Shloka 10

विराधवधः

The Slaying (Burial) of Viradha

Devanagari script

तपसा पुरुषव्याघ्र राक्षसोऽयं न शक्यते।शस्त्रेण युधि निर्जेतुं राक्षसं निखनावहे।।।।

Transliteration

tapasā puruṣavyāghra rākṣaso ’yaṃ na śakyate |

śastreṇa yudhi nirjetuṃ rākṣasaṃ nikhanāvahai ||

Translation

പുരുഷവ്യാഘ്രനേ! തപോബലത്തിൽ ദൃഢനായ ഈ രാക്ഷസനെ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ആയുധങ്ങളാൽ ജയിക്കുവാൻ കഴിയില്ല; അതുകൊണ്ട് നാം ഈ രാക്ഷസനെ കുഴിയിൽ അടക്കം ചെയ്യാം.

Word by Word

• तपसा: by penance
• तपसा: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पुरुष-व्याघ्र: O tiger among men
• पुरुष-व्याघ्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘tiger among men’ (address)

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

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is possible’

• शस्त्रेण: by weapons
• शस्त्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location: in battle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• निर्जेतुम्: to conquer
• निर्जेतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-√जि (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): ‘to conquer’

• राक्षसम्: the demon
• राक्षसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of निर्जेतुम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निखनावहे: we shall bury
• निखनावहे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√खन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present; here future-intent/imperative sense in context), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Seeing those two mighty-armed Rama and Lakshmana being carried away by Viradha, Sita started crying loudly:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• rākṣasa (Vīrādha, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma in conflict includes discernment: when ordinary means fail, one may adopt an effective method to neutralize harm, prioritizing protection of the innocent over pride in conventional tactics.

What is the narrative situation?

Facing Vīrādha, who is not conquerable by weapons due to boons/austerity, Rāma proposes burying him as a practical way to end the threat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s strategic clarity and responsibility in crisis are emphasized—calmly choosing a workable solution to uphold protective duty.