Shloka 7

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

राजशेषाकृतालङ्काक्षीणःकोशोबलंहतम् ।राजानमिममासाद्यसुहृचचिह्नममित्रकम् ।।।।

Transliteration

rāja-śeṣākṛtā laṅkā kṣīṇaḥ kośo balaṃ hatam |

rājānam imam āsādya suhṛc-cihnam amitrakam ||

Translation

Laṅkā ist auf den Rest eines Reiches zusammengeschrumpft; die Schatzkammer ist erschöpft und das Heer vernichtet, weil Feinde, die die Zeichen der Freundschaft tragen, diesen König umringt und beeinflusst haben.

Word by Word

• rāja-śeṣā: left with only the king remaining
• rāja-śeṣā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः शेषः/राजशेषः) = 'with only the king left'

• kṛtā: made/turned (into)
• kṛtā: Kriya-noun/predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; predicate with laṅkā (made/turned into)

• laṅkā: Lanka
• laṅkā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• kṣīṇaḥ: depleted
• kṣīṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣīṇa (कृदन्त, √kṣi)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate adjective for kośaḥ

• kośaḥ: treasury
• kośaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kośa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• balam: army/strength
• balam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• hatam: destroyed
• hatam: Kriya-noun/predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; predicate with balam

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• imam: this
• imam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (this)

• āsādya: having approached
• āsādya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): 'having approached/attacked'

• suhṛt-chihnam: bearing signs of friendship
• suhṛt-chihnam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suhṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + chihna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (सुहृदः चिह्नम्) used adjectivally

• amitrakam: hostile
• amitrakam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (not a friend; hostile) qualifies (rājānam)

Context

"The king is left alone in Lanka, which is divested of its wealth, and treasury reduced, and the army destroyed by unfriendly people pretending as good friends around him."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rāvaṇa
• bala (army)

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches discernment in companionship: true friends speak truth and protect righteousness; false friends exploit and hasten collapse through deception.

What is the narrative situation?

Amid Laṅkā’s devastation, the king laments that deceptive ‘friends’ have contributed to the kingdom’s ruin and the destruction of its forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka) and integrity in relationships—recognizing genuine well-wishers versus self-serving flatterers.