Shloka 154

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

यैस्सायकैस्सालवरानिकृत्तावालीहतोवानरपुङ्गवश्च ।तेकुम्भकर्णस्यतदाशरीरंवज्रोपमं न व्यधयांप्रचक्रुः ।।।।

Transliteration

yaiḥ sāyakaiḥ sālavarān nikṛttā vālī hato vānarapuṅgavaś ca | te kumbhakarṇasya tadā śarīraṃ vajropamaṃ na vyadhayāṃ pracakruḥ ||

Translation

Những mũi tên ấy—từng chặt ngã cây sāla hùng vĩ và từng hạ Vālī, bậc tối thượng loài vānara—nay bắn vào thân Kumbhakarṇa cứng như kim cang, mà vẫn không sao xuyên thủng.

Word by Word

• yaiḥ: by which
• yaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (instrumental: by which)

• sāyakaiḥ: by arrows
• sāyakaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• sālavarāḥ: mighty sāla trees
• sālavarāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāla + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः (श्रेष्ठाः सालाः / great sāla-trees)

• nikṛttāḥ: were cut down
• nikṛttāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + √kṛt (धातु)
• Form: भूतकालिक-कृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; (were cut down)

• vālī: Vālī
• vālī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• hataḥ: was slain
• hataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: भूतकालिक-कृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (was slain)

• vānarapuṅgavaḥ: the chief of monkeys
• vānarapuṅgavaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (वानराणां पुंगवः = chief of monkeys)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• te: those (arrows)
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• kumbhakarṇasya: of Kumbhakarṇa
• kumbhakarṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• śarīram: body
• śarīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vajropamam: like a thunderbolt
• vajropamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः (वज्रस्य उपमम्)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• vyadhayām: harm
• vyadhayām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi + √dhā (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (harm/affliction)

• pracakruḥ: they caused/did
• pracakruḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

Those arrows which had cut down the Sala trees and the Vanara leader, Vali, which were like thunderbolts, did not affect Kumbhakarna's body.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kumbhakarṇa
• Vālī
• Sāla trees
• Vānara (monkeys)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches discernment: past success does not guarantee present outcomes. Dharma in action requires adapting wisely while remaining committed to the righteous goal.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration recalls Rāma’s earlier feats with the same arrows, yet emphasizes that Kumbhakarṇa’s body proves unusually resistant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s proven capability is acknowledged, while the immediate virtue called for is strategic patience and resolve.