Shloka 53

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

न लङ्घयित्वाप्राकारंपद्भ्यांपर्वतसन्निभः ।ददर्शाभ्रघनप्रख्यंवानरानीकमद्भुतम् ।।।।

Transliteration

na laṅghayitvā prākāraṃ padbhyāṃ parvata-sannibhaḥ |

dadarśābhra-ghana-prakhyaṃ vānarānīkam adbhutam ||

Translation

Ohne den Wall zu überspringen, schritt er zu Fuß voran, berggleich an Gestalt; nachdem er die Befestigung überschritten hatte, erblickte er das wunderbare Heer der Vānaras, dicht gedrängt wie eine schwere Wolkenbank.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्

• laṅghayitvā: having leapt over
• laṅghayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √laṅgh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive), 'having crossed/leapt over'

• prākāram: rampart / wall
• prākāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• padbhyām: with (his) feet / on foot
• padbhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pād (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (instrumental), द्विवचनम्

• parvata-sannibhaḥ: mountain-like
• parvata-sannibhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (parvatavat sannibhaḥ)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• abhra-ghana-prakhyam: like a mass of clouds
• abhra-ghana-prakhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhra (प्रातिपदिक) + ghana (प्रातिपदिक) + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (cloud-mass-like)

• vānara-anīkam: the monkey-army
• vānara-anīkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + anīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (वानराणाम् अनीकम्)

• adbhutam: wonderful / astonishing
• adbhutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies vānara-anīkam)

Context

He who resembled a mountain in form, leapt the boundary wall on foot like a cloud and witnessed the amazing Vanara troops.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Laṅkā (implied by rampart)
• vānarānīka (Vānara host)

FAQs

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

Dharma is present as the rightful resistance of Rāma’s allies: the Vānara host stands as a collective force aligned with truth against tyranny.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa crosses out from the fortified area and directly sights the assembled Vānara forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective steadfastness is implied in the gathered host—unity in service of a righteous cause.