Shloka 57
दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः
The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess
यदि तेऽपी ह तिष्ठन्ति शपिष्ये तानपि ध्रुवम्4.11.56।।वनेऽस्मिन्मामके नित्यं पुत्रवत्परिरक्षिते।पत्राङ्कुरविनाशाय फलमूलाभवाय च4.11.57।।
yadi te 'pī ha tiṣṭhanti śapiṣye tān api dhruvam || 4.11.56 ||
vane 'smin māmake nityaṃ putravat parirakṣite |
patrāṅkura-vināśāya phala-mūlābhavāya ca || 4.11.57 ||
«Si aún permanecen, ciertamente los maldeciré también—en este bosque mío, siempre protegido por mí como a un hijo—si destruyen hojas y brotes y ocasionan la pérdida de frutos y raíces.»
'If the monkeys stay back to destroy the leaves and shoots and plunder the fruits and roots of this forest which I have protected just like my son will also certainly invite my curse.
FAQs
Dharma includes stewardship: a protected forest is not to be exploited or vandalized; harming its living resources is treated as moral offense.
The sage warns that even the attendants will be cursed if they remain and damage the forest’s vegetation and food resources.
Guardianship and disciplined protection—treating the forest as a dependent (like a son) and enforcing accountability for harm.