Shloka 26

विराधप्रश्नोत्तर-युद्धम्

Viradha’s Challenge and the Clash in Dandaka

Devanagari script

तावारोप्य ततः स्कन्धं राघवौ रजनीचरः।विराधो विनदन्घोरं जगामाभिमुखो वनम्।।3.3.26।।

Transliteration

tāv āropya tataḥ skandhaṃ rāghavau rajanīcaraḥ | virādho vinadan ghoraṃ jagāma abhimukho vanam || 3.3.26 ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ നിശാചരനായ വിരാധൻ ഇരുവരായ രാഘവന്മാരെയും തന്റെ സ്കന്ധങ്ങളിൽ കയറ്റി, ഭീകരമായി ഗർജ്ജിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് വനത്തേക്കു അഭിമുഖമായി നടന്നു.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन

• आरोप्य: having placed (them)
• आरोप्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुह्/आ-रुह् (धातु) (causative sense ‘to place/raise’)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having placed/hoisted’

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/क्रम-अव्यय (adverb: ‘then/from there’)

• स्कन्धम्: shoulder
• स्कन्धम्: अधिकरण/कर्म (locus/object of placing; ‘onto shoulder’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राघवौ: the two Raghavas (Rama and Lakshmana)
• राघवौ: कर्म (Karma; apposition to ‘तौ’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• रजनीचरः: the night-wanderer (demon)
• रजनीचरः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनीचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विराधः: Viradha
• विराधः: कर्ता (Karta; in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विनदन्: roaring
• विनदन्: कर्ता (Karta; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• घोरम्: terribly
• घोरम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: ‘dreadfully’)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अभिमुखः: facing towards
• अभिमुखः: क्रियाविशेषण/विशेषण (directional qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘facing/towards’

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma; goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

I am indeed son to Jaya. My mother is Satahrada. Verily all the demons on this earthcall me Viradha.

Characters & Entities

• Virādha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Forest (Daṇḍaka context)

FAQs

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

Adharma manifests as coercion and terror; dharma will respond not with panic but with controlled action to protect the innocent and restore order.

What is the narrative situation?

Virādha carries the brothers into the forest while roaring, intensifying the confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The Rāghavas’ fearlessness and readiness to face danger within the wilderness.