Shloka 52

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

अचिन्तयन्महोत्पातानुदितान्रोमहर्षणान् ।निर्ययौकुम्भकर्णस्तुकृतान्तबलचोदितः ।।।।

Transliteration

acintayan mahotpātān uditān romaharṣaṇān |

niryayau kumbhakarṇas tu kṛtānta-bala-coditaḥ ||

Translation

രോമാഞ്ചം പകരുന്ന മഹോത്പാതങ്ങൾ ഉദിച്ചിട്ടും അവയെക്കുറിച്ച് ചിന്തിക്കാതെ, കൃതാന്തത്തിന്റെ ബലത്താൽ പ്രേരിതനായതുപോലെ കുംഭകർണൻ പുറപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• acintayan: not heeding / not thinking of
• acintayan: Karta (कर्ता; participial, of kumbhakarṇaḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-√cint (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्तः (present participle), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; नकारार्थक-उपसर्गयुक्तः (negated)

• mahotpātān: great portents
• mahotpātān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + utpāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (accusative), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारय-समासः

• uditān: arisen
• uditān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udita (प्रातिपदिक; √ud/√i participial sense)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (past/passive participle sense: arisen), पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्; महोत्पातान् विशेषयति

• romaharṣaṇān: hair-raising
• romaharṣaṇān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: roma (प्रातिपदिक) + harṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (romāṇāṃ harṣaṇāḥ)

• niryayau: went out
• niryayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• kumbhakarṇaḥ: Kumbhakarna
• kumbhakarṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• tu: but / indeed
• tu: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्ययम् (but/indeed)

• kṛtānta-bala-coditaḥ: impelled by destiny's force
• kṛtānta-bala-coditaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtānta (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक) + codita (प्रातिपदिक; √cud PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कृतान्तस्य बलात् चोदितः = impelled by the force of destiny)

Context

Kumbhakarna went unmindful of the portents which made hair stand on end propelled by the force of destiny.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Kṛtānta (Death/Yama)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes heeding counsel and signs that prevent harm; ignoring warnings and charging ahead into violence reflects adharma and leads toward inevitable ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite ominous signs, Kumbhakarṇa exits to fight, portrayed as being pushed forward by destiny/Death itself.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights the absence of prudence and self-restraint; it contrasts with the Ramayana ideal where power is guided by dharma and wise reflection.