Shloka 8

विराधप्रश्नोत्तर-युद्धम्

Viradha’s Challenge and the Clash in Dandaka

Devanagari script

उत्सृज्य प्रमदामेनामनपेक्षौ यथागतम्।त्वरमाणौ पलायेथां न वां जीवितमाददे।। 3.3.8।।

Transliteration

utsṛjya pramadām enām anapekṣau yathāgatam | tvaramāṇau palāyethāṃ na vāṃ jīvitam ādade || 3.3.8 ||

Translation

ഈ സ്ത്രീയെ ഉടൻ വിട്ടുകളഞ്ഞ്, അവളിൽ യാതൊരു അവകാശവും വെക്കാതെ, വന്ന വഴിയേ തന്നെ വേഗത്തിൽ ഓടിപ്പോകുവിൻ; ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളുടെ ജീവൻ എടുത്തുകളയുകയില്ല.

Word by Word

• utsṛjya: having abandoned
• utsṛjya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यप्), expressing prior action

• pramadām: the woman
• pramadām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• enām: this (her)
• enām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular (enad-pronoun)

• anapekṣau: without claiming/without regard
• anapekṣau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anapekṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Dual; qualifying implied 'you two'

• yathāgatam: as you came/along the way you came
• yathāgatam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + āgata (कृदन्त)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) compound used adverbially; meaning 'as (you) came'

• tvaramāṇau: hastening
• tvaramāṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvar (धातु)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Dual; qualifying 'you two'

• palāyethām: run away (you two)
• palāyethām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: palāy (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person, Dual, Parasmaipada

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• vām: to you two
• vām: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th) / Dative (4th) Dual; here Dative 'to you two'

• jīvitam: life
• jīvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ādade: I will take away / I take
• ādade: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Context

Therefore, leave this lady and run away to the place you came from. I will not take away your life .

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā (implied by ‘this woman’)
• Virādha

FAQs

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

Rāma upholds restrained, principled force: he offers the aggressors a chance to withdraw if they abandon wrongdoing, showing that punishment is not the first impulse when reform and retreat are possible.

What is the narrative situation?

During the Virādha encounter in the forest, Rāma warns the threatening rākṣasa to leave Sītā and flee, promising not to kill them if they comply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control allied with protection: Rāma is firm in safeguarding Sītā, yet measured in offering mercy to those who desist.