Shloka 7

Devanagari script

श्रीमान्‌ दधिमुखो नाम हरिवृद्धो5तिवीर्यवान्‌ । प्रचकर्ष महासैन्यं हरीणां भीमतेजसाम्‌,वानरोंमें वृद्ध तथा अत्यन्त पराक्रमी श्रीमान्‌ दधिमुख भयंकर तेजसे सम्पन्न वानरोंकी विशाल सेना साथ लेकर आये

Transliteration

śrīmān dadhimukho nāma harivṛddho 'tivīryavān | pracakārṣa mahāsainyaṃ harīṇāṃ bhīmatejasām ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: There was a venerable Vānara named Dadhimukha—illustrious, aged among the monkeys, and of extraordinary prowess. He drew together and led forth a vast host of monkeys, all endowed with formidable energy, as the narrative turns toward the mobilization of righteous strength in service of a larger cause.

Word by Word

श्रीमान्illustrious, prosperous

दधिमुखःDadhimukha (proper name; 'one with a curd-like/white face')

नामby name, called

हरिवृद्धःan elder among the monkeys

अतिवीर्यवान्of exceedingly great prowess

प्रचकर्षdrew/led forth, brought along

महासैन्यम्a great army

हरीणाम्of the monkeys

भीमतेजसाम्of (those) having terrible splendor

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Dadhimukha

Vānara host (harīṇām mahāsainyam)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical dimension of leadership: an able elder gathers collective strength and organizes it toward a purposeful end, suggesting that power gains legitimacy when guided by responsibility and right intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya introduces Dadhimukha, an aged yet powerful Vānara leader, who musters and brings forward a large and formidable monkey host, signaling a significant movement of forces within the story.