Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 44

Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent

Prelude to Prahlāda’s History

Devanagari script

ततस्तौ राक्षसौ जातौ केशिन्यां विश्रव:सुतौ । रावण: कुम्भकर्णश्च सर्वलोकोपतापनौ ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

tatas tau rākṣasau jātau keśinyāṁ viśravaḥ-sutau rāvaṇaḥ kumbhakarṇaś ca sarva-lokopatāpanau

Translation

Daraufhin wurden die beiden Torhüter Viṣṇus, Jaya und Vijaya, im Schoß Keśinīs als Söhne Viśravās geboren und wurden zu Rāvaṇa und Kumbhakarṇa. Sie waren eine große Plage für alle Welten.

Synonyms

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/देश-काल (सम्बन्ध/कालवाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• राक्षसौ: two demons
• राक्षसौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• जातौ: were born
• जातौ: क्रिया (मुख्य-क्रिया/वृत्त्यर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘were born’ (finite sense)

• केशिन्याम्: in/through Keśinī (from Keśinī)
• केशिन्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विश्रवः-सुतौ: the two sons of Viśravas
• विश्रवः-सुतौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्रवस् (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘विश्रवसः सुतौ’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• रावणः: Rāvaṇa
• रावणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुम्भकर्णः: Kumbhakarṇa
• कुम्भकर्णः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• सर्व-लोक-उप-तापनौ: tormenting all the worlds
• सर्व-लोक-उप-तापनौ: विशेषण (of Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + उप (उपसर्ग) + तप् (धातु) → ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: (i) सर्वलोक (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्राय) + (ii) उपतापन (उपसर्गपूर्वक-तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘तौ/राक्षसौ’)

Characters & Entities

• Keśinī
• Viśravā
• Rāvaṇa
• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the birth of Ravana and Kumbhakarna?

This verse states that Rāvaṇa and Kumbhakarṇa were born from Keśinī as the sons of Viśravā, and that they became tormentors of all the worlds.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 1?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

What is the practical lesson from Ravana and Kumbhakarna being described as tormentors of all worlds?

The verse highlights how unchecked adharma and ego-driven power can harm not only oneself but society at large, encouraging devotees to cultivate humility, self-control, and devotion to the Lord.