Shloka 16

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

तानिपर्वतशृङ्गाणिशूलेन स बिभेद ह ।।।।बभञ्जवृक्षवर्षं च कुम्भकर्णोमहाबलः ।

Transliteration

tāni parvataśṛṅgāṇi śūlena sa bibheda ha | babhañja vṛkṣavarṣaṃ ca kumbhakarṇo mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

彼はその山の峰々を槍で突き裂き、また大力のクンバカルナは降り注ぐ木々の雨をも打ち砕いた。

Word by Word

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Plural)

• पर्वतशृङ्गाणि: mountain-peaks
• पर्वतशृङ्गाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: पर्वतस्य शृङ्गाणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural)

• शूलेन: with a pike
• शूलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• बिभेद: split/pierced
• बिभेद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, Perfect)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle, emphasis)

• बभञ्ज: broke
• बभञ्ज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhañj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, Perfect)

• वृक्षवर्षम्: shower of trees
• वृक्षवर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: वृक्षाणां वर्षम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुम्भकर्णः: Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: महच्च तत् बलम् यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

Context

Mighty Kumbhakarna split off the rocks, mountain peaks and the trees breaking them.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Śūla (spear/pike)
• Vṛkṣa (trees)

FAQs

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

The verse cautions that raw force can overwhelm material defenses; dharma ultimately depends on right purpose and disciplined leadership, not mere might.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa counters the vānara barrage of uprooted trees and even splits mountain peaks with his weapon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kumbhakarṇa’s physical prowess is foregrounded (bala), serving as a narrative foil to Rāma’s dharmic, measured use of divine weapons.