Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 108

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

प्रगृहीतायुधस्येहमृत्योरिवमहामृधे ।तिष्ठन्नप्रग्रतःपूज्यःकिमुयुद्धप्रदायकः ।।।।

Transliteration

pragṛhītāyudhasyeha mṛtyor iva mahāmṛdhe |

tiṣṭhann agrataḥ pūjyaḥ kimu yuddhapradāyakaḥ ||

Translation

“ಈ ಮಹಾಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು, ಮೃತ್ಯುವಿನಂತೆ ನನ್ನ ಎದುರು ನಿಂತವನು ಸಹ ಪೂಜ್ಯನು; ಹಾಗಿರಲು ಧೈರ್ಯದಿಂದ ಯುದ್ಧವನ್ನು ನೀಡುವವನು ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಗೌರವನೀಯನು!”

Word by Word

• pragṛhītāyudhasya: of one holding a weapon ready
• pragṛhītāyudhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-grah (धातु) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (descriptive): 'प्रगृहीतम् आयुधं यस्य' (whose weapon is held ready); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन

• iha: here
• iha: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'here')

• mṛtyoḥ: of Death
• mṛtyoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय

• mahāmṛdhe: in the great battle
• mahāmṛdhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + mṛdh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: 'महती मृध्' (great battle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन

• tiṣṭhan: standing
• tiṣṭhan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'standing'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारार्थक (particle: 'even')

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agrataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'in front')

• pūjyaḥ: worthy of honor
• pūjyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kimu: how much more
• kimu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim + u (अव्यय-संयोग)
• Form: प्रश्न/अधिक्यबोधक-अव्यय (idiom: 'how much more/what then')

• yuddhapradāyakaḥ: one who offers/initiates battle
• yuddhapradāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha + pradāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'युद्धं प्रददाति' (giver/instigator of battle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"He who is ready to face me, a rival of Lord of Death in conflict, with weapons in hand in great battle is worthy of honour to me."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Mṛtyu (Death personified)

FAQs

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

Even amid adharma, a trace of kṣātra-code appears: courage deserves acknowledgment. Dharma refines this into truthful honor without intimidation or self-deification.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa continues his taunt, paradoxically praising the bravery of anyone who dares face him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage worthy of respect—the battlefield ideal that fearlessness is honorable (when aligned with righteous ends).