Shloka 1
निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha
Hanuman’s Duel
निकुम्भोभ्रातरंदृष्टवासुग्रीवेणनिपातितम् ।प्रदहन्निवकोपेनवानरेन्द्रमवैक्षत ।।।।
nikumbho bhrātaraṃ dṛṣṭvā sugrīveṇa nipātitam |
pradahann iva kopena vānarendram avaikṣata ||
Nikumbha, voyant son frère terrassé par Sugrīva, fixa sur le roi des Vānaras un regard embrasé de colère, comme s’il devait le réduire en cendres par ses yeux.
Seeing his brother struck down by Sugriva, Nikumbha gazed at him as if to burn him in wrath.
FAQs
The verse cautions that grief can turn into consuming anger; dharma requires mastery over krodha (wrath), especially in the wake of loss.
Nikumbha witnesses his brother’s fall and turns with furious intent toward Sugrīva.
By contrast: Sugrīva’s victorious prowess is implied; Nikumbha’s dominant trait here is wrath, a destabilizing impulse.