Shloka 21

कुम्भकर्णविबोधनम्

The Awakening of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

किंकरिष्याम्यहंतेनशक्रतुल्यबलेनहि ।।।।ईदृशेव्यसनेघोरेयोनसाह्यायकल्पते ।

Transliteration

kiṁ kariṣyāmy ahaṁ tena śakratulyabalena hi | īdṛśe vyasane ghore yo na sāhyāya kalpate ||

Translation

เราจะทำสิ่งใดได้ด้วยเขาเล่า แม้กำลังจะเสมอท้าวสักกะ (อินทรา) หากในคราววิกฤตอันน่ากลัวเช่นนี้ เขามิอาจเป็นที่พึ่งช่วยเราได้

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; प्रश्नार्थक

• करिष्यामि: shall I do
• करिष्यामि: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• तेन: with/by him
• तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्

• शक्रतुल्यबलेन: by (his) Indra-like strength
• शक्रतुल्यबलेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र + तुल्य + बल (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः (शक्रतुल्यं बलं यस्य/शक्रतुल्यबलः; तस्य बलेन)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये-अव्ययम्

• ईदृशे: in such
• ईदृशे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (व्यसने)

• व्यसने: in calamity
• व्यसने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• घोरे: dreadful
• घोरे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (व्यसने)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्

• साह्याय: for help
• साह्याय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient-Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (Dative/4th), एकवचनम्

• कल्पते: is fit/available
• कल्पते: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

Context

"What can I do if he does not assist me in such a dreadful comb at because of his weakness, even though he is equal to Indra in strength"

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa (implied)
• Indra (Śakra)

FAQs

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

Capability must translate into timely duty; dharma is not only power but also responsible support in moments of crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa worries that Kumbhakarṇa, despite immense strength, may not be practically available to assist due to his inert state.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of sāhāyya (active assistance/solidarity) in righteous struggle—contrasted with useless strength that does not serve duty.