Shloka 8

कबन्धवधः

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तौ देशकालज्ञौ खड्गाभ्यामेव राघवौ।अच्छिन्दतां सुसंविग्नौ बाहू तस्यांसदेशतः।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tau deśakālajñau khaḍgābhyām eva rāghavau | acchindatāṃ susaṃvignau bāhū tasyāṃsadeśataḥ ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ദേശകാലബോധമുള്ള ആ രണ്ടു രാഘവർ, അലമുറപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നെങ്കിലും ദൃഢനിശ്ചയത്തോടെ, വാളുകളാൽ അവന്റെ ഭുജങ്ങളെ തോളിടത്തിൽ തന്നേ വെട്ടിമാറ്റി.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम्

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• देशकालज्ञौ: knowers of place and time
• देशकालज्ञौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (देशं च कालं च जानाति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (राघवौ इति)

• खड्गाभ्याम्: with (their) two swords
• खड्गाभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), द्विवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• राघवौ: the two Raghavas
• राघवौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• अच्छिन्दताम्: the two cut off
• अच्छिन्दताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• सुसंविग्नौ: greatly agitated
• सुसंविग्नौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + सम् + विज्/विग् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (तौ/राघवौ इति)

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

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अंसदेशतः: from the shoulder region
• अंसदेशतः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अंस (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अंसदेश (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: अंसस्य देशः) + तः (ablatival adverbial suffix); अव्ययभावः; अपादानार्थक (from the shoulder-region)

Context

O prince of the Raghu race just as the animal brought in the midst of a sacrifice should not be killed, so also for a king to kill any harmless creature is despicable.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Kabandha
• khaḍga (sword)

FAQs

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

Dharma is not only intention but appropriateness: action must fit time and place (deśa-kāla). Their force is targeted and situational, not indiscriminate.

What is the narrative situation?

As Kabandha attempts to devour them, Rama and Lakshmana respond by severing his arms at the shoulders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Disciplined valor—swift, proportionate action guided by situational awareness.