Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 9

दधिमुख

विज्ञापनम् / Dadhimukha Reports the Madhuvana Incident

Devanagari script

पाणिभिर्निहताः केचित्केचिज्जानुभिराहताः।प्रकृष्टाश्च यथाकामं देवमार्गं च दर्शिताः।।।।

Transliteration

pāṇibhir nihatāḥ kecit kecij jānubhir āhatāḥ | prakṛṣṭāś ca yathākāmaṃ devamārgaṃ ca darśitāḥ ||

Translation

Einige wurden mit den Händen geschlagen, andere mit den Knien getroffen; manche schleiften sie nach Belieben umher und fügten ihnen sogar schändliche, unanständige Demütigungen zu.

Word by Word

• pāṇibhiḥ: with hands
• pāṇibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3), Plural; 'with hands'

• nihatāḥ: were struck
• nihatāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√han (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Plural; 'struck down/beaten'

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive predication)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kimcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indefinite pronoun, Masculine Nominative Plural; 'some'

• kecit: some (others)
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kimcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indefinite pronoun, Masculine Nominative Plural; 'some (others)'

• jānubhiḥ: with knees
• jānubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3), Plural; 'with knees'

• āhatāḥ: were beaten
• āhatāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√han (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Plural; 'struck/beaten'

• prakṛṣṭāḥ: were dragged
• prakṛṣṭāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Plural; 'dragged/pulled'

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

• yathākāmam: as they pleased
• yathākāmam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; accusative-form frozen as avyaya: 'according to desire/as they pleased'

• devamārgam: private parts
• devamārgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; tatpuruṣa euphemism for genitals/private parts; object of darśitāḥ

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

• darśitāḥ: were shown/exposed
• darśitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Plural; 'were made to show/were shown' (humiliated)

Context

"Some were struck with hands, some beaten on their knees and were dragged as they liked and showed up their private parts.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Dharma upholds human dignity; cruelty and humiliation—especially indecent exposure—are clear adharma even in moments of victory or excitement.

What is the narrative situation?

The monkeys physically assault and disgrace the guards during the Madhuvana disturbance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue highlighted by its absence is śīla (good conduct) and maryādā (propriety).