Shloka 178

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

प्रहर्षमीयुर्भवश्चवानराःप्रबुद्धपद्मप्रतिमैरिवाननैः ।अपूजयन् राघवमिष्टभागिनंहतेरिसौभीमबलेदुरासदम् ।।।।

Transliteration

praharṣam īyur bahavaś ca vānarāḥ prabuddha-padma-pratimair ivānanaiḥ |

apūjayan rāghavam iṣṭa-bhāginaṃ hate ripau bhīma-bale durāsade ||

Translation

بہت سے وानر، جن کے چہرے کھلے ہوئے کنول کی مانند تھے، مسرت سے بھر گئے؛ اور جب ہولناک قوت والا، دشواررس دشمن مارا گیا تو انہوں نے رाघو کو—مرادیں پوری کرنے والے—عقیدت سے پوجا۔

Word by Word

• praharṣam: joy, exhilaration
• praharṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• īyuḥ: went/attained (felt)
• īyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (Aorist/लुङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• bhavaḥ: Bhava (Śiva)
• bhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (Conjunction/समुच्चय-निपात)

• vānarāḥ: the monkeys (Vānaras)
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• prabuddha-padma-pratimaiḥ: with (faces) like blossomed lotuses
• prabuddha-padma-pratimaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabuddha (कृदन्त, √budh) + padma (प्रातिपदिक) + pratima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka-sādhāraṇa (agreeing with ānanaiḥ), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; Samāsa: padma-pratima = 'lotus-like' (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष), prabuddha-padma-pratima = 'like a blossomed lotus'

• iva: like, as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (Simile particle/उपमा-अव्यय)

• ānanaiḥ: with faces
• ānanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Bahuvacana

• apūjayan: they worshipped/honoured
• apūjayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• rāghavam: Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• iṣṭa-bhāginam: the recipient of the desired share (of worship/offerings)
• iṣṭa-bhāginam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (कृदन्त, √iṣ) + bhāgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Samāsa: iṣṭa-bhāgin = 'having the desired share' (तत्पुरुष) qualifying rāghavam

• hate: when (he was) slain
• hate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya past participle (क्त), Locative singular (Saptamī/सप्तमी) used as locative absolute with ripau; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• ripau: in/when the enemy (was)
• ripau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; with hate = locative absolute

• bhīma-bale: (in the enemy) of terrible strength
• bhīma-bale: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; Samāsa: bhīma-bala = 'terrible strength' (कर्मधारय), here locative qualifying ripau (enemy of terrible strength)

• durāsadam: hard to assail/approach
• durāsadam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur- (उपसर्ग/प्रत्यय) + āsada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying rāghavam (or as epithet: 'hard to assail')

Context

Many Vanaras, with their faces resembling full blown lotuses joyfully laughed and worshipped Rama for getting rid of an enemy of terrific strength.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Vānaras
• Kumbhakarṇa (implied as the slain enemy)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes recognizing and honoring righteous leadership. The Vānaras respond with gratitude because the removal of a violent threat protects the community and its moral aims.

What is the narrative situation?

The Vānara forces celebrate and offer reverence to Rāma after the defeat of the powerful Kumbhakarṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s protective kingship ideal: he becomes ‘iṣṭa-bhāgin’—a benefactor who secures the welfare and rightful hopes of his allies.