Shloka 3.39.12

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Aranyakanda 39): राक्षसस्य रामत्रासवर्णनम् / The Demon’s Account of Rama-Fear

Devanagari script

पराक्रमज्ञो रामस्य शठो दृष्टभयः पुरा।समुद्भान्तस्ततोमुक्तस्तावुभौ राक्षसौ हतौ।।।।

Transliteration

parākramajño rāmasya śaṭho dṛṣṭabhayaḥ purā | samudbhrāntas tato muktas tāv ubhau rākṣasau hatau ||

Translation

Knowing Rāma’s prowess from before and having witnessed that dread, I—deceitful as I was—fled in confusion and escaped; but the other two rākṣasas were slain.

Context

Having known Rama's prowess earlier and experienced tremendous fear, I ran away in a bewildered state as I was deceitful. The other two demons (who had accompanied me) succumbed.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• rākṣasau (two demons)

FAQs

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

Adharma collapses under truth and strength: deceit and aggression lead to destruction, while recognition of reality can avert further ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker confesses he escaped in panic, while his two companions were killed by Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, Rāma’s formidable righteous power; explicitly, the speaker’s hard-earned honesty about fear and loss.