Shloka 84

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

लाजगन्धोदवर्षैस्तुसिच्यमानश्सनैश्शनैः ।राजवीथ्यास्तुशीतत्वात्संज्ञांप्रापमहाबलः ।।।।

Transliteration

lājagandhodavarṣais tu sicyamānaḥ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ | rājavīthyās tu śītatvāt saṃjñāṃ prāpa mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

Von Schauern aus geröstetem Korn und duftendem Wasser benetzt und durch die Kühle der königlichen Straße erfrischt, gewann der Gewaltige nach und nach das Bewusstsein zurück.

Word by Word

• लाजगन्धोदवर्षैः: with showers of parched grain and scented water
• लाजगन्धोदवर्षैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lāja (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha-udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समाहार/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘लाजानां गन्धोदकस्य च वर्षैः’ (showers of parched grain and scented water)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः

• सिच्यमानः: being sprinkled
• सिच्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sic (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्तः (शानच्) ‘being sprinkled’

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्ययम् (adverb)

• शनैः: very slowly
• शनैः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-अव्ययम् (intensifying)

• राजवीथ्याः: from the royal street
• राजवीथ्याः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + vīthī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘राज्ञः वीथी’

• तु: indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः

• शीतत्वात्: due to coolness
• शीतत्वात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śītatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause)

• संज्ञाम्: consciousness
• संज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• प्राप: regained
• प्राप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• महाबलः: the mighty one
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (पूर्वपद) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘महद् बलम् यस्य’ इति बहुव्रीहिरपि सम्भवति, परन्तु प्रचलित-विशेषणरूपे कर्मधारयवत्; कुम्भकर्णस्य विशेषणम्

Context

Exceptionally strong Sugriva with parched grain and fragrant water showered on him in the royal path, being cool, regained consciousness.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva (mahābala)
• lāja (parched grain)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores resilience: even when overpowered, a righteous ally can recover presence of mind—an inner steadiness essential for dharmic action.

What is the narrative situation?

While being taken along Laṅkā’s royal street and sprinkled with scented water and parched grain, Sugrīva slowly returns to consciousness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude (dhairya): Sugrīva’s recovery signals readiness to re-engage with duty despite humiliation and harm.