Shloka 19

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

चपलस्येहकृत्यानिसहसानुप्रधावतः ।छिद्रमन्येप्रपद्यन्तेक्रौञ्चस्य ख मिवद्विजाः ।।6.63.19।।

Transliteration

capalasyeha kṛtyāni sahasānupradhāvataḥ | chidram anye prapadyante krauñcasya kham iva dvijāḥ ||6.63.19||

Translation

เมื่อพระราชาผู้ใจคะนองวู่วาม รีบเร่งไล่ตามกิจด้วยความหุนหัน คนอื่นย่อมฉวยช่องโหว่ของพระองค์—ดุจนกทั้งหลายพบช่องในนภารอบเขาเคราญจ์

Word by Word

• capalasya: of the fickle one
• capalasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: capala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; 'of the fickle (person)'

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक)

• kṛtyāni: undertakings
• kṛtyāni: Karma/Viṣaya (विषय/Topic; with prapadyante)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sahasā: impetuously
• sahasā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (रीतिवाचक): 'suddenly/impetuously'

• anupradhāvataḥ: of one rushing after (things)
• anupradhāvataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-pra-√dhāv (धातु: √dhāv; उपसर्ग: anu, pra)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) in Genitive singular (षष्ठी एकवचन); used as genitive absolute/qualifier: 'of one who rushes after'

• chidram: a flaw/opening
• chidram: Karma (कर्म/Object of prapadyante)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chidra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• prapadyante: take advantage of / resort to
• prapadyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pad (धातु: √pad; उपसर्ग: pra)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Plural

• krauñcasya: of the Krauñca (mountain/bird)
• krauñcasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krauñca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• kham: the sky/space
• kham: Karma (कर्म/Object of implied 'enter')
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमानद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा)

• dvijāḥ: birds / twice-born
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of implied comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Context

"While we were discussing earlier and taking decisions, that disaster foreseen by me has reaped for having not trusted the well wishers."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Krauñca (mountain)

FAQs

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

Self-mastery and steadiness are duties of leadership; rashness creates openings for adharma (harmful forces) to exploit.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa cautions Rāvaṇa that impulsive governance invites enemies to exploit weaknesses.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhairya (steadfastness) and thoughtful action rather than impulsive force.