Shloka 13

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

तद्गच्छशूलमादायपाशहस्तइवान्तकः ।वानरान्राजपुत्रौ च भक्ष्यादित्यतेजसा ।।।।

Transliteration

tad gaccha śūlam ādāya pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ | vānarān rājaputrau ca bhakṣyādityatejasā ||

Translation

So geh denn, den Dreizack ergreifend, gleich dem Tod selbst, der die Schlinge in der Hand hält; und mit sonnenhaftem Glanz verschlinge die Vānaras und die beiden Königsprinzen.

Word by Word

• तत्: therefore/then
• तत्: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative) = 'therefore/then'

• गच्छ: go
• गच्छ: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शूलम्: trident/spear
• शूलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken up
• आदाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund), 'having taken'

• पाशहस्तः: with a noose in hand
• पाशहस्तः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाश + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पाशः हस्ते यस्य/पाशं हस्ते धारयन्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; epithet

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• अन्तकः: Death (Yama)
• अन्तकः: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वानरान्: the monkeys (Vanaras)
• वानरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• राजपुत्रौ: the two princes
• राजपुत्रौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राज्ञः पुत्रौ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• भक्ष्य: to devour/fit to be eaten
• भक्ष्य: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative/intent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भविष्यत्/विधेयार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'to be devoured' (intended)

• आदित्यतेजसा: with sun-like radiance
• आदित्यतेजसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आदित्यस्य तेजः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; manner/means

Context

"Therefore, taking up trident holding the noose in hand like the God of Death proceed to devour the monkeys as well as the two princes shining like the Sun."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarna
• Vanaras
• śūla (trident)
• pāśa (noose)
• Antaka (Death/Yama)

FAQs

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

The verse dramatizes adharma-driven aggression: Ravana commands indiscriminate destruction, contrasting with Ramayana’s dharmic ideal that power must be restrained by righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Ravana orders Kumbhakarna to enter battle armed and to annihilate Rama, Lakshmana, and the Vanara army.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial ferocity and intimidating power (as praised by Ravana), set in tension with the epic’s larger moral evaluation.