Shloka 5

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

यःपश्चातूर्वकार्याणिकुर्यादैश्वर्यमास्थितः ।पूर्वंचोत्तरकार्याणि न स वेदनयानया ।।6.63.5।।

Transliteration

yaḥ paścāt pūrvakāryāṇi kuryād aiśvaryam āsthitaḥ |

pūrvaṃ cottarakāryāṇi na sa veda nayānayā ||

Translation

Quien, apoyado en la prosperidad y el poder, pospone los deberes que deben hacerse primero y luego atiende lo posterior, ése no comprende la recta política ni su contrario (el camino justo y el errado).

Word by Word

• यः: he who
• यः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• पश्चात्: later / afterwards
• पश्चात्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'afterwards/later'

• पूर्वकार्याणि: earlier duties/tasks
• पूर्वकार्याणि: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; object of कुर्यात्

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (क्रियापद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ऐश्वर्यम्: power / sovereignty
• ऐश्वर्यम्: कर्म/अवस्थावाचक (कर्म/अवस्था)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; with आस्थितः = 'having attained/being in'

• आस्थितः: having assumed / established in
• आस्थितः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; past participle = 'having assumed/being established in'

• पूर्वम्: before / first
• पूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'before/first'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उत्तरकार्याणि: later duties/tasks
• उत्तरकार्याणि: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; object (understood with वेद)

• न: not
• न: निपात (निपातः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• वेद: knows
• वेद: क्रिया (क्रियापद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नय-अनयया: by right and wrong policy
• नय-अनयया: करण (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय + अनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; dvandva treated as feminine singular (instrumental)

Context

"Even if there is fear of Indra and Brahma that haunts you, I shall destroy them away like the sun dispels darkness. Devas will fall flat on earth when I am enraged."

FAQs

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

Dharma includes nīti (wise order of action): do the necessary first; power should not breed procrastination or inversion of priorities.

What is the narrative situation?

A reflective maxim is inserted into the war narrative, offering a governance-and-conduct lesson about timely and properly ordered action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and discernment (viveka) in action—knowing the right sequence and the right course.