Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 29

निकुम्भिला

यज्ञविघ्नः — Vibhishana’s Counsel and Lakshmana’s March to Nikumbhila

Devanagari script

सोऽभिवाद्यगुरोःपादौकृत्वाचापिप्रदक्षिणम् ।निकुम्भिलामभिययौचैत्यंरावणिपालितम् ।।6.85.29।।

Transliteration

so 'bhivādya guroḥ pādau kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam |

nikumbhilām abhiyayau caityaṃ rāvaṇi-pālitam ||6.85.29||

Translation

त्याने पूज्य गुरूंच्या चरणांना वंदन करून प्रदक्षिणा घातली; आणि मग रावणिने रक्षित निकुंभिला-चैत्याकडे प्रस्थान केले।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अभिवाद्य: having saluted
• अभिवाद्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); 'having saluted'

• गुरोः: of the elder (brother/teacher)
• गुरोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; 'of the elder/teacher'

• पादौ: two feet
• पादौ: कर्म (Karma; object of saluting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); 'having done'

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/अवधारण (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation
• प्रदक्षिणम्: कर्म (Karma; object of doing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'circumambulation' (object of कृत्वा)

• निकुम्भिलाम्: Nikumbhilā
• निकुम्भिलाम्: कर्म/देश (Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकुम्भिला (प्रातिपदिक; place-name)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गन्तव्य-देश

• अभिययौ: went towards
• अभिययौ: क्रिया (Kriyā; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चैत्यम्: shrine/sanctuary
• चैत्यम्: कर्म (Karma; goal/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; apposition to निकुम्भिलाम् (place as shrine)

• रावणिपालितम्: guarded by Rāvaṇi
• रावणिपालितम्: कर्म (Karma; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रावणि (प्रातिपदिक) + पालित (कृदन्त; √पाल् 'to protect, rule')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'रावणिना पालितम्' = protected/ruled by Rāvaṇi; विशेषण (of चैत्यं)

Context

Saluting the feet of the eldest brother and going round him, Laksmana proceeded to Nikumbhila sanctuary ruled by Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma (revered elder/brother)
• Nikumbhilā
• caitya (sanctuary/shrine)
• Rāvaṇi (Indrajit/Meghanāda)

FAQs

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

Dharma is maryādā—right conduct even in crisis: honoring elders/guru before undertaking a dangerous duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa formally pays respect to Rāma and then advances toward Nikumbhilā, where the enemy’s sacred/strategic rite is connected.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and reverence—strength grounded in disciplined tradition.