Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

कुम्भकर्णकुलेजातोधृष्टःप्राकृतदर्शनः ।अवलिप्तो न शक्नोषिकृत्यंसर्वत्रवेदितुम् ।।।।

Transliteration

kumbhakarṇakule jāto dhṛṣṭaḥ prākṛtadarśanaḥ |

avalipto na śaknoṣi kṛtyaṃ sarvatra veditum ||

Translation

कुम्भकर्णकुलेजातोऽपि धृष्टः प्राकृतदर्शनः। अवलिप्तस्त्वं सर्वत्र कर्तव्यं न शक्नोषि वेदितुम्॥

Word by Word

• sthānam: proper place/position
• sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka (neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular)

• vṛddhim: increase/prosperity
• vṛddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (feminine), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• hānim: loss/decline
• hānim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (feminine), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• deśakālavibhāgavit: knower of place-time distinctions
• deśakālavibhāgavit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deśa-kāla-vibhāga-vit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (deśa+kāla+vibhāga + vit = knower of distinctions of place and time)

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• pareṣām: of others (enemies)
• pareṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Bahuvacana (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• budhyate: understands
• budhyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √budh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (singular), Ātmanepada

• rākṣasarṣabhaḥ: the bull among rākṣasas
• rākṣasarṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa-ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rākṣasānām ṛṣabhaḥ = bull among rākṣasas)

Context

"Kumbhakarna! Although you are born of noble race, you are insolent, seeing your low intellect in all aspects you have no knowledge of what should be done or not to be done."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

What dharmic principle is emphasized in this verse?

It stresses विवेक (discernment) in dharma—knowing what is kṛtya (right to do) in each context, rather than acting from pride or impulsiveness.

How does this verse relate to satya (truth)?

The speaker states an uncomfortable truth to correct wrongdoing: satya here functions as moral candor meant to guide one back toward right action.