Shloka 4

कबन्धवधः

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

Devanagari script

त्वां च मां च पुरा तूर्णमादत्ते राक्षसाधमः।तस्मादसिभ्यामस्याशु बाहू छिन्दावहै गुरू।।।।

Transliteration

tvāṃ ca māṃ ca purā tūrṇam ādatte rākṣasādhamaḥ | tasmād asibhyām asyāśu bāhū chindāvahai gurū ||

Translation

ആ അധമരാക്ഷസൻ നമ്മളിരുവരെയും വേഗത്തിൽ പിടിച്ച് ഭക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിന് മുമ്പേ, വാളുകളാൽ അവന്റെ ദീർഘമായ ഭുജങ്ങൾ ഉടൻ വെട്ടിമാറ്റാം.

Word by Word

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• पुरा: before/earlier
• पुरा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly/before)

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण (adverbial accusative)

• आदत्ते: seizes/takes
• आदत्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (takes/seizes)

• राक्षसाधमः: the vilest demon
• राक्षसाधमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (vile among rākṣasas), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (indeclinable ‘therefore/from that’), ablatival adverb

• असिभ्याम्: with (two) swords
• असिभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• अस्य: of him/his
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘of this/his’

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• बाहू: (his two) arms
• बाहू: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• छिन्दावहै: let us cut off
• छिन्दावहै: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद; विधिलिङ्-सदृश ‘let us cut’

• गुरू: heavy/huge
• गुरू: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to बाहू

Context

O bulls among the kshatriyas You are sent by destiny as food to appease my hunger. Seeing me hungry, why do you stand there with your senses switched off ?

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Kabandha (rākṣasa)

FAQs

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

Protecting innocent life is a duty; decisive self-defense against unjust aggression is aligned with kṣatriya-dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana urges immediate action to neutralize Kabandha’s threat by severing his arms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective resolve—Lakshmana’s readiness to act swiftly to safeguard Rama and himself.