Shloka 42

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

सन्निपत्य च रक्षांसिदग्धशैलोपमामहान् ।कुम्भकर्णोमहावक्त्रःप्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

sannipatya ca rakṣāṃsi dagdhaśailopamā mahān |

kumbhakarṇo mahāvaktraḥ prahasann idam abravīt ||6.65.42||

Translation

രാക്ഷസന്മാരുടെ അടുത്തേക്ക് ചേർന്ന്, ദഗ്ധപർവ്വതംപോലെ മഹാനായ മഹാവക്ത്രൻ കുംഭകർണ്ണൻ ചിരിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• सन्निपत्य: having gathered
• सन्निपत्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (having assembled/come together)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction 'and')

• रक्षांसि: the rakshasas
• रक्षांसि: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter acc. pl.)

• दग्धशैलोपमाः: like charred mountains
• दग्धशैलोपमाः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of rākṣasāḥ understood); समासः तत्पुरुषः (दग्ध-शैल-उपम = like a burnt mountain)

• महान्: great
• महान्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies कुम्भकर्णः)

• कुम्भकर्णः: Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महावक्त्रः: wide-mouthed
• महावक्त्रः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् वक्त्रम् यस्य)

• प्रहसन्: laughing
• प्रहसन्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (laughing)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (object of speech)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (he said/spoke)

Context

Thereafter, furious Kumbhakarna said "Now I will consume all the battalions of Vanaras just as moths are consumed by fire."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Laṅkā (implied)

FAQs

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

The verse frames speech and intent before action: laughter and bravado can precede harm. In dharma-based ethics, words reveal inner disposition; righteous speech is aligned with restraint and truth, not cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa comes to the rākṣasa troops and begins addressing them before going to fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Leadership presence and confidence (though ethically ambiguous here), contrasted implicitly with the Ramāyaṇa ideal of measured, dharmic resolve.