Shloka 3

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

वालिनः पौरुषं यत्तद्यच्च वीर्यं धृतिश्च या।तन्ममैकमनाश्श्रुत्वा विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्4.11.3।।

Transliteration

vālināḥ pauruṣaṃ yat tad yac ca vīryaṃ dhṛtiś ca yā |

tan mamaikam anāḥ śrutvā vidhatsva yad anantaram || 4.11.3 ||

Translation

Having heard from me with single-minded attention of Vali’s manliness, his valor, and his steadfast fortitude, decide then and do what must be done next.

Word by Word

• vālināḥ: of Vāli
• vālināḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular (classical form: vālinas; here vālināḥ as transmitted)

• pauruṣam: manliness
• pauruṣam: Karma (कर्म/Topic-object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; here as topic ‘manliness’

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; relative pronoun

• tat: that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; correlative

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; relative (for vīryam)

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

• vīryam: valor
• vīryam: Karma (कर्म/Topic-object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• dhṛtiḥ: steadfastness
• dhṛtiḥ: Karma (कर्म/Topic-object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative, Singular

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

• yā: which
• yā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun agreeing with dhṛtiḥ

• tat: that (all)
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; refers to the whole set (pauruṣa, vīrya, dhṛti)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive, Singular

• eka-manāḥ: single-minded
• eka-manāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier of implied ‘you’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka+manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Bahuvrīhi: ‘one whose mind is one-pointed’

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Gerund (क्त्वा)

• vidhatsva: do/arrange
• vidhatsva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु; with preverb vi-)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person, Singular, Ātmanepada; ‘arrange/do’

• yat: what
• yat: Karma (कर्म/Object of vidhatsva)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; relative pronoun

• anantaram: next/thereafter
• anantaram: Karma (कर्म/Predicate object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used substantively ‘the next step’

Context

'Vali, king of the monkeys who roam the forest, saw Dundubhi and addressed, but briefly:

Characters & Entities

• Vali
• Rama (implicit as addressee)
• Angada (implicit as speaker)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as deliberative action: first listen attentively to truthful counsel (satya-yukta upadeśa), then act responsibly rather than impulsively.

What is the narrative situation?

A counsellor urges Rama to hear a full account of Vali’s capabilities and then choose the appropriate next step.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ekāgratā (focused attention) and viveka (discernment): virtues required for righteous decision-making.