Shloka 23

विराधप्रश्नोत्तर-युद्धम्

Viradha’s Challenge and the Clash in Dandaka

Devanagari script

तस्याभिप्रायमाज्ञाय रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।वहत्वयमलं तावत्पथाऽनेन तु राक्षसः।।3.3.23।।

Transliteration

tasyābhiprāyam ājñāya rāmo lakṣmaṇam abravīt | vahatv ayam alaṃ tāvat pathānena tu rākṣasaḥ || 3.3.23 ||

Translation

രാക്ഷസന്റെ ഉദ്ദേശ്യം അറിഞ്ഞ രാമൻ ലക്ഷ്മണനോട് പറഞ്ഞു: “ഇപ്പോൾ താൽക്കാലികമായി ഈ രാക്ഷസൻ ഈ വഴിയിലൂടെ നമ്മെ വഹിക്കട്ടെ; അവനെ തടയരുത്.”

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/ his
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव (pronoun)

• अभिप्रायम्: intention
• अभिप्रायम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिप्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आज्ञाय: having understood
• आज्ञाय: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having known/understood’

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणम्: to Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient; addressed person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• वहतु: let (him) carry
• वहतु: क्रिया (आज्ञा/Imperative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अलम्: enough; no need
• अलम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध/पर्याप्ति-अव्यय (particle: ‘enough/no need’)

• तावत्: for the time being
• तावत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/परिमाण-अव्यय (adverb: ‘for now/so long’)

• पथा: by the path
• पथा: करण (Karana/Instrument; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन्/पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: करण (Karana/Instrument; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोध-अव्यय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• राक्षसः: the demon
• राक्षसः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Questioned by the demon, who bore a burning countenance, the highly effulgent Rama introduced his Ikshvaku family:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Virādha (rākṣasa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is not rashness; it is disciplined action guided by discernment. Rāma restrains immediate retaliation, choosing a course that serves a larger righteous objective.

What is the narrative situation?

Virādha attempts to carry the brothers away; Rāma perceives his intent and instructs Lakṣmaṇa not to stop him immediately.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s calm leadership and strategic patience (dhairya and viveka).