Shloka 20

कुम्भकर्णस्य प्रबोधनम्

The Awakening and Commissioning of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

भ्रातुरर्थेमहाबाहो कुरुकर्मसुदुष्करम् ।मयैवंनोक्तपूर्वोहिकश्चिद्भ्रातः परन्तप ।।6.62.20।।

Transliteration

bhrātur arthe mahābāho kuru karma suduṣkaram |

mayāivaṁ noktapūrvo hi kaścid bhrātaḥ parantapa ||6.62.20||

Translation

โอ้พี่น้องผู้มีแขนกำยำ เพื่อพี่น้องของเจ้า จงกระทำกิจอันยากยิ่งนี้เถิด โอ้พี่น้องผู้ปราบศัตรู เรามิได้เคยกล่าวขอเช่นนี้จากเจ้ามาก่อนเลย

Word by Word

• भ्रातुः: of (your) brother
• भ्रातुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अर्थे: for the sake
• अर्थे: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; अर्थे = 'for the sake of' (locative of purpose)

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('महान् बाहुः यस्य'); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुरु: do
• कुरु: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कर्म: deed/task
• कर्म: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुदुष्करम्: very difficult
• सुदुष्करम्: विशेषण (Adjective of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('अत्यन्तं दुष्करम्'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म इति विशेषणम्

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent in passive sense)/करण (Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (manner adverb: thus)

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

• उक्तपूर्वः: previously said (before)
• उक्तपूर्वः: विशेषण (Adjective of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (√वच् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('पूर्वम् उक्तः'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अहम् (implicit) इति विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• कश्चित्: someone/anyone
• कश्चित्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun: someone/any)

• भ्रातः: O brother
• भ्रातः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• परन्तप: O scorcher of foes
• परन्तप: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम् (प्रातिपदिक) + तप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('परान् तपति' = scorcher of foes); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

While Kumbhakarna accompanied by troops of Rakshasas, was taking strides to his brother's abode, even the earth was shaken.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

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

The verse raises the dharma-question of loyalty: a brother appeals to kinship duty, but dharma requires judging whether the requested action is righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa begins his direct request to Kumbhakarṇa, stressing the difficulty and the exceptional nature of the demand.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

From Rāvaṇa’s side: persuasive reliance on familial obligation; from Kumbhakarṇa’s implied side: capacity for arduous action and steadfastness.