Shloka 26

अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Maricha’s Mimic Cry and the Rama–Lakshmana–Sita Confrontation

Devanagari script

विकृष्य चापं परिधाय सायकं सलीलबाणेन च ताडितो मया।मार्गीं तनुं त्यज्य स विक्लबस्वरो बभूव केयूरधरस्सराक्षसः।।।।

Transliteration

vikṛṣya cāpaṃ paridhāya sāyakaṃ salīla-bāṇena ca tāḍito mayā |

mārgīṃ tanuṃ tyajya sa viklaba-svaro babhūva keyūra-dharaḥ sa rākṣasaḥ ||

Translation

Bandant mon arc et y posant la flèche, je le frappai d’un trait aisé. Délaissant la forme du cerf, ce rākṣasa, portant un bracelet au bras, apparut en poussant un cri d’une voix tremblante et déchirée.

Word by Word

• vikṛṣya: having drawn (back)
• vikṛṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• cāpam: bow
• cāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• paridhāya: having fitted/placed
• paridhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• sāyakam: arrow
• sāyakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• salīla-bāṇena: with an effortless arrow
• salīla-bāṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa-līla (अव्यय/उपपद) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (līlena saha/‘with ease’ as qualifier), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• tāḍitaḥ: struck
• tāḍitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tāḍ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; with sa rākṣasaḥ

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• mārgīm: deer-like
• mārgīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mārgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; qualifies tanum

• tanum: body
• tanum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• tyajya: having abandoned
• tyajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• viklaba-svaraḥ: with a faltering voice
• viklaba-svaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viklaba (प्रातिपदिक) + svara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (viklabaḥ svaraḥ yasya), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• keyūra-dharaḥ: bracelet-wearer
• keyūra-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keyūra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (keyūraṃ dharati), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रthama), एकवचन

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; appositional

• rākṣasaḥ: demon
• rākṣasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Context

I did not leave her on my own nor have I come here of my own accord. I came to you,provoked by her angry words.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Rakshasa (Maricha implied)
• Bow
• Arrow

FAQs

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

Dharma upholds clarity over illusion: when deceit is unmasked, righteous force may be used to neutralize harm, especially to protect the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama describes shooting the ‘deer’; it sheds the disguise and reveals itself as a rākṣasa, wounded and crying out.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Skill and composure in action—Rama’s controlled, precise response in defense of dharma.