Shloka 19

निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha

Hanuman’s Duel

Devanagari script

तदाह्रियमाणोऽपिकुम्भकर्णात्मजेन ह ।।।।आजघानानिलसुतोवज्रकल्पेनमुष्टिना ।

Transliteration

tadā hriyamāṇo 'pi kumbhakarṇātmajena ha |

ājaghānānilasuto vajra-kalpena muṣṭinā ||

Translation

แม้ในขณะที่ถูกบุตรของกุมภกรรณพาตัวไป บุตรแห่งพระพายก็ชกเขาด้วยหมัดที่แข็งแกร่งดั่งสายฟ้าฟาด

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• ह्रियमाणः: being carried off
• ह्रियमाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि (present passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थक निपात

• कुम्भकर्णात्मजेन: by Kumbhakarna's son
• कुम्भकर्णात्मजेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुम्भकर्णस्य आत्मजः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पूरणार्थक निपात

• आजघान: struck
• आजघान: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद, perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अनिलसुतः: son of the wind
• अनिलसुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अनिलस्य सुतः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वज्रकल्पेन: adamant-like
• वज्रकल्पेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपमान-तत्पुरुष (वज्रस्य कल्पः = वज्रसदृशः); पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (मुष्टिना)

• मुष्टिना: with (his) fist
• मुष्टिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

Context

Then the hero Nikumbha, girded with flowers measuring five digits in breadth, took an auspicious club like the peak of Mahendra mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (Anila-suta)
• Kumbhakarṇa
• vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes steadfast commitment to a righteous mission: even when constrained or overpowered, one must not abandon dharma or cease resisting adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Nikumbha carries Hanumān, but Hanumān continues fighting and lands a powerful punch despite being restrained.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Anirveda (undaunted spirit): Hanumān’s refusal to yield, even while being carried, embodies fearless perseverance.