Shloka 3.39.14

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

Devanagari script

वृक्षे वृक्षे च पश्यामि चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरम्।गृहीतधनुषं रामं पाशहस्तमिवान्तकम्।।।।

Transliteration

vṛkṣe vṛkṣe ca paśyāmi cīrakṛṣṇājināmbaram | gṛhītadhanuṣaṁ rāmaṁ pāśahastam ivāntakam ||

Translation

In tree after tree I behold Rāma—clad in bark-cloth and black deer-skin—bow in hand, like Death himself holding a noose.

Context

I see Rama in every tree, clad in bark and deer-skin, wielding the bow, holding a noose in hand like the god of death.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• forest/trees (vṛkṣa)
• bow (dhanuṣ)
• Antaka (Death/Yama)
• pāśa (noose)

FAQs

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

Wrongdoing produces inner punishment: guilt and fear make the righteous protector appear everywhere, urging the wrongdoer to desist.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker describes a haunted perception—seeing Rāma in every tree as an inescapable executioner of justice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s awe-inspiring justice: the protector becomes ‘Death’ to those committed to adharma.