Shloka 25

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

शैलैर्ववृक्षैस्तलैःपादैर्मुष्टिभिश्चमहाबलाः ।।।।कुम्भकर्णंमहाकायंसर्वतोऽभिप्रदुद्रुवुः ।

Transliteration

śailair vavṛkṣais talaiḥ pādair muṣṭibhiś ca mahābalāḥ |

kumbhakarṇaṃ mahākāyaṃ sarvato ’bhipradudruvuḥ ||

Translation

Jene Vānaras von ungeheurer Kraft stürmten von allen Seiten auf den riesenleibigen Kumbhakarṇa zu und schlugen ihn mit Felsen und Bäumen sowie mit Handflächen, Füßen und Fäusten.

Word by Word

• शैलैः: with rocks
• शैलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• वृक्षैः: with trees
• वृक्षैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• तलैः: with palms
• तलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural); ‘with palms (hand-palms)’

• पादैः: with feet
• पादैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• मुष्टिभिः: with fists
• मुष्टिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• महाबलाः: the mighty (vanaras)
• महाबलाः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; ‘greatly strong (ones)’

• कुम्भकर्णम्: Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्

• महा-कायम्: huge-bodied
• महा-कायम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying कुम्भकर्णम्)

• सर्वतः: from all sides
• सर्वतः: देशाधिकरण (Spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: from all sides)

• अभिप्रदुद्रुवुः: rushed upon/assailed
• अभिप्रदुद्रुवुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-प्र-√द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-बहुवचनम्

Context

Those Vanaras of exceptional strength attacked gigantic Kumbhakarna on all sides by rocks, trees and by their fists, hands and feet also.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Vānara warriors
• rocks
• trees

FAQs

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

The principle is perseverance in a righteous cause: even against an overwhelming foe, one must continue effort without abandoning one’s duty.

What is the narrative situation?

The Vānara fighters swarm Kumbhakarṇa from all directions, using natural weapons and bodily blows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The emphasized trait is utsāha (undaunted effort) expressed collectively.