Shloka 44

कुम्भकर्णविबोधनम्

The Awakening of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

आश्वानुष्ट्रान् खरन्नागान् जघ्नुर्दण्डकशाङ्कुशैः ।।।।भेरीशङ्खमृदङ्गांश्चसर्वप्राणैरवादयन् ।

Transliteration

āśvān uṣṭrān kharān nāgān jaghnur daṇḍa-kaśāṅkuśaiḥ | bherī-śaṅkha-mṛdaṅgāṃś ca sarva-prāṇair avādayan ||

Translation

Sie trieben Pferde, Kamele, Esel und Elefanten mit Stöcken, Peitschen und Stacheln an; und mit all ihrem Atem und ihrer Kraft ließen sie Kesselpauken, Muschelhörner und Trommeln ertönen.

Word by Word

• आश्वान्: horses
• आश्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• उष्ट्रान्: camels
• उष्ट्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• खरान्: donkeys
• खरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नागान्: elephants
• नागान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जघ्नुḥ: they struck/beat
• जघ्नुḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; Perfect, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada

• दण्डकशाङ्कुशैः: with staffs, whips, and goads
• दण्डकशाङ्कुशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड + कशा + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भेरीशङ्खमृदङ्गान्: kettle-drums, conches, and drums
• भेरीशङ्खमृदङ्गान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेरी + शङ्ख + मृदङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• सर्वप्राणैः: with all their strength
• सर्वप्राणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; "with all (their) breath/strength"

• अवादयन्: they sounded/played
• अवादयन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वादय् (धातु; वद्-णिच्)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; Imperfect, 3rd person plural, causative "made sound/played"

Context

They urged horses, elephants, camels, and donkeys to pounce on him, whipping with staff, whips, and goads.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Horses
• Camels
• Donkeys
• Elephants
• Bherī
• Śaṅkha
• Mṛdaṅga

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates total mobilization—energy, animals, and instruments pressed into service. Ethically, the Ramayana invites reflection that intensity and capability should be governed by satya and dharma, not merely by command.

What is the narrative situation?

To wake Kumbhakarṇa, the rākṣasas intensify the commotion: driving animals with goads and loudly sounding drums and conches.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unflagging exertion and organized effort (though in a coercive, war-driven context).