Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 36

युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च

Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel

Devanagari script

अहमुत्सादयिष्यामिशत्रूंस्तवनिशाचर ।यदिशक्रविवस्वन्तौयदिपावकमारुतौ ।।6.12.36।।तावहंयोधयिष्यामिकुबेरवरुणावपि ।

Transliteration

aham utsādayiṣyāmi śatrūṃs tava niśācara | yadi śakra-vivasvantau yadi pāvaka-mārutau || 6.12.36 || tāv ahaṃ yodhayiṣyāmi kubera-varuṇāv api |

Translation

夜行者啊，我必歼灭你的仇敌。纵使那二者是因陀罗与太阳，纵使是火与风，我也要与之交战——即便是俱毗罗与伐楼那亦然。

Word by Word

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• utsādayiṣyāmi: will destroy, ruin
• utsādayiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-sad (धातु) (causative/णिच्)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Periphrastic Future), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada; ṇijanta (causative): ‘will cause to be destroyed’

• śatrūn: enemies
• śatrūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana

• niśācara: O night-ranger (Rakshasa)
• niśācara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Śarthe avyaya (conditional particle)

• śakra-vivasvantau: Indra and the Sun
• śakra-vivasvantau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra + vivasvant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Dvivacana (Dual); dvandva: śakraś ca vivasvān ca

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Śarthe avyaya (conditional particle)

• pāvaka-mārutau: Fire and Wind
• pāvaka-mārutau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka + māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; dvandva: pāvakaś ca mārutaś ca

• tau: those two
• tau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Dvivacana; refers to the pair(s) mentioned

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana

• yodhayiṣyāmi: will fight (them)
• yodhayiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु) (causative/णिच्)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Periphrastic Future), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada; ṇijanta: ‘will make (them) fight / will fight with’

• kubera-varuṇau: Kubera and Varuna
• kubera-varuṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubera + varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Dvivacana; dvandva

• api: even, also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/avadhāraṇa-nipāta (particle: also/even)

Context

"If I go with a mountain like body and sharp teeth, holding a huge iron bar roaring like a lion, even Indra will run away out of fear."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarna
• Ravana
• Indra (Śakra)
• Surya (Vivasvant)
• Agni (Pāvaka)
• Vayu (Māruta)
• Kubera
• Varuna
• Rama (implied)
• Lakshmana (implied)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how arrogance (mada) can eclipse dharmic discernment; comparing righteous opponents to gods becomes mere bravado when the cause is unjust.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarna magnifies his confidence by claiming he would fight even divine pairs, implying Rama and Lakshmana are no obstacle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness (abhaya) and martial confidence, though shaded by overconfidence.