Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 1

दधिमुख

विज्ञापनम् / Dadhimukha Reports the Madhuvana Incident

Devanagari script

ततो मूर्ध्ना निपतितं वानरं वानरर्षभः।दृष्ट्वैवोद्विग्नहृदयो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह।।।।

Transliteration

tato mūrdhnā nipatitaṃ vānaraṃ vānararṣabhaḥ | dṛṣṭvaivodvignahṛdayo vākyam etad uvāca ha ॥5.63.1॥

Translation

Then the bull among the vanaras (Sugrīva), seeing a vanara fallen at his feet—touching the ground with his forehead—became anxious at heart and spoke these words.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) meaning 'then/thereupon'

• mūrdhnā: with (his) forehead
• mūrdhnā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3), Singular; 'with the head/forehead'

• nipatitam: prostrated
• nipatitam: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter Accusative Singular used adjectivally with vānaram (Masculine Acc Sg); sense: 'fallen/prostrated'

• vānaram: the monkey
• vānaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; object of dṛṣṭvā

• vānararṣabhaḥ: the bull among monkeys (Sugriva)
• vānararṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; vocative-like address in context but form is nominative; tatpuruṣa: 'bull among monkeys' (epithet of Sugriva)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having seen'

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• udvignahṛdayaḥ: anxious at heart
• udvignahṛdayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udvigna + hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; adjective of vānararṣabhaḥ; 'anxious-hearted'

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; object of uvāca

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; modifies vākyam

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; 'said/spoke'

• ha: indeed (narrative particle)
• ha: Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात/भावसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) used for narrative emphasis

Context

Feeling anxious on seeing Dadhimukha touching his feet with his forehead, Sugriva, the bull among vanaras said:

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Dadhimukha (implied by context as the prostrating vanara)
• vānarāḥ

FAQs

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

Rajadharma and responsibility: a ruler becomes concerned when a duty-bound subordinate approaches in distress; governance requires attentive listening and readiness to address wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Dadhimukha approaches Sugrīva in a formal, urgent manner (prostration), prompting Sugrīva’s immediate concern.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s alertness and responsiveness to his subjects’ distress are emphasized.