Shloka 7

निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha

Hanuman’s Duel

Devanagari script

परिघाग्रेणपुष्पोटवातग्रथनिर्महात्मनः ।प्रजज्वालसघोषश्चविधूमइवपावकः ।।।।

Transliteration

parighāgreṇa puṣpoṭa vātagrathaniḥ mahātmanaḥ | prajajvāla sa-ghoṣaś ca vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ ||

Translation

മഹാത്മാവായ യോദ്ധാവ് പരിഘത്തിന്റെ അഗ്രം ചുഴറ്റിയപ്പോൾ കാറ്റിന്റെ കെട്ടുപിണഞ്ഞ ചുഴലി പൊട്ടിത്തെറിച്ചു; അത് ഘോഷത്തോടെ ജ്വലിച്ചു, പുകരഹിതമായ അഗ്നിയെപ്പോലെ.

Word by Word

• nagaryā: by/with the city
• nagaryā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• viṭapāvatyā: (named) Viṭapāvatī
• viṭapāvatyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṭapāvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नगर्याः विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन (name of the city)

• gandharva-bhavana-uttamaiḥ: with excellent Gandharva dwellings
• gandharva-bhavana-uttamaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva + bhavana + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘with excellent Gandharva-mansions’

• sa-tārā-graha-nakṣatram: (with) stars, planets, and constellations
• sa-tārā-graha-nakṣatram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + tārā + graha + nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः; ‘(the sky) with stars, planets, and constellations’

• sa-candram: with the moon
• sa-candram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘with the moon’

• sa-mahā-graham: with great planets
• sa-mahā-graham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + mahā + graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘with great planets’

• nikumbha-parigha-ghūrṇam: whirled by Nikumbha's club
• nikumbha-parigha-ghūrṇam: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikumbha + parigha + ghūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘made to whirl by Nikumbha’s club’

• bhramati: revolves
• bhramati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhram (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्ययम्

• nabhaḥ-sthalam: the sky
• nabhaḥ-sthalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas + sthala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘sky-region’

Context

Nikumbha was shining with ornaments on his chest, golden armlets on arms, wonderful earrings and wonderful garland s holding clubs in hand, with bow like Indra's and roaring like lightning and thunder in the clouds.

Characters & Entities

• Nikumbha
• Fire (pāvaka)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires steadiness amid chaos: the verse dramatizes the battlefield’s terrifying energy, against which righteous warriors must maintain discipline and purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Nikumbha’s weapon-whirling creates a violent, fiery spectacle in the air, intensifying the combat atmosphere.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage under threat—standing firm when the enemy’s display is meant to overwhelm morale.