Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 65, Shloka 48

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

उल्काशनियुतामेघाबभूवुर्गर्धभारुणाः ।ससागरवनाचैववसुधासमकम्पत ।।।।

Transliteration

ulkāśaniyutā meghā babhūvur gardhabhāruṇāḥ |

sa-sāgara-vanā caiva vasudhā samakampata ||6.65.48||

Translation

驢のごとき色の雲が、流星・雷鳴・稲妻を帯びて群れ集い、海と森を抱く大地は、まるで震えたかのようであった。

Word by Word

• उल्काशनियुताः: accompanied by meteors and lightning
• उल्काशनियुताः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उल्का (प्रातिपदिक) + अशनि (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies मेघाः); समासः तत्पुरुषः (उल्काभिः अशनिभिः च युताः = accompanied by meteors and thunderbolts/lightning)

• मेघाः: clouds
• मेघाः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• बभूवुः: appeared; became
• बभूवुः: क्रिया (Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• गर्धभारुणाः: donkey-colored
• गर्धभारुणाः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्धभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies मेघाः); कर्मधारयः (गर्धभ-इव अरुणाः = donkey-colored/reddish)

• ससागरवना: with oceans and forests
• ससागरवना: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्गवत् 'with') + सागर (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies वसुधा); बहुव्रीहिः (सागरवनयुक्ता = having ocean and forests)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle: 'indeed/just')

• वसुधा: earth
• वसुधा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समकम्पत: shook
• समकम्पत: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + कम्प् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (shook)

Context

She jackals were seen with flaming morsels throwing from their mouths. Birds wheeled in a circular way and settled.

Characters & Entities

• Clouds
• Earth (vasudhā)
• Oceans
• Forests

FAQs

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

In the Ramāyaṇa’s moral universe, upheaval in nature mirrors upheaval in dharma. Such imagery teaches that adharma is not merely personal wrongdoing—it disturbs the wider order (ṛta/dharma) symbolically represented by earth, sea, and sky.

What is the narrative situation?

A catalogue of ominous atmospheric and terrestrial signs appears as Kumbhakarṇa goes forth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No personal virtue; the emphasis is on cosmic warning—an instructional device to foreground the ethical stakes of the battle.