Shloka 5

अकम्पनवधः — The Slaying of Akampana

Hanuman’s rout of the Rakshasa host

Devanagari script

एतान्निहन्तुमिच्छामिसमरश्लाघिनोह्यहम् ।एतैःप्रमथितंसर्वंदृश्यतेराक्षसांबलम् ।।6.56.5।।

Transliteration

etān nihantum icchāmi samara-ślāghino hy aham |

etaiḥ pramathitaṃ sarvaṃ dṛśyate rākṣasāṃ balam ||6.56.5||

Translation

“ข้าปรารถนาจะสังหารวานรเหล่านี้ เพราะข้าภาคภูมิในศึกสงคราม ทั้งกองทัพรากษสทั้งมวลแลดูถูกพวกเขาทำให้แตกพ่ายยับเยินแล้ว”

Word by Word

• एतान्: these (ones)
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• निहन्तुम्: to kill
• निहन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): to slay

• इच्छामि: I desire
• इच्छामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• समरश्लाघिनः: boasting of battle
• समरश्लाघिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक) + श्लाघिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘boasting of battle’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् एतान् (implied: ‘those who...’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतौ-निपात (indeed/for)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन (1st person pronoun)

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• प्रमथितम्: crushed/harassed
• प्रमथितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-मथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् बलम्

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् बलम्

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): is seen/appears

• राक्षसाम्: of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• बलम्: army/strength
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Hanuman also who was richly endowed with goodness greatly honoured all the Vanaras accordingly.

Characters & Entities

• Akampana
• Vānaras
• Rākṣasa army

FAQs

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

The verse warns that pride in violence (mere ‘boasting of war’) is not dharma; true kṣatriya conduct requires disciplined courage rather than ego-driven destruction.

What is the narrative situation?

Akampana, seeing the Rākṣasa forces devastated by the Vānaras, declares his intent to kill them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Here the highlighted trait is not virtue but a flaw—martial arrogance—set against the larger epic’s ideal of restrained, principled strength.