Shloka 3

निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha

Hanuman’s Duel

Devanagari script

हेमपट्टपरिक्षिप्तंवज्रविद्रुमभूषितम् ।यमदण्डोपमंभीमंरक्षसांभयनाशनम् ।।।।

Transliteration

hemapaṭṭaparikṣiptaṃ vajravidrumabhūṣitam | yamadaṇḍopamaṃ bhīmaṃ rakṣasāṃ bhayanāśanam ||

Translation

അത് സ്വർണ്ണപ്പട്ടികകൊണ്ട് ബന്ധിക്കപ്പെട്ടതും, വജ്രവും പ്രവാളവും കൊണ്ട് അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതും, യമദണ്ഡംപോലെ ഭയങ്കരവുമായ—രാക്ഷസരുടെ ഭയം അകറ്റുന്ന ആയുധവുമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• hema-paṭṭa-parikṣiptam: encircled with a golden band
• hema-paṭṭa-parikṣiptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + paṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + parikṣipta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हेमपट्टेन परिक्षिप्तम्) विशेषणम् (parigham implied)

• vajra-vidruma-bhūṣitam: adorned with diamonds and coral
• vajra-vidruma-bhūṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + vidruma (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (वज्रं च विद्रुमं च) तैः भूषितम्; विशेषणम्

• yama-daṇḍa-upamam: like Yama's staff
• yama-daṇḍa-upamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यमदण्डेन उपमम्) विशेषणम्

• bhīmam: terrible
• bhīmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• rakṣasām: of the Rakshasas
• rakṣasām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• bhaya-nāśanam: destroyer of fear
• bhaya-nāśanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भयस्य नाशनम्) विशेषणम्

Context

It was decked with a gold band, encrusted with diamonds and corals, in the form of Yama's rod, a fierce one which dispelled fear.

Characters & Entities

• Yama (as simile: Yama-daṇḍa)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Power and splendor are ethically neutral: formidable weapons can embolden adharma as easily as dharma; the epic later evaluates them by the cause they serve.

What is the narrative situation?

The poet describes the terrifying weaponry associated with the rākṣasa side before the clash escalates.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a contrast: the verse sets up the intimidation of the enemy, against which dharmic courage must stand.