Shloka 55

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

तद्वानरानीकमतिप्रचण्डंदिशोद्रवद्भिन्नमवाभ्रजालम् ।स कुम्भकर्णस्समवेक्ष्यहर्षान्ननादभूयोघनवद्घनाभः ।।।।

Transliteration

tad vānarānīkam ati-pracaṇḍaṃ diśo dravad-bhinnam ivābhra-jālam |

sa kumbhakarṇaḥ samavekṣya harṣān nanāda bhūyo ghana-vad ghanābhaḥ ||

Translation

Voyant cette armée de Vānaras, farouche et redoutable, désormais brisée et fuyant de toutes parts comme un réseau de nuages, Kumbhakarṇa—sombre tel un nuage de pluie—poussa des rugissements répétés, dans l’allégresse.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; here द्वितीया as object of samavekṣya

• vānara-anīkam: monkey-army
• vānara-anīkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + anīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः

• ati-pracaṇḍam: exceedingly fierce
• ati-pracaṇḍam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + pracaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• diśaḥ: (towards) the directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म; towards directions)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्; द्रवत् इत्यनेन सह गत्यर्थे

• dravat: running / fleeing
• dravat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dru (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्तः (present participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गे अव्ययवत् (adverbial use)

• bhinnam: scattered / split
• bhinnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (प्रातिपदिक; √bhid PPP)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of vānara-anīkam)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्ययम्

• abhra-jālam: a net/mass of clouds
• abhra-jālam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhra (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (अभ्राणां जालम्)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• kumbhakarṇaḥ: Kumbhakarna
• kumbhakarṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; saḥ इत्यस्य विशेष्यः

• samavekṣya: having observed
• samavekṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ava-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्तः (gerund)

• harṣāt: from joy
• harṣāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचनम्; हेतौ (cause)

• nanāda: roared
• nanāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• bhūyaḥ: again
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक-अव्ययम् (again/further)

• ghana-vat: like a cloud
• ghana-vat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (वत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त उपमावाचक-अव्ययम् (adverbial: like a cloud)

• ghana-ābhaḥ: cloud-hued / cloud-like
• ghana-ābhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; of kumbhakarṇaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (घन इव आभा यस्य)

Context

Heavy cloud like Kumbhakarna, a notorious one, perceiving the Vanara troops scattered like clouds in all directions emitted roar, laughing aloud.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• vānarānīka (Vānara host)

FAQs

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

It warns against rejoicing in others’ fear and suffering; such exultation is an adharma-trait that precedes downfall in the Ramayana’s moral universe.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa observes the Vānara forces scattering and responds by roaring loudly in triumph.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights a negative trait—arrogant delight in intimidation—standing opposite to dharmic restraint and compassion.