Shloka 86

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

एवंगृहीतेनकथंनुनामशक्यंमयासम्प्रतिकर्तुमद्य ।तथाकरिष्यामियथाहरीणांभविष्यतीष्टं च हितं च कार्यम् ।।।।

Transliteration

evaṁ gṛhītena kathaṁ nu nāma śakyaṁ mayā sampratikartum adya |

tathā kariṣyāmi yathā harīṇāṁ bhaviṣyati iṣṭaṁ ca hitaṁ ca kāryam ||

Translation

"ഇപ്രകാരം പിടിയിലായ എനിക്ക് ഇപ്പോൾ എന്ത് ചെയ്യാൻ കഴിയും? എങ്കിലും വാനരന്മാർക്ക് ഇഷ്ടവും ഹിതവുമായ കാര്യം സാധിക്കുന്ന രീതിയിൽ ഞാൻ പ്രവർത്തിക്കും."

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्ययम्

• गृहीतेन: by (his) being seized
• गृहीतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhīta (कृदन्त; √grah धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्यय; ‘by/with (him) being seized’ इति तृतीया-हेतौ

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्ययम् (interrogative adverb)

• नु: indeed (question particle)
• नु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/निपातः (particle)

• नाम: at all; indeed
• नाम: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphatic particle)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता; भावे प्रयोगः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (कृदन्त; √śak धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; यत्-प्रत्यय (potential/gerundive) ‘possible’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सम्प्रति: now
• सम्प्रति: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samprati (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्ययम् (now; at present)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन; infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (Infinitive)

• अद्य: today; now
• अद्य: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्ययम् (today/now)

• तथा: in that way
• तथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्ययम् (in that manner)

• करिष्यामि: I will do
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• यथा: so that
• यथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/प्रकार-अव्ययम् (so that; as)

• हरीणाम्: of the monkeys
• हरीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• इष्टम्: desired; pleasing
• इष्टम्: Karta (कर्ता; भवति इत्यस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (कृदन्त; √iṣ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्यय; ‘desired/pleasing’

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Karta (कर्ता; भवति इत्यस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (कृदन्त; √dhā धातु; ‘placed/beneficial’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्यय; ‘beneficial’

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• कार्यम्: the task to be done
• कार्यम्: Karta (कर्ता; भवति इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive used as noun) ‘that which is to be done’

Context

'Caught in this way, how can I do (take action)? I will do what is possible, pleasing, and good to Vanaras now.'

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vānara-s (harīṇām)

FAQs

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

A leader’s dharma is to choose action that serves the collective good (hita) and rightful aim (kārya), not merely personal impulse or revenge.

What is the narrative situation?

While physically restrained, Sugrīva evaluates what response is feasible and resolves to act for the welfare of the Vānara forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible leadership: prioritizing the army’s welfare and the mission over ego.