Shloka 54

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

तेदृष्टवाराक्षसश्रेष्ठंवानराःपर्वतोपमम् ।वायुनुन्नाइवघनाययुस्सर्वादिशस्तदा ।।।।

Transliteration

te dṛṣṭvā rākṣasa-śreṣṭhaṃ vānarāḥ parvatopamam |

vāyu-nunnā iva ghanā yayuḥ sarvā diśas tadā ||

Translation

Als die Vānaras den vornehmsten der Rākṣasas sahen, berggleich an Größe, zerstreuten sie sich sogleich in alle Himmelsrichtungen, wie Wolken, die der Wind auseinander treibt.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्तः (gerund)

• rākṣasa-śreṣṭham: the foremost of the Rakshasas
• rākṣasa-śreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसानां श्रेष्ठः)

• vānarāḥ: monkeys (Vanaras)
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; te इत्यस्य विशेष्यः

• parvata-upamam: mountain-like
• parvata-upamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; of rākṣasaśreṣṭham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (parvatavat upamaḥ)

• vāyu-nunnāḥ: driven by the wind
• vāyu-nunnāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; of vānarāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + nunna (प्रातिपदिक; √nud PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (वायुनाऽनुन्नाः = driven by wind)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्ययम्

• ghanāḥ: clouds
• ghanāḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; उपमानम्

• yayuḥ: went / fled
• yayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्; दिशः विशेषयति

• diśaḥ: directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म; goal/direction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम्

Context

On seeing the mountain like form of the foremost of the Rakshasas. the vanaras dispersed in all directions like clouds swept by the wind.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• vānarāḥ (Vānaras)
• rākṣasa (Rākṣasas)

FAQs

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

The verse shows a realistic dharma-battlefield truth: even those aligned with righteousness can feel fear; dharma requires regaining steadiness and returning to duty.

What is the narrative situation?

The Vānara troops react to Kumbhakarṇa’s immense appearance by dispersing in alarm.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The needed virtue is courage (śaurya) under pressure—an implied call to overcome panic in service of a righteous cause.