Shloka 17

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

विनाशयन्तोभर्तारंसहिताश्शत्रुभिर्बुधैः ।विपरीतानिकृत्यानिकारयन्तीहमन्त्रिणः ।।6.63.17।।

Transliteration

vināśayanto bhartāraṁ sahitāḥ śatrubhir budhaiḥ |

viparītāni kṛtyāni kārayantīha mantriṇaḥ || 6.63.17 ||

Translation

Hier gibt es gewisse Minister, die ihren Herrn zugrunde richten wollen: Sie verbünden sich mit klugen Feinden und verleiten ihn zu Handlungen, die völlig verkehrt sind.

Word by Word

• vināśayantaḥ: destroying
• vināśayantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√naś (धातु: √naś; उपसर्ग: vi)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with mantriṇaḥ

• bhartāram: the lord/king
• bhartāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sahitāḥ: associated
• sahitāḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-√i (धातु: √i; उपसर्ग: sa) / sahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'joined/associated'

• śatrubhiḥ: with enemies
• śatrubhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• budhaiḥ: wise
• budhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifies śatrubhiḥ (wise enemies)

• viparītāni: perverse/wrong
• viparītāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifies kṛtyāni

• kṛtyāni: acts/deeds
• kṛtyāni: Karma (कर्म/Object of kārayanti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• kārayanti: make (others) do / carry out
• kārayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु), causative (णिच्) kāraya-
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural; causative: 'cause to do'

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक)

• mantriṇaḥ: ministers
• mantriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Context

"Some ministers in order to ruin the king, collide with enemies and make the king take wrong actions."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• mantriṇaḥ (ministers)
• śatru (enemies)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma requires vigilance: betrayal within one’s counsel is a grave adharma that leads rulers into destructive, wrongful action.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa warns that some advisers may secretly align with enemies and steer the king toward disastrous decisions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Political vigilance and moral scrutiny of advisers’ loyalty.