुल्मं दुर्दर्शसलिलाशयम्।।3.2.2।।निष्कूजनानाशकुनिझिल्लिकागणनादितम्।लक्ष्मणानुगतो रामो वनमध्यं ददर्श ह।।3.2.3।।
With Lakṣmaṇa following him, Rāma beheld the forest’s interior, resonant with the calls of many birds and the chirping of swarms of crickets.
Verse 3.2.4
सीतया सह काकुत्स्थस्तस्मिनघोरमृगायुते।ददर्श गिरिशृङ्गाभं पुरुषादं महास्वनम्।।।।
As Kakutstha Rāma moved with Sītā through that region teeming with dreadful beasts, he beheld a man-eating rākṣasa, roaring mightily and towering like a mountain peak.
Verse 3.2.5
गम्भीराक्षं महावक्त्रं विकटं विषमोदरम्।बीभत्सं विषमं दीर्घं विकृतं घोरदर्शनम्।।।।
He was deep-eyed and huge-faced, grotesque and pot-bellied—loathsome, misshapen, very tall, deformed, and dreadful to behold.
Verse 3.2.6
वसानं चर्म वैयाघ्रं वसार्द्रं रुधिरोक्षितम्।त्रासनं सर्वभूतानां व्यादितास्यमिवान्तकम्।।।।
He wore a tiger-skin soaked with fat and spattered with blood; he terrified all beings, like Death itself with jaws gaping wide.
Verse 3.2.7
त्रीन्सिम्हान्श्चतुरो व्याघ्रान्द्वौ वृकौ पृषतान्दश।सविषाणं वसादिग्धं गजस्य च शिरो महत्।अवसज्यायसे शूले विनदन्तं महास्वनम्।।।।
Roaring loudly, he bore an iron spear on which were skewered three lions, four tigers, two wolves, ten deer, and the massive head of an elephant—its tusks smeared with fat.
Verse 3.2.8
स रामं लक्ष्मणं चैव सीतां दृष्ट्वा च मैथिलीम्।अभ्यधावत्सुसङ्कृद्धः प्रजाः काल इवान्तकः।।।।
Seeing Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, and also Sītā, the princess of Mithilā, he rushed at them in raging fury—like Death-Time charging upon living beings.
Verse 3.2.9
स कृत्वा भैरवं नादं चालयन्निव मेदिनीम्।अङ्केनादाय वैदेहीमपक्रम्य ततोऽब्रवीत्।।।।
Raising a dreadful roar as though shaking the earth, he seized Vaidehī onto his lap, stepped away, and then spoke.
Verse 3.2.10
युवां जटाचीरधरौ सभार्यौ क्षीणजीवितौ।प्रविष्टौ दण्डकारण्यं शरचापासिधारिणौ।।।।
You two, wearing matted hair and bark-garments, accompanied by your wife, bearing arrows, bow, and sword—having entered the Daṇḍaka forest—are as good as men with their lives cut short.
Verse 3.2.11
कथं तापसयोर्वां च वासः प्रमदया सह।अधर्मचारिणौ पापौ कौ युवां मुनिदूषकौ।।।।
How can you two, dressed as ascetics, live together with a woman? You unrighteous sinners—who are you, corrupters of the sages’ discipline?
Verse 3.2.12
अहं वनमिदं दुर्गं विराधो नाम राक्षसः।चरामि सायुधो नित्यमृषिमांसानि भक्षयन्।।।।
I am the rākṣasa named Virādha. I roam this dense, perilous forest always armed, feeding on the flesh of sages.
Verse 3.2.13
इयं नारी वरारोहा मम भार्या भविष्यति।युवयोः पापयोश्चाहं पास्यामि रुधिरं मृधे।।।।
This woman of lovely form will become my wife; and in battle I will drink the blood of you two sinners.
Verse 3.2.14
तस्यैवं ब्रुवतो दुष्टं विराधस्य दुरात्मनः।श्रुत्वा सगर्वितं वाक्यं सम्भ्रान्ता जनकात्मजा।।।।
Hearing the cruel, boastful words thus spoken by that wicked-souled Virādha, Janaka’s daughter was shaken with fear and confusion.
