Shloka 105

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

नीलाञ्जनचयप्रख्यश्शरैःकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।अपीड्यमानश्शुशुभेमेघैस्सूर्यइवांशुमान् ।।।।

Transliteration

nīlāñjanacayaprakhyaḥ śaraiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ |

apīḍyamānaḥ śuśubhe meghaiḥ sūrya ivāṃśumān ||

Translation

നീലാഞ്ജനക്കൂമ്പാരത്തെപ്പോലെ ശ്യാമനായി, കാഞ്ചനാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിതനായി, അമ്പുകളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞിരുന്നിട്ടും അവൻ പീഡിതനായി തോന്നിയില്ല; മേഘങ്ങൾ മറച്ചാലും കിരണമയനായ സൂര്യനെപ്പോലെ അവൻ ശോഭിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• nīlāñjanacayaprakhyaḥ: resembling a mass of dark collyrium
• nīlāñjanacayaprakhyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla + añjana + caya + prakhya (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (upamā/सादृश्यार्थ): 'नीलाञ्जनचयेन प्रख्यः' (resembling a mass of dark collyrium); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ: adorned with golden ornaments
• kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'काञ्चनानि भूषणानि येषां तैः' (with golden ornaments); तृतीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with śaraiḥ)

• apīḍyamānaḥ: not being distressed
• apīḍyamānaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + pīḍ (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ (negation) + शानच्/मान (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'not being tormented'

• śuśubhe: shone/appeared splendid
• śuśubhe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śubh (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• meghaiḥ: by/with clouds
• meghaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• sūryaḥ: the sun
• sūryaḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय

• aṃśumān: the radiant one (sun)
• aṃśumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्यः (the one possessing rays)

Context

Adorned with golden ornaments (Kumbhakarna), covered with darts without being tormented he looked like a dark mountain shining like sun rays covered by clouds.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Sun (Sūrya)
• Clouds (Megha)

FAQs

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

It cautions that power and brilliance can mask unrighteousness: adharma may appear formidable and unshaken, so dharmic action must rely on perseverance and right strategy, not appearances.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite being struck by many arrows, Kumbhakarṇa appears undisturbed and visually magnificent in the midst of battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance (in the opponent) is highlighted descriptively, setting up the ethical contrast: dharma must face resilient adharma without losing resolve.