Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 40

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

कथं च राक्षसैरेभिर्मया च परिरक्षितः ।जिघांसुभिर्दाशरथिं वध्यसे त्वमिहानघ ।।6.63.40।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ ca rākṣasair ebhir mayā ca parirakṣitaḥ | jighāṃsubhir dāśarathiṃ vadhyase tvam ihānagha ||6.63.40||

Translation

Làm sao ngài có thể bị giết ở đây, thưa đấng vô tội, khi ngài được bảo vệ bởi những Rakshasa này và bởi tôi, những kẻ đang quyết tâm tiêu diệt Dasarathi?

Word by Word

• katham: how/why
• katham: Prashna (प्रश्न/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-अव्यय)

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

• rākṣasaiḥ: by Rakshasas
• rākṣasaiḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ebhiḥ: by these
• ebhiḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); demonstrative qualifying rākṣasaiḥ

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: also
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• parirakṣitaḥ: protected (all around)
• parirakṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate of tvam: 'you are protected'

• jighāṃsubhiḥ: by (those) desiring to kill
• jighāṃsubhiḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Desiderative present active participle (सन्नन्त-शतृ; √han → jighāṃsu), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying rākṣasaiḥ/ebhiḥ: 'by those wishing to kill'

• dāśarathim: the son of Dasharatha (Rama)
• dāśarathim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāśarathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vadhyase: you are slain / can be slain
• vadhyase: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vadh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive sense 'are to be slain/are being slain' depending on context

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• anagha: O sinless one
• anagha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"O Sinless Ravana! As I am going to kill this son of Dasaratha whom Rakshasas are intending to kill, how can Rama kill you now?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma (Dāśarathi)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It raises the theme of protection and duty, but in an adharma-aligned cause. The Ramayana contrasts such protective loyalty with dharmic protection—defending righteousness rather than wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker reassures Rāvaṇa that he cannot be killed because strong defenders stand around him and will instead kill Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness and steadfast loyalty to one’s ruler, though ethically compromised by the cause being defended.