Shloka 1

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

तस्यराक्षसराजस्यनिशम्यपरिदेवितम् ।कुम्भकर्णोबभाषेदंवचनंप्रजहास च ।।6.63.1।।

Transliteration

tasya rākṣasarājasya niśamya paridevitam |

kumbhakarṇo babhāṣedaṁ vacanaṁ prajahāsa ca || 6.63.1 ||

Translation

เมื่อได้ยินคำคร่ำครวญของราชาแห่งรากษส กุมภกรรณจึงกล่าวถ้อยคำนี้ตอบ—พร้อมทั้งหัวเราะไปด้วย

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राक्षसराजस्य: of the king of Rakshasas
• राक्षसराजस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('राक्षसानां राजा'); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √शम्/√शम (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): having heard

• परिदेवितम्: lamentation
• परिदेवितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + √दिव्/√देव् (धातु) → परिदेवित (क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used as noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुम्भकर्णः: Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ('कुम्भवत् कर्णौ यस्य'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेषण (Determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वचनम् इति विशेषणम्

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रजहास: laughed
• प्रजहास: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √हस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/लुङ्-रूपसदृश (epic aorist/perfect usage), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Context

Hearing the lament of the Rakshasa king, Kumbhakarna replied laughing.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse sets the stage for dharmic counsel: a ruler’s grief must be met not merely with emotion, but with clear-headed advice (nīti) aimed at right action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa laments; Kumbhakarṇa hears him and begins responding, signaling a shift from lamentation to counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Frankness in counsel—Kumbhakarṇa is prepared to speak directly, even with a sharp, mocking edge.