Shloka 4.46.4

पृथिवीमण्डलपरिज्ञानम् — Sugriva on Surveying the Earth’s Regions

Devanagari script

यदा तु दुन्दुभिं नाम दानवं महिषाकृतिम्।परिकालयते वाली मलयं प्रति पर्वतम्।।4.46.3।।तदा विवेश महिषो मलयस्य गुहां प्रति।विवेश वाली तत्रापि मलयं तज्जिघांसया।।4.46.4।।

Transliteration

tadā viveśa mahiṣo malayasya guhāṃ prati | viveśa vālī tatrāpi malayaṃ taj-jighāṃsayā ||

Translation

then the buffalo entered the cave of Mount Malaya, and Vālī too entered there, driven by the resolve to kill him.

Context

Vali chased the demon Dundubhi in buffalo form into a cave of mount Malaya in order to kill him.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Rama
• Vālī
• Dundubhi
• Mount Malaya
• cave (guhā)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how intention (saṅkalpa)—here, the will to kill—drives action; Dharma later evaluates whether such intent is restrained by wisdom and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Dundubhi flees into a cave; Vālī follows inside, escalating the episode that will separate the brothers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and determination—tempered in the larger story by the need for discernment.