Shloka 152

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

दर्शयेक्ष्वाकुशार्दूलवीर्यंगात्रेषुमेलघु ।ततस्त्वांभक्षयिष्यामिदृष्टपौरुषविक्रमम् ।।।।

Transliteration

darśayekṣvākuśārdūla vīryaṃ gātreṣu me laghu | tatas tvāṃ bhakṣayiṣyāmi dṛṣṭapauruṣavikramam ||

Translation

“ഇക്ഷ്വാകുവംശത്തിലെ വ്യാഘ്രമേ! എന്റെ ശരീരാവയവങ്ങളിൽ നിന്റെ ചെറുതായ വീര്യം കാണിക്ക; നിന്റെ പുരുഷാർത്ഥ-വിക്രമം കണ്ടശേഷം ഞാൻ നിന്നെ ഭക്ഷിക്കും.”

Word by Word

• darśaye: I show
• darśaye: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ikṣvāku-śārdūla-vīryam: the prowess of the Ikṣvāku-tiger (Rāma)
• ikṣvāku-śārdūla-vīryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku + śārdūla + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः (इक्ष्वाकुकुले शार्दूलः इति—'tiger among Ikṣvākus'—तस्य वीर्यम्)

• gātreṣu: in (your) limbs/body
• gātreṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन (locative)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive: 'my')

• laghu: quickly/lightly
• laghu: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laghu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as adverb: quickly/lightly)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• bhakṣayiṣyāmi: I will devour
• bhakṣayiṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• dṛṣṭa-pauruṣa-vikramam: whose manliness and prowess have been seen
• dṛṣṭa-pauruṣa-vikramam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛṣṭa + pauruṣa + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः; 'दृष्टम् पौरुषं विक्रमश्च यस्य' इति (seen manliness and prowess)

Context

"O Tiger of the Ikshvaku clan! Exhibit your manliness, prowess, and valour on me. I will eat you up later."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāma
• Ikṣvāku (dynasty)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts dharmic heroism with predatory violence: true kṣātra-dharma is bravery governed by righteousness, while the threat to ‘devour’ signals a transgression into adharma (cruelty and dehumanization).

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa provokes Rāma, challenging him to demonstrate valor and threatening to consume him afterward.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s lineage-based ideal of righteous kingship is invoked (Ikṣvāku), implying the virtue of principled courage.