Shloka 27

विराधप्रश्नोत्तर-युद्धम्

Viradha’s Challenge and the Clash in Dandaka

Devanagari script

वनं महामेघनिभं प्रविष्टो द्रुमैर्महद्भिर्विविधैरुपेतम्।

नानाविधैः पक्षिकुलैर्विचित्रं शिवायुतं व्यालमृगैर्विकीर्णम्।।3.3.27।।

Transliteration

vanaṃ mahāmeghanibhaṃ praviṣṭo drumair mahadbhir vividhair upetam | nānāvidhaiḥ pakṣikulair vicitraṃ śivāyutaṃ vyālamṛgair vikīrṇam || 3.3.27 ||

Translation

മഹാമേഘംപോലെ ഇരുണ്ട വനത്തിലേക്ക് അവൻ കടന്നു; പലവിധമായ മഹാവൃക്ഷങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞതും, നാനാവിധ പക്ഷിസമൂഹങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ട് വിസ്മയകരമായതും, ശിവകൾ (ഗൃദ്ധങ്ങൾ)യും വ്യാളമൃഗങ്ങളും ചിതറിക്കിടന്നതുമായ വനമായിരുന്നു അത്.

Word by Word

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma; entered place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महामेघनिभम्: resembling a great cloud
• महामेघनिभम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘वनम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + मेघ + निभ (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महान् मेघः इव निभः = ‘like a great cloud’)

• प्रविष्टः: having entered
• प्रविष्टः: क्रिया-विशेषण (Participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having entered/entered’ (agreeing with implied subject, e.g., विराधः)

• द्रुमैः: with trees
• द्रुमैः: करण (Karana; ‘with/by’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• महद्भिः: great/huge
• महद्भिः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्रुमैः इति विशेषणम्

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्रुमैः इति विशेषणम्

• उपेतम्: endowed with
• उपेतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘वनम्’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘endowed with/filled with’ (agreeing with वनम्)

• नानाविधैः: of many kinds
• नानाविधैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘of many kinds’

• पक्षिकुलैः: with flocks of birds
• पक्षिकुलैः: करण (Karana; ‘with’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि + कुल (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पक्षिणां कुलानि)

• विचित्रम्: variegated/wondrous
• विचित्रम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम् इति विशेषणम्

• शिवायुतम्: filled with countless jackals
• शिवायुतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘वनम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + अयुत (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-समासभावः (अयुतं = ten-thousand; ‘with ten-thousands of jackals’)

• व्यालमृगैः: with serpents and beasts
• व्यालमृगैः: करण (Karana; ‘with’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याल + मृग (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (व्यालाः च मृगाः च)

• विकीर्णम्: strewn/scattered (with)
• विकीर्णम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॄ (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम् इति विशेषणम्

Context

By the grace of Lord Brahma I was bestowed with this prowess through my penance. In this world none can kill me with a weapon nor split nor cut me to pieces.

Characters & Entities

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

FAQs

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

Dharma in the wilderness requires vigilance and steadiness: the harsh landscape frames the moral testing-ground where righteous conduct must remain firm amid danger.

What is the narrative situation?

Virādha carries the brothers into a dense, ominous forest filled with great trees, birds, jackals, and beasts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and readiness—moving through threatening spaces without abandoning purpose.