Shloka 8

कुम्भकर्णवधश्रवणेन रावणविलापः

Ravana’s Lament on Hearing of Kumbhakarna’s Slaying

Devanagari script

भ्रातरंनिहतंश्रुत्वारामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ।महोदरमहापार्श्वौशोकाक्रान्तौबभूवतुः ।।।।

Transliteration

bhrātaraṃ nihataṃ śrutvā rāmeṇākliṣṭa-karmaṇā |

mahodara-mahāpārśvau śokākrāntau babhūvatuḥ ||

Translation

அக்லிஷ்டகர்மனான ஸ்ரீராமனால் தம் சகோதரன் கொல்லப்பட்டான் எனக் கேட்டதும், மகோதரனும் மகாபார்ஷ்வனும் துயரால் ஆட்கொள்ளப்பட்டனர்.

Word by Word

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• निहतम्: slain
• निहतम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) + नि- (उपसर्ग) → निहत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• रामेण: by Rama
• रामेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अक्लिष्टकर्मणा: of unwearied deeds
• अक्लिष्टकर्मणा: कर्तृविशेषण (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लिष्ट-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अक्लिष्टं कर्म यस्य/अक्लिष्टं कर्म)

• महोदरमहापार्श्वौ: Mahodara and Mahapārśva
• महोदरमहापार्श्वौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदर + महापार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक; समाहार/समुच्चय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (महोदरश्च महापार्श्वश्च)

• शोकाक्रान्तौ: overcome by grief
• शोकाक्रान्तौ: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक-आक्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शोकेन आक्रान्तौ)

• बभूवतुः: became / were
• बभूवतुः: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

"Your brother Kumbhakarna showed his might for a short time. But by virtue of Rama's energy and arrows, his mountain-like body was reduced to a trunk of dreadful appearance. Bleeding excessively, he was like a mass submerged in an ocean of blood. like a tree caught in forest fire he was blocking the gate of Lanka in ugly form with a head, nose and ears chopped off."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kumbhakarṇa
• Mahodara
• Mahāpārśva

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained through steady, untiring right action; Rāma’s unwavering effort contrasts with the grief that follows adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s brothers react to the news that Kumbhakarṇa has been killed by Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s perseverance in duty (akliṣṭa-karma) is highlighted as a defining heroic quality.