Shloka 23

मधुवनभङ्गः

The Disruption of Madhuvana and Dadhimukha’s Complaint

Devanagari script

ते स्वामिवचनं वीरा हृदयेष्ववसज्य तत्।त्वरया ह्यभ्यधावन्त सालतालशिलायुधाः।।5.62.23।।

Transliteration

te svāmivacanaṃ vīrā hṛdayeṣv avasajya tat |

tvarayā hy abhyadhāvanta sāla-tāla-śilāyudhāḥ ||5.62.23||

Translation

സ്വാമിയുടെ വചനം ഹൃദയത്തിൽ ദൃഢമായി പതിപ്പിച്ച്, ആ വീര വാനരന്മാർ സാല-താല വൃക്ഷങ്ങളെയും പാറകളെയും ആയുധങ്ങളാക്കി പിടിച്ച് അതിവേഗം പാഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्वामिवचनम्: the master's words
• स्वामिवचनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामि + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वामिनः वचनम् = master's command); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वीराः: heroes
• वीराः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; apposition to ते

• हृदयेषु: in (their) hearts
• हृदयेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अवसज्य: having fixed / having set (in mind)
• अवसज्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√सञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्वामिवचनम् इत्यस्य पुनरुक्ति/अन्वय

• त्वरया: with haste
• त्वरया: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थ

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• अभ्यधावन्त: ran towards / charged
• अभ्यधावन्त: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• सालतालशिलायुधाः: armed with sala/tala trees and rocks
• सालतालशिलायुधाः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साल + ताल + शिला + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (साल-ताल-शिला-आयुधाः = those whose weapons are sala/tala trees and rocks); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

The heroic vanaras held Sala and Tala trees and rushed at once keeping their leader's words in mind.

Characters & Entities

• vanaras
• sāla tree

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined obedience to rightful leadership: the vanaras act decisively while keeping the leader’s instruction foremost in mind.

What is the narrative situation?

A confrontation escalates: the vanaras, stirred by orders, rush into action using available natural weapons (trees and stones).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty and readiness to act—courage guided by adherence to command rather than personal impulse.