Shloka 13

महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः

Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault

Devanagari script

येपुरानिर्जितास्तेनजनस्थानेमहौजसः ।राक्षसांस्तान्पुरेसर्वान्भीतानद्यापिपश्यसि ।।।।

Transliteration

ye purā nirjitās tena janasthāne mahaujasaḥ |

rākṣasāṃs tān pure sarvān bhītān adyāpi paśyasi ||

Translation

Jene hochmütigen Rākṣasas, die er einst in Janasthāna bezwang, siehst du noch heute in der Stadt — alle noch immer von Furcht erfüllt.

Word by Word

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; relative pronoun

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• nirjitāḥ: were defeated
• nirjitāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir√ji (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; passive sense ‘conquered’

• tena: by him
• tena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• janasthāne: at Janasthāna
• janasthāne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janasthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• mahā-ojasaḥ: of great vigor
• mahā-ojasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; बहुव्रीहि: ‘mahān ojaḥ yeṣām’

• rākṣasān: rākṣasas
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• pure: in the city
• pure: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; adjective qualifying rākṣasān/tān

• bhītān: afraid
• bhītān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; adjective qualifying rākṣasān

• adyāpi: even now
• adyāpi: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक) with particle; ‘even today/still now’

• paśyasi: you see
• paśyasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paś (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 2nd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

Context

"Look! Those highly energetic Rakshasas, who were won by Rama at Janasthana are scared of him even now."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied as 'him')
• Janasthāna
• Laṅkā (implied by 'the city')
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Actions create consequences that persist: leadership must heed the lived reality of the community (fear, morale, trauma). Dharma requires protecting one’s people, not dismissing evident warning signs.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara points to the present fear among Rākṣasas in Laṅkā as evidence of Rāma’s proven dominance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom: observing the state of others and drawing conclusions rather than acting on bravado.