Shloka 43

Devanagari script

कौ युवां वृषभस्कन्धौ महाखड्गधनुर्धरौ।।।।घोरं देशमिमं प्राप्तौ मम भक्षावुपस्थितौ।

Transliteration

kau yuvāṃ vṛṣabhaskandhau mahākhaḍgadhanurdharau |

ghoraṃ deśam imaṃ prāptau mama bhakṣāv upasthitau ||

Translation

“你们二人是谁——肩阔如雄牛，执大剑与弓——竟来到这可怖之地，如今站在此处，成了我的猎物？”

Word by Word

• कौ: who (two)
• कौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• वृषभ-स्कन्धौ: bull-shouldered
• वृषभ-स्कन्धौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहि (whose shoulders are like a bull's)

• महा-खड्ग-धनुः-धरौ: bearing great sword and bow
• महा-खड्ग-धनुः-धरौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (bearing great sword and bow)

• घोरम्: dreadful
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to 'deśam')

• देशम्: place/region
• देशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• प्राप्तौ: having reached
• प्राप्तौ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'having reached'

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भक्षौ: (as) prey
• भक्षौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'food/prey'

• उपस्थितौ: have arrived / are present
• उपस्थितौ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु) → उपस्थित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'having come near/arrived'

Context

Who are you with bull-like shoulders, wielding big swords, bows and arrows? By coming to this place you have become my food.

Characters & Entities

• Kabandha
• Rama
• Lakshmana
• weapons (sword, bow)

FAQs

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

Adharma speaks in the language of possession and consumption—reducing persons to ‘prey’; dharma stands opposed to such dehumanization.

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha challenges the brothers, identifying them as potential victims and asserting predatory intent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The brothers’ martial preparedness is highlighted by their bearing of bow and sword, indicating disciplined kṣātra strength.