Shloka 13

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

रथिनोवानरेन्द्राणांशरैःकालान्तकोपमैः ।।।।शिरांसिनर्दतांजह्रुस्सहसाभीमनिस्स्वना ।

Transliteration

rathino vānarendrāṇāṁ śaraiḥ kālāntakopamaiḥ | śirāṁsi nardatāṁ jahruḥ sahasā bhīmanisvanāḥ ||

Translation

Die rākṣasischen Wagenkämpfer, dröhnend in furchtbaren Schreien, rissen plötzlich den brüllenden Vānara-Fürsten die Häupter fort mit Pfeilen, tödlich wie der Tod am Ende der Zeiten.

Word by Word

• रथिनः: chariot-warriors
• रथिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• वानरेन्द्राणाम्: of the vanara leaders
• वानरेन्द्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वानराणाम् इन्द्राः; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• कालान्तकोपमैः: like Death at the end-time
• कालान्तकोपमैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla-anta + ka + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: कालान्तकेन उपमैः (like Death at the end-time); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• शिरांसि: heads
• शिरांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural)

• नर्दताम्: of the roaring (ones)
• नर्दताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nard (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी, बहुवचन (Genitive plural): 'of (those) roaring'

• जह्रुः: carried off/severed
• जह्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person plural, Perfect)

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'suddenly/forcibly'

• भीमनिस्स्वनाः: with terrifying sound
• भीमनिस्स्वनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma + niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: भीमश्चासौ निस्स्वनः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

Context

The Rakshasa charioteers severed the roaring Vanara leaders forcibly with their arrows emitting frightening sounds. They were like the Lord of Death at universal dissolution.

Characters & Entities

• Vanara leaders

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the brutal reality of war, implying the Dharmic need for restraint and right conduct even when power and weaponry enable extreme violence.

What is the narrative situation?

A fierce phase of the battle: Rakshasa chariot-fighters strike down prominent Vanara chiefs with deadly arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and courage under catastrophic loss—an implicit call for steadfastness in a righteous cause despite terror.