Shloka 1

कुम्भकर्णस्य प्रबोधनम्

The Awakening and Commissioning of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

स तुराक्षसशार्दूलोनिद्रामदसमाकुलः ।राजमार्गंश्रियाजुष्टंययौविपुलविक्रमः ।।6.62.1।।

Transliteration

sa tu rākṣasaśārdūlo nidrāmadasamākulaḥ |

rājamārgaṃ śriyājuṣṭaṃ yayau vipulavikramaḥ ||6.62.1||

Translation

Doch jener Tiger unter den Rākṣasas, von gewaltiger Kraft, vom Schlaf und Rausch benommen, schritt die prächtige Königsstraße entlang, von Glanz geziert.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/अन्वय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• राक्षस-शार्दूलः: tiger among the rakshasas
• राक्षस-शार्दूलः: कर्तृसमनाधिकरण (Appositional epithet of Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राक्षसानां शार्दूलः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निद्रा-मद-समाकुलः: confused/overcome by sleep and intoxication
• निद्रा-मद-समाकुलः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + मद (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: निद्रया मदेन च समाकुलः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• राज-मार्गम्: the royal road
• राज-मार्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/route)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: राज्ञः मार्गः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रिया: with splendor/prosperity
• श्रिया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; 'with/by prosperity')
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• जुष्टम्: adorned/occupied (by)
• जुष्टम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √जुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'मार्गम्' इति विशेषण

• ययौ: went/marched
• ययौ: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• विपुल-विक्रमः: one of great prowess
• विपुल-विक्रमः: कर्तृसमनाधिकरण (Appositional epithet of Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: विपुलः विक्रमः यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृसमनाधिकरण

Context

He (Kumbhakaran), who was endowed with indomitable prowess, a tiger among Rakshasas, was sleepy and inebriated, marched along the splendid royal path.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa (implied by context of sarga)
• Laṅkā (implied setting)
• Rākṣasas
• Royal road (rājamārga)

FAQs

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

By contrast, the verse warns that power without clarity is unstable: sleep and intoxication symbolize tamas that obscures right judgment—opposed to dharma’s wakeful discernment.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa, newly roused and still dazed, moves through the royal avenue of Laṅkā toward the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but a cautionary trait: overwhelming might coupled with delusion (sleep/intoxication) that can drive destructive action.