Shloka 5.61.19

मधुवनप्रवेशः — The Vanaras Enter Madhuvana (Honey-Grove Episode)

Devanagari script

ततो वनं तत्परिभक्ष्यमाणं द्रुमांश्च विध्वंसितपत्रपुष्पान्।समीक्ष्य कोपाद्धधिवक्रनामा निवारयामास कपिः कपींस्तान्।।।।

Transliteration

tato vanaṃ tat paribhakṣyamāṇaṃ drumāṃś ca vidhvaṃsita-patra-puṣpān |

samīkṣya kopād dadhivakra-nāmā nivārayāmāsa kapiḥ kapīṃs tān ||

Translation

Then, seeing that grove being ravaged and the trees stripped of leaves and blossoms, the monkey named Dadhivakra (Dadhimukha) restrained those monkeys in anger and tried to stop them.

Context

Beholding the destruction wrought by the vanaras to the garden, trees, leaves and flowers, and having drunk all the honey, Dadhimukha angrily asked them to stop and get out.

Characters & Entities

• Madhuvana (implied grove)
• Dadhivakra/Dadhimukha
• kapi-s (monkeys)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protecting what one is entrusted with. Dadhimukha acts as a guardian of the grove, opposing destruction and asserting responsible stewardship over communal/royal property.

What is the narrative situation?

Dadhimukha witnesses the monkeys damaging the grove and attempts to stop them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Duty-bound vigilance and courage: he confronts a disorderly crowd to uphold his entrusted responsibility.