Shloka 12

कबन्धवधः

The Severing of Kabandha’s Arms and the Opening of Dialogue

Devanagari script

इति तस्य ब्रुवाणस्य लक्ष्मणश्शुभलक्षणः।शशंस राघवं तस्य कबन्धस्य महात्मनः।।।।

Transliteration

iti tasya bruvāṇasya lakṣmaṇaḥ śubhalakṣaṇaḥ | śaśaṃsa rāghavaṃ tasya kabandhasya mahātmanaḥ || 3.70.12 ||

Translation

അവൻ ഇങ്ങനെ പറയുമ്പോൾ, ശുഭലക്ഷണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കൃതനായ ലക്ഷ്മണൻ ആ മഹാത്മാവായ കബന്ധനോട് രാഘവൻ (രാമൻ) ആരെന്നു വെളിപ്പെടുത്തി.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bruvāṇasya: of (him) speaking
• bruvāṇasya: Karta-sambandha (कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Present middle participle (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शानच्), Ātmanepada sense, Genitive (6th), Singular, Masculine; agrees with tasya (of him who was speaking)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• śubha-lakṣaṇaḥ: of auspicious marks
• śubha-lakṣaṇaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; adjective qualifying lakṣmaṇaḥ

• śaśaṃsa: told/declared
• śaśaṃsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• rāghavam: Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• tasya: to him/of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular

• kabandhasya: of Kabandha
• kabandhasya: Sampradāna/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kabandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha-viśeṣaṇa (सम्बन्ध-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular; adjective qualifying kabandhasya

Context

Imbued with auspicious signs, Lakshmana revealed the identity of Rama to great Kabandha.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Kabandha

FAQs

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

Satya and measured speech: even in conflict, truthful disclosure can be the doorway to resolution and guidance.

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha asks who they are; Lakṣmaṇa responds by identifying Rāma to him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s clarity and propriety in speech—communicating truth without needless provocation.