Shloka 156

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

ततस्तुरक्षःक्षतजावलिप्तंवित्रासनंदेवमहचमूनाम् ।व्याविध्यतंमुद्गरमुग्रवेगंनिद्रावयामासचमूंम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tu rakṣaḥ kṣatajāvaliptaṃ vitrāsanaṃ devamahācamūnām | vyāvidhya taṃ mudgaram ugravegaṃ nidrāvayām āsa camūm ||

Translation

ครั้นแล้ว รากษสนั้น—ชโลมด้วยโลหิตจากบาดแผล น่าสะพรึงแม้แก่กองทัพใหญ่แห่งเทวะ—หมุนกระบองด้วยความเร็วอันดุเดือด จนทำให้กองทัพวานรแตกตื่นล้มระเนระนาด

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• rakṣaḥ: the rākṣasa
• rakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• kṣataja-avaliptam: smeared with blood
• kṣataja-avaliptam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣataja + avalipta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः; 'क्षतजेन अवलिप्तम्' (smeared with blood)

• vitrāsanam: terrifying
• vitrāsanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + √tras (धातु) → vitrāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (frightening)

• deva-mahā-camūnām: of the great armies of the gods
• deva-mahā-camūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + mahā + camū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासः (देवानां महाचमूः)

• vyāvidhyatam: whirling
• vyāvidhyatam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + ā + √vidh/√vyadh (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्/शतृ-प्राय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of mudgaram: whirling)

• mudgaram: club
• mudgaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ugravegam: of fierce speed
• ugravegam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of mudgaram)

• nidrāvayāmāsa: put to sleep/overpowered
• nidrāvayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + √drā (धातु) + causative (णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): 'made (them) sleep' i.e., put to rout/overpowered

• camūm: the army
• camūm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: camū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Context

Then Kumbhakarna with his club covered with blood and frightening even the celestials scattered the monkeys.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rākṣasa
• Devas (celestials)
• Vānara-senā (monkey army)
• Mudgara (club)

FAQs

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

The verse frames the chaos of war as a test of steadfastness: even when terror spreads, dharma requires disciplined courage and refusal to abandon the righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa, grievously wounded yet ferocious, swings his club and scatters/overwhelms the vānara forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (implicitly), Rāma’s side is called to dhṛti (fortitude) under extreme threat; the verse highlights the need for resilience when faced with overpowering violence.