Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 77, Shloka 22
निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha
Hanuman’s Duel
परिगृह्य च बाहुभ्यांपरिवृत्यशिरोधराम् ।।।।उत्पाटयामानशिरोभैरवंनदतोमहत् ।
parigṛhya ca bāhubhyāṃ parivṛtya śirodharām | utpāṭayāmāna śiro bhairavaṃ nadato mahat ||
Seizing him with both arms and wrenching his neck around, Hanumān tore off his head, as Nikumbha cried out terribly and loudly.
Taking hold of the neck with both arms and twisting it round Hanuman broke off the neck of Nikumbha while he was crying terribly.
FAQs
In a righteous war, decisive action ends ongoing harm: the episode portrays the grim necessity of concluding combat when the enemy persists in violence.
The fight reaches its climax as Hanumān overpowers Nikumbha and kills him by tearing off his head.
Fearlessness and effectiveness—Hanumān acts without wavering to neutralize a dangerous foe.