Any series of molecular signals generated as a consequence of a virus or viral RNA binding to a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) located in the cytoplasm. Cytosolic PRRs such as RIG-I (DDX58) and MDA-5 (IFIH1) detect RNA synthesized during active viral replication and trigger a signaling pathway to protect the host against viral infection, for example by inducing the expression of antiviral cytokines.