Shloka 6

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

देशकालविहीनानिकर्माणिविपरीतवत् ।क्रियमाणानिदुष्यन्तिहवींष्यप्रयतेष्विव ।।6.63.6।।

Transliteration

deśa-kāla-vihīnāni karmāṇi viparītavat |

kriyamāṇāni duṣyanti havīṃṣy aprayateṣv iva ||6.63.6||

Translation

Handlungen, die ohne Beachtung von Ort und Zeit unternommen werden, werden verderblich; so ausgeführt bleiben sie fruchtlos — wie Opfergaben, die ohne rechte Weihe dargebracht werden.

Word by Word

• देशकालविहीनानि: devoid of place and time (improper as to place/time)
• देशकालविहीनानि: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देश + काल + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying कर्माणि

• कर्माणि: actions
• कर्माणि: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• विपरीतवत्: in a perverse way / disastrously
• विपरीतवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विपरीतवत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'contrarily/disastrously'

• क्रियमाणानि: being done / performed
• क्रियमाणानि: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle) qualifying कर्माणि

• दुष्यन्ति: get spoiled / are ruined
• दुष्यन्ति: क्रिया (क्रियापद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• हवींषि: oblations
• हवींषि: उपमान (उपमानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; upamāna in simile

• अप्रयतेषु: among the unprepared / unsanctified
• अप्रयतेषु: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; 'when (they are) unpurified/unprepared'

• इव: like
• इव: उपमासूचक (निपातः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-निपात (particle of comparison)

Context

"I shall kill Indra who has done a hundred sacrifices, drink up the ocean the abode of Varuna, crush the mountains totally, and break the earth."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (implied addressee: rākṣasa-king context)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires discernment (viveka): even a seemingly good act fails if done without proper time, place, and preparation—right action includes right context.

What is the narrative situation?

In the war-council atmosphere of Laṅkā, counsel is offered emphasizing strategic and ethical prudence before undertaking decisive acts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and disciplined judgment—acting with due procedure rather than impulsiveness.