Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 91
कुम्भकर्णवधः
The Slaying of Kumbhakarna
शोणितार्द्रोमहाकायोराक्षसोभीमविक्रमः ।युद्धायाभिमुखोभीमोमनश्चक्रेनिशाचरः ।।।।नीलाञ्जनचयप्रख्यःसस्नध्यइवतोयदः ।अमर्षाच्छोणितोद्गारीशुशुभेरावणानुजीः ।।।।
śoṇitārdro mahākāyo rākṣaso bhīmavikramaḥ |
yuddhāyābhimukho bhīmo manaś cakre niśācaraḥ ||
nīlāñjanacayaprakhyaḥ sasnadhya iva toyadaḥ |
amarṣāc chōṇitodgārī śuśubhe rāvaṇānujaḥ ||
That night-roaming rākṣasa—gigantic, terrible in prowess, and drenched in blood—set his mind once more on battle and turned to face the fight. Dark as a mass of collyrium, like a dense cloud at dusk, Rāvaṇa’s younger brother looked fearsome, spattering blood in his wrath.
Kumbhakarna of terrific valour and gigantic body, drenched in blood, dark in colour like a mountain of collyrium, resembling evening cloud, the night ranger went towards the battlefield.
FAQs
The verse contrasts raw power driven by anger with dharmic resolve; it warns that krodha can fuel persistence but does not sanctify one’s cause.
Despite severe injuries, Kumbhakarṇa steels himself and turns again toward the battlefield.
Determination (shown here in a fearsome form), serving as a narrative foil to righteous determination grounded in dharma.