Shloka 4

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

प्रथमंवैमहाराजकृत्यमेतदचिन्तितम् ।केवलंवीर्यदर्पेणनानुबन्धोविचिन्तितः ।।6.63.4।।

Transliteration

prathamaṃ vai mahārāja kṛtyam etad acintitam | kevalaṃ vīryadarpeṇa nānubandho vicintitaḥ ||6.63.4||

Translation

മഹാരാജാവേ, ആദ്യം തന്നെ ഈ പ്രവൃത്തി ആലോചനയില്ലാതെ ആരംഭിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; ശക്തിയുടെ അഹങ്കാരത്തിൽ മാത്രം അതിന്റെ തുടർഫലങ്ങൾ ചിന്തിക്കപ്പെട്ടില്ല.

Word by Word

• प्रथमम्: at first / firstly
• प्रथमम्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; adverbial use = 'first/at first'

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्धसूचक/निपात (निपातः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/assurance

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: सम्बोधन (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; vocative address

• कृत्यम्: a duty / what should be done
• कृत्यम्: कर्तृपूरक/विधेय (विधेयम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (कृ धातु से; कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate noun

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अचिन्तितम्: not considered / unthought
• अचिन्तितम्: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + चिन्तित (चिन्त् धातु; क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; past passive participle used adjectivally

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'only/merely'

• वीर्यदर्पेण: by pride in prowess
• वीर्यदर्पेण: करण/हेतु (करणम्/हेतुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य + दर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental of cause/means

• न: not
• न: निपात (निपातः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अनुबन्धः: consequence / aftermath
• अनुबन्धः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• विचिन्तितः: considered / weighed
• विचिन्तितः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचिन्तित (वि + चिन्त् धातु; क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; past passive participle used adjectivally; agrees with अनुबन्धः

Context

"O king! All this action was not thought of at the beginning, nor the consequences of action weighed in the pride of your prowess."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (implied by address mahārāja)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires deliberation (vicāra) and foresight (anubandha-jñāna). Actions driven by ego and power-pride lead to ruin; righteous governance demands restraint and reflection.

What is the narrative situation?

A voice of counsel criticizes the original decision-making—implying that the conflict began in unexamined pride rather than wise policy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and truthful counsel: the virtue of warning a ruler honestly about the costs of arrogant decisions.