Shloka 1

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

तेनिवृत्तामहाकायाश्श्रुत्वाङ्गदवचस्तदा ।नैष्ठिकींबुद्धिमास्थायसर्वेसङ्ग्रामकाङ्क्षिणः ।।।।

Transliteration

te nivṛttā mahākāyāḥ śrutvāṅgada-vacas tadā | naiṣṭhikīṁ buddhim āsthāya sarve saṅgrāma-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ ||

Translation

Da kehrten jene großleibigen Vānaras, nachdem sie Aṅgadas Worte vernommen hatten, zu einem festen, unerschütterlichen Entschluss; alle, kampfbegierig, wandten sie sich zurück.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; sarvanāma

• nivṛttāḥ: having returned/turned back
• nivṛttāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vṛt (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kartari-bhāvaḥ (having turned back/returned)

• mahākāyāḥ: huge-bodied
• mahākāyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahān kāyaḥ yeṣām/ye (great-bodied); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of te

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (ktvānta), avyaya; pūrva-kāla-kriyā (prior action)

• aṅgada-vacaḥ: Angada's words
• aṅgada-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: aṅgadasya vacaḥ; Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb)

• naiṣṭhikīm: firm; resolute
• naiṣṭhikīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naiṣṭhikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of buddhim

• buddhim: resolve; intention
• buddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• āsthāya: having adopted
• āsthāya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (lyap), avyaya; 'having adopted/taken'

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of te

• saṅgrāma-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ: desiring battle
• saṅgrāma-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅgrāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: saṅgrāmaṃ kāṅkṣanti iti; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

Context

Kumbhakarna's arm severed by Rama's arrow was like a mountain peak. It fell on Vanara army too and killed the monkey king's army.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Vānara warriors

FAQs

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

Firm resolve in righteous action: dharma is sustained by steadfast intention, not momentary emotion like fear.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada’s exhortation succeeds; the Vānaras regain determination and return to the battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast resolve—naiṣṭhikī buddhi—collective commitment to the cause.