Shloka 3

विराधवधः

The Slaying (Burial) of Viradha

Devanagari script

मामृका भक्षयिष्यन्ति शार्दूलाद्वीपिनस्तथा।मां हरोत्सृज काकुत्स्थौ नमस्ते राक्षसोत्तम।।।।

Transliteration

mām ṛkā bhakṣayiṣyanti śārdūlā dvīpinas tathā | māṃ hara utsṛja kākutsthau namas te rākṣasottama ||

Translation

“ຢູ່ນີ້ ຫມີປ່າ ແລະທັງເສືອກັບເສືອດາວ ຈະກິນຂ້າເສຍ. ໂອ ຜູ້ປະເສີດໃນຫມູ່ຣາກສະສະ ຈົ່ງນຳຂ້າໄປ ແຕ່ຂໍປ່ອຍລູກຫຼານກະກຸດສະຖະທັງສອງນັ້ນ; ຂ້າຂໍນົບນ້ອມຕໍ່ທ່ານ”

Word by Word

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऋकाः: bears
• ऋकाः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भक्षयिष्यन्ति: will eat
• भक्षयिष्यन्ति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• शार्दूलाद्वीपिनः: tigers and panthers
• शार्दूलाद्वीपिनः: कर्ता (Karta; coordinated with ऋकाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्दूल + द्वीपिन् (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (tigers and leopards/panthers)

• तथा: also
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: ‘also/likewise’)

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हर: carry off (take away)
• हर: क्रिया (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• उत्सृज: release/spare
• उत्सृज: क्रिया (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु) + उत् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• काकुत्स्थौ: the two Kakutsthas (Rama and Lakshmana)
• काकुत्स्थौ: कर्म (Karma; those to be released)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकुत्स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बन्ध (Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नमस्कार-अव्यय (indeclinable interjection: ‘salutation’)

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• राक्षसोत्तम: O best of demons
• राक्षसोत्तम: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘best among demons’)

Context

The wild bears, tigers and panthers will eat me up here. O best among demons, pray take me and leave both the Kakutsthas.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī/Maithilī)
• Virādha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• forest (Araṇya)
• śārdūla (tigers)

FAQs

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

Self-sacrifice and protective compassion: Sītā tries to avert harm from Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa by offering herself, placing others’ safety above her own.

What is the narrative situation?

Virādha has seized Sītā in the forest; she pleads with him to take her and spare the two brothers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s courage and altruism (tyāga), expressed through calm, purposeful pleading even under threat.