Shloka 6

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्

Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle

Devanagari script

युद्धेकापुरुषैर्नित्यंभवद्भिःप्रियवादिभि: ।राजानमनुगच्छद्भिःसर्वंकृत्यमोद्धिसादितम् ।।।।

Transliteration

yuddhe kāpuruṣair nityaṃ bhavadbhiḥ priya-vādibhiḥ |

rājānam anugacchadbhiḥ sarvaṃ kṛtyaṃ moddhi sāditam ||

Translation

Các ngươi—xưa nay hèn nhát giữa chiến địa, dẫu lời lẽ ngọt ngào—chỉ biết theo đuôi quân vương mà tâng bốc; bởi thế mọi việc đều bị các ngươi làm cho suy sụp đến nỗi này.

Word by Word

• yuddhe: in war
• yuddhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• kāpuruṣaiḥ: by cowards
• kāpuruṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (by cowards)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• bhavadbhiḥ: by you
• bhavadbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक, honorific pronoun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; 'by you (hon.)'

• priyavādibhiḥ: by sweet-talkers
• priyavādibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (प्रियं वदन्ति)

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• anugacchadbhiḥ: by following
• anugacchadbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√gam (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ) in instrumental plural; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; 'by those following'

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies kṛtyam)

• kṛtyam: duty/task
• kṛtyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'what should be done'

• oddhi: alas!/indeed (interjection)
• oddhi: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-dhi (अव्यय/उद्गार)
• Form: उद्गार/सम्बोधनात्मक निपात; used as interjection (O!/alas!/hey!)

• sāditam: has been brought about
• sāditam: Kriya-noun/predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sad (धातु, causative)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) of causative; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; predicate with kṛtyam

Context

"You, who always fear in combat, are talking pleasingly to the king , going after him happily brought the matter to this state."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• rājā (the king—Rāvaṇa himself, in context)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance requires truthful counsel; flattering speech that hides danger is unethical and can destroy a kingdom’s well-being.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s crisis, the king rebukes those around him for cowardice and for pleasing him with sweet words rather than offering honest guidance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthful speech and moral courage in advising leaders—speaking what is right, not what is pleasing.