Shloka 31

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

सर्वाभरणसर्वाङ्गश्शूलपाणिस्सराक्षसः ।त्रिविक्रमकृतोत्साहोनारायणइवाबभौ ।।।।भ्रातरंसम्परिष्वज्यकृत्वाचापिप्रदक्षिणम् ।प्रणम्यशिरसातस्मैसम्प्रतस्थेमहाबलः ।।।।

Transliteration

sarvābharaṇasarvāṅgaḥ śūlapāṇiḥ sa rākṣasaḥ | trivikramakṛtotsāho nārāyaṇa iva ābabhau || bhrātaraṃ sampariṣvajya kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam | praṇamya śirasā tasmai sampratasthē mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

An allen Gliedern geschmückt, den Dreizack in der Hand, erschien jener Rākṣasa wie Nārāyaṇa, bereit zu den drei Schritten. Dann umarmte er seinen Bruder, vollzog um ihn die Pradakṣiṇā, neigte das Haupt in Verehrung und brach, der Gewaltige, auf.

Word by Word

सर्वाभरणसर्वाङ्गःadorned on all limbs with ornaments

शूलपाणिःhaving a trident in hand

सःhe

राक्षसःthe Rakshasa

त्रिविक्रमकृतोत्साहःwhose zeal was for the three strides (like Trivikrama)

नारायणःNarayana

इवlike

अबभौappeared, shone forth

Context

Decked with ornaments on all his limbs, with pike in hand, the Rakshasa was like Narayana ready to take three strides to cover the universe. Endowed with great strength, embraced his brother, went round in reverence bowing down his head and sallied forth.

Characters & Entities

Kumbhakarṇa

Rāvaṇa

Nārāyaṇa

Śūla (trident)

FAQs

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

Even amid war, dharma preserves reverence and proper conduct: respect to elders/kinsmen through embrace, circumambulation, and bowing reflects disciplined social ethics alongside martial duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa, fully armed and ornamented, pays respect to Rāvaṇa as his brother and king, and then departs for the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bhakti-like reverence and loyalty within family and polity, joined with courage and readiness.