Shloka 6

कबन्धवधः

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

Devanagari script

निश्चेष्टानां वधो राजन्कुत्सितो जगतीपतेः।क्रतुमध्योपनीतानां पशूनामिव राघव।।।।

Transliteration

niścēṣṭānāṃ vadho rājan kutsito jagatīpateḥ | kratumadhyopanitānāṃ paśūnām iva rāghava ||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระราชา ข้าแต่ราฆวะ—การฆ่าผู้ไร้ทางสู้เป็นความน่าละอายสำหรับผู้เป็นเจ้าแห่งโลก ดุจการฆ่าสัตว์บูชาที่ถูกนำเข้ามากลางพิธียัญญะ

Word by Word

• निश्चेष्टानाम्: of the helpless
• निश्चेष्टानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-प्राय विशेषण (without activity/helpless); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पशूनाम् इति)

• वधः: killing
• वधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजन्: O king!
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• कुत्सितः: censurable
• कुत्सितः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुत्सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (वधः इति)

• जगतीपतेः: of the lord of the world
• जगतीपतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगत्याः पतिः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• क्रतुमध्योपनीतानाम्: of those brought into the midst of a sacrifice
• क्रतुमध्योपनीतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उप + नी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्राय समासः (क्रतोः मध्ये उपनीताः); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पशूनाम् इति)

• पशूनाम्: of animals
• पशूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

• राघव: O Raghava!
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

Before this vile demon gulps you and me let us cut off his long arms with our swords.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama (Rāghava)
• kratu (sacrificial rite)
• paśu (sacrificial animal)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma forbids cruelty toward the helpless; power must be restrained by moral accountability, even in violent contexts.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana reminds Rama of royal ethics while urging action—framing their response as principled, not wanton violence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral reflection under pressure—Lakshmana anchors action in the standards expected of Rama as an ideal ruler.