Shloka 160

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

स कुम्भकर्णोऽस्त्रनिकृत्तबाहुर्महासिकृत्ताग्रइवाचलेन्द्रः ।उत्पाटयामासकरेणवृक्षंततोऽभिदुद्रावरणेनरेन्द्रम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa kumbhakarṇo 'stranikṛttabāhur mahāsikṛttāgra ivācalendraḥ | utpāṭayāmāsa kareṇa vṛkṣaṃ tato 'bhidudrāva raṇe narendram ||

Translation

Kumbhakarṇa, com o braço decepado por uma arma, parecia uma grande montanha cujo cume foi talhado; então, arrancando com a mão uma palmeira tálā, arremeteu contra o rei no meio da batalha.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• कुम्भकर्णः: Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• अस्त्रनिकृत्तबाहुः: whose arm was cut off by a weapon
• अस्त्रनिकृत्तबाहुः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्त्र + निकृत्त + बाहु (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘astrena nikṛttaḥ bāhuḥ yasya’ (arm cut by a weapon) used as epithet

• महासिकृत्ताग्रः: with the tip cut off by a great sword
• महासिकृत्ताग्रः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महासि + कृत्त + अग्र (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘mahāsinā kṛttam agraṃ yasya’ (whose tip/peak is cut by a great sword)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमा-अव्यय)

• अचलेन्द्रः: a great mountain
• अचलेन्द्रः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘acalanām indraḥ’ = lord of mountains (a great mountain)

• उत्पाटयामास: uprooted / tore out
• उत्पाटयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-पाट् (धातु)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्-परस्मैपद/परिप्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• करेण: with (his) hand
• करेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• वृक्षम्: tree
• वृक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रम/अनन्तर-अव्यय)

• अभिदुद्राव: rushed towards
• अभिदुद्राव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-द्रु (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• नरेन्द्रम्: the king (Rama)
• नरेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘nṛṇām indraḥ’ = king (Rama)

Context

One arm cut off, Kumbhakarna deprived of limb looked like a mountain with peak cut off. Thereafter he seized a palmyra tree and went towards Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāma (narendra)
• Tāla (palmyra tree)

FAQs

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

Persistence without righteousness becomes destructive; dharma values courage, but only when aligned with just intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite losing an arm, Kumbhakarṇa uproots a palmyra tree and charges straight at Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tenacity and fearlessness (though serving adharma), highlighting how virtues can be ethically redirected by the cause they serve.