Shloka 28

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

तमथैवंब्रुवाणंतुवचनंधीरदारुणम् ।।6.63.28।।रुष्टोऽयमितिविज्ञायशनैश्श्लक्षणमुवाच ह ।

Transliteration

tam athaivaṃ bruvāṇaṃ tu vacanaṃ dhīra-dāruṇam || 6.63.28 || ruṣṭo 'yam iti vijñāya śanaiḥ ślakṣaṇam uvāca ha |

Translation

അവൻ അങ്ങനെ ഗൗരവവും കടുപ്പവും നിറഞ്ഞ വചനങ്ങൾ പറയുന്നതു കണ്ടും, അവൻ ക്രോധിതനാണെന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കിയും, കുംഭകർണൻ പതുക്കെ മൃദുവായ സ്നിഗ്ധസ്വരത്തിൽ മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• ब्रुवाणम्: speaking
• ब्रुवाणम्: Karma (कर्म: object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय, present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; speaking

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (but/indeed)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• धीरदारुणम्: grave and harsh
• धीरदारुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीरदारुण (प्रातिपदिक: धीर + दारुण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with वचनम्; समासः द्वन्द्व (धीरं च दारुणं च)

• रुष्टः: angered
• रुष्टः: Karta (कर्ता: predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √रुष् क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; angry

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; this (person)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इत्यादि-निपात (quotative marker)

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल: prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, absolutive); having known

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: slowly/softly)

• श्लक्षणम्: gentle
• श्लक्षणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with (implied) वचनम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; said

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: स्मरण/पादपूरण-निपात (emphatic/expletive particle)

Context

Thereafter knowing that Ravana is agitated and arguing in a grave and harsh manner, Kumbhakarna, spoke slowly in a gentle tone.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma in counsel requires self-control: one should respond to anger with calm speech, aiming at truth and restoration rather than escalation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is agitated and speaking harshly; Kumbhakarṇa chooses a measured, gentle reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure (śama) and tact in speech—responding to conflict with restraint.