Shloka 18

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा गिरिराजस्य धीमतः।

उवाच दुन्दुभिर्वाक्यं क्रोधात्संरक्तलोचनः4.11.18।।

Transliteration

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā girirājasya dhīmataḥ | uvāca dundubhir vākyaṃ krodhāt saṃraktalocanaḥ ||

Translation

ബുദ്ധിമാനായ ഗിരിരാജന്റെ ആ വചനങ്ങൾ കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, ക്രോധത്താൽ കണ്ണുകൾ ചുവന്ന ദുന്ദുഭി മറുപടിയായി പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• tad: that
• tad: Karma (कर्म-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of vacanam)

• vacanam: speech; words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अर्थः—'श्रुत्वा' (having heard)

• girirājasya: of the king of mountains
• girirājasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'गिरिणां राजा' (king of mountains)

• dhīmataḥ: of the wise
• dhīmataḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (of girirājasya)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—'said'

• dundubhiḥ: Dundubhi
• dundubhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vākyaṃ: words
• vākyaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• krodhāt: from anger; in anger
• krodhāt: Apadana (अपादानम्/Source-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (cause/source: 'from/through anger')

• saṃrakta-locanaḥ: with reddened eyes
• saṃrakta-locanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃrakta (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः: 'संरक्ते लोचने यस्य' (red-eyed)

Context

"At these words of Himavan, the wise king of mountains, Dundubhi whose eyes turned red in anger replied:

Characters & Entities

• Dundubhi
• Himavān

FAQs

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

It warns that anger distorts judgment: Dundubhi’s reddened eyes symbolize krodha overpowering discernment, a classic obstacle to dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After Himavān refuses the fight on dharmic grounds, Dundubhi reacts with anger and prepares to retort.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The contrastive lesson highlights the need for self-control (dama); Dundubhi exhibits its opposite.