Shloka 12
Virādha-saṃvādaḥ — Encounter with Virādha in the Daṇḍakāraṇya
Aranya Kanda, Sarga 2
अहं वनमिदं दुर्गं विराधो नाम राक्षसः।चरामि सायुधो नित्यमृषिमांसानि भक्षयन्।।।।
ahaṃ vanam idaṃ durgaṃ virādho nāma rākṣasaḥ | carāmi sāyudho nityam ṛṣi-māṃsāni bhakṣayan ||
Ako ang rākṣasa na nagngangalang Virādha; sa masukal at mapanganib na gubat na ito’y palagi akong gumagala na may sandata, at kumakain ng laman ng mga rishi.
I am a demon named Viradha. I move in this dense forest with my weapons eating the flesh of the sages.
FAQs
The verse defines adharma plainly: predation upon sages and disruption of tapas. It establishes why the righteous must intervene to protect spiritual life.
Virādha identifies himself and openly confesses his violent way of life in the forest.
The need for protective righteousness—Rāma’s role as defender of ascetics is foregrounded by Virādha’s confession.