Shloka 23
मधुवनप्रवेशः — The Vanaras Enter Madhuvana
Honey-Grove Episode
नखैस्तुदन्तो दशनैर्दशन्त स्तलैश्च पादैश्च समापयन्तः।मदात्कपिं तं कपय स्समग्रा महावनं निर्विषयं च चक्रुः।।।।
nakhaiḥ tudanto daśanair daśantaḥ talaiś ca pādaiś ca samāpayantaḥ |
madāt kapiṃ taṃ kapayaḥ samagrā mahā-vanaṃ nirviṣayaṃ ca cakruḥ ||
酔いにまかせて、猿たちは一斉にその猿を責め立てた。爪で突き、歯で噛み、掌で打ち、足で蹴った。そして大いなる林苑を、享楽の余地なきまでに荒らし尽くし、ことごとく略奪してしまった。
In their drunkenness some monkeys scratched Dadhimukha violently with their nails, some bit him with their teeth and others slapped and kicked him with their palms and legs.Getting together they looted the garden completely.इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे एकषष्टितम स्सर्गः।।Thus ends the sixtyfirst sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
Dharma condemns violence and wanton destruction, especially against a protector performing his duty. The verse illustrates how loss of satya-like clarity and self-restraint turns celebration into harm.
The drunken vānaras physically assault Dadhimukha and thoroughly ravage the grove.
The implied virtue is ahiṃsā (non-harm) and respect for rightful guardianship—restraint that prevents power from becoming cruelty.