Shloka 12

निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha

Hanuman’s Duel

Devanagari script

स्थिरेतस्योरसिव्यूढेपरिघश्शतधाकृतः ।।।।विकीर्यमाणस्सहसाउल्काशतमिवाम्बरे ।

Transliteration

sthire tasyorasi vyūḍhe parighaḥ śatadhā kṛtaḥ |

vikīryamāṇaḥ sahasā ulkā-śatam ivāmbare ||

Translation

その広く堅固な胸に当たるや否や、鉄の棍棒は百に砕け、たちまち天空に百の流星が散るかのように飛び散った。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he (Hanuman)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• tu: however
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेष/विरोध-निपातः

• tena: by that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• prahāreṇa: by the blow
• prahāreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• vicacāla: shook/staggered
• vicacāla: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cal (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; वि-उपसर्गः

• mahā-kapiḥ: the great monkey
• mahā-kapiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘great monkey’

• parigheṇa: by the club
• parigheṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• samādhūtaḥ: violently shaken
• samādhūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-dhū (धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘violently shaken’

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्ययम्

• bhūmi-cale: in an earthquake
• bhūmi-cale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi + cala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘in an earthquake’ (earth-shaking)

• acalaḥ: a mountain
• acalaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘mountain’

Context

The great Vanara did not move and remained steady like a mountain in an earthquake with the iron club touching him.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• parigha (iron club)
• ambara (sky)
• ulkā (meteors)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as an inner strength that cannot be broken by external force; when one stands for a righteous cause, aggression may recoil upon itself.

What is the narrative situation?

Nikumbha’s weapon fails dramatically: the club breaks apart upon contact with Hanumān’s chest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s invincibility in service (sevā-niṣṭhā): his steadfast dedication to Rāma manifests as unshakable strength.