Shloka 3

कबन्धवधः

The Severing of Kabandha’s Arms and the Opening of Dialogue

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणो वाक्यं प्राप्तकालं हितं तदा।उवाचाऽर्तिं समापन्नो विक्रमे कृतलक्षणः।।।।

Transliteration

tac chrutvā lakṣmaṇo vākyaṃ prāptakālaṃ hitaṃ tadā | uvāca ārtiṃ samāpanno vikrame kṛtalakṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

ครั้นพระลักษมณ์ได้สดับถ้อยคำนั้น แม้จะโศกเศร้า ก็รวบรวมเดชานุภาพแห่งวีรกรรม แล้วในกาลอันเหมาะสมตรัสถ้อยคำที่ควรแก่กาลและเป็นประโยชน์

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to वाक्यम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-hetu (क्रिया-हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (Gerund)

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• वाक्यम्: speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• प्राप्तकालम्: timely
• प्राप्तकालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (timely/at the right time), द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to वाक्यम्

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to वाक्यम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• आर्तिम्: distress
• आर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• समापन्नः: having fallen into
• समापन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आपद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘having fallen into/undergone’, प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; लक्ष्मणः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विक्रमे: in valor
• विक्रमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विषय/क्षेत्रे ‘in valor’

• कृतलक्षणः: having resolved/determined
• कृतलक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (having made a resolve/mark), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; लक्ष्मणः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

O best among men hear how I have been deformed due to my haughtiness.इत्यार्ष श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे सप्ततितमस्सर्गः।।Thus ends the seventieth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Kabandha (implied by context)
• Rama (implied by context)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes discernment: speaking and acting in a way that is both timely (kāla) and beneficial (hita), especially in crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kabandha threatens to eat them, the narration marks Lakshmana’s transition from distress to decisive counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pragmatic courage—Lakshmana’s ability to choose effective action and speech at the right time.