Shloka 36

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

प्रक्षिप्ताःकुम्बकर्णेनवक्त्रेपातालसन्निभे ।नासापुटाभ्यांनिर्जग्मुःकर्णाभ्यांचैववानराः ।।।।

Transliteration

prakṣiptāḥ kumbakarṇena vaktre pātālasannibhe |

nāsāpuṭābhyāṃ nirjagmuḥ karṇābhyāṃ caiva vānarāḥ |

Translation

കുംഭകർണ്ണൻ പാതാളസദൃശമായ തന്റെ വായിലേക്കു എറിഞ്ഞ വാനരന്മാർ അവന്റെ നാസാരന്ധ്രങ്ങളിലൂടെ പുറത്തുവന്നു; കാതുകളിലൂടെയും അവർ പുറത്തേക്കു പോയി.

Word by Word

• bāhubhyām: with (his) two arms
• bāhubhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), द्विवचन

• vānarān: monkeys
• vānarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मविशेषण

• pragṛhya: having seized
• pragṛhya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), उपसर्गः प्र-; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahābalaḥ: mighty
• mahābalaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (महद् बलं यस्य)

• bhakṣyāmāsa: began to devour
• bhakṣyāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; आरम्भार्थक-प्रयोग (began to devour)

• saṅkruddhaḥ: enraged
• saṅkruddhaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkruddha (कृदन्त; √krudh with sam-)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• garuḍaḥ: Garuḍa
• garuḍaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान

• pannagān: serpents
• pannagān: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pannaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

Context

As Kumbhakarna thrust Vanaras into his mouth, the Vanaras came out through his nostrils and also through his ears.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarna
• Vānara
• Pātāla

FAQs

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

The imagery warns that adharma becomes a consuming abyss; dharma, by contrast, requires boundaries and protection of life even amid conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa swallows or forces Vānaras into his mouth, yet they escape, bursting out through his nostrils and ears.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jīvitāśā and tenacity—the Vānaras’ instinct to survive and continue resisting.