Shloka 4

कुम्भकर्णविबोधनम्

The Awakening of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

नकाञ्चनमयंदिव्यमाश्रित्यपरमासनम् ।विप्रेक्षमाणोरक्षांसिरावणोवाक्यमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

na kāñcanamayaṃ divyam āśritya paramāsanam | viprekṣamāṇo rakṣāṃsi rāvaṇo vākyam abravīt ||

Translation

Auf einem herrlichen, göttlichen Thron aus Gold sitzend, blickte Rāvaṇa die rākṣasas an und sprach diese Worte.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• kāñcanamayam: made of gold
• kāñcanamayam: Karma (कर्म/object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम् (gold-made)

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Karma (कर्म/object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• āśritya: having taken refuge in / having mounted
• āśritya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/gerundial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having resorted to / having seated oneself on’

• parama-āsanam: the supreme seat/throne
• parama-āsanam: Karma (कर्म/object of āśritya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (paramaṃ ca tat āsanam)

• viprekṣamāṇaḥ: gazing at
• viprekṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-pra-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि

• rakṣāṃsi: the rākṣasas (demons)
• rakṣāṃsi: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; कर्म (object of viprekṣamāṇaḥ)

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• vākyam: words; a speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Ravana seated on the wonderful golden magnificent throne gazing at Rakshasas spoke these words.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It frames kingship and authority: a ruler’s words carry weight; in the Ramayana, power and splendor are ethically evaluated by whether speech and command align with dharma and satya.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is shown enthroned, surveying his rākṣasa assembly, about to issue instructions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Majesty and command (with an implicit tension: royal grandeur does not guarantee righteousness).