Shloka 23

महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः

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

Devanagari script

ततोगत्वावयंयुद्धंदास्यामस्तस्ययत्नतः ।जेष्यामोयदितेशत्रून्नोपायैःकृत्यमस्तिनः ।।।।

Transliteration

tato gatvā vayaṃ yuddhaṃ dāsyāmas tasya yatnataḥ |

jeṣyāmo yadi te śatrūn nopāyaiḥ kṛtyam asti naḥ ||

Translation

Deshalb werden wir, nachdem wir ausgezogen sind, mit großer Anstrengung gegen ihn kämpfen. Wenn wir deine Feinde besiegen, besteht keine Notwendigkeit, andere Mittel anzuwenden.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (ततः=thereafter)

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), 'having gone'

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yuddham: battle
• yuddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dāsyāmaḥ: we shall give/offer
• dāsyāmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural; Parasmaipada; idiomatically 'we shall give/offer (battle)'

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• yatnataḥ: with effort
• yatnataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverbial ablative (पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्यय) meaning 'with effort'

• jeṣyāmaḥ: we shall conquer
• jeṣyāmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st Person, Plural; Parasmaipada

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conditional conjunction

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive/Dative, Singular; here = genitive ('your') with śatrūn

• śatrūn: enemies
• śatrūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• upāyaiḥ: by means/strategies
• upāyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• kṛtyam: anything to be done
• kṛtyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'something to be done'

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• naḥ: for us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive/Dative, Plural; here = genitive ('for us/of us')

Context

"Thereafter, proceeding forth we shall try to win your enemy. If we win, there will be no purpose for you to do any action."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarna
• Ravana
• Rama

FAQs

What does Kumbhakarna imply by 'upāyaiḥ' (means) in this verse?

He refers to the traditional four diplomatic strategies (Sama, Dana, Bheda, Danda). He implies that direct brute force (Danda) renders the subtle strategies of negotiation or bribery unnecessary.

What aspect of Dharma does this verse highlight regarding the speaker?

It highlights the Kshatra Dharma (warrior code) and loyalty to the king (Swami-bhakti), where Kumbhakarna resolves to fight for his brother despite his earlier criticisms of Ravana's actions.