Shloka 34

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

स वानरसहस्त्रैरजितः पर्वतोपमैः ।रराजराक्षसव्याघ्रोगिरिरात्मरुहैरिव ।।।।

Transliteration

sa vānarasahasrair ajitaḥ parvatopamaiḥ |

rarāja rākṣasavyāghro girir ātmaruhair iva |

Translation

പർവ്വതസദൃശരായ അജിത വാനരസഹസ്രങ്ങൾ അവനെ മൂടിയപ്പോൾ, രാക്ഷസന്മാരിൽ വ്യാഘ്രസമനായ അവൻ, വൃക്ഷങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞ പർവ്വതംപോലെ ദീപ്തിയായി തിളങ്ങി.

Word by Word

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

• nakhaiḥ: with nails/claws
• nakhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• daśanaiḥ: with teeth
• daśanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

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

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• muṣṭibhiḥ: with fists
• muṣṭibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• bāhubhiḥ: with arms
• bāhubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• tathā: thus/in that way
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• kumbhakarṇam: Kumbhakarṇa
• kumbhakarṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mahābāhum: mighty-armed
• mahābāhum: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (महान्तौ बाहू यस्य)

• te: they
• te: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• jaghnuḥ: struck/beat
• jaghnuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Context

The tiger among Rakshasas covered with thousands of Rakshasas was resembling a mountain with trees grown on itself.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarna
• Rākṣasa
• Vānara

FAQs

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

The verse underscores discernment: outward grandeur or power does not equal righteousness; dharma evaluates by conduct, not by terrifying splendor.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa, swarmed by countless Vānaras, still appears immense—like a forested mountain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

For the Vānaras: perseverance; for the narrative: moral clarity that power can serve adharma.