Shloka 20

विराधप्रश्नोत्तर-युद्धम्

Viradha’s Challenge and the Clash in Dandaka

Devanagari script

तद्रामविशिखच्छिन्नं शूलं तस्यकराद्भुवि।पपाताशनिना छिन्नं मेरोरिव शिलातलम्।।3.3.20।।

Transliteration

tad rāma-viśikhacchinnaṃ śūlaṃ tasya karād bhuvi | papāta aśaninā chinnaṃ meror iva śilātalam ||3.3.20||

Translation

രാമന്റെ ശരങ്ങൾകൊണ്ട് മുറിഞ്ഞ ആ ശൂലം അവന്റെ കൈയിൽ നിന്ന് ഭൂമിയിലേക്കു വീണു—ഇടിമിന്നലാൽ പിളർന്ന മേരു പർവതത്തിലെ ശിലാതലം വീഴുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (here as qualifier in compound)

• रामविशिखच्छिन्नम्: cut by Rama's arrow
• रामविशिखच्छिन्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + विशिख (प्रातिपदिक) + छिन्न (कृदन्त, √छिद्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (instrumental sense): रामस्य विशिखेन छिन्नम् ‘cut by Rama’s arrow’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम् (qualifying शूलम्)

• शूलम्: the spear
• शूलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनम्

• करात्: from (his) hand
• करात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचनम्

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनम्

• पपात: fell
• पपात: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष एकवचनम्

• अशनिना: by a thunderbolt
• अशनिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनम्

• छिन्नम्: split/broken
• छिन्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम् (qualifying शिलातलम्)

• मेरोः: of Meru
• मेरोः: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनम्

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• शिलातलम्: a rock-slab
• शिलातलम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिलायाः तलम् ‘rock-surface/slab’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्

Context

The spike, broken down by Rama's arrow, fell like a slab of mount Meru splintered by Indra's thunder.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Virādha (implied by 'his hand')
• arrows (viśikha)
• śūla (spear/spike)
• Mount Meru
• thunderbolt (aśani)

FAQs

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

Dharma is protective order prevailing over violent chaos: an unjust weapon raised against the righteous is brought down.

What is the narrative situation?

The broken spear falls from Virādha’s hand to the ground after Rāma’s interception.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steady guardianship—Rāma’s controlled intervention prevents the weapon from reaching its target.