Shloka 161

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

स तस्यबाहुंसहतालवृक्षंसमुद्यतंपन्नगभोगकल्पम् ।इन्द्रास्त्रयुक्तेनजघानरामोबाणेनजाम्भूनदचित्रितेन ।।।।

Transliteration

sa tasya bāhuṃ sahatālavṛkṣaṃ samudyataṃ pannagabhogakalpam | indrāstrayuktena jaghāna rāmo bāṇena jāmbhūnadacitritena ||

Translation

താളവൃക്ഷസഹിതം ഉയർത്തിയ അവന്റെ ഭുജം പന്നഗഫണത്തെപ്പോലെ വളഞ്ഞിരിക്കെ, രാമൻ ഇന്ദ്രാസ്ത്രസമന്വിതമായ ജാംബൂനദസ്വർണകാന്തിയാൽ ദീപ്തമായ ബാണംകൊണ്ട് അതിനെ പ്രഹരിച്ചു ഛേദിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• बाहुम्: arm
• बाहुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• सहतालवृक्षम्: together with the palmyra tree
• सहतालवृक्षम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह + तालवृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; अव्ययीभावः ‘saha’ = together-with; qualifying बाहुम्

• समुद्यतम्: raised
• समुद्यतम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-यम् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative, Singular; ‘raised/held up’; qualifying बाहुम्

• पन्नगभोगकल्पम्: like the coils of a serpent
• पन्नगभोगकल्पम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पन्नग + भोग + कल्प (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘pannagasya bhogaḥ’ + ‘kalpa’ = like serpent-coils; qualifying बाहुम्

• इन्द्रास्त्रयुक्तेन: charged with Indra’s weapon/mantra
• इन्द्रास्त्रयुक्तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रास्त्र + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘indrastrena yukta’ = charged with Indra-weapon; qualifying बाणेन

• जघान: struck/severed
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• बाणेन: with an arrow
• बाणेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• जाम्भूनदचित्रितेन: adorned with Jambunada-gold
• जाम्भूनदचित्रितेन: Karaṇa-anvaya (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाम्भूनद + चित्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘jāmbhūnadena citrita’ = adorned with gold; qualifying बाणेन

Context

Then Rama yoking his bow with an arrow charged with Indra's mantra and decked with gold severed Kumbhakarna's arm which was like coils of serpent and held the palmyra tree.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kumbhakarṇa
• Indra
• Tāla (palmyra tree)

FAQs

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

Dharma-guided power is controlled power: Rāma employs higher weapons not for display, but to prevent imminent harm to many.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa lifts an arm with a palmyra tree to strike; Rāma counters with an Indra-empowered arrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s mastery with restraint—skill (kauśala) used in service of protection.