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Shloka 40

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

यथाशुष्काण्यरण्यानिग्रीष्मेदहतिपावकः ।तथावानरसैन्यानिकुम्बकर्णोविनिर्दहत् ।।।।

yathā śuṣkāṇy araṇyāni grīṣme dahati pāvakaḥ |

tathā vānarasainyāni kumbhakarṇo vinirdahat ||

വേനലിൽ അഗ്നി ഉണങ്ങിയ കാടുകളെ ദഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, കുംഭകർണൻ വാനരസൈന്യനിരകളെ ദഹിപ്പിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്നു.

यथाjust as
यथा:
सम्बन्ध/उपमान
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formउपमानवाचक-अव्यय
शुष्काणिdry
शुष्काणि:
कर्म-विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्
अरण्यानिforests
अरण्यानि:
कर्म (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन
ग्रीष्मेin summer
ग्रीष्मे:
अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
TypeNoun
Rootग्रीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन
दहतिburns
दहति:
क्रिया (क्रियापद)
TypeVerb
Rootदह् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
पावकःfire
पावकः:
कर्ता (कर्तृ)
TypeNoun
Rootपावक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
तथाso, likewise
तथा:
सम्बन्ध (correlative)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formतुलनावाचक-अव्यय (correlative adverb)
वानरसैन्यानिthe Vanara armies
वानरसैन्यानि:
कर्म (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवानर-सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वानराणां सैन्यानि)
कुम्बकर्णःKumbhakarna
कुम्बकर्णः:
कर्ता (कर्तृ)
TypeNoun
Rootकुम्बकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
विनिर्दहत्burned up, consumed
विनिर्दहत्:
क्रिया (क्रियापद)
TypeVerb
Rootवि-निर्-दह् (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Just as fire god consumes dried forest in summer, Kumbhakarna was consuming the Vanara army.

K
Kumbhakarṇa
V
Vānara army

FAQs

The verse warns that unchecked adharma-backed power can devastate many, like wildfire—hence dharma requires timely resistance and protection of the vulnerable.

Kumbhakarṇa’s onslaught is described through a vivid simile, emphasizing the scale and speed of destruction among the Vānara forces.

Implicitly, the need for dhairya (steadfastness) and strategic restraint in the defenders—panic must be replaced by disciplined response.