Shloka 20

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

शूलनिर्भिन्नमहाभुजान्तरःप्रविह्वलःशोणितमुद्वमन् मुखात् ।ननादभीमंहनुमान् महाहवेयुगान्तमेघस्न्तितस्वनोपमम् ।।।।

Transliteration

śūla-nirbhinnam ahā-bhujāntaraḥ pravihvalaḥ śoṇitam udvaman mukhāt |

nanāda bhīmaṃ hanūmān mahāhave yugānta-megha-stanita-svanopamam ||

Translation

മഹായുദ്ധത്തിൽ ശൂലത്താൽ ഭേദിക്കപ്പെട്ട വക്ഷസ്ഥലംകൊണ്ട് ഹനുമാൻ വിറച്ചു, വായിൽ നിന്ന് രക്തം തുപ്പി; എങ്കിലും അവൻ ഭയങ്കരമായി ഗർജ്ജിച്ചു—യുഗാന്തമേഘങ്ങളുടെ ഇടിമുഴക്കത്തിനെപ്പോലെ.

Word by Word

• शूल-निर्भिन्न-महा-भुज-अन्तरः: with his chest pierced by a pike
• शूल-निर्भिन्न-महा-भुज-अन्तरः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of हनुमान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + नि-√भिद् (धातु) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; बहुपद-समासः (तत्पुरुषप्रधानः): ‘whose chest/space between arms is pierced by a pike’

• प्रविह्वलः: reeling/anguished
• प्रविह्वलः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of हनुमान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रविह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• शोणितम्: blood
• शोणितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोणित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• उद्वमन्: vomiting/ejecting
• उद्वमन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent-participle qualifying हनुमान्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√वम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्तः (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• मुखात्: from (his) mouth
• मुखात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (Neuter, Ablative singular)

• ननाद: roared
• ननाद: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम् (3rd person singular)

• भीमम्: terribly
• भीमम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative qualifying sound)

• हनुमान्: Hanuman
• हनुमान्: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• महा-हवे: in the great battle
• महा-हवे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + हव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative singular); ‘in the great battle’

• युगान्त-मेघ-स्नित-स्वन-उपमम्: like the rumbling of end-of-age clouds
• युगान्त-मेघ-स्नित-स्वन-उपमम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of भीमम्/नादम् implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युगान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-विशेषण) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; समासः (तत्पुरुषप्रधानः): ‘comparable to the sound of clouds at the end of an age’

Context

The great son of wind-god, pierced with pike in the chest, ejected blood from his mouth, and roared in a frightening manner which was like thunder rumbling at the time of dissolution of the universe.

Characters & Entities

• Hanūmān
• Śūla (spear/pike)
• Kumbhakarṇa (implied attacker)

FAQs

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

Dharma is perseverance: even wounded, one does not abandon a righteous duty. The roar symbolizes refusal to yield to fear or pain when protecting truth and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

After being pierced by Kumbhakarṇa’s spear, Hanūmān bleeds but answers with a terrifying roar in the midst of battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanūmān’s dhairya (steadfast courage) and unwavering bhakti—his spirit remains unbroken despite severe injury.