Shloka 13

निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha

Hanuman’s Duel

Devanagari script

स तुतेनप्रहारेणविचचालमहाकपिः ।।।।परिघेणसमाधूतोयथाभूमिचलेऽचलः ।

Transliteration

sa tu tena prahāreṇa vicacāla mahākapiḥ |

parigheṇa samādhūto yathā bhūmi-cale 'calaḥ ||

Translation

Bien que frappé et ébranlé par ce coup de massue de fer, le grand singe resta immobile, stable comme une montagne même lorsque la terre tremble.

Word by Word

सःhe, that one

तुbut, indeed

तेनby that, with that

प्रहारेणby a blow, by the strike

विचचालshook, reeled, moved

महाकपिःthe great monkey (vanara)

परिघेणby an iron club/bar

समाधूतःshaken, violently struck

यथाas, like

भूमिचलेin an earthquake (lit. earth-shaking)

अचलःa mountain (the immovable one)

Context

Struck by the Rakshasa, Hanuman, the foremost of the monkeys of extraordinary strength clenched his fist violently.

Characters & Entities

Hanumān

parigha (iron club)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches kṣānti and dhṛti—endurance and steadfastness—central to dharma when facing adversity and provocation.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite a heavy strike, Hanumān does not collapse or retreat; he holds his ground.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhṛti (unyielding firmness): Hanumān’s stability under attack becomes the turning point in the combat.