Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 12

निकुम्भिला

यज्ञविघ्नः — Vibhishana’s Counsel and Lakshmana’s March to Nikumbhila

Devanagari script

तेनवीरेणतपसावरदानात्स्वयम्भुवः ।अस्त्रंब्रह्मशिरःप्राप्तंकामगाश्चतुरङ्गमाः ।।6.85.12।।

Transliteration

tena vīreṇa tapasā varadānāt svayambhuvaḥ | astraṃ brahmaśiraḥ prāptaṃ kāmagāś caturaṅgamāḥ ||6.85.12||

Translation

Jener Held erlangte durch seine Askese und durch eine Gabe des Selbstgeborenen Schöpfers die Waffe Brahmaśiras; und ebenso Rosse, die nach Belieben dahineilen, wohin der Wille sie führt.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एषः: this (very one)
• एषः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (सः इत्यस्य विशेषणवत्)

• सह: with
• सह: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

• सैन्येन: with the army
• सैन्येन: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सह-योगे

• प्राप्तः: has reached
• प्राप्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√āp (धातु); prāpta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (सः एषः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• किल: indeed, reportedly
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ/श्रुत्यर्थ (indeed, it is said)

• निकुम्भिलाम्: Nikumbhilā (place)
• निकुम्भिलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikumbhilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक

• उततिष्ठेत्: should rise up/come forth
• उततिष्ठेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कृतम्: done, completed
• कृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु); kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (कर्म इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• कर्म: rite/act (sacrifice)
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हतान्: slain
• हतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (धातु); hata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; (सर्वान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; (नः इत्यस्य—our (people) understood)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• विद्धि: know, understand
• विद्धि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचन; (नः = our)

Context

"Delight of Raghus! You may listen to my words of advice. Let Saumithri march ahead to Nikumbhilam accompanied by the great army. On reaching, let Lakshmana who is capable of killing Indrajith discharge venomous serpents like deadly poisonous arrows from his bow in circular form and kill Rakshasas."

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa (implied by context: Saumitrī)
• Svayambhū (Brahmā)

FAQs

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

Power should be grounded in tapas (discipline) and rightful sanction; divine weapons symbolize responsibility, not mere domination.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa underscores the resources and divine-grade capability available for the coming confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Austerity-born strength: the hero’s power is portrayed as earned through discipline and grace.