Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 77, Shloka 2

निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha

Hanuman’s Duel

Devanagari script

ततस्स्रग्दामसन्नद्धंदत्तपञ्चाङ्गुलंशुभम् ।आददेपरिघंवीरोमहेन्द्रशिखरोपमम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tatas sragdāma-sannaddhaṃ datta-pañcāṅgulaṃ śubham |

ādade parighaṃ vīro mahendra-śikharopamam ||

Translation

তাৰ পাছত স্ৰগ্দামৰে সুশোভিত সেই বীৰে, শুভ আৰু পঞ্চাঙ্গুল প্ৰস্থৰ পৰিঘ হাতত তুলিলে—মহেন্দ্ৰ পৰ্বতৰ শিখৰৰ সদৃশ ভয়ংকৰ অস্ত্ৰ।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• srag-dāma-sannaddham: bound with a garland-string
• srag-dāma-sannaddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sraj (प्रातिपदिक) + dāma (प्रातिपदिक) + sannaddha (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्रग्दाम्ना सन्नद्धम्) विशेषणम् (parigham)

• datta-pañcāṅgulam: measuring five fingers (in breadth)
• datta-pañcāṅgulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय) + pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चाङ्गुलं दत्तम्/प्रमाणीकृतम्) विशेषणम् (parigham)

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (parigham)

• ādade: took up
• ādade: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• parigham: iron club/bar
• parigham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vīraḥ: the hero
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahendra-śikhara-upamam: like the peak of Mahendra
• mahendra-śikhara-upamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhara (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महेन्द्रशिखरेण उपमम्) विशेषणम् (parigham)

Context

The Rakshasa, whose arms were like iron bars and shining like the Sun brought it down on the breast of mighty Hanuman.

Characters & Entities

• Nikumbha
• parigha (iron club)
• Mahendra (mountain)

FAQs

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

The verse frames armed combat as governed by yuddha-dharma: a warrior openly takes up a weapon and enters battle directly, emphasizing courage and straightforward engagement rather than deceit.

What is the narrative situation?

Nikumbha prepares to fight by taking up a massive iron club, signaling an escalation in the duel against Hanumān.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) and readiness: Nikumbha is portrayed as resolute and forceful in entering combat.