Shloka 15

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

vibhīṣaṇa-vacaḥ śrutvā rāmo vākyam athābravīt | jānāmi tasya raudrasya māyāṃ satya-parākramaḥ ||6.85.17||

Translation

ครั้นได้ฟังถ้อยคำของวิภีษณะแล้ว พระรามจึงตรัสว่า “เรารู้มายาของผู้นั้นผู้ดุร้ายแล้ว” —พระรามผู้มีวีรภาพตั้งมั่นอยู่ในสัจจะ

Word by Word

• nikumbhilām: Nikumbhilā (place)
• nikumbhilām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikumbhilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

• asamprāptam: not reached
• asamprāptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-sam-prāp (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; negated (अ-)

• mahutāgnim: the fire (Agni) that has been offered oblations
• mahutāgnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahuta-agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: mahuta (आहुत) + agni; Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• yaḥ: he who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• ripuḥ: enemy
• ripuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• ātāyinam: assailant/one who attacks (a felon)
• ātāyinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• hanyāt: should kill
• hanyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• indraśatroḥ: of Indraśatru (enemy of Indra)
• indraśatroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra-śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound: indra + śatru; Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana

• saḥ: that (he)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• te: for you/to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Caturthī (Dat. 4), Ekavacana

• vadhaḥ: killing/death
• vadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

Context

"O mighty armed Rama! that enemy of yours, while you have not reached Nikumbhilam and not propitiated fire sacrifice, can cause your death. Such a boon was granted to him, the enemy of Indra by the Lord of all worlds."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Indrajit (implied by “that fierce one”)
• Māyā (illusion/war-stratagem)

FAQs

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

Truth-based strength (satya-parākrama) is presented as the righteous counter to deception (māyā); dharma faces illusion with steady awareness, not panic.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving Vibhīṣaṇa’s warning and plan, Rāma affirms he understands the enemy’s deceptive tactics and is prepared.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure grounded in truth: Rāma’s confidence arises from clear knowledge and satya, not arrogance.