Shloka 24
निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha
Hanuman’s Duel
व्यपेतेतुजीवेनिकुम्भस्यहृष्टाविनेदुःप्लवङ्गादिशस्सस्वनुश्च ।चचालेवचोर्वीपफालेवचद्यौर्भयंराक्षसानांबलंचाविवेश ।।।।
vyapete tu jīve nikumbhasya hṛṣṭā vineduḥ plavaṅgā diśaḥ sasvanuś ca | cacāleva corvī paphāleva ca dyaur bhayaṃ rākṣasānāṃ balaṃ cāviveśa ||
Als Nikumbhas Leben entschwunden war, jubelten die Affen und riefen laut, und die Himmelsrichtungen hallten wider; die Erde schien zu beben, der Himmel schien zu bersten, und Furcht ergriff das Heer der Rākṣasas.
When Nikumbha's life ceased, monkeys were happy, and their joy resounded in all quarters. Earth was shaken, the Rakshasa army was overtaken by fear and heaven appeared to crumble.।। इत्यार्षेवाल्मीकीयेश्रीमद्रामायणेआदिकाव्येयुद्धकाण्डेसप्तसप्ततितमस्सर्गः ।।This is the end of the seventy seventh sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
Adharma collapses in morale: when a key aggressor falls, fear overtakes the unjust side, while the righteous side gains courage—showing the social consequences of dharmic victory.
Nikumbha’s death triggers a dramatic battlefield reaction: vānara jubilation, cosmic-style imagery, and rākṣasa panic.
Communal steadfastness—vānara unity and confidence rises when the cause is advanced by heroic effort.