Shloka 4
निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha
Hanuman’s Duel
तमाविध्यमहातेजाश्शक्रध्वजसमंतदा ।निननादविवृत्तास्योनिकुम्भोभीमविक्रमः ।।।।
tam āvidhya mahātejāḥ śakradhvajasamaṃ tadā | ninanāda vivṛttāsyo nikumbho bhīmavikramaḥ ||
അപ്പോൾ മഹാതേജസ്വിയായ ഭീമവിക്രമൻ നികുംഭൻ ഇന്ദ്രധ്വജംപോലെ ദീപ്തമായ ആ ആയുധം വീശി, വായ് വിശാലമായി തുറന്ന് ഗർജിച്ച്, ശക്തിയായി പ്രഹരിച്ചു.
The club was highly splendorous and of terrific strength with the banner of Indra and Nikumbha took that club roared opening his mouth wide and pierced it with force.
FAQs
Outer grandeur can mimic divine symbols (Indra’s banner), yet dharma is measured by conduct and purpose, not by intimidating display.
Nikumbha enters the fray with a terrifying roar and weapon-display, heightening tension before his defeat.
From the dharmic lens, the emphasis is on the need for courage in the face of intimidation rather than on Nikumbha’s qualities.