Shloka 16

कबन्धवधः

The Severing of Kabandha’s Arms and the Opening of Dialogue

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तः कबन्धस्तु लक्ष्मणेनोत्तरं वचः।उवाच परमप्रीत स्तदिन्द्रवचनं स्मरन्।।।।

Transliteration

evam uktaḥ kabandhas tu lakṣmaṇenottaraṃ vacaḥ | uvāca paramaprītaḥ tad indravaacanaṃ smaran || 3.70.16 ||

Translation

लक्ष्मण के इस प्रकार कहने पर कबन्ध ने, इन्द्र के वचन को स्मरण करते हुए, अत्यन्त प्रसन्न होकर उत्तर दिया।

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to
• uktaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘having been addressed/told’

• kabandhaḥ: Kabandha
• kabandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kabandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• tu: then/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (contrast/emphasis)

• lakṣmaṇena: by Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇena: Karta (कर्ता; agent in passive uktaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• uttaram: replying/further
• uttaram: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• parama-prītaḥ: very pleased
• parama-prītaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + prīta (कृदन्त, √prī; समास)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; adjective qualifying kabandhaḥ

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of smaran

• indra-vacanam: Indra's words
• indra-vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra + vacana (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; in apposition to tat; ‘Indra’s word’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• smaran: remembering
• smaran: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifies kabandhaḥ

Context

While hearing Lakshmana, Kabandha, reminded of Indra's words, replied to him in great joy :

Characters & Entities

• Kabandha
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Indra

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked with liberation through right encounter: even a fallen being can move toward redemption when conditions ripen and truth is spoken.

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha, prompted by Lakṣmaṇa’s question, prepares to explain his condition, recalling a prior divine statement by Indra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Openness to transformation—Kabandha shifts from hostility to grateful communication, suggesting the possibility of moral and spiritual change.