Shloka 109

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

ऐरावतंबलेनसमारूढोवृतःसर्वामरैःप्रभुः ।नैवशक्रोऽपिसमरेस्थितपूर्वःकदाचन ।।।।

Transliteration

airāvataṃ balena samārūḍho vṛtaḥ sarvāmaraiḥ prabhuḥ |

naiva śakro 'pi samare sthitapūrvaḥ kadācana ||

Translation

മഹാബലമുള്ള ഐരാവതത്തിൽ ആരൂഢനായി, സർവ്വ അമരന്മാരാൽ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ട ദേവാധിപനായ ശക്രൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) പോലും—സമരത്തിൽ എന്റെ മുന്നിൽ ഒരിക്കലും നിലകൊണ്ടിട്ടില്ല, ഒരുതവണ പോലും അല്ല.

Word by Word

• airāvatam: Airavata (elephant)
• airāvatam: Adhikaraṇa? (अधिकरण) / Upapada with samārūḍha (object of mounting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: airāvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• balena: by/with strength
• balena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• samārūḍhaḥ: mounted/ascended
• samārūḍhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of prabhuḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-ruh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); past passive participle used adjectivally

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of prabhuḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (वृञ्/वृ) (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive sense

• sarva-amaraiḥ: by all the gods
• sarva-amaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-instrument with vṛtaḥ (by whom surrounded)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + amara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘all (who are) immortals’; Masculine, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• prabhuḥ: the lord (Indra)
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / negation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (निषेध-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/ever
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (अवधारण-अव्यय)

• śakraḥ: Indra
• śakraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (समुच्चय/अवधारण)

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• sthita-pūrvaḥ: having stood before (earlier)
• sthita-pūrvaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of śakraḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (स्था धातु + क्त) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘previously stood’; Masculine, Prathamā, Ekavacana; used predicatively of śakraḥ

• kadācana: ever/at any time
• kadācana: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (काल-अव्यय)

Context

"Indra mounted on the elephant, Airavata surrounded by all Devatas, indeed never stood before me in conflict."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Śakra (Indra)
• Airāvata
• Amaras (Devas)

FAQs

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

Dharma warns against pride that inflates the self above cosmic order. Invoking gods to magnify oneself is a misuse of speech and a drift from satya.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa escalates his intimidation by claiming even Indra has never confronted him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the virtue demanded of Lakṣmaṇa is steadfast truth-centered courage—remaining unmoved by grandiose threats.