Shloka 16

विराधप्रश्नोत्तर-युद्धम्

Viradha’s Challenge and the Clash in Dandaka

Devanagari script

अथ तौ भ्रातरौ दीप्तं शरवर्षं ववर्षतुः।विराधे राक्षसे तस्मिन् कालान्तकयमोपमे।।3.3.16।।

Transliteration

atha tau bhrātarau dīptaṃ śaravarṣaṃ vavarṣatuḥ | virādhe rākṣase tasmin kālāntaka-yamopame ||3.3.16||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ആ രണ്ടു സഹോദരന്മാർ കാലാന്തക യമനെപ്പോലെ തോന്നിയ ആ രാക്ഷസൻ വിരാധന്റെ മേൽ ദീപ്തമായ ശരവർഷം പെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse-connector (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तर्यवाचक-अव्यय (then/and)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) द्विवचनम् (dual)

• भ्रातरौ: two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा द्विवचनम्

• दीप्तम्: blazing/bright
• दीप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त (कृदन्त, √दीप्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used adjectivally; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम् (qualifying शरवर्षम्)

• शरवर्षम्: shower of arrows
• शरवर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शराणां वर्षम् ‘rain of arrows’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• ववर्षतुः: they showered
• ववर्षतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd) द्विवचनम् (dual)

• विराधे: on/at Viradha
• विराधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th) एकवचनम् (sg)

• राक्षसे: on the rakshasa
• राक्षसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनम् (sg) (apposition to विराधे)

• तस्मिन्: on him
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनम्

• कालान्तकयमोपमे: like Kāla/Antaka/Yama
• कालान्तकयमोपमे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालान्तक (प्रातिपदिक) + यम (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (copulative) in base: कालान्तक-यमौ + उपम; ‘like Kāla, Antaka and Yama’; पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनम् (qualifying तस्मिन्/विराधे)

Context

The demon who was extremely frightening stood there, laughing and yawning. As he yawned, all the swiftly-flying arrows fell out of his body.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Virādha
• Yama
• arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

Kṣātra-dharma (warrior duty) is exercised as defensive action: force is applied to stop a violent threat and protect Sītā.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa respond to Virādha’s attack by showering him with arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and coordinated resolve—acting together swiftly to neutralize danger.