Shloka 4

Virādha-saṃvādaḥ — Encounter with Virādha in the Daṇḍakāraṇya

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 2

Devanagari script

सीतया सह काकुत्स्थस्तस्मिनघोरमृगायुते।ददर्श गिरिशृङ्गाभं पुरुषादं महास्वनम्।।।।

Transliteration

sītayā saha kākutsthas tasmin aghora-mṛgāyute | dadarśa giriśṛṅgābhaṃ puruṣādaṃ mahāsvanam ||

Translation

Kasama si Sītā, si Kakutstha Rāma, sa lupang hitik sa mababangis na hayop, ay nakita ang isang rākṣasa na kumakain ng tao—umugong ang sigaw at tumayog na tila tuktok ng bundok.

Word by Word

• गम्भीर-अक्षम्: deep-eyed
• गम्भीर-अक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gambhīra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of implied ‘पुरुषादम्’; कर्मधारय (‘गम्भीरम् अक्षि यस्य’ = deep-eyed)

• महा-वक्त्रम्: large-faced
• महा-वक्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय (large-faced)

• विकटम्: hideous, formidable
• विकटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विषम-उदरम्: pot-bellied, with a huge belly
• विषम-उदरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣama + udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय (with uneven/huge belly)

• बीभत्सम्: loathsome
• बीभत्सम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bībhatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विषमम्: uneven, grotesque
• विषमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दीर्घम्: tall, long
• दीर्घम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विकृतम्: deformed, ugly
• विकृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• घोर-दर्शनम्: terrifying in appearance
• घोर-दर्शनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय (‘घोरं दर्शनं यस्य’ = frightful-looking)

Context

While Rama along with Sita was wandering in the forest infested with dreadful animals, he saw a roaring cannibal resembling the peak of a mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Virādha (implied by context as the man-eater encountered here)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is protective vigilance: when adharma appears as predatory violence, the righteous must recognize it promptly and respond to safeguard the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

The first sighting of the terrifying man-eater (Virādha) occurs as Rāma and Sītā traverse the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s alert guardianship—his role as protector becomes central as danger approaches.