Shloka 18

महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः

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

Devanagari script

यस्यनास्तिमनुष्येषुसदृशोराक्षसोत्तम ।कथमाशंससेयोद्धुंतुल्येनेन्द्रविवस्वतोः ।।।।

Transliteration

yasya nāsti manuṣyeṣu sadṛśo rākṣasottama |

katham āśaṃsase yoddhuṃ tulyenendra-vivasvatoḥ ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong loài La-sát, giữa loài người không ai sánh kịp Ngài ấy; sao ngươi còn dám mong giao chiến với bậc ngang hàng Indra và Vivasvān, Thần Mặt Trời?

Word by Word

• yasya: whose/of whom
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• asti: exists/is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• manuṣyeṣu: among humans
• manuṣyeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sadṛśaḥ: equal/peer
• sadṛśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• rākṣasa-uttama: O best of Rakshasas
• rākṣasa-uttama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक)

• āśaṃsase: do you hope/expect
• āśaṃsase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada

• yoddhum: to fight
• yoddhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to fight'

• tulyena: with an equal
• tulyena: Sahakāraka (सह/साधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); used as 'with an equal (one)'

• indra-vivasvatoḥ: of Indra and the Sun
• indra-vivasvatoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक) + vivasvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्वः (Indra and Vivasvat/Sun)

Context

"O Best of Rakshasas! How would you enter into combat with one who is great among all human beings and while even Indra and Sun God are not equal to him in war?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied)
• Indra
• Vivasvān (Sūrya)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes truthful recognition of merit (guṇa) even in an opponent. Denying evident excellence leads to unjust and disastrous choices.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara elevates Rāma’s stature to near-divine comparability, arguing that Kumbhakarṇa’s confidence is misplaced.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness) in appraisal: acknowledging the opponent’s true strength without self-deception.