Shloka 1

विराधवधः

The Slaying (Burial) of Viradha

Devanagari script

ह्रियमाणौ तु तौ दृष्ट्वा वैदेही रामलक्ष्मणौ।उच्चैस्स्वरेण चुक्रोश प्रगृह्य सुमहाजाभुजौ।।।।

Transliteration

hriyamāṇau tu tau dṛṣṭvā vaidehī rāmalakṣmaṇau |

uccaiḥ-svareṇa cukrośa pragṛhya sumahābāhū ||

Translation

ครั้นเห็นพระรามและพระลักษมณ์ถูกลากพาไป พระไวเทหีจึงกอดสองพี่น้องผู้มีพาหาอันยิ่งใหญ่ไว้ แล้วร้องตะโกนด้วยเสียงอันดังยิ่ง

Word by Word

• ह्रियमाणौ: being abducted
• ह्रियमाणौ: कर्म (Karma; those being abducted)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्यय (Present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; ‘being carried off’ (qualifying रामलक्ष्मणौ)

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अन्वय-अव्यय (particle)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्म (Karma; seen ones)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund): ‘having seen’

• वैदेही: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेही: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Rama and Lakshmana
• रामलक्ष्मणौ: कर्म (Karma; apposition to ‘तौ’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• उच्चैः: loudly
• उच्चैः: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उच्चैः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (adverb: ‘loudly’)

• स्वरेण: with (her) voice
• स्वरेण: करण (Karana; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• चुक्रोश: cried out
• चुक्रोश: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• प्रगृह्य: holding
• प्रगृह्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund): ‘having seized/holding’

• सुमहाजाभुजौ: (her) two very large arms
• सुमहाजाभुजौ: कर्म (Karma; seized/held)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + महा + आजा? + भुज (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (ययोः भुजौ सुमहान्तौ = ‘having very large arms’; here: ‘her two very large arms’)

Context

Although Rama was very strong, he was living on restricted diet, engaged in the welfare of all beings. Treating him as a mere ascetic living in the forest, remembering my past hostility with him and disregarding his (fatal) blow, I ran towards him angrily, assuming the form of a sharphorned animal with an intention to kill him.

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the immediate human response to danger—seeking protection and calling for aid—within the larger duty of the heroes to protect Sītā.

What is the narrative situation?

During the Vīrādha episode, Sītā witnesses Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa being forcibly carried away and cries out loudly in distress.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast attachment and reliance on righteous protectors is emphasized, highlighting the protective duty placed upon Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.