Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 36

Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance

Devanagari script

पुनश्च विप्रशापेन राक्षसौ तौ बभूवतु: । कुम्भकर्णदशग्रीवौ हतौ तौ रामविक्रमै: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

punaś ca vipra-śāpena rākṣasau tau babhūvatuḥ kumbhakarṇa-daśa-grīvau hatau tau rāma-vikramaiḥ

Translation

Again, by the curse of the brāhmaṇas, those two were born as the Rākṣasas Kumbhakarṇa and ten-headed Rāvaṇa, and both were slain by the extraordinary prowess of Lord Rāmacandra.

Synonyms

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: काल/क्रम (Adverbial—sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• विप्र-शापेन: by the brāhmaṇa's curse
• विप्र-शापेन: करण (Instrument/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; 'विप्रशाप' = विप्रस्य शापः (curse of a brāhmaṇa)

• राक्षसौ: as two rākṣasas
• राक्षसौ: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• बभूवतुः: became
• बभूवतुः: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन; धातु: भू (to become)

• कुम्भकर्ण-दशग्रीवौ: Kumbhakarṇa and Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• कुम्भकर्ण-दशग्रीवौ: कर्ता (Subject in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण + दशग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व: कुम्भकर्णः च दशग्रीवः च

• हतौ: were slain
• हतौ: कर्तृसम्बन्धि विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle) 'हत', पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (Subject reiteration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• राम-विक्रमैः: by Rāma's valor
• राम-विक्रमैः: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; 'रामविक्रम' = रामस्य विक्रमाः (the heroic exploits/valor of Rāma)

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• Lord Rāma
• Brāhmaṇas (vipras)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Ravana and Kumbhakarna?

This verse states that due to a brāhmaṇas’ curse they took birth as the Rākṣasas Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa) and Kumbhakarṇa, and were later killed by Lord Rāma’s valor.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Lord Rāma in the Seventh Canto?

He is describing the repeated births of the two cursed beings and how the Lord personally destroys them in different incarnations—here, specifically as Lord Rāma.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

It highlights that actions and offenses—especially toward saintly brāhmaṇas and devotees—carry consequences, and that divine justice ultimately prevails.