Shloka 1

कुम्भकर्णदर्शनम्

The Appearance of Kumbhakarna and the Account of His Might

Devanagari script

ततोरामोमहातेजाधनुरादायवीर्यवान् ।किरीटिनंमहाकायंकुम्भकर्णंददर्श ह ।।6.61.1।।

Transliteration

tato rāmo mahā-tejā dhanuḥ ādāya vīryavān |

kirīṭinaṃ mahā-kāyaṃ kumbhakarṇaṃ dadarśa ha ||

Translation

Da nahm Rāma, gewaltig an Heldenkraft und strahlend an Glanz, seinen Bogen zur Hand und erblickte Kumbhakarṇa, bekrönt und von riesenhaftem Leib.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb/कालवाचक)

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahātejāḥ: of great splendor
• mahātejāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahad tejaḥ yasya (महत्तेजाः); Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable

• vīryavān: valiant
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• kirīṭinam: crowned
• kirīṭinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kirīṭin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• mahākāyam: huge-bodied
• mahākāyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahān kāyaḥ yasya (महाकायः); Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• kumbhakarṇam: Kumbhakarṇa
• kumbhakarṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi proper name: kumbhau iva karṇau yasya (कुम्भौ इव कर्णौ यस्य); Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• ha: indeed
• ha: Kriya-nipāta (क्रियानिपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

Context

On taking up a bow Rama saw Kumbhakarna of extraordinary energy, prodigious, and of large body, adorned with a crown.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kumbhakarṇa
• Bow (dhanuḥ)

FAQs

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

Rāma’s readiness with the bow reflects kṣatriya-dharma: protecting the innocent and confronting destructive aggression without hesitation.

What is the narrative situation?

As the next chapter begins, Rāma arms himself and directly sights Kumbhakarṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and preparedness in service of righteousness.