Shloka 50

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

येनाहं सहसा स्पृष्टश्शोणितेन दुरात्मना।

कोऽयं दुरात्मा दुर्भुदि्घरकृतात्मा च बालिशः4.11.50।।

Transliteration

yenāhaṃ sahasā spṛṣṭaḥ śoṇitena durātmanā |

ko 'yaṃ durātmā durbuddhir akṛtātmā ca bāliśaḥ || 4.11.50 ||

Translation

“कोणत्या दुरात्म्याने रक्ताने मला अचानक स्पर्श केला? हा कोण—दुरात्मा, दुर्बुद्धी, असंयमी आणि मूर्ख?”

Word by Word

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; relative pronoun 'by whom'

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 1st person pronoun

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक/कालवाचक-अव्यय (suddenly/at once)

• स्पृष्टः: touched
• स्पृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; passive sense 'touched' (predicate of अहम्)

• शोणितेन: with blood
• शोणितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोणित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental 'with blood'

• दुरात्मना: by a wicked one
• दुरात्मना: Kartr (कर्ता/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental 'by the wicked one'

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; interrogative

• अयम्: this one
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दुरात्मा: a villain
• दुरात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to अयम्

• दुर्बुद्धिः: evil-minded (one)
• दुर्बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition

• अकृतात्मा: undisciplined
• अकृतात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकृतात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'undisciplined/uncultivated self'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• बालिशः: a fool
• बालