Shloka 14

कबन्धवधः

The Severing of Kabandha’s Arms and the Opening of Dialogue

Devanagari script

अस्य देवप्रभावस्य वसतो विजने वने।रक्षसाऽपहृता पत्नी यामिच्छन्ताविहागतौ।।।।

Transliteration

asya devaprabhāvasya vasato vijane vane | rakṣasā ’pahṛtā patnī yām icchantāv ihāgatau || 3.70.14 ||

Translation

While he—whose prowess is like that of a deva—was dwelling in this lonely forest, a rākṣasa carried off his wife. We have come here seeking her.

Word by Word

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Singular

• deva-prabhāvasya: of (one) of divine might
• deva-prabhāvasya: Sambandha-viśeṣaṇa (सम्बन्ध-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular; adjective qualifying asya; ‘having divine power’ (तत्पुरुष)

• vasataḥ: while (he) was living
• vasataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ) used as genitive singular (षष्ठी एकवचन) of ‘living’; agrees with asya

• vijane: in a lonely/deserted
• vijane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vijana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; adjective of vane

• vane: forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• rakṣasā: by a demon
• rakṣasā: Karta (कर्ता; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• apahṛtā: abducted/carried off
• apahṛtā: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st), Singular; predicate of patnī

• patnī: wife
• patnī: Karta (कर्ता; subject in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• yām: whom
• yām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• icchantau: wishing (to find)
• icchantau: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Dual; qualifies implied ‘we two’ (Rāma-Lakṣmaṇa)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• āgatau: (we two) came
• āgatau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gam (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Dual; ‘having come’

Context

He is equal to a god in prowess. While living in this desolate forest his wife has been carried off by a demon. We both came here searching for her.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• rākṣasa (demon)

FAQs

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

Dharma as marital fidelity and protective duty: the search for Sītā is presented as a righteous obligation, not merely personal grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa explains to Kabandha that Sītā has been abducted by a rākṣasa and that they are searching for her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment and perseverance—continuing a righteous mission despite isolation and danger.