Shloka 36

अयोमुखी-दर्शनम् तथा कबन्ध-प्रवेशः

Ayomukhi Encounter and the ظهور of Kabandha

Devanagari script

खड्गिनौ दृढधन्वानौ तिग्मतेजोवपुर्धरौ।भ्रातरौ विवशं प्राप्तौ कृष्यमाणौ महाबलौ।।।।

Transliteration

khaḍginau dṛḍha-dhanvānau tigma-tejo-vapur-dharau |

bhrātarau vivaśaṁ prāptau kṛṣyamāṇau mahā-balau ||3.69.36||

Translation

Bien qu’ils fussent deux frères puissants—porteurs d’épée, fermes à l’arc, le corps rayonnant d’un éclat tranchant—ils furent traînés et réduits à l’impuissance.

Word by Word

• खड्गिनौ: two sword-bearers
• खड्गिनौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• दृढ-धन्वानौ: two with strong bows
• दृढ-धन्वानौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + धन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (strong + bow-possessing)

• तिग्म-तेजस्-वपुस्-धरौ: two bearing bodies of fierce radiance
• तिग्म-तेजस्-वपुस्-धरौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिग्म (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास (having a body of sharp/fiery splendor)

• भ्रातरौ: the two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• विवशम्: helpless
• विवशम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: 'helplessly')

• प्राप्तौ: having reached / came to be
• प्राप्तौ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'having reached/come' (past participle used predicatively)

• कृष्यमाणौ: being dragged
• कृष्यमाणौ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु) → कृष्यमाण (कृदन्त/शानच्, कर्मणि)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'being dragged/pulled'

• महाबलौ: two mighty
• महाबलौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

Context

The two mighty brothers who wielded swords and strong bows and whose bodies were of fiery splendour became helpless, seized by the hands of Kabandha.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Kabandha

FAQs

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

Even the righteous and strong may face reversals; Dharma is perseverance—continuing the moral quest despite humiliation, constraint, or sudden misfortune.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite their weapons and strength, the brothers are physically overpowered and dragged by Kabandha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resilience (dhṛti): inner strength that remains when outer strength is momentarily checked.