Shloka 23

कुम्भकर्णदर्शनम्

The Appearance of Kumbhakarna and the Account of His Might

Devanagari script

कुम्भकर्णंसमीक्ष्यैववितत्रासप्रजापतिः ।दृष्टवाविश्वास्यचैवैनंस्वयम्भूरिदमब्रवीत् ।।6.61.23।।

Transliteration

kumbhakarṇaṁ samīkṣyaiva vitatrāsa prajāpatiḥ | dṛṣṭvā viśvāsya caivainaṁ svayambhūr idam abravīt ||

Translation

കുംഭകർണനെ കണ്ടതുമാത്രത്തിൽ പ്രജാപതി ഭീതനായി; അവനെ ആശ്വസിപ്പിക്കുവാൻ സ്വയംഭൂ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് ഈ വചനങ്ങൾ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• ध्रुवम्: surely
• ध्रुवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Certainty)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; certainty)

• लोकविनाशाय: for the destruction of the world
• लोकविनाशाय: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (dative/purpose/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समास: लोकस्य विनाशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• पौलस्त्येन: by Paulastya
• पौलस्त्येन: करण (Agent/instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौलस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• असि: you are
• असि: क्रिया (Copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• निर्मितः: created/formed
• निर्मितः: कर्मणि-भाव (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+मि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate with असि

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: सम्बन्ध (Inference marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable; ‘therefore/from that’)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• प्रभृति: from now on
• प्रभृति: कालाधिकरण (Time-from)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (postposition-like; ‘from onwards’)

• मृतकल्पः: like dead
• मृतकल्पः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत-कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of त्वम्; समास: मृत इव कल्पः (उपमान-आधारित कर्मधारय)

• शयिष्यसे: you will sleep/lie
• शयिष्यसे: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), आत्मनेपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Context

"Beholding Kumbhakarna, Brahma was alarmed and spoke to him to restore the confidence of Kumbhakarna."

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Prajāpati, Svayambhū)
• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma sometimes requires firm correction, but also composure and clarity in speech—even when confronting terrifying power.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmā sees Kumbhakarṇa and, despite being alarmed, prepares to address him in a stabilizing manner.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control in leadership: Brahmā masters fear and speaks with deliberation.