Shloka 18
कबन्धवधः
The Severing of Kabandha’s Arms and the Opening of Dialogue
विरूपं यच्च मे रूपं प्राप्तं ह्यविनयाद्यथा।तन्मे शृणु नरव्याघ्र तत्त्वतश्शंसतस्तव।।।।
virūpaṃ yac ca me rūpaṃ prāptaṃ hy avinayād yathā | tan me śṛṇu naravyāghra tattvataḥ śaṃsatas tava ||
ഹേ നരവ്യാഘ്രാ, എന്റെ ഈ വികൃതവും ഭീകരവുമായ രൂപം എങ്ങനെ ലഭിച്ചു—എന്റെ തന്നെ അവിനയവും അഹങ്കാരവും മൂലം—അത് ഞാൻ സത്യമായി തത്ത്വത്തോടെ നിന്നോട് പറയുന്നു; കേൾക്കുക.
While standing on the right, Rama cut off his right arm and the brave Lakshmana cut off the left.
FAQs
Satya and accountability: acknowledging one’s own fault (avinaya) as the cause of suffering is a dharmic turn toward truth and reform.
Kabandha begins to explain the backstory of his curse and deformation, attributing it to arrogance.
Truthfulness joined with humility—Kabandha’s willingness to confess the moral cause of his condition.