Verse 3.2.15
सीता प्रवेपतोद्वेगात् प्रावाते कदली यथा।।।।तां दृष्ट्वा राघवः सीतां विराधाङ्कगतां शुभाम्।अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं वाक्यं मुखेन परिशुष्यता।।।।
Sītā trembled in distress, like a plantain tree in a strong wind. Seeing the auspicious Sītā seated in Virādha’s lap, Rāghava—his mouth gone dry—spoke these words to Lakṣmaṇa.
Verse 3.2.16
सीता प्रवेपतोद्वेगात् प्रावाते कदली यथा।।3.2.15।।तां दृष्ट्वा राघवः सीतां विराधाङ्कगतां शुभाम्।अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं वाक्यं मुखेन परिशुष्यता।।3.2.16।।
Seeing the auspicious Sītā seated in Virādha’s lap, Rāghava—his face parched with shock—spoke these words to Lakṣmaṇa.
Verse 3.2.17
पश्य सौम्य नरेन्द्रस्य जनकस्यात्मसम्भवाम्।मम भार्यां शुभाचारां विराधाङ्के प्रवेशिताम्।।।।अत्यन्तसुखसंमव़ृद्धां राजपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्।
“Look, gentle one—Janaka’s illustrious daughter, my wife of noble conduct, reared in the highest comfort, the renowned princess—has been forced into Virādha’s lap!”
Verse 3.2.18
यदभिप्रेतमस्मासु प्रियं वरवृतं च यत्।।।।कैकेय्यास्तु सुसंवृत्तं क्षिप्रमद्यैव लक्ष्मण।
“Lakṣmaṇa, what Kaikeyī desired—what she sought as a ‘boon’ and took as her pleasure against us—has come to fruition today, and swiftly.”
Verse 3.2.19
या न तुष्यति राज्येन पुत्रार्थे दीर्घदर्शिनी।।।।ययाहं सर्वभूतानां प्रियः प्रस्थापितो वनम्।अद्येदानीं सकामा सा या माता मध्यमा मम।।।।
That far-sighted woman—who was not satisfied with a kingdom for her son—by whom I, beloved of all beings, was sent away to the forest: today, now, that middle mother of mine has her wish fulfilled.
Verse 3.2.20
या न तुष्यति राज्येन पुत्रार्थे दीर्घदर्शिनी।।3.2.19।।ययाहं सर्वभूतानां प्रियः प्रस्थापितो वनम्।अद्येदानीं सकामा सा या माता मध्यमा मम।।3.2.20।।
By her I—beloved of all beings—was sent to the forest; today, now, that middle mother of mine has her desire fulfilled.
Verse 3.2.21
परस्पर्शात्तु वैदेह्याः न दुःखतरमस्तिमे।पितुर्विनाशात्सौमित्रे स्वराज्यहरणात्तथा।।।।
Saumitri, for me there is no grief more painful than Vaidehī being touched by another man—more painful than my father’s death, and even than the loss of my own kingdom.
Verse 3.2.22
इति ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे बाष्पशोकपरिप्लुते।अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणः क्रुद्धो रुद्धो नाग इव श्वसन्।।।।
As Kakutstha (Rāma) spoke thus, overwhelmed with tears and grief, Lakṣmaṇa—angered—spoke, breathing hard like a confined serpent.
Verse 3.2.23
अनाथ इव भूतानां नाथस्त्वं वासवोपमः।मया प्रेष्येण काकुत्स्थ किमर्थं परितप्यसे।।।।
O Kakutstha, you are the lord of beings, like Vāsava (Indra). Why do you grieve like one without refuge, when I stand here as your servant?
Verse 3.2.24
शरेण निहतस्याद्य मया क्रुद्धेन रक्षसः।विराधस्य गतासोर्हि मही पास्यति शोणितम्।।।।
Struck down today by my angry arrow, that rākṣasa Virādha—his life gone—will have his blood drunk by the earth.
Verse 3.2.25
राज्यकामे मम क्रोधो भरते यो बभूव ह।तं विराधे प्रमोक्ष्यामि वज्री वज्रमिवाचले।।।।
Like Indra hurling his thunderbolt upon a mountain, I will now unleash on Virādha the anger that arose in me toward Bharata, who coveted the kingdom.
Verse 3.2.26
मम भुजबलवेगवेगितः पततु शरोऽस्य महान्महोरसि।व्यपनयतु तनोश्च जीवितं पततु ततस्समहीं विघूर्णितः।।।।
Driven by the swift force of my arm-strength, let my great arrow strike his broad chest, sever life from his body; then, reeling, let him fall to the earth.