Shloka 24

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

ऋषभश्शरभोनीलोगवाक्षोगन्धमादनः ।।।।पञ्चवानरशार्दूलाःकुम्बुकर्णमुपाद्रवन् ।

Transliteration

ṛṣabhaś śarabho nīlo gavākṣo gandhamādanaḥ |

pañca vānaraśārdūlāḥ kumbukarṇam upādravan ||

Translation

ഋഷഭൻ, ശരഭൻ, നീലൻ, ഗവാക്ഷൻ, ഗന്ധമാദനൻ—വാനരവീരന്മാരിൽ വ്യാഘ്രസമാനമായ അഞ്ചു മഹാശൂരർ—കുംഭകർണനിലേക്കു പാഞ്ഞുകയറി.

Word by Word

• ऋषभः: Rishabha
• ऋषभः: कर्ता (Karta/part of compound subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; नाम

• शरभः: Sarabha
• शरभः: कर्ता (Karta/part of compound subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; नाम

• नीलः: Nila
• नीलः: कर्ता (Karta/part of compound subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; नाम

• गवाक्षः: Gavaksha
• गवाक्षः: कर्ता (Karta/part of compound subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गवाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; नाम

• गन्धमादनः: Gandhamadana
• गन्धमादनः: कर्ता (Karta/part of compound subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धमादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; नाम

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या (indeclinable-like numeral) qualifying वानरशार्दूलाः

• वानर-शार्दूलाः: tiger-like vanaras
• वानर-शार्दूलाः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; ‘tigers among vanaras’

• कुम्बुकर्णम्: Kumbhakarna
• कुम्बुकर्णम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• उपाद्रवन्: attacked/rushed at
• उपाद्रवन्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-√द्रु/द्रव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-बहुवचनम् (3rd person plural)

Context

Rshaba, Sarabha, Neela, Gavaksha and Gandhamadana, these five tigers among Vanaras attacked Kumbhakarna.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛṣabha
• Śarabha
• Nīla
• Gavākṣa
• Gandhamādana
• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as collective responsibility: when adharma grows formidable, righteous allies act together rather than leaving the burden to one hero alone.

What is the narrative situation?

A group of leading Vānara champions jointly engages Kumbhakarṇa to check his advance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The shared virtue is saṅghabala (strength through unity) and utsāha (spirited initiative).