Shloka 17

महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः

Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault

Devanagari script

हीनार्थस्तुसमृद्धार्थंकोरिपुंप्राकृतंयथा ।निश्चित्यजीवितत्यागेवशमानेतुमिच्छति ।।।।

Transliteration

hīnārthas tu samṛddhārthaṃ ko ripuṃ prākṛtaṃ yathā |

niścitya jīvitatyāge vaśam ānetum icchati ||

Translation

ผู้ใดเล่าที่ขาดแคลนกำลังและปัจจัย จะปรารถนา—ดุจคนเขลาสามัญ—ให้ตนตกอยู่ใต้อำนาจศัตรูผู้มั่งคั่งด้วยกำลัง ทั้งที่ตัดสินใจแล้วจะสละชีวิตของตน?

Word by Word

• hīna-arthaḥ: a man of scant means
• hīna-arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः ('one whose resources are deficient')

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adversative particle (निपात)

• samṛddha-artham: rich in resources
• samṛddha-artham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samṛddha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः ('rich in resources')

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative pronoun

• ripum: enemy
• ripum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prākṛtam: ordinary/common
• prākṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with ripum

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle (उपमानवाचक)

• niścitya: having decided
• niścitya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niś-ci (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्यय, अव्ययभाव), from √ci with niś-; 'having determined'

• jīvita-tyāge: in the giving up of life
• jīvita-tyāge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक) + tyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (jīvitasya tyāgaḥ)

• vaśam: into subjection
• vaśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ānetum: to bring
• ānetum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-nī (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to bring/lead'

• icchati: desires
• icchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Context

"How can a weak person desire to go to the enemy who is rich in resources, determined to sacrifice his life several times and submit himself?"

Characters & Entities

• enemy (Rāma, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma rejects self-harm and futile sacrifice when it serves no righteous end. Courage must be guided by proportionality and purpose, not by a nihilistic readiness to die.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara frames Kumbhakarṇa’s solo advance as irrational submission to a stronger opponent, warning against a needless death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical judgment (nīti) over empty valor—measuring strength, resources, and consequences.