Shloka 29

निकुम्भिला

यज्ञविघ्नः — Vibhishana’s Counsel and Lakshmana’s March to Nikumbhila

Devanagari script

सोऽभिवाद्यगुरोःपादौकृत्वाचापिप्रदक्षिणम् ।निकुम्भिलामभिययौचैत्यंरावणिपालितम् ।।6.85.29।।

Transliteration

so 'bhivādya guroḥ pādau kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam |

nikumbhilām abhiyayau caityaṃ rāvaṇi-pālitam ||6.85.29||

Translation

Après avoir salué les pieds de son vénérable aîné et l’avoir contourné en signe de respect, il se dirigea vers Nikumbhilā, le sanctuaire gardé par le fils de Rāvaṇa.

Word by Word

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

• अभिवाद्य: having saluted
• अभिवाद्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); 'having saluted'

• गुरोः: of the elder (brother/teacher)
• गुरोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; 'of the elder/teacher'

• पादौ: two feet
• पादौ: कर्म (Karma; object of saluting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); 'having done'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/अवधारण (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation
• प्रदक्षिणम्: कर्म (Karma; object of doing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'circumambulation' (object of कृत्वा)

• निकुम्भिलाम्: Nikumbhilā
• निकुम्भिलाम्: कर्म/देश (Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकुम्भिला (प्रातिपदिक; place-name)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गन्तव्य-देश

• अभिययौ: went towards
• अभिययौ: क्रिया (Kriyā; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चैत्यम्: shrine/sanctuary
• चैत्यम्: कर्म (Karma; goal/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; apposition to निकुम्भिलाम् (place as shrine)

• रावणिपालितम्: guarded by Rāvaṇi
• रावणिपालितम्: कर्म (Karma; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रावणि (प्रातिपदिक) + पालित (कृदन्त; √पाल् 'to protect, rule')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'रावणिना पालितम्' = protected/ruled by Rāvaṇi; विशेषण (of चैत्यं)

Context

Saluting the feet of the eldest brother and going round him, Laksmana proceeded to Nikumbhila sanctuary ruled by Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma (revered elder/brother)
• Nikumbhilā
• caitya (sanctuary/shrine)
• Rāvaṇi (Indrajit/Meghanāda)

FAQs

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

Dharma is maryādā—right conduct even in crisis: honoring elders/guru before undertaking a dangerous duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa formally pays respect to Rāma and then advances toward Nikumbhilā, where the enemy’s sacred/strategic rite is connected.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and reverence—strength grounded in disciplined tradition.