Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 29

महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः

Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault

Devanagari script

ततोमाल्यानिवासांसिवीराणामनुलेपनम् ।पेयं च बहुयोधेभ्यस्स्वयं च मुदितःपिब ।।।।

Transliteration

tato mālyāni vāsāṃsi vīrāṇām anulepanam | peyaṃ ca bahu yodhebhyaḥ svayaṃ ca muditaḥ piba ||

Translation

Thereafter, distribute garlands, garments, and unguents to the heroes; provide abundant drink to the warriors, and drink yourself with a joyful heart.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय

• mālyāni: garlands
• mālyāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• vāsāṃsi: garments
• vāsāṃsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• vīrāṇām: of the warriors
• vīrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• anulepanam: unguents/cosmetics
• anulepanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• peyam: drink/beverage
• peyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pā (धातु) + ya (कृत् प्रत्यय) / peya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (यत्/ya; 'drinkable'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• bahu: much/abundant
• bahu: Vishesana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः/विशेषण; here adverbial 'much/abundantly' qualifying peyaṃ or distribution

• yodhebhyaḥ: to the warriors
• yodhebhyaḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), बहुवचन

• svayam: yourself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-अव्यय (reflexive adverb)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• muditaḥ: gladdened
• muditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mud (धातु) + ita (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/ita), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate to implied 'tvam'

• piba: drink
• piba: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

"Thereafter give your warriors, garlands, cosmetics and many drinks and drink yourself happily."

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Kumbhakarna

FAQs

Why does Ravana command Kumbhakarna to drink and be happy before the battle?

Ravana encourages Kumbhakarna to indulge in sensory pleasures (garlands, drinks) to boost his morale and ensure he enters the battlefield in a state of high spirits and aggression, rather than lethargy or doubt.

What is the significance of distributing gifts to the warriors?

Distributing garlands, clothes, and drinks to the soldiers (vīrāṇām/yodhebhyaḥ) is a strategic act of leadership to inspire loyalty, unity, and fearlessness among the troops before a major confrontation.