Shloka 47

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

स निकुम्भं च कुम्भं च कुम्भकर्णात्मजावुभौ ।प्रेषयामाससङ्कृद्धोराक्षससैर्बहुभिस्सह ।।।।

Transliteration

sa nikumbhaṃ ca kumbhaṃ ca kumbhakarṇātmajāv ubhau | preṣayāmāsa saṅkṛddho rākṣasair bahubhiḥ saha ||

Translation

In großem Zorn entsandte er Nikumbha und Kumbha — beide Söhne Kumbhakarṇas — zusammen mit vielen Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• yūpākṣaḥ: Yūpākṣa
• yūpākṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; one of the agents)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yūpākṣa (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• śoṇitākṣaḥ: Śoṇitākṣa
• śoṇitākṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; one of the agents)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoṇitākṣa (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (Conjunction/समुच्चय-निपात)

• prajaṅghaḥ: Prajaṅgha
• prajaṅghaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; one of the agents)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajaṅgha (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• kampanaḥ: Kampana
• kampanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; one of the agents)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kampana (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (Adverb/अव्यय; 'likewise/also')

• niryayuḥ: set out/went forth
• niryayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√yā (या, धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd) Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• kaumbhakarṇibhyām: with the two Kaumbhakarṇis (sons of Kumbhakarṇa)
• kaumbhakarṇibhyām: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaumbhakarṇi (प्रातिपदिक; patronymic/descendant of Kumbhakarṇa)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया) Dvivacana (Dual/द्विवचन)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sahārtha-avyaya (Prepositional indeclinable/सहार्थ-अव्यय) governing instrumental

• rāvaṇa-śāsanāt: from/at Ravana's command
• rāvaṇa-śāsanāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Pañcamī (Ablative/पञ्चमी) Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'rāvaṇasya śāsanāt'

Context

Seized with anger, he sent for Kumbha and Nikumbha, both the sons of Kumbhakarna and many Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Nikumbha
• Kumbha
• Rākṣasas
• Laṅkā (implied)

FAQs

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

It illustrates how leadership driven by anger mobilizes violence; dharma emphasizes restraint and right intent, while adharma escalates conflict through rage.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa reacts to the Vānara assault by sending out powerful commanders—Kumbhakarṇa’s sons—along with many troops.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Military decisiveness is shown, but colored by vice: Rāvaṇa’s action is propelled by anger rather than righteous discernment.