Shloka 286

Devanagari script

इति श्रीमहाभारते वनपर्वणि रामोपाख्यानपर्वणि कुम्भकर्णनिर्गमने षडशीत्यधिकद्धिशततमो<ध्याय:

Transliteration

iti śrīmahābhārate vanaparvaṇi rāmopākhyānaparvaṇi kumbhakarṇanirgamane ṣaḍaśītyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the Vana Parva, in the sub-narrative known as the Rāmopākhyāna, in the episode describing Kumbhakarṇa’s coming forth, ends the two-hundred-and-eighty-sixth chapter. This is a colophon-style closing line that marks the conclusion of a chapter and situates the narrative within its larger textual and ethical frame: the Rāmopākhyāna is recounted as an instructive exemplum on steadfastness in dharma amid exile, adversity, and war.

Word by Word

• इति: thus; end-quote marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• श्रीमहाभारते: in the venerable Mahabharata
• श्रीमहाभारते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमहाभारत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वनपर्वणि: in the Forest Book (Vana Parva)
• वनपर्वणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनपर्वन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रामोपाख्यानपर्वणि: in the Rama-episode section (Ramopakhyana-parvan)
• रामोपाख्यानपर्वणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रामोपाख्यानपर्वन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कुम्भकर्णनिर्गमने: in (the section on) the coming-forth of Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णनिर्गमने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्णनिर्गमन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• षडशीत्यधिक: having an addition of eighty-six (i.e., 186th)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षडशीत्यधिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विशततमः: two-hundredth
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विशततम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अध्यायः: chapter
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mahābhārata
• Vana Parva
• Rāmopākhyāna
• Kumbhakarṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

This line functions as a colophon rather than a teaching verse: it frames the Rāmopākhyāna as an instructive narrative embedded in the Mahābhārata, reminding the reader that epic episodes are organized to guide reflection on dharma—especially steadfast conduct under hardship and the moral complexity of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

The sentence announces the close of a chapter in the Rāmopākhyāna section, specifically the episode titled 'Kumbhakarṇa’s coming forth.' It is a formal end-of-chapter marker that locates the story within Vana Parva and identifies the chapter number.