Shloka 58

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Transliteration

rājan ramasva rājan pibaca adya vāruṇīṃ kuruṣva kṛtyāni vinīyatāṃ jvaraḥ |

mayā adya rāme gamite yamakṣayaṃ cirāya sītā vaśagā bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระราชา ขอทรงวางพระทัยเถิด วันนี้จงเสวยสุรา “วารุณี” ให้ชื่นใจ สลัดความโศกอันเร่าร้อน แล้วทรงหันไปประกอบพระกรณียกิจ เพราะวันนี้ ด้วยคำสั่งของข้า พระรามจักไปสู่แดนพระยม และอีกนานนักนางสีดาจักอยู่ในอำนาจของพระองค์

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Napuṃsaka (neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc; contextually object), Ekavacana (singular)

• uktam: spoken
• uktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ukta (कृदन्त; √vac)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (past passive participle), Napuṃsaka (neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (singular); ‘spoken/said’

• atikāyasya: of the huge-bodied one
• atikāyasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (singular); समासः कर्मधारयः (ati-kāya = very huge-bodied)

• balinaḥ: of the mighty one
• balinaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (singular)

• bāhuśālinaḥ: of the strong-armed one
• bāhuśālinaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāhu-śālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (bāhuṣu śālī = possessing fine arms)

• kumbhakarṇasya: of Kumbhakarṇa
• kumbhakarṇasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (singular)

• vacanam: speech / words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka (neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-anta (absolutive/gerund), ‘having heard’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (singular), Parasmaipada

• mahodaraḥ: Mahodara
• mahodaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahodara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (singular); समासः कर्मधारयः (mahān udaraḥ yasya = big-bellied; proper name)

Context

"O Rakshasa king! A man should pursue his duty or worldly gain or sensual pleasures all the three combined or at least any two in time (the scriptures lay down that duty should be pursued in the morning, wealth in the afternoon and sensual pleasures at night)."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Yama (realm of Yama)
• Sītā
• vāruṇī (wine)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates adharma through false assurance and objectification: it treats Sītā as an object of domination and denies satya (truth) through overconfident claims.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa attempts to reassure Rāvaṇa before battle, promising Rāma’s death and Sītā’s subjugation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A counterfeit confidence—boldness without truthfulness or righteousness.