Shloka 20

निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha

Hanuman’s Duel

Devanagari script

आत्मानंमोक्षयित्वाथक्षितावभ्यवपद्यत ।।।।हनूमानुन्ममाथाशुनिकुम्भंमारुतात्मजः ।

Transliteration

ātmānaṃ mokṣayitvātha kṣitāv abhyavapadyata | hanūmān unmamāthāśu nikumbhaṃ mārutātmajaḥ ||

Translation

そして風神の子ハヌマーンは自らを解放して大地に飛び降り、直ちにニクンバに対して猛烈な攻撃を開始した。

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• मोक्षयित्वा: having freed
• मोक्षयित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त (causative) + क्त्वा (gerund): "having freed/released"

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/now)

• क्षितौ: on the ground
• क्षितौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अभ्यवपद्यत: sprang/stepped forward
• अभ्यवपद्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-अव-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (परस्मैपद, imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हनूमान्: Hanuman
• हनूमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उन्ममाथ: crushed/tormented
• उन्ममाथ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√मथ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद, perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शीघ्रार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (quickly)

• निकुम्भम्: Nikumbha
• निकुम्भम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• मारुतात्मजः: son of Maruta (wind)
• मारुतात्मजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मारुतस्य आत्मजः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हनूमतः उपाधि

Context

Hanuman, the son of wind god getting himself released from Nikumbha, springing up standing on the ground tormented Nikumbha.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Nikumbha
• Māruta (Wind-god/Vāyu)

FAQs

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

Steadfastness in righteous duty: Hanumān resumes the battle immediately after freeing himself, modeling disciplined commitment to the just cause (protecting Rāma’s mission).

What is the narrative situation?

In the battlefield at Laṅkā, Hanumān breaks free and immediately counters Nikumbha with decisive force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and presence of mind—recovering instantly from restraint and returning to action without hesitation.