Shloka 3.4.16

विराधवधः — The Slaying (Burial) of Viradha

Devanagari script

अभिशापादहं घोरां प्रविष्टो राक्षसीं तनुम्।तुम्बुरुर्नाम गन्धर्वः शप्तो वैश्रवणेन ह।।।।

Transliteration

abhiśāpād ahaṃ ghorāṃ praviṣṭo rākṣasīṃ tanum |

tumburur nāma gandharvaḥ śapto vaiśravaṇena ha ||

Translation

Through a curse I entered this terrible rākṣasa body. I am the Gandharva named Tumburu, cursed by Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera).

Context

I am Tumburu by name, a celestial singer of the gandharva clan. Cursed by Kubera, I got this dreadful body of a demon.

Characters & Entities

• Virādha
• Tumburu
• Kubera (Vaiśravaṇa)
• Gandharva

FAQs

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

Actions and lapses have consequences (karma): a fall from a higher station into suffering can occur through adharma, here expressed as a curse and loss of form.

What is the narrative situation?

Virādha explains that he is actually Tumburu, a Gandharva, living in a rākṣasa body due to Kubera’s curse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Candor and accountability—Virādha discloses the truth of his condition rather than persisting in hostility.