Shloka 13

विराधवधः

The Slaying (Burial) of Viradha

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवेणोक्तं राक्षसः प्रश्रितं वचः।इदं प्रोवाच काकुत्थ्सं विराधः पुरुषर्षभम्।।।।

Transliteration

tac chrutvā rāghaveṇoktaṃ rākṣasaḥ praśritaṃ vacaḥ |

idaṃ provāca kākutsthaṃ virādhaḥ puruṣarṣabham ||

Translation

ครั้นได้ฟังถ้อยคำที่ราฆวะตรัสแล้ว รากษสวิราธะก็กล่าววาจาอ่อนน้อมต่อกากุตสถะ ผู้ประเสริฐที่สุดในหมู่มนุษย์

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object of श्रुत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund): ‘having heard’

• राघवेण: by Rama (Raghava)
• राघवेण: Karta (कर्ता; agent in passive sense with उक्तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• उक्तम्: said, spoken
• उक्तम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वच् (धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्तान्त; qualifies तत् (‘that which was said’)

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

• प्रश्रितम्: humble
• प्रश्रितम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रश्रित (√श्रि/√श्रय् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वचः): ‘humble/submissive’

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/Object of प्रोवाच)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this (as follows)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म; content marker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; used adverbially as ‘this (as follows)’

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke forth
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• काकुत्स्थम्: to Kakutstha (Rama)
• काकुत्स्थम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient; to whom spoken)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकुत्स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विराधः: Viradha
• विराधः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to राक्षसः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुष-ऋषभम्: best of men
• पुरुष-ऋषभम्: Sampradana-anvaya (सम्प्रदान-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘bull among men’ (epithet of काकुत्स्थम्)

Context

When the demon Viradha heard Rama saying so, he said these humble words to the scion of the Kakutsthas and the best of men :

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava, Kakutstha)
• Virādha

FAQs

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

Even an adversary may turn toward truth when confronted by righteous power; dharma can elicit humility and acknowledgement of moral authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Virādha, subdued, begins speaking respectfully to Rāma after hearing his command.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s moral stature—his presence compels recognition and a change in the opponent’s tone.