HomeRamayanaAranya KandaSarga 3Shloka 21
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Shloka 21

विराधप्रश्नोत्तर-युद्धम्

Viradha’s Challenge and the Clash in Dandaka

तौ खड्गौ क्षिप्रमुद्यम्य कृष्णसर्पोपमौशुभौ।तूर्णमापेततुस्तस्य तदा प्रहरतां बलात्।।3.3.21।।

tau khaḍgau kṣipram udyamya kṛṣṇa-sarpopamau śubhau | tūrṇam āpetatus tasya tadā praharatāṃ balāt ||3.3.21||

അപ്പോൾ അവർ ഇരുവരും വേഗത്തിൽ ശുഭ്രതേജസ്സുള്ള വാളുകൾ ഉയർത്തി—കറുത്ത സർപ്പങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ; ബലത്തോടെ പ്രഹരിക്കുന്ന അവന്റെ മേൽ ഉടൻ തന്നെ അടുക്കി ചെന്നു.

तौthose two
तौ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा द्विवचनम्
खड्गौtwo swords
खड्गौ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootखड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा द्विवचनम्
क्षिप्रम्quickly
क्षिप्रम्:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्षिप्रम् (अव्यय)
Formरीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)
उद्यम्यhaving raised
उद्यम्य:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootउद् + यम् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त: ‘having raised’
कृष्णसर्पोपमौlike black serpents
कृष्णसर्पोपमौ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृष्णसर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formउपमान-तत्पुरुष: कृष्णसर्पस्य उपमौ; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (qualifying खड्गौ)
शुभौsplendid/auspicious
शुभौ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (qualifying खड्गौ)
तूर्णम्at once
तूर्णम्:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतूर्णम् (अव्यय)
Formकाल/रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (quickly/at once)
आपेततुःfell upon/attacked
आपेततुः:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootआ + पत् (धातु)
Formलिट् (perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष द्विवचनम्
तस्यof him/at him
तस्य:
Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनम् (target reference)
तदाthen
तदा:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय
प्रहरताम्of the two striking
प्रहरताम्:
Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + हृ (धातु) / प्र + हृ (to strike)
Formशतृ-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) used substantively; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी द्विवचनम् ‘of the two striking’ (referring to the two brothers)
बलात्by force/with strength
बलात्:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootबल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचनम्; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause)

Then both Rama and Lakshmana quickly raised their swords which looked like black serpents and at once fell upon the demon who was going to strike with great force.

R
Rāma
L
Lakṣmaṇa
V
Virādha (implied)
S
swords (khaḍga)

FAQs

Dharma includes practical wisdom: when one method fails, the righteous adapt their means to continue protecting what must be protected.

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa switch from arrows to swords and rush in to engage Virādha at close range.

Resourcefulness and teamwork—coordinated action between the brothers under pressure.