Shloka 153

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

स कुम्भकर्णस्यवचोनिशम्यरामस्सुपुङ्खान् विससर्जन् ।तैराहतोवज्रसमवेगैर्नचुक्षुभे न व्यथतेसुरारिः ।।।।

Transliteration

sa kumbhakarṇasya vaco niśamya rāmaḥ supuṅkhān visasarja | tair āhato vajrasamavegair na cukṣubhe na vyathate surāriḥ ||

Translation

Als Rāma Kumbhakarṇas Worte vernahm, entsandte er wohlbefiederte Pfeile. Obwohl der Götterfeind von jenen Geschossen getroffen wurde, schnell wie ein Donnerschlag, wankte er nicht und zeigte keinen Schmerz.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• kumbhakarṇasya: of Kumbhakarṇa
• kumbhakarṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + √śam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग; अर्थः 'श्रुत्वा' (having heard)

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• supuṅkhān: well-feathered
• supuṅkhān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + puṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of arrows)

• visasarja: discharged/shot forth
• visasarja: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• taiḥ: by those
• taiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• āhataḥ: having been struck
• āhataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + √han (धातु)
• Form: भूतकालिक-कृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of surāriḥ)

• vajra-samavegaiḥ: with thunderbolt-like speed
• vajra-samavegaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra + sama + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः (वज्रसमः वेगः येषाम्)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• cukṣubhe: was shaken
• cukṣubhe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣubh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• na: nor
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• vyathate: suffers/feels pain
• vyathate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vyath (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• surāriḥ: enemy of the gods (Kumbhakarṇa)
• surāriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (सुराणाम् अरिः)

Context

On hearing Kumbhakarna's words Rama was bewildered. He discharged plumed arrows at a speed of thunderbolt. Struck by the arrows the enemy of Devatas was not shaken or agonized.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is perseverance without despair: righteous action continues even when immediate results are not visible. The verse models disciplined effort rather than panic in adversity.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to Kumbhakarṇa’s taunts by shooting powerful arrows, but Kumbhakarṇa remains unmoved.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s composure and steadfast resolve in battle.