Shloka 23

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

मान्योगुरुवारिचार्यःकिमांत्वमनुशाससि ।किमेवंवाक्छ्रमंकृत्वाकालेयुक्तंविधीयताम् ।।6.63.23।।

Transliteration

mānyo gurur vāri cāryaḥ kimāṃ tvam anuśāsasi | kim evaṃ vākchramaṃ kṛtvā kāle yuktaṃ vidhīyatām ||6.63.23||

Translation

«Du bist ehrwürdig wie ein Vater oder Lehrer; warum belehrst du mich so? Warum diese Wortgewandtheit? Es geschehe, was in dieser Stunde angemessen ist.»

Word by Word

• mānyaḥ: worthy of respect
• mānyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicative/appositional to tvam

• guruḥ: a teacher/elder
• guruḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• ṛṣiḥ: a sage
• ṛṣiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition

• ācāryaḥ: a preceptor
• ācāryaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition

• kim: why?
• kim: Praśna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: Interrogative particle (प्रश्न)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• anuśāsasi: instruct/command
• anuśāsasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√śās (धातु: √śās; उपसर्ग: anu)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• kim: why?
• kim: Praśna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: Interrogative particle (प्रश्न)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• vāk-chramam: verbal effort/wordy exertion
• vāk-chramam: Karma (कर्म/Object of kṛtvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāk + chrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: वाचः श्रमः (effort/strain of speech)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त): 'having done'

• kāle: at the proper time
• kāle: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• yuktam: appropriate
• yuktam: Pradhāna-vidheya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective: 'appropriate'

• vidhīyatām: let it be done/ordained
• vidhīyatām: Vidhi (विधि/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु) with vi- prefix; passive stem vidhīya-
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular; passive/impersonal: 'let it be arranged/done'

Context

"Why do you, who are worthy of respect, instruct me like a father or teacher? These words express your cleverness in speaking. It is time to do what is appropriate now. Follow what is to be done."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates adharma through pride: dismissing wise counsel as mere rhetoric instead of evaluating its truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa responds angrily to Kumbhakarṇa, questioning his admonition and demanding immediate action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively, it highlights the absence of vinaya (humility) and the danger of ego-driven leadership.