Shloka 23

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

वानराहिमहात्मानश्शीघ्रास्सव्यवसायिनः ।।।।एकाकिनंप्रमत्तंवानयेयुद्धशनैःक्ष्यम् ।

Transliteration

vānarā hi mahātmānaḥ śīghrāḥ suvyavasāyinaḥ | ekākinaṃ pramattaṃ vā daśanaiḥ yuddhe śanaiḥ kṣayam ||

Translation

കാരണം വാനരയോദ്ധാക്കൾ മഹാത്മാക്കൾ, വേഗവാന്മാർ, ദൃഢനിശ്ചയികൾ; ഒരാൾ ഒറ്റയ്ക്കായാലോ അശ്രദ്ധനായാലോ, യുദ്ധത്തിൽ പതിയെ പല്ലുകളാൽ പോലും ക്ഷയിപ്പിച്ച് നശിപ്പിക്കും॥

Word by Word

• वानराः: Vanaras
• वानराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (emphatic/causal particle)

• महात्मानः: great-souled
• महात्मानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• शीघ्राः: swift
• शीघ्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• सुव्यवसायिनः: highly determined
• सुव्यवसायिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + व्यवसायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• एकाकिनम्: one who is alone
• एकाकिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• प्रमत्तम्: careless; unalert
• प्रमत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; प्र+मद् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः (disjunctive particle)

• नयेयुः: would lead (to)
• नयेयुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person plural)

• दशनैः: with teeth
• दशनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental plural)

• क्षयम्: destruction
• क्षयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative singular)

Context

"The Vanaras are gigantic, endowed with speed and determination. They will destroy with their teeth when you are not alert and alone."

Characters & Entities

• Vānara

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights vigilance and responsibility: negligence (pramāda) endangers oneself and one’s duty in war; alertness and preparedness are part of righteous conduct for a warrior.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa warns Kumbhakarṇa about the Vānara forces, emphasizing their speed and determination and cautioning him not to face them while isolated or inattentive.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Apramāda (non-negligence) and strategic caution—acting with awareness rather than recklessness.