Shloka 54
कुम्भकर्णविबोधनम्
The Awakening of Kumbhakarna
वारणानांसहस्रंचशरीरेऽस्यप्रधावितम् ।।।।कुम्बकर्णस्तदाबुद् ध्वास्पर्शंपरमबुध्यत ।
vāraṇānāṃ sahasraṃ ca śarīre ’sya pradhāvitam | kumbhakarṇas tadā buddhvā sparśaṃ param abudhyata ||
Tausend Elefanten wurden über seinen Körper getrieben; da nahm Kumbhakarṇa die Berührung wahr, begriff aber nicht, was es war.
A thousand elephants were made to walk over his body. Then Kumbhakarna felt the touch but did not understand.
FAQs
The verse highlights how ignorance (moha/avidyā) can dull discernment: mere sensation is not the same as understanding. In the Ramāyaṇa’s ethical frame, lack of right awareness supports adharma by preventing timely correction.
The rākṣasa Kumbhakarṇa is being forcibly roused from his deep sleep; even extreme measures—elephants trampling over him—barely register as intelligible awareness.
By contrast rather than direct praise: the need for vigilance and clear discernment (pramāda-rahitatā) is implied, showing how dangerous stupor and confusion can be in moral and martial life.