Shloka 14

निकुम्भिला

यज्ञविघ्नः — Vibhishana’s Counsel and Lakshmana’s March to Nikumbhila

Devanagari script

निकुम्भिलामसम्प्राप्तमहुताग्निं च योरिपुः ।त्वामातायिनंहन्यादिन्द्रशत्रोस्सतेवधः ।।6.85.14।।वरोदत्तोमहाबाहो सर्वलोकेश्वरेणवै ।इत्येवंविहितोराजन्वधस्तस्यैषधीमतः ।।6.85.15।।

Transliteration

nikumbhilām asamprāptam āhuta-agniṃ ca yo ripuḥ | tvām ātāyinaṃ hanyād indra-śatroḥ sa te vadhaḥ ||6.85.14||

varo datto mahābāho sarva-lokeśvareṇa vai | ity evaṃ vihito rājan vadhas tasyaiṣa dhīmataḥ ||6.85.15||

Translation

ตราบใดที่ท่านยังมิได้ไปถึงนิกุมภิลา และยังมิได้ประกอบการบูชาไฟด้วยอาหุติ ศัตรูผู้นั้น—ผู้เป็นปฏิปักษ์แห่งพระอินทร์—ย่อมอาจฟันสังหารท่านได้ โอ้พระราชาผู้มีพาหาใหญ่ พรนั้นแท้จริงพระผู้เป็นเจ้าแห่งโลกทั้งปวงได้ประทานแก่เขา ดังนี้วิธีแห่งการปราบสังหารผู้มีปัญญานั้นจึงถูกกำหนดไว้แล้ว

Word by Word

निकुम्भिलाम्Nikumbhilā (place)

असम्प्राप्तम्not having reached

आहुताग्निम्the oblation-fire (propitiated fire)

चand

यःwho

रिपुःenemy

त्वाम्you

आततायिनम्aggressor

हन्यात्should kill

इन्द्रशत्रोःof Indra's enemy

सःhe

तेfor you/to you

वधःdeath/slaying

Context

"Indrajith has reached Nikumbhilam accompanied by the army. If he completes the sacrifice and comes from there after completion of the sacrifice, know that we are all killed.

Characters & Entities

Nikumbhilā

Indrajit (Indraśatru)

Rāma (mahābāhu, rājan)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes understanding the moral mechanics of boons and conditions: power operates within stated limits, and righteous action must respond intelligently to those conditions.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa explains Indrajit’s conditional advantage: before the rite is disrupted, he can become deadly; therefore the allies must intervene immediately.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible leadership through knowledge: Vibhīṣaṇa provides precise intelligence so that force is applied justly and effectively.