Shloka 60

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

किं भवन्तस्समस्ताश्च मतङ्गवनवासिनः।मत्समीपमनुप्राप्ता अपि स्वस्ति वनौकसाम्4.11.60।।

Transliteration

kiṃ bhavantaḥ samastāś ca mataṅgavanavāsinaḥ | matsamīpam anuprāptā api svasti vanaukasām || 4.11.60 ||

Translation

لِمَ أقبلتم جميعًا، يا سكان غابة ماتانغا، إلى قُربي؟ وهل أهلُ الغابة في سلامٍ وأمان؟

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रमवाचक अव्यय)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• kāraṇam: reason/cause
• kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvam: entire/all
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with kāraṇam

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• śāpam: curse
• śāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• vālinaḥ: of Vali
• vālinaḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• śaśaṃsuḥ: they narrated/told
• śaśaṃsuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/perfect), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• vānarāḥ: monkeys
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with vānarāḥ

• vāline: to Vali
• vāline: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• hema-māline: to the one wearing a golden garland/necklace
• hema-māline: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘hemamālā asya asti’; Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular; agrees with vāline

Context

'Why have you, residents of the groves of Matanga, come to me? Hope all are safe!'

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Matanga

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma: a leader’s first instinct should be inquiry into the welfare (svasti) of those dependent on him. Even a powerful ruler must prioritize the safety of his community.

What is the narrative situation?

Vali encounters the monkeys coming from Matanga’s grove and questions their sudden arrival and well-being.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective concern and attentiveness—Vali’s questioning shows awareness of responsibility toward his forest-dwelling kin.