Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 39

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

वज्रहस्तोयथाशक्रःपाशहस्तइवान्तकः ।शूलहस्तोबभौयुद्धेकुम्बकर्णोमहाबलः ।।।।

vajrahasto yathā śakraḥ pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ |

śūlahasto babhau yuddhe kumbhakarṇo mahābalaḥ |

Auf dem Schlachtfeld erstrahlte der überaus mächtige Kumbhakarṇa, den Speer in der Hand, wie Śakra mit dem Donnerkeil und wie Antaka mit der Schlinge in der Hand.

वज्रहस्तःhaving a thunderbolt in hand
वज्रहस्तः:
कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootवज्रहस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वज्रः यस्य हस्ते)
यथाas, like
यथा:
सम्बन्ध/उपमान (upamā-marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formउपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)
शक्रःIndra
शक्रः:
उपमान (उपमानम्)
TypeNoun
Rootशक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
पाशहस्तःhaving a noose in hand
पाशहस्तः:
कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootपाशहस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पाशः यस्य हस्ते)
इवlike
इव:
सम्बन्ध/उपमान (upamā-marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formउपमानवाचक-अव्यय (simile particle)
अन्तकःDeath (Yama)
अन्तकः:
उपमान (उपमानम्)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
शूलहस्तःholding a spear in hand
शूलहस्तः:
कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootशूलहस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शूलं यस्य हस्ते)
बभौshone, appeared
बभौ:
क्रिया (क्रियापद)
TypeVerb
Rootभा (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
युद्धेin battle
युद्धे:
अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन
कुम्बकर्णःKumbhakarna
कुम्बकर्णः:
कर्ता (कर्तृ)
TypeNoun
Rootकुम्बकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
महाबलःvery mighty
महाबलः:
कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् बलः यस्य/महद् बलम्)

Holding pike in hand, mighty Kumbhakarna was shining in the battlefield like Indra holding thunderbolt, and like Lord of Death holding the noose.

K
Kumbhakarna
Ś
Śakra (Indra)
A
Antaka (Death)
V
Vajra
P
Pāśa
Ś
Śūla

FAQs

The verse distinguishes might from right: even when someone appears godlike in power, dharma judges the purpose and restraint behind action, not mere brilliance.

Kumbhakarṇa advances in battle wielding a spear, and the narration heightens his terror by comparing him to Indra and to Death.

For the defenders, the implied virtue is steadiness against fear—remaining committed to dharma even when the adversary seems invincible.