Shloka 10

Virādha-saṃvādaḥ — Encounter with Virādha in the Daṇḍakāraṇya

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 2

Devanagari script

युवां जटाचीरधरौ सभार्यौ क्षीणजीवितौ।प्रविष्टौ दण्डकारण्यं शरचापासिधारिणौ।।।।

Transliteration

yuvāṃ jaṭācīra-dharau sa-bhāryau kṣīṇa-jīvitau | praviṣṭau daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ śara-cāpa-asi-dhāriṇau ||

Translation

നിങ്ങൾ ഇരുവരും ജടാധാരികളും ചീരവസ്ത്രധാരികളും, ഭാര്യയോടുകൂടി, ക്ഷീണജീവിതരെന്നപോലെ; ശരവും ധനുസ്സും ഖഡ്ഗവും ധരിച്ച് ദണ്ഡകാരണ്യത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: सम्बोधन/कर्म (Addressed as object of speech; syntactically accusative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विवचनम्, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd); सर्वनाम (2nd person dual)

• जटा-चीर-धरौ: wearing matted hair and bark-garments
• जटा-चीर-धरौ: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘युवाम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + चीर (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (जटां चीरं च धरति इति)

• स-भार्यौ: with (your) wife
• स-भार्यौ: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत् ‘with’) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः (भार्यया सह)

• क्षीण-जीवितौ: with life diminished/near death
• क्षीण-जीवितौ: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (क्षीणं जीवितं यस्य)

• प्रविष्टौ: (you two) entered
• प्रविष्टौ: क्रिया/कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate participle: ‘having entered’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्तः (Past passive participle used actively); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्

• दण्डकारण्यम्: the Daṇḍaka forest
• दण्डकारण्यम्: कर्म/गति-कर्म (Destination as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डक (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दण्डकानाम् अरण्यम्)

• शर-चाप-असि-धारिणौ: bearing arrows, bow, and sword
• शर-चाप-असि-धारिणौ: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + असि (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (शरं चापं असिं च धारयति)

Context

You both clad in bark and wearing matted hair, holding bows, arrows and swords have entered into the Dandaka forest with your wife. Your life has been cut short indeed৷৷

Characters & Entities

• Virādha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)
• bow
• arrows
• sword

FAQs

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

The verse highlights adharma through intimidation: Virādha threatens the innocent, contrasting with the righteous duty of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to protect.

What is the narrative situation?

Virādha confronts the brothers in the forest, mocking their ascetic appearance and issuing a death threat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, it sets up the brothers’ protective courage; the verse itself displays Virādha’s cruelty and arrogance.