Shloka 33

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

तंनखैर्धशनैश्चापिमुष्टिभिर्बाहुभिस्तथा ।कुम्भकर्णंमहाबाहहुंतेजघ्नुःप्लवगर्षभाः ।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ nakhair daśanaiś cāpi muṣṭibhir bāhubhis tathā |

kumbhakarṇaṃ mahābāhuṃ te jaghnuḥ plavagarṣabhāḥ |

Translation

അപ്പോൾ വാനരന്മാരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠരായ ആ വാനരവൃഷഭന്മാർ മഹാബാഹുവായ കുംഭകർണ്ണനെ നഖങ്ങളാലും പല്ലുകളാലും, കൂടാതെ മുഷ്ടികളാലും ഭുജങ്ങളാലും പ്രഹരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• śailam: a mountain
• śailam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमानपद

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमानद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

• śailābhāḥ: mountain-like
• śailābhāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaila-ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शैलस्य आभा/सदृशता येषां)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• plavaga-ṛṣabhāḥ: bulls among the monkeys
• plavaga-ṛṣabhāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaga (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्लवगानां ऋषभाः)

• samāruhya: having climbed up
• samāruhya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), उपसर्गः सम्+आ-; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• samutpatya: having leapt up
• samutpatya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), उपसर्गः सम्+उत्-; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• dadaṃśuḥ: bit
• dadaṃśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: daṃś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चयद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• mahābalāḥ: very strong
• mahābalāḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (महद् बलं येषां)

Context

The bulls among Vanaras hurt Kumbhakarna, endowed with strong shoulders, by scratching with nails, biting with teeth and hitting him with arms and fists.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarna
• Vānara

FAQs

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

Dharma in battle includes determined defense: when a destructive aggressor threatens the innocent, force is used to restrain him within the wartime context.

What is the narrative situation?

The Vānaras engage Kumbhakarṇa at close quarters, using natural weapons—claws, teeth, fists, and arms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pratighāta (active resistance) and vīrya (valor) in the face of terror.