Shloka 174

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्हतेब्राह्मणदेवशत्रौमहाबलेसंयतिकुम्भकर्णे ।चचालभूर्भूमिधराश्चसर्वेहर्षाच्चदेवास्तुमुलंविनेदुः ।।।।

Transliteration

tasmin hate brāhmaṇa-deva-śatrau mahābale saṃyati kumbhakarṇe |

cacāla bhūr bhūmi-dharāś ca sarve harṣāc ca devās tumulaṃ vineduḥ ||

Translation

Als im Kampf der übermächtige Kumbhakarṇa—Feind der Brahmanen und der Götter—erschlagen wurde, erbebten Erde und alle Berge; und die Götter stießen vor Freude einen gewaltigen Jubelruf aus.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in him/when he
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘कुम्भकर्णे’ इत्यस्य सह निर्देश (locative absolute-प्रायः)

• हते: having been slain
• हते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (धातु) + hata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘killed’; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute)

• ब्राह्मण-देव-शत्रौ: in the enemy of Brahmins and gods
• ब्राह्मण-देव-शत्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa + deva + śatru (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—ब्राह्मणानां देवानां च शत्रुः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; द्वन्द्व-समाहार-प्रायः ‘ब्राह्मणदेव’)

• महा-बले: in the mighty one
• महा-बले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (कुम्भकर्णे)

• संयति: in battle
• संयति: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saṃyati (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: सप्तमी-अर्थे अव्यय (locative adverb) = युद्धे

• कुम्भकर्णे: in Kumbhakarna (when Kumbhakarna...)
• कुम्भकर्णे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• चचाल: shook/moved
• चचाल: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cal (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भूः: the earth
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूमिधराः: mountains (earth-bearers)
• भूमिधराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmidharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘भूमिधराः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• हर्षात्: from joy
• हर्षात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तुमुलम्: loudly/uproariously
• तुमुलम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative) ‘vinēduḥ’ विशेषयति

• विनेदुः: resounded/raised a cry
• विनेदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √nad (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Context

Kumbhakarna, the enemy of Brahmans and Devatas, having been killed, the Earth, all mountains, Devatas highly rejoiced.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Brāhmaṇas
• Devas
• Earth (Bhūmi)
• Mountains (Bhūmidhara)

FAQs

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

The verse frames the fall of a violent oppressor as a restoration of moral order: when one who is hostile to the protectors of dharma (Brahmins) and the divine guardians (Devas) is removed, the cosmos itself responds with relief and joy.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa has just been killed in the battle of Laṅkā, and the natural world (earth and mountains) and the gods react dramatically.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous strength (dharma-yukta vīrya) is implied: his victory is portrayed as beneficial to the world, not merely personal triumph.