Shloka 3.4.22

विराधवधः — The Slaying (Burial) of Viradha

Devanagari script

अवटे चापि मां राम प्रक्षिप्य कुशली व्रज।रक्षसां गतसत्त्वानामेष धर्मस्ससनातनः।अवटे ये निधीयन्ते तेषां लोकास्सनातनाः।।।।

Transliteration

avaṭe cāpi māṃ rāma prakṣipya kuśalī vraja |

rakṣasāṃ gatasattvānām eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ |

avaṭe ye nidhīyante teṣāṃ lokāḥ sanātanāḥ ||

Translation

Rāma, cast me into a pit and go on in safety. For dead rākṣasas this is the ancient ordinance: those who are placed in a pit attain lasting worlds beyond.

Context

Bury me in the pit, O Rama, and proceed happily. This is a great tradition for the deaddemons. Those who are buried in the pit attain heaven.

Characters & Entities

• Virādha
• Rāma
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as adherence to prescribed rites and orderly conduct even toward an enemy—completing what is due (a final disposal) rather than acting in cruelty or neglect.

What is the narrative situation?

Virādha requests that Rāma dispose of his body by placing it in a pit, presenting it as the proper custom for rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and propriety in victory: the episode frames even the end of a violent encounter within a rule-governed, dharmic closure.