Shloka 1
निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha
Hanuman’s Duel
निकुम्भोभ्रातरंदृष्टवासुग्रीवेणनिपातितम् ।प्रदहन्निवकोपेनवानरेन्द्रमवैक्षत ।।।।
nikumbho bhrātaraṃ dṛṣṭvā sugrīveṇa nipātitam |
pradahann iva kopena vānarendram avaikṣata ||
Als Nikumbha seinen Bruder sah, von Sugrīva zu Boden gestreckt, heftete er in loderndem Zorn den Blick auf den König der Vānaras, als wolle er ihn damit verbrennen.
Seeing his brother struck down by Sugriva, Nikumbha gazed at him as if to burn him in wrath.
FAQs
The verse cautions that grief can turn into consuming anger; dharma requires mastery over krodha (wrath), especially in the wake of loss.
Nikumbha witnesses his brother’s fall and turns with furious intent toward Sugrīva.
By contrast: Sugrīva’s victorious prowess is implied; Nikumbha’s dominant trait here is wrath, a destabilizing impulse.