Shloka 4

विराधवधः

The Slaying (Burial) of Viradha

Devanagari script

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वैदेह्या रामलक्ष्मणौ।वेगं प्रचक्रतुर्वीरौ वधे तस्य दुरात्मनः।।।।

Transliteration

tasyās tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā vaidehyā rāma-lakṣmaṇau | vegaṃ pracakratur vīrau vadhe tasya durātmanaḥ ||

Translation

Al oír aquellas palabras de Vaidehī, los heroicos Rāma y Lakṣmaṇa se lanzaron de inmediato, con ímpetu, a dar muerte a aquel malvado.

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वचनम् इति विशेषणम्

• वचनम्: words/speech
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma; heard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund): ‘having heard’

• वैदेह्या: of Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेह्या: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/तृतीया?; here intended षष्ठी-एकवचन (of Vaidehi) though form ‘वैदेह्याः’ expected; reading treated as Genitive singular by context

• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Rama and Lakshmana
• रामलक्ष्मणौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• वेगम्: speed/haste
• वेगम्: कर्म (Karma; object of ‘made/undertook’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रचक्रतुः: set about / undertook
• प्रचक्रतुः: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन

• वीरौ: the two heroes
• वीरौ: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणवत्

• वधे: for the killing
• वधे: अधिकरण/प्रयोजन (Locative of purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘in/for killing’ (purpose-locative)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• दुरात्मनः: of the wicked one
• दुरात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation; apposition to ‘तस्य’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

Context

Rama deliberately wanted to kill Viradha with weapons. Viradha the forest-ranger himself revealed that it was not possible to kill him with weapons and asked Rama to bury him in a pit.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Virādha
• forest (Araṇya)

FAQs

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

Righteous protection: when the innocent are threatened, the duty of the righteous warrior is prompt defense and removal of the aggressor.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s plea, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa move immediately to slay Virādha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve and guardianship—swift, decisive action in defense of dharma.