Shloka 59

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

ततस्ते वानराश्श्रुत्वा गिरं मुनिसमीरिताम्।निश्चक्रमुर्वनात्तस्मात्तान्दृष्ट्वा वालिरब्रवीत्4.11.59।।

Transliteration

tatas te vānarāḥ śrutvā giraṃ munisamīritām | niścakramur vanāt tasmāt tān dṛṣṭvā vālir abravīt || 4.11.59 ||

Translation

ثم إن أولئك القردة، لما سمعوا كلام الحكيم، خرجوا من تلك الغابة. فلما رآهم فالي تكلّم.

Word by Word

• kim: why/what
• kim: Prayojana (प्रश्न/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun (प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially ‘why?’

• bhavantaḥ: you (hon.)
• bhavantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Honorific pronoun (भवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samastāḥ: all/together
• samastāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with bhavantaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• mataṅga-vana-vāsinaḥ: dwellers in Matanga’s forest
• mataṅga-vana-vāsinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mataṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + vana (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mat-samīpam: to my vicinity/near me
• mat-samīpam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक) + samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘mama samīpam’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• anuprāptāḥ: arrived
• anuprāptāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-pra-āp (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘having arrived’

• api: indeed
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), ‘also/indeed’

• svasti: well-being/safety
• svasti: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/आशीः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svasti (अव्यय)
• Form: Benedictive indeclinable (मङ्गलवाचक अव्यय), ‘well-being/safety’

• vanaukasām: of the forest-dwellers (monkeys)
• vanaukasām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vanaukas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

'The monkeys fled on hearing the words spoken by the sage. Said Vali:

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• vānarāḥ (monkeys)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as timely compliance with a just command: hearing the sage’s decree, the monkeys withdraw, honoring the sanctity of the sage’s domain and word.

What is the narrative situation?

After the curse-condition is announced, the monkeys immediately leave the forest; Vali notices them and begins questioning them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsiveness and restraint—acting promptly upon hearing a dharmic injunction, rather than challenging spiritual authority.