Shloka 5

Virādha-saṃvādaḥ — Encounter with Virādha in the Daṇḍakāraṇya

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 2

Devanagari script

गम्भीराक्षं महावक्त्रं विकटं विषमोदरम्।बीभत्सं विषमं दीर्घं विकृतं घोरदर्शनम्।।।।

Transliteration

gambhīrākṣaṃ mahāvaktraṃ vikaṭaṃ viṣamodaram | bībhatsaṃ viṣamaṃ dīrghaṃ vikṛtaṃ ghoradarśanam ||

Translation

അവന്‍ ഗംഭീരമായ കണ്ണുകളും മഹാവിസ്തൃതമായ മുഖവും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; രൂപം വികടം, വയര്‍ അസമമായി ഉന്തിയ; അത്യന്തം ഭീഭത്സനും വികൃതനും ദീര്‍ഘകായനും ഘോരദര്‍ശനനുമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• वसानम्: wearing
• वसानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle) from √वस् (to wear/dwell); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘पुरुषादम्’ (wearing)

• चर्म: skin, hide
• चर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वैयाघ्रम्: tiger(-skin)
• वैयाघ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘चर्म’ (tiger’s)

• वसा-अर्द्रम्: wet with fat/marrow
• वसा-अर्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vasā + ardra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘चर्म’; तत्पुरुष (‘वसया आर्द्रम्’ = wet with fat/marrow)

• रुधिर-उक्षितम्: drenched with blood
• रुधिर-उक्षितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudhira + ukṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘चर्म’; तत्पुरुष (‘रुधिरेण उक्षितम्’ = sprinkled/drenched with blood)

• त्रासनम्: terrifying
• त्रासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘पुरुषादम्’ (causing terror)

• सर्व-भूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्व-भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘सर्वेषां भूतानाम्’ = of all beings)

• व्यादित-आस्यम्: with gaping mouth
• व्यादित-आस्यम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyādita + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘अन्तकम्’; तत्पुरुष (‘व्यादितम् आस्यम् यस्य’ = with gaping mouth)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक (comparative particle: like/as)

• अन्तकम्: Death (Yama)
• अन्तकम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

Context

He was of dreadful appearance with deep eyes, a huge face and a big belly. He looked tall, ugly and frightening.

Characters & Entities

• Virādha (described)

FAQs

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

The text contrasts the frightening form of adharma with the calm duty of the righteous: recognizing moral disorder often begins with perceiving its violent, predatory nature.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator intensifies the scene by detailing Virādha’s terrifying physical features.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment—seeing danger clearly without panic is implied as the heroes face the grotesque threat.