Shloka 67

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

इमे च विपुलास्सालास्सप्त शाखावलम्बिनः।यत्रैकं घटते वाली निष्पत्रयितुमोजसा4.11.67।।

Transliteration

ime ca vipulāḥ sālāḥ sapta śākhāvalambinaḥ |

yatraikaṃ ghaṭate vālī niṣpatrayitum ojasā || 4.11.67 ||

Translation

ಈ ಏಳು ವಿಶಾಲ ಸಾಲವೃಕ್ಷಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡು; ಅವುಗಳ ಶಾಖೆಗಳು ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಆಲಂಬಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿವೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಲಿಗೆ ತನ್ನ ಓಜಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಒಂದೇ ಸಾಲವನ್ನು ಎಲೆರಹಿತಗೊಳಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಇತ್ತು.

Word by Word

• इमे: these
• इमे: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विपुलाः: large / stout
• विपुलाः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (सालाः)

• सालाः: sala trees
• सालाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• शाखावलम्बिनः: having/with branches hanging/overlapping
• शाखावलम्बिनः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाखा + अवलम्बिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (शाखासु अवलम्बिनः)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण-निर्देश (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• एकम्: one (tree)
• एकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सालम्/द्रुमम्’ इत्यस्य लुप्त-विशेष्य (one [tree])

• घटते: is able / manages
• घटते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √घट् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘is able/undertakes’

• वाली: Vali
• वाली: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निष्पत्रयितुम्: to strip of leaves
• निष्पत्रयितुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस् + √पत्रय् (धातु; denom.)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्यय; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• ओजसा: by strength
• ओजसा: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrument)

Context

'Look at these seven sturdy Sala trees with branches of one overlapping the other. Vali was able to remove all the leaves of one Sala tree with just one arrow.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Rama
• Vālī
• sāla trees

FAQs

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

Dharma here emphasizes truthful assessment before undertaking violent action: Sugriva points to concrete evidence of Vālī’s power so that Rama’s promised protection and justice will be grounded in realistic knowledge rather than impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva is explaining Vālī’s extraordinary strength and citing a demonstrable feat involving seven sāla trees, as part of requesting proof that Rama can defeat Vālī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugriva’s prudence and commitment to satya (truthfulness): he does not exaggerate for comfort, but presents facts to ensure a righteous and feasible course of action.