Shloka 11

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

ममर्दाश्वान्गजांश्चापिरथांश्चापिनगोत्तमः ।।।।तानिचान्यानिरक्षांसिएवंचान्यगदिरेःशिरः ।

Transliteration

mamarda aśvān gajāṃś cāpi rathāṃś cāpi nagottamaḥ |

tāni cānyāni rakṣāṃsi evaṃ cānya-gireḥ śiraḥ ||

Translation

Một đỉnh núi cao vời vợi đã nghiền nát ngựa, voi và cả chiến xa; cũng như thế, nó nghiền nát những rākṣasa khác nữa—khi một mỏm núi khác bị ném đi.

Word by Word

• ममर्द: crushed
• ममर्द: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mṛd (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, Perfect)

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• गजान्: elephants
• गजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction): 'and'

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): 'also/even'

• रथान्: chariots
• रथान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction): 'and'

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): 'also'

• नगोत्तमः: the best mountain (mountain-mass)
• नगोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: उत्तमो नगः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural)

• रक्षांसि: rakshasas
• रक्षांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'thus/in this way'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यगिरेः: of another mountain
• अन्यगिरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya + giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अन्यस्य गिरेः; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular)

• शिरः: peak/top
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

Context

The huge mountain peak crushed the horses, elephants and chariots and Rakshasa charioteers also.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It illustrates the harsh consequences of war: when adharma drives conflict, destruction spreads widely. Dharma therefore values restraint, right cause, and the restoration of order as the goal—not violence for its own sake.

What is the narrative situation?

A mountain peak is used as a weapon in the battlefield, crushing units of the opposing forces (horses, elephants, chariots, and rākṣasas).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes overwhelming force rather than virtue; ethically it serves as a reminder that power must be governed by dharma to avoid indiscriminate ruin.