Shloka 3.38.2

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः (Maricha’s Warning and the Memory of Rama’s Power)

Devanagari script

कदाचिदप्यहं वीर्यात्पर्यटन्पृथिवीमिमाम्।बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयन्पर्वतोपमः।।3.38.1।।नीलजीमूतसङ्काशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।भयं लोकस्य जनयन्किरीटी परिघायुधः।।3.38.2।।व्यचरं दण्डकारण्ये ऋषिमांसानि भक्षयन्।

Transliteration

nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśas taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ | bhayaṃ lokasya janayan kirīṭī parighāyudhaḥ || 3.38.2 ||

vyacaraṃ daṇḍakāraṇye ṛṣimāṃsāni bhakṣayan |

Translation

Dark as a rain-cloud, wearing heated-gold earrings, crowned and armed with an iron club, I spread fear among the people; in the Daṇḍaka forest I roamed, devouring the flesh of sages.

Context

Once I was roaming the earth, like a mountain possessing the strength of a thousand elephants, like a dark cloud, wearing bright gold earrings and crown,holding a spear in hand, terrorising the people. I was wandering in Dandaka forest feeding on the flesh of ascetics.

Characters & Entities

• Kabandha
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)
• Ṛṣi (sages)

FAQs

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

Harming ascetics and terrorizing society is presented as adharma; such violence against the righteous invites inevitable downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha describes his former demonic life in Daṇḍaka—his appearance, weaponry, and crimes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is protection of the innocent and the ascetic order—later embodied by Rāma’s role as defender of Dharma.