Shloka 57

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

त्वजतद्वानरानीकंप्राकृतैःकिंकरिष्यसि ।सहस्वैकंनिपातंमेपर्वतस्यास्यराक्षस ।।।।

Transliteration

tyaja tad vānarānīkaṃ prākṛtaiḥ kiṃ kariṣyasi | sahasvaikaṃ nipātaṃ me parvatasyāsya rākṣasa ||

Translation

„Lass dieses Vanara-Heer in Ruhe; was wirst du erreichen, wenn du gewöhnliche Geschöpfe tötest? O Rakshasa, ertrage zuerst einen einzigen Schlag dieses Berges, den ich schleudere.“

Word by Word

• त्यज: abandon
• त्यज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative adjective to वानरानीकम्

• वानरानीकम्: monkey-army
• वानरानीकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वानराणाम् अनीकम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राकृतैः: with common (monkeys)
• प्राकृतैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), बहुवचन; 'with ordinary (ones)'

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; interrogative used adverbially

• करिष्यसि: will you do
• करिष्यसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सहस्व: endure
• सहस्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन; numeral adjective to निपातम्

• निपातम्: blow
• निपातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; 'a blow/strike'

• मे: of me / from me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन (genitive/dative enclitic); here genitive 'of me' or dative 'from me' contextually 'from me'

• पर्वतस्य: of the mountain
• पर्वतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; demonstrative 'of this' qualifying पर्वतस्य

• राक्षस: O Rakshasa
• राक्षस: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Context

"Give up with Vanaras, who are monkeys by nature. Bear this one mountain's blow of mine."

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Kumbhakarṇa
• Vānarānīka (Vānara host)

FAQs

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

Protection of the vulnerable and accountability in combat: Sugrīva challenges the aggressor to face a worthy opponent rather than prey on the many/weak—an appeal to righteous conduct even in war.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva confronts Kumbhakarṇa verbally, condemning his attack on the Vānara host and threatening to strike him with a mountain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s guardianship and moral courage—speaking truthfully against cruelty and stepping forward to defend his army.