Shloka 14

निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha

Hanuman’s Duel

Devanagari script

तथाभिहतस्तेनहनुमान् प्लवगोत्तमः ।।।।मुष्टिंसम्वर्तयामासबलेनातिमहाबलः ।

Transliteration

tathābhihatas tena hanumān plavagottamaḥ |

muṣṭiṃ saṃvartayāmāsa balenātimahābalaḥ ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ പ്രഹരിക്കപ്പെട്ട വാനരോത്തമൻ ഹനുമാൻ, അതിമഹാബലവാൻ, തന്റെ മുഴുവൻ ശക്തിയാൽ മുഷ്ടി കെട്ടിപ്പിടിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner: "thus")

• अभिहतः: struck
• अभिहतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेन: by him/with that
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• हनुमान्: Hanuman
• हनुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्लवगोत्तमः: best of monkeys
• प्लवगोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लवग + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्लवगानाम् उत्तमः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मुष्टिम्: fist
• मुष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• संवर्तयामास: clenched/contracted
• संवर्तयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-वृत्/वर्त् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद, perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense (णिच्) "to make roll/contract"

• बलेन: by strength
• बलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• अतिमहाबलः: exceedingly mighty
• अतिमहाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (अतिशयेन महाबलः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (हनुमान्)

Context

Highly energetic champion endowed with speed, close to wind god in valour raising his fist instantly crushed Nikumbha on the chest.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma includes disciplined power: strength is gathered and directed purposefully, not wasted in panic or cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

After being struck, Hanumān prepares to counterattack, focusing his energy into a decisive response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Saṃyama (controlled force): Hanumān’s restraint and focus precede effective action.