Shloka 41

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

वाली व्यापातयाञ्चक्रे ननर्द च महास्वनम्।श्रोत्राभ्यामथ रक्तं तु तस्य सुस्राव पात्यतः4.11.41।।

Transliteration

vālī vyāpātayāñ cakre nanarda ca mahāsvanam |

śrotrābhyām atha raktaṃ tu tasya susrāva pātyataḥ || 4.11.41 ||

Translation

ヴァーリーは彼を振り回して地に投げつけ、轟然たる咆哮を放った。落下するドゥンドゥビーの両耳からは血が流れ出た。

Word by Word

• vālī: Vālī
• vālī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vyāpātayām: having whirled down / felled
• vyāpātayām: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ā-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Causative absolutive/gerund (णिच् + ल्यप्): vyāpātayitvā-type sense; here as gerundial form in -ām (Vedic/epic variant) meaning 'having made (him) fall/whirled down'

• cakre: did / made
• cakre: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (लिट्/perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• nanarda: roared
• nanarda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nard (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (लिट्/perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• mahāsvanam: a great sound
• mahāsvanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of nanarda in sense 'uttered a great sound'

• śrotrābhyām: from the two ears
• śrotrābhyām: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd), Dvivacana; instrumental of source/channel

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequential particle (अनन्तरबोधक अव्यय)

• raktam: blood
• raktam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/emphatic particle (निपात)

• tasya: of him / his
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• susrāva: flowed out
• susrāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: su-√sru (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (लिट्/perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• pātyataḥ: as (he) was falling / downward
• pātyataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √pat (धातु)
• Form: Adverbial ablative/locative form (क्रियाविशेषण), meaning 'while falling/downwards' (epic usage)

Context

'Vali whirled him round and round and threw him down-roaring. Blood flowed from Dundubhi's ears.

Characters & Entities

• Vālī
• Dundubhi

FAQs

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

The verse contributes to a moral contrast used in the epic: physical victory is not the same as moral victory, and later judgments in the narrative weigh actions against dharma rather than mere strength.

What is the narrative situation?

The fight intensifies: Vālī’s superior technique and force injure Dundubhi severely as he is thrown down.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Overwhelming combat capability and fearlessness, expressed through decisive control of the opponent.