Shloka 22

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

कुम्भकर्णवचश्श्रुत्वारावणोवाक्यमब्रवीत् ।।।।सैन्यैःपरिवृतोगच्छशूलमुद्गतपाणिभिः ।

Transliteration

kumbhakarṇavacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo vākyam abravīt |

sainyaiḥ parivṛto gaccha śūlam udgatapāṇibhiḥ ||

Translation

เมื่อได้ฟังถ้อยคำของกุมภกรรณ ราวณะจึงกล่าวว่า “จงออกไปโดยมีกองทัพห้อมล้อม และถือศูลยกสูงไว้ในมือ”

Word by Word

• कुम्भकर्णवचः: Kumbhakarna's words
• कुम्भकर्णवचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having heard)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• वाक्यम्: speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular)

• सैन्यैः: by/with armies
• सैन्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental plural)

• परिवृतः: surrounded
• परिवृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; परि+वृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• गच्छ: go
• गच्छ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (2nd person singular)

• शूलम्: trident
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• उद्गतपाणिभिः: with (men) having raised hands
• उद्गतपाणिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्गत (उद्+गम्, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (those) 'with raised hands' (Masculine, Instrumental plural; qualifying the accompanying troops)

Context

Hearing Kumbhakarna's words Ravana said," Go with trident, sword and iron bar in hand surrounded by the army."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Kumbhakarṇa
• śūla
• Rākṣasa army

FAQs

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

It shows command and mobilization for war; Dharma evaluates leadership by whether orders uphold justice and truth—here authority is exercised in service of an adharmic war.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa responds to Kumbhakarṇa’s intention to go alone by instructing him to proceed accompanied by troops, weapon raised.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Leadership and strategic control are emphasized in Rāvaṇa (though used toward an unrighteous end).