Shloka 38

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

मत्तोऽयमिति मा मंस्था यद्यभीतोऽसि संयुगे।मदोऽयं सम्प्रहारेऽस्मिन्वीरपानं समर्थ्यताम्4.11.38।।

Transliteration

matto 'yam iti mā maṃsthā yady abhīto 'si saṃyuge |

mado 'yaṃ samprahāre 'smin vīrapānaṃ samarthyatām ||

Translation

Ne crois pas que je sois ivre. Si tu n’as pas peur au combat, tiens cette « ivresse » pour la coupe du guerrier en cette mêlée.

Word by Word

• mattaḥ: intoxicated
• mattaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective (understood: ayam mattaḥ)

• ayam: this (person)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• mā: do not
• mā: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prohibitive particle used with imperative/optative (निषेधार्थक अव्यय)

• maṃsthāḥ: think
• maṃsthāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ lakāra (लोट्/imperative) with prohibitive mā, Madhyama puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional conjunction (शर्तबोधक अव्यय)

• abhītaḥ: unafraid
• abhītaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-bhīta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √bhī (धातु))
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; past participle (क्त) with privative a-; predicate with asi

• asi: you are
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (लट्/present), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• saṃyuge: in battle
• saṃyuge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• madaḥ: intoxication / pride
• madaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• samprahāre: in the clash / in striking
• samprahāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samprahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Puṃliṅga/Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• vīrapānam: a warrior’s drink
• vīrapānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra + pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; here as predicate nominative with passive imperative samarthyatām; tatpuruṣa: vīrāṇāṃ pānam (warrior's drink)

• samarthyatām: let it be regarded / deemed
• samarthyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arth / √arh? (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ lakāra (लोट्/imperative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; passive/impersonal sense (कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग): 'let it be considered/treated as'

Context

'Do not consider me drunken. This drink will serve as a warrior's drink in the combat. Be ready, if you are not afraid of a combat.'

Characters & Entities

• Vali
• Dundubhi

FAQs

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

Satya and clarity in self-presentation: Vali rejects the false charge of drunkenness and calls for a straightforward, fearless contest without misrepresentation.

What is the narrative situation?

After dismissing the women, Vali answers Dundubhi’s insinuations and invites him to fight if he truly has courage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless candor and martial readiness—Vali asserts composure and reframes “mada” as battle-ardor.