Shloka 19

विराधप्रश्नोत्तर-युद्धम्

Viradha’s Challenge and the Clash in Dandaka

Devanagari script

तच्छूलं वज्रसङ्काशं गगने ज्वलनोपमम्।द्वाभ्यां शराभ्यां चिच्छेद रामः शस्त्रभृतांवरः।।3.3.19।।

Transliteration

tacchūlaṃ vajrasaṅkāśaṃ gagane jvalanopamam | dvābhyāṃ śarābhyāṃ ciccheda rāmaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ ||3.3.19||

Translation

വജ്രസദൃശവും ആകാശത്തിൽ അഗ്നിപോലെ ജ്വലിക്കുന്നതുമായ ആ ശൂലം, ആയുധധാരികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ രാമൻ രണ്ടു ശരങ്ങളാൽ ചേദിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम् (qualifying शूलम्)

• शूलम्: spear
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• वज्रसङ्काशम्: resembling a thunderbolt
• वज्रसङ्काशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपमान-तत्पुरुष: वज्रस्य सङ्काशम् ‘thunderbolt-like’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम् (qualifying शूलम्)

• गगने: in the sky
• गगने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनम्

• ज्वलनोपमम्: like blazing fire
• ज्वलनोपमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपमान-तत्पुरुष: ज्वलनस्य उपमम् ‘like fire’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; तृतीया (3rd) द्विवचनम् (dual)

• शराभ्याम्: with (two) arrows
• शराभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया द्विवचनम्

• चिच्छेद: cut asunder
• चिच्छेद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष एकवचनम्

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• शस्त्रभृताम्: of weapon-bearers
• शस्त्रभृताम्: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शस्त्रं भृतः ‘weapon-bearers’; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचनम्

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनम् (predicate/apposition to रामः)

Context

Then Viradha with his voice filling the forest said, Instead of asking about me you both should speak out who you are and where you are going

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• śūla (spear/spike)
• vajra (thunderbolt)
• sky (gagana)
• fire (jvalana)
• arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

Dharma favors precise, necessary action: Rāma neutralizes the threat efficiently, using skill to prevent harm rather than indulging in excess violence.

What is the narrative situation?

As Virādha attacks with a blazing spear, Rāma intercepts it midair and breaks it with two arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competence joined with restraint—martial mastery exercised for protection.