Shloka 117

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

अथदाशरथींरामोरौद्रमस्त्रंप्रयोजयन् ।कुम्भकर्णस्यहृदयेससर्जनिशितान् शरान् ।।।।

Transliteration

atha dāśarathīṃ rāmo raudram astraṃ prayojayan | kumbhakarṇasya hṛdaye sasarja niśitān śarān ||

Translation

Da setzte Rāma, der Sohn Daśarathas, die Raudra-Waffe ein und entsandte scharfe Pfeile in die Herzgegend Kum̐bhakarṇas.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Kāla/Anukrama
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Ārambha/Anantaram-avyaya (अथ)

• dāśarathīm: belonging to Dasharatha’s son (Rama’s)
• dāśarathīm: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāśarathī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine? actually qualifies astraṃ as ‘dāśarathīyaṃ’; here accusative singular used as adjective; treat as Masculine/Feminine ambiguity in text transmission; Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (adjectival)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• raudram: Rudra’s (terrible)
• raudram: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies astraṃ

• astram: weapon (missile)
• astram: Karma (कर्म) of prayojayan
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• prayojayan: employing/releasing
• prayojayan: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-yuj (युज्) (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with rāmaḥ

• kumbhakarṇasya: of Kumbhakarna
• kumbhakarṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• hṛdaye: in the heart/chest
• hṛdaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• sasarja: sent/shot
• sasarja: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (सृज्) (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• niśitān: sharp
• niśitān: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (निश्/निश्? from niś ‘sharpen’ as adjective) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies śarān

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म) of sasarja
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

Context

Sri Rama, son of Dasaratha, now released a sharp arrow presided over by Rudra and fixed into the chest of Kumbhakarna.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma as protection: Rāma’s use of powerful astras is framed as necessary restraint against overwhelming adharma, not as cruelty—force is applied to restore moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

As Kumbhakarṇa charges, Rāma responds by releasing the formidable Raudra weapon, striking his chest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s decisive courage and disciplined use of power—strength governed by purpose.