Shloka 5

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

यःपश्चातूर्वकार्याणिकुर्यादैश्वर्यमास्थितः ।पूर्वंचोत्तरकार्याणि न स वेदनयानया ।।6.63.5।।

Transliteration

yaḥ paścāt pūrvakāryāṇi kuryād aiśvaryam āsthitaḥ |

pūrvaṃ cottarakāryāṇi na sa veda nayānayā ||

Translation

Wer, gestützt auf Wohlstand und Macht, die zuerst zu erfüllenden Pflichten aufschiebt und sich dann dem Späteren zuwendet, der versteht weder rechte Staatsklugheit noch ihr Gegenteil (den rechten und den falschen Weg).

Word by Word

• यः: he who
• यः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• पश्चात्: later / afterwards
• पश्चात्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'afterwards/later'

• पूर्वकार्याणि: earlier duties/tasks
• पूर्वकार्याणि: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; object of कुर्यात्

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (क्रियापद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ऐश्वर्यम्: power / sovereignty
• ऐश्वर्यम्: कर्म/अवस्थावाचक (कर्म/अवस्था)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; with आस्थितः = 'having attained/being in'

• आस्थितः: having assumed / established in
• आस्थितः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; past participle = 'having assumed/being established in'

• पूर्वम्: before / first
• पूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'before/first'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उत्तरकार्याणि: later duties/tasks
• उत्तरकार्याणि: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; object (understood with वेद)

• न: not
• न: निपात (निपातः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• वेद: knows
• वेद: क्रिया (क्रियापद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नय-अनयया: by right and wrong policy
• नय-अनयया: करण (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय + अनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; dvandva treated as feminine singular (instrumental)

Context

"Even if there is fear of Indra and Brahma that haunts you, I shall destroy them away like the sun dispels darkness. Devas will fall flat on earth when I am enraged."

FAQs

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

Dharma includes nīti (wise order of action): do the necessary first; power should not breed procrastination or inversion of priorities.

What is the narrative situation?

A reflective maxim is inserted into the war narrative, offering a governance-and-conduct lesson about timely and properly ordered action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and discernment (viveka) in action—knowing the right sequence and the right course.