Shloka 3.39.3

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

Devanagari script

दीप्तजिह्वो महाकायस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रो महाबलः।व्यचरं दण्डकारण्यं मांसभक्षो महामृगः।।।।

Transliteration

dīptajihvo mahākāyas tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭro mahābalaḥ |

vyacaraṃ daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ māṃsabhakṣo mahāmṛgaḥ ||

Translation

I roamed the Daṇḍaka forest as a monstrous beast—huge-bodied and mighty, with a blazing tongue and sharp fangs—living on flesh.

Context

I wandered in Dandaka forest in the form of a huge animal with a big and strong body, a flaming red tongue and sharp teeth feeding on flesh.

Characters & Entities

• Marīca
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Daṇḍaka forest)

FAQs

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

The verse implicitly contrasts dharma with predatory adharma: living by violence and harm to others is a moral fall that invites eventual retribution.

What is the narrative situation?

Marīca describes to Rāvaṇa his earlier life of terror in Daṇḍaka, setting up why he understands the danger of provoking Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A negative exemplar is emphasized: the vice of cruelty and uncontrolled appetite, presented as a warning against adharma.