Shloka 162

कुम्भकर्णवधः

The Slaying of Kumbhakarna

Devanagari script

स कुम्भकर्णस्यभुजोनिकृत्तःपपातभूमौगिरिसन्निकाशः ।विवेष्टमानोनिजाघनवृक्षान् शैलान्शिलावानरराक्षसांश्च ।।।।

Transliteration

sa kumbhakarṇasya bhujō nikṛttaḥ papāta bhūmau girisannikāśaḥ | viveṣṭamāno nijāghana vṛkṣān śailān śilā vānararākṣasāṃś ca ||

Translation

Cánh tay bị chém đứt của Kumbhakarṇa, to lớn như núi, rơi xuống đất. Khi rơi nó xoay tít, đập nát cây cối, đá tảng, khối đá, và nghiền cả chiến binh vānara lẫn rākṣasa.

Word by Word

• सः: that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुम्भकर्णस्य: of Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• भुजः: arm
• भुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निकृत्तः: severed
• निकृत्तः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-कृत् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘cut off’

• पपात: fell
• पपात: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• गिरिसन्निकाशः: mountain-like
• गिरिसन्निकाशः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरि + सन्निकाश (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘gireḥ sannikāśaḥ’ = resembling a mountain; qualifying भुजः

• विवेष्टमानः: writhing
• विवेष्टमानः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘writhing/rolling around’

• निजघान: struck down/crushed
• निजघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• वृक्षान्: trees
• वृक्षान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural

• शैलान्: rocks/mountains
• शैलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शिला: boulders
• शिला: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural (द्वितीया/2, बहुवचन)

• वानरराक्षसान्: Vanaras and Rakshasas
• वानरराक्षसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; द्वन्द्वः (copulative) ‘vanarāś ca rākṣasāś ca’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

Context

Kumbhakarna who resembled a mountain, his arm severed turning round and round fell on trees, mountains, Vanaras and Rakshasas crushing them.

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas
• Trees

FAQs

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

Adharma-driven conflict spreads suffering indiscriminately; the verse highlights why dharma traditions treat war as a last resort with grave moral weight.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa’s severed arm whirls down and crushes both sides’ fighters and the terrain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied is the need for compassion and restraint by leaders: even justified war must be waged with awareness of inevitable, wide-reaching harm.