Shloka 38

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

अद्यशोकपरीतानांस्वबन्धुवधकारणात् ।शत्रोर्युधिविनाशेनकरोम्यस्रप्रमार्जनम् ।।6.63.38।।

Transliteration

adya śokaparītānāṃ svabandhuvadhakāraṇāt | śatror yudhi vināśena karomy aśrupramārjanam ||6.63.38||

Translation

ഇന്ന്, സ്വന്തം ബന്ധുക്കളുടെ വധം മൂലം ശോകാകുലരായവരുടെ കണ്ണുനീർ, യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ശത്രുവിനെ നശിപ്പിച്ച്, ഞാൻ തുടച്ചുമാറ്റും.

Word by Word

• adya: today/now
• adya: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• śoka-parītānām: of those overcome by grief
• śoka-parītānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + parīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √i with pari-)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'overcome by grief' (śokena parītāḥ)

• sva-bandhu-vadha-kāraṇāt: because of (their) own kinsmen's killing
• sva-bandhu-vadha-kāraṇāt: Hetu (हेतु/ablative of cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member तत्पुरुष: 'because of the cause (kāraṇa) of the killing (vadha) of their own kinsmen (sva-bandhu)'

• śatroḥ: of the enemy
• śatroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vināśena: by destruction
• vināśena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• karomi: I do/make
• karomi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• asra-pramārjanam: wiping away of tears
• asra-pramārjanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asra (प्रातिपदिक) + pramārjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'wiping away of tears/blood' (context: tears)

Context

Now I will wipe the tears of Rakshasas who lost their kin and are bewailing their loss.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas (implied community of mourners)
• Enemy (Rāma’s side, implied)

FAQs

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

It shows a common ethical error: seeking to heal loss through further harm. Ramayana dharma emphasizes that right ends cannot be pursued through unrighteous means.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker motivates action by promising to avenge the slain Rākṣasas and thereby comfort the grieving populace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valor is emphasized, but ethically mis-aimed—courage used for vengeance rather than protection of righteousness.