Shloka 17

महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः

Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault

Devanagari script

हीनार्थस्तुसमृद्धार्थंकोरिपुंप्राकृतंयथा ।निश्चित्यजीवितत्यागेवशमानेतुमिच्छति ।।।।

Transliteration

hīnārthas tu samṛddhārthaṃ ko ripuṃ prākṛtaṃ yathā |

niścitya jīvitatyāge vaśam ānetum icchati ||

Translation

Kẻ thiếu thế lực mà lại muốn—như một kẻ ngu phàm tục—đến quy phục kẻ thù giàu mạnh, khi đã quyết hiến dâng chính mạng sống mình, thì ai lại làm thế?

Word by Word

• hīna-arthaḥ: a man of scant means
• hīna-arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः ('one whose resources are deficient')

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adversative particle (निपात)

• samṛddha-artham: rich in resources
• samṛddha-artham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samṛddha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः ('rich in resources')

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative pronoun

• ripum: enemy
• ripum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prākṛtam: ordinary/common
• prākṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with ripum

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle (उपमानवाचक)

• niścitya: having decided
• niścitya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niś-ci (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्यय, अव्ययभाव), from √ci with niś-; 'having determined'

• jīvita-tyāge: in the giving up of life
• jīvita-tyāge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक) + tyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (jīvitasya tyāgaḥ)

• vaśam: into subjection
• vaśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ānetum: to bring
• ānetum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-nī (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to bring/lead'

• icchati: desires
• icchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Context

"How can a weak person desire to go to the enemy who is rich in resources, determined to sacrifice his life several times and submit himself?"

Characters & Entities

• enemy (Rāma, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma rejects self-harm and futile sacrifice when it serves no righteous end. Courage must be guided by proportionality and purpose, not by a nihilistic readiness to die.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara frames Kumbhakarṇa’s solo advance as irrational submission to a stronger opponent, warning against a needless death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical judgment (nīti) over empty valor—measuring strength, resources, and consequences.