Shloka 68

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

एतदस्यासमं वीर्यं मया राम प्रकीर्तितम्।कथं तं वालिनं हन्तुं समरे शक्ष्यसे नृप4.11.68।।

Transliteration

etad asyāsamaṃ vīryaṃ mayā rāma prakīrtitam |

kathaṃ taṃ vālinam hantuṃ samare śakṣyase nṛpa || 4.11.68 ||

Translation

ഹേ രാമാ, അവന്റെ അസമമായ വീര്യശക്തി ഞാൻ നിനക്കു വിവരിച്ചു. ഹേ നൃപ, തുറന്ന യുദ്ധത്തിൽ നീ വാലിയെ എങ്ങനെ വധിക്കാൻ കഴിയും?

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object of ‘प्रकीर्तितम्’ as impersonal passive)

• अस्य: of him / his
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्/तद्-सम्बद्ध ‘अस्य’ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• असमम्: unequalled
• असमम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (वीर्यम्)

• वीर्यम्: strength / prowess
• वीर्यम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent/कर्तृ in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ-करण (agent in passive)

• राम: O Rama
• राम: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• प्रकीर्तितम्: has been narrated
• प्रकीर्तितम्: क्रिया (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (PPP)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘has been described’

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• तम्: that
• तम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (वालिनम्)

• वालिनम्: Vali
• वालिनम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: प्रयोजन/पूरक (Complement infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्यय; शक्-धातोः पूरक (complement of ability)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• शक्ष्यसे: will you be able
• शक्ष्यसे: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future/लृट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नृप: O king
• नृप: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

'O Rama! Vali's strength and fame related by me is unequalled. O king! how is it possible for you to kill him in a combat?'

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Rama
• Vālī

FAQs

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

Dharma requires responsibility in promises and warfare: Sugriva asks for a realistic path to justice, ensuring that the pledged act (slaying Vālī) can be carried out without reckless endangerment.

What is the narrative situation?

After highlighting Vālī’s extraordinary power, Sugriva directly questions whether Rama can defeat him in a straightforward fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugriva’s caution and truth-oriented counsel: he voices doubt openly so the alliance rests on clarity rather than blind hope.