Shloka 139

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

स ददर्शमहात्मानंकिरीटिनमरिन्दमम् ।शोणितावृतरक्ताक्षंकुम्भकर्णंमहाबलम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ kirīṭinam arindamam |

śoṇitāvṛtaraktākṣaṃ kumbhakarṇaṃ mahābalam ||

Translation

അവൻ മഹാത്മാവായ, കിരീടധാരിയായ, ശത്രുദമനായ മഹാബലവാൻ കുംഭകർണനെ കണ്ടു—രക്തം മൂടിയവൻ, രക്തനേത്രൻ, ദേഹം രക്തലിപ്തമായവൻ.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• महात्मानम्: the great-souled one
• महात्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः महा+आत्मन् (कर्मधारय)

• किरीटिनम्: crowned; wearing a diadem
• किरीटिनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• अरिन्दमम्: tamer of foes
• अरिन्दमम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिन्दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः अरि+दम (षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• शोणितावृतरक्ताक्षम्: with red eyes covered in blood
• शोणितावृतरक्ताक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोणित-आवृत-रक्ताक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः शोणितेन आवृतः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष) + रक्ताक्ष (कर्मधारय)

• कुम्भकर्णम्: Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम; समासः कुम्भ-इव कर्णौ यस्य (उपमान-तत्पुरुष/रूढि)

• महाबलम्: of great strength
• महाबलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः महत्+बल (कर्मधारय)

Context

Great Rama, endowed with extraordinary might, saw Kumbhakarna, the tamer of enemies covered with blood and having red eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is discernment in conflict: seeing the opponent clearly as he is, without denial, is necessary for righteous action and protection of others.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma visually identifies Kumbhakarṇa in the battlefield—marked by ferocity and wounds—signaling the immediacy of direct combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s alertness and composure—he assesses the threat before acting.