Shloka 13

मधुवनभङ्गः

The Disruption of Madhuvana and Dadhimukha’s Complaint

Devanagari script

केचित् क्ष्वेलां प्रकुर्वन्ति केचित् कूजन्ति हृष्टवत्।हरयोमधुना मत्ताः केचित्सुप्ता महीतले।।5.62.13।।

Transliteration

kecit kṣvelāṃ prakurvanti kecit kūjanti hṛṣṭavat |

harayo madhunā mattāḥ kecit suptā mahītale ||5.62.13||

Translation

ചിലർ ഉച്ചത്തിൽ ഗർജിച്ചു, ചിലർ ആനന്ദത്തോടെ കൂകി; മധുവിൽ മത്തായ ഹരികളിൽ ചിലർ മയക്കത്തിലായി, ചിലർ ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണു ഉറങ്ങിപ്പോയി.

Word by Word

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘some’

• क्ष्वेलाम्: a roar/howl
• क्ष्वेलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्ष्वेला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रकुर्वन्ति: make/utter
• प्रकुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कूजन्ति: coo/chirp
• कूजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• हृष्टवत्: joyfully
• हृष्टवत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हृष्टवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• हरयः: vanaras/monkeys
• हरयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मधुना: with/by honey
• मधुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मत्ताः: intoxicated
• मत्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘intoxicated’

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सुप्ताः: asleep
• सुप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप् (धातु) → सुप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘asleep’

• महीतले: on the ground
• महीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मह्याः तलम् = ground-surface

Context

Some roared, some warbled happily, some felt drowsy, drinking honey and somedropped off to sleep on the ground.

Characters & Entities

• Madhu (honey)
• Vānara-s
• Madhuvana (contextual)

FAQs

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

Dharma values apramāda (non-negligence): when duty is near, losing awareness through indulgence becomes ethically risky and socially disruptive.

What is the narrative situation?

The vānara-s’ celebration reaches its peak—noise, revelry, and sleep—setting the stage for Dadhimukha’s response and escalation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse underscores (by contrast) the virtue of alertness and disciplined joy—celebration that does not compromise responsibility.