Shloka 11

विराधप्रश्नोत्तर-युद्धम्

Viradha’s Challenge and the Clash in Dandaka

Devanagari script

ततः सज्यं धनुः कृत्वा रामस्सुनिशिताञ्छरान्।सुशीघ्रमभिसन्धाय राक्षसं निजघान ह।।3.3.11।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sajyaṃ dhanuḥ kṛtvā rāmaḥ suniśitān śarān |

suśīghram abhisandhāya rākṣasaṃ nijaghāna ha || 3.3.11 ||

Translation

त्यानंतर रामाने धनुष्य सज्ज करून, अतिशय तीक्ष्ण बाण वेगाने लक्ष्य साधून त्या राक्षसाला घायाळ करून पाडले।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sajyam: strung
• sajyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sajya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; predicate/object complement of dhanuḥ in gerund construction

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular (form identical to nominative)

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), prior action

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• su-niśitān: very sharp
• su-niśitān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + niśita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; qualifying śarān

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• su-śīghram: very quickly
• su-śīghram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su (अव्यय) + śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially

• abhisandhāya: having aimed
• abhisandhāya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-sam-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having aimed/fixed upon'

• rākṣasam: the demon
• rākṣasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• nijaghāna: struck down
• nijaghāna: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√han (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ha: indeed
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), narrative emphasis

Context

Then Rama strung his bow immediately, shot the sharp arrows at Viradha and hit him verily.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Virādha (rākṣasa)
• dhanuḥ (bow)
• śara (arrows)

FAQs

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

Dharma as protection: Rāma acts decisively to restrain a violent rākṣasa, aligning strength with righteous purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

The fight escalates; Rāma strings his bow and shoots at Virādha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Swift, disciplined action—controlled power used in defense of dharma.