Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 60, Shloka 53

कुम्भकर्णविबोधनम्

The Awakening of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

रज्जुबन्धनबद्धाभिश्शतघ्नीभिश्चसर्वशः ।।।।वध्यमानोमहाकायोनप्राबुध्यतराक्षसः ।

Transliteration

rajju-bandhana-baddhābhiḥ śataghnībhiś ca sarvaśaḥ |

vadhyamāno mahākāyo na prābudhyata rākṣasaḥ ||

Translation

Though struck on every side with śataghnīs and bound fast with ropes, that huge-bodied rākṣasa still did not awaken.

Word by Word

• रज्जुबन्धनबद्धाभिः: with rope-bindings (used to bind)
• रज्जुबन्धनबद्धाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रज्जुबन्धन + बद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; बन्ध् धातोः क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifies implied instruments (e.g., रज्जुभिः) "bound with rope-bindings"

• शतघ्नीभिः: with śataghnīs (heavy weapons)
• शतघ्नीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतघ्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• सर्वशः: all over / in every way
• सर्वशः: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb "in every way/all over"

• वध्यमानः: being struck/tormented
• वध्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध् (धातु) + य (passive) + शानच् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच् (passive present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with राक्षसः

• महाकायः: huge-bodied
• महाकायः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with राक्षसः

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• प्राबुध्यत: awoke
• प्राबुध्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect 3rd singular

• राक्षसः: the rakshasa
• राक्षसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

Context

Some struck with sataghni (mace) all over his huge body fastened with cords.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Śataghnī

FAQs

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

It reiterates the primacy of truth and consequence: the curse-bound condition persists despite violence, reminding that dharma aligns with deeper order, not mere coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Even ropes and heavy weapons used across his body fail to wake the massive Kumbhakarṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes inexorable fate/karma over individual effort—encouraging humility before moral causality.