Shloka 97

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

सम्प्रस्रवंस्तदामेदश्शोणिते च महाबलः ।वध्यमानोनगेन्द्राग्रैर्भक्ष्यामासवानरान् ।।।।

Transliteration

samprasravaṁs tadā medaḥśoṇite ca mahābalaḥ |

vadhyamāno nagendrāgrair bhakṣyāmāsa vānarān ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ മഹാബലനായ കുംഭകർണ്ണൻ പർവ്വതശിഖരങ്ങളുടെ പ്രഹാരങ്ങൾ ഏറ്റിട്ടും, മേദസ്സും രക്തവും ഒഴുകിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കെ, വാനരന്മാരെ ഭക്ഷിച്ചുകൊണ്ടേയിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सम्प्रस्रवन्: oozing forth
• सम्प्रस्रवन्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-प्र-√स्रु (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (time adverb)

• मेदः: fat/marrow
• मेदः: कर्म/सहभाव (what oozes)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (यहाँ शोणिते च इत्यनेन सह द्रव्यद्वन्द्वार्थे)

• शोणिते: blood
• शोणिते: कर्म/सहभाव
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोणित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन/एकवचन-सम्भाव्य; (मेदः ... शोणिते च = ‘fat and blood’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• महाबलः: the mighty one
• महाबलः: कर्ता
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वध्यमानः: being struck/killed at
• वध्यमानः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वध् (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नगेन्द्राग्रैः: by mountain-peaks
• नगेन्द्राग्रैः: करण (Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नग-इन्द्र-अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (नगानाम् इन्द्राः; तेषाम् अग्राणि/शिखराणि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• भक्ष्यामास: kept devouring/began devouring
• भक्ष्यामास: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect; epic periphrastic), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वानरान्: vanaras
• वानरान्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Context

Then the mighty Kumbhakarna while being struck by peaks of mountains, he was feasting on Vanaras fat and blood oozing out from his mouth.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Vānaras
• Mountain peaks (as weapons)

FAQs

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

It depicts how entrenched adharma persists even under punishment; Dharma teaching emphasizes timely repentance and restraint before one becomes hardened in wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite being attacked with massive blows (mountain-peaks), Kumbhakarṇa continues his slaughter and devouring in the thick of battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The Vānara side’s perseverance in resisting overwhelming force is highlighted indirectly—standing firm even when the enemy seems unstoppable.