Shloka 143

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

तंदृष्टवाराक्षसश्रेष्ठंप्रदीप्तानलवर्चसम् ।विस्फारयामासतदाकार्मुकंपुरुषर्षभः ।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasaśreṣṭhaṃ pradīptānalavarcasam |

visphārayāmāsa tadā kārmukaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||

Translation

അഗ്നിപോലെ ജ്വലിക്കുന്ന ആ രാക്ഷസശ്രേഷ്ഠനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, പുരുഷവൃഷഭനായ ശ്രീരാമൻ ഉടൻ തന്റെ ധനുസ്സിനെ കെട്ടിത്താണിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• राक्षसश्रेष्ठम्: the foremost of Rakshasas
• राक्षसश्रेष्ठम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस+श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः राक्षसानां श्रेष्ठः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रदीप्तानलवर्चसम्: having the radiance of blazing fire
• प्रदीप्तानलवर्चसम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदीप्त+अनल+वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः प्रदीप्तः अनलः (कर्मधारय) तस्य वर्चस् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विस्फारयामास: stretched; made (it) taut
• विस्फारयामास: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+स्फुर्/स्फार् (धातु; causative)
• Form: लिट्/परिप्रयोग (Periphrastic perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense (णिच्)

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; what is stretched)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुरुषर्षभः: the bull among men
• पुरुषर्षभः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष+ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः पुरुषाणां ऋषभः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Context

Seeing the foremost of Rakshasas, shining like fire, Rama, the bull among men stretched his bow.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes timely, disciplined action: when protection is required, hesitation becomes negligence; righteous defense must be decisive.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma prepares to engage Kumbhakarṇa directly, signaling the start of a focused duel-like confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s readiness and controlled strength—power held under moral purpose.