Shloka 11

कुम्भकर्णदर्शनम्

The Appearance of Kumbhakarna and the Account of His Might

Devanagari script

शूलपाणिंविरूपाक्षंकुम्भकर्णंमहाबलम् ।हन्तुं न शेकुस्त्रिदशाःकालोऽयमितिमोहिताः ।।6.61.11।।

Transliteration

śūlapāṇiṃ virūpākṣaṃ kumbhakarṇaṃ mahābalam |

hantuṃ na śekuḥ tridaśāḥ kālo ’yam iti mohitāḥ ||6.61.11||

Translation

Kumbhakarṇa — den Dreizack in der Hand, mit schrecklichem Blick und ungeheurer Kraft — konnte nicht einmal von den Göttern getötet werden, denn verwirrt dachten sie: „Dies ist der Tod selbst.“

Word by Word

• शूलपाणिम्: spear-in-handed
• शूलपाणिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः (one who has a spear in hand)

• विरूपाक्षम्: having dreadful/odd eyes
• विरूपाक्षम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः

• कुम्भकर्णम्: Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• महाबलम्: very strong
• महाबलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थ (purpose)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• शेकुः: were able
• शेकुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• त्रिदशाः: the gods (thirty)
• त्रिदशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कालः: Time; Death
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• मोहिताः: deluded
• मोहिताः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/अवस्था)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) → मोहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

Context

"Kumbhakarna is by nature (by birth) energetic and mighty. The strength of other Rakshasas is on account of their boons received by them."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Tridaśa (Devas)
• Kāla (Death/Time)

FAQs

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

Fear and भ्रम (delusion) can paralyze even the powerful; Dharma calls for steadiness and truth-seeing—recognizing threats accurately rather than mythologizing them into invincibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa is portrayed as so terrifying and strong that even the gods fail to kill him, mistaking him for Kāla incarnate.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is धैर्य (courage/fortitude) grounded in सत्य (truthful perception), contrasting with the Devas’ momentary bewilderment.