Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 12

मधुवनप्रवेशः — The Vanaras Enter Madhuvana

Honey-Grove Episode

Devanagari script

ततः कुमारस्तान् वृद्धान् जाम्बवत्प्रमुखान् कपीन्।अनुमान्य ददौ तेषां विसर्गं मधुभिक्षणे।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ kumāras tān vṛddhān jāmbavatpramukhān kapīn | anumānya dadau teṣāṁ visargaṁ madhubhikṣaṇe ||

Translation

Kemudian sang pangeran muda, setelah mempertimbangkan para sesepuh Vānara—terutama Jāmbavān—memberi mereka izin untuk memakan dan menikmati madu.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (then)

• kumāraḥ: the prince (Angada)
• kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tān: those (them)
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• vṛddhān: elder/old
• vṛddhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (to kapīn)

• jāmbavatpramukhān: led by Jambavan
• jāmbavatpramukhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāmbavat-pramukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘having Jāmbavat as chief’ qualifying kapīn

• kapīn: monkeys
• kapīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• anumānya: having permitted
• anumānya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-mā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having permitted/approved’

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• teṣām: to them/of them
• teṣām: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; genitive (to them)

• visargam: leave/permission
• visargam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: visarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object of dadau

• madhubhikṣaṇe: for honey-eating/drinking
• madhubhikṣaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu-bhakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative of purpose/occasion

Context

Young Angada asked old Jambavan's permission for the vanaras to drink honey and Jambavan permitted them.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Jāmbavān
• Vānaras
• Madhuvana (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership includes honoring elders and acting after consultation; authority is exercised with restraint and respect for senior wisdom.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada responds to the Vānaras’ request by considering the elders (especially Jāmbavān) and then authorizing honey-drinking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible leadership—Aṅgada does not act impulsively but validates the decision through elder guidance.