दधिमुख-विज्ञापनम् / Dadhimukha Reports the Madhuvana Incident
सुन्दरकाण्ड
This sarga stages a courtly-legal inquiry within the vanara polity. Dadhimukha, the appointed guardian of Madhuvana, prostrates before Sugriva and reports that Angada and the returning search-party have entered the protected grove, consumed honey and fruit, and forcibly repelled the guards. Lakshmana questions the cause of Dadhimukha’s distress, prompting Sugriva’s interpretive judgment: such celebratory transgression would not occur without success in the mission. Sugriva infers that Sita has been seen—most likely by Hanuman—because the capacity (sādhana), resolve (vyavasāya), intellect (mati), and proven prowess required for the task are established in him. The chapter thus converts an apparent breach of discipline into evidence of accomplished duty, reframing disorder as a sign of fulfilled purpose. Rama and Lakshmana rejoice upon hearing this reasoning, and Sugriva orders that the leaders, headed by Hanuman, be brought quickly so that the details of Sita’s discovery can be heard directly.
Verse 5.63.1
ततो मूर्ध्ना निपतितं वानरं वानरर्षभः।दृष्ट्वैवोद्विग्नहृदयो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह।।।।
Then Sugrīva, the bull among the vanaras, seeing a vanara fallen at his feet with his forehead to the ground, grew anxious at heart and spoke these words.
Verse 5.63.2
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ कस्मात्त्वं पादयोः पतितो मम।अभयं ते भवेद्वीर सर्वमेवाभिधीयताम्।।।।
Where Jāmbavān leads, mighty Aṅgada stands, and Hanumān directs, the outcome cannot be otherwise than success.
Verse 5.63.3
स तु विश्वासितस्तेन सुग्रीवेण महात्मना।उत्थाय सुमहाप्राज्ञो वाक्यं दधिमुखोऽब्रवीत्।।।।
“I am pleased that they have enjoyed the grove, for it was done by those who have fulfilled their task. Their conduct is forgiven; indeed, it is pardonable in those who have accomplished the work.”
Verse 5.63.4
नैवर्क्षरजसा राजन्न त्वया नापि वालिना।वनं निसृष्टपूर्वं हि भक्षितं तच्च वानरैः।।।।
“I wish at once to see those tree-dwelling vānaras, led by Hanumān—lion-like in pride—who have achieved their aim; and, together with the two Rāghavas, to hear of their effort in finding Sītā.”
Verse 5.63.5
एभिः प्रधर्षिताश्चैव वानरा वनरक्षिभिः।मधून्यचिन्तयित्वेमान् भक्षयन्ति पिबन्ति च।।।।
Seeing the two princes—Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—exultant, their eyes brimming with joy at the goal fulfilled, the king of the vānaras rejoiced exceedingly; thrilled in every limb, he knew that success was close at hand.
Verse 5.63.6
शिष्टमत्रापविध्यन्ति भक्षयन्ति तथापरे।निवार्यमाणास्ते सर्वे भ्रुवो वै दर्शयन्ति हि।।।।
Some cast the leftovers away here, while others keep on eating. And when the guards try to restrain them, they all knit their brows, showing open defiance.
Verse 5.63.7
इमे हि संरब्धतरास्तथा तैस्सम्प्रधर्षिताः।वारयन्तो वनात्तस्मात्क्रुद्धैर्वानरपुङ्गवैः।।।।
When the guards tried to restrain them and drive them out of that grove, the leading vānaras—more fiercely enraged, feeling insulted—rose in wrath and harassed the guards.
Verse 5.63.8
ततस्तैर्बहुभिर्वीरैर्वानरैर्वानरर्षभ।संरक्तनयनैः क्रोधाद्धरयः प्रविचालिताः।।।।
Then, O bull among vānaras, many heroic monkeys—eyes reddened with fury—drove the guards away in their wrath.
Verse 5.63.9
पाणिभिर्निहताः केचित्केचिज्जानुभिराहताः।प्रकृष्टाश्च यथाकामं देवमार्गं च दर्शिताः।।।।
Some were struck with hands, others were hit with knees; some were dragged about at will and even subjected to shameful, indecent humiliations.
Verse 5.63.10
एवमेते हताश्शूरास्त्वयि तिष्ठति भर्तरि।कृत्स्नं मधुवनं चैव प्रकामं तैः प्रभक्ष्यते।।।।
Thus, though you stand as our lord, those heroes have battered the guards and, at their pleasure, consumed the whole of Madhuvana.
Verse 5.63.11
एवं विज्ञाप्यमानं तं सुग्रीवं वानरर्षभम्।अपृच्छत्तं महाप्राज्ञो लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा।।।।
As Sugrīva, the bull among the vanaras, was thus being informed, Lakṣmaṇa—wise and a slayer of enemy champions—questioned him.
Verse 5.63.12
किमयं वानरो राजन् वनपः प्रत्युपस्थितः।कं चार्थमभिनिर्दिश्य दुःखितो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।
“O King, why has this vanara, the guardian of the grove, come before you? Distressed, about what matter is he speaking?”
Verse 5.63.13
एवमुक्तस्तु सुग्रीवो लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना।लक्ष्मणं प्रत्युवाचेदं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः।।।।
Thus addressed by the noble Lakṣmaṇa, Sugrīva—skilled in speech—replied to Lakṣmaṇa with these words.
Verse 5.63.14
आर्य लक्ष्मण सम्प्राह वीरो दधिमुखः कपिः।अङ्गदप्रमुखैर्वीरैर्भक्षितं मधु वानरैः।।।।विचित्य दक्षिणामाशामागतैर्हरिपुङ्गवैः।
“Venerable Lakṣmaṇa,” he said, “the heroic monkey Dadhimukha reports that the honey has been consumed by the valiant vānaras led by Aṅgada—those foremost of monkeys who have returned after searching the southern quarter.”
Verse 5.63.15
नैषामकृत्यानामीदृशस्स्यादुपक्रमः।।।।आगतैश्च प्रमथितं यथा मधुवनं हि तैः।धर्षितं च वनं कृत्स्नमुपयुक्तं च वानरैः।।।।
Rise, rise—why have you fallen at my feet? Be fearless, O brave one; tell me everything, just as it is.
Verse 5.63.16
नैषामकृत्यानामीदृशस्स्यादुपक्रमः।।5.63.15।।आगतैश्च प्रमथितं यथा मधुवनं हि तैः।धर्षितं च वनं कृत्स्नमुपयुक्तं च वानरैः।।5.63.16।।
Such conduct would not be found in them if their purpose had not been accomplished.
Verse 5.63.17
वनं यदाऽभिपन्नास्ते साधितं कर्म वानरैः।दृष्टा देवी न सन्देहो न चान्येन हनूमता।।।।
Having returned, those vānaras indeed stormed Madhuvana; the entire grove was violated and ravaged, and the monkeys made free use of it—yet, in these circumstances, their boldness is understandable.
Verse 5.63.18
न ह्यन्यस्साधने हेतुः कर्मणोऽस्य हनूमतः।कार्यसिद्धिर्मतिश्चैव तस्मिन्वानरपुङ्गवे।।।।व्यवसायश्च वीर्यं च श्रुतं चापि प्रतिष्ठितम्।
If they have entered the grove in that manner, then the vānaras have accomplished their task. There is no doubt: the Lady has been seen—by none other than Hanumān.
Verse 5.63.19
जाम्बवान्यत्र नेता स्यादङ्गदश्च महाबलः।।।।हनुमांश्चाप्यधिष्ठाता न तस्य गतिरन्यथा।
For this task there is no truly sufficient means other than Hanumān alone. In that foremost of vānaras are firmly established success in action, sound judgment, determined effort, strength, and proven capability.
Verse 5.63.20
अङ्गदप्रमुखैर्वीरैर्हतं मधुवनं किल।।5.63.20।।वारयन्तश्च सहितास्तदा जानुभिराहताः।
It is said that Madhuvana has been laid waste by the heroes led by Aṅgada; and when the guards tried to stop them together, they were struck down with blows of the knee.
Verse 5.63.21
एतदर्थमयं प्राप्तो वक्तुं मधुरवागिह।।।।नाम्ना दधिमुखो नाम हरिः प्रख्यातविक्रमः।
For this very reason he has come here to speak—this sweet-spoken monkey, famed for valor, named Dadhimukha.
Verse 5.63.22
दृष्टा सीता महाबाहो सौमित्रे पश्य तत्त्वतः।।।।अभिगम्य तथा सर्वे पिबन्ति मधु वानराः।
O strong-armed Saumitri, behold the truth: Sītā has been seen; therefore all the vānaras, having returned, are drinking honey.
Verse 5.63.23
न चाप्यदृष्ट्वा वैदेहीं विश्रुताः पुरुषर्षभ।।।।वनं दत्तवरं दिव्यं धर्षयेयुर्वनौकसः।
O best of men, those renowned forest-dwellers would not violate this wondrous, boon-granted grove without having seen Vaidehī.
Verse 5.63.24
ततः प्रहृष्टो धर्मात्मा लक्ष्मणस्सह राघवः।।।।श्रुत्वा कर्णसुखां वाणीं सुग्रीववदनाच्च्युताम्।प्राहृष्यत भृशं रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः।।।।
Reassured by the great-souled Sugrīva, the very wise Dadhimukha rose and spoke these words.
Verse 5.63.25
ततः प्रहृष्टो धर्मात्मा लक्ष्मणस्सह राघवः।।5.63.24।।श्रुत्वा कर्णसुखां वाणीं सुग्रीववदनाच्च्युताम्।प्राहृष्यत भृशं रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः।।5.63.25।।
“O King, neither in the time of Ṛkṣarāja, nor in yours, nor even in Vāli’s, was this grove ever opened for free entry—yet those vānaras have consumed it and laid it waste.”
Verse 5.63.26
श्रुत्वा दधिमुखस्येदं सुग्रीवस्सम्प्रहृष्य च।वनपालं पुनर्वाक्यं सुग्रीवः प्रत्यभाषत।।।।
“Though the grove-guards tried to restrain them by force, those vānaras ignored us and, thinking only of the honey, kept on eating and drinking.”
Verse 5.63.27
प्रीतोऽस्मि सोऽहं यद्भुक्तं वनं तैः कृतकर्मभिः।मर्षितं मर्षणीयं च चेष्टितं कृतकर्मणाम्।।।।
Some even fling away what remains; others keep eating; and when restrained, they all display their arrogance, raising their brows in defiance.
Verse 5.63.28
इच्छामि शीघ्रं हनुमत्प्रधानान् शाखामृगांस्तान् मृगराजदर्पान्।द्रष्टुं कृतार्थान् सह राघवाभ्यां श्रोतुं च सीताधिगमे प्रयत्नम्।।5.63.28।।
Then righteous Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa, rejoiced greatly on hearing Sugrīva’s words, so pleasing to the ear; and mighty Lakṣmaṇa too was filled with joy.
Verse 5.63.29
प्रीतिस्फीताक्षौ सम्प्रहृष्टौ कुमारौ दृष्ट्वा सिद्धार्थौ वानराणां च राजा।अङ्गैः संहृष्टैः कर्मसिद्धिं विदित्वा बाह्वोरासन्नां सोऽतिमात्रं ननन्द।।।।
Hearing Dadhimukha’s report, Sugrīva became exceedingly glad and again replied to the grove-guardian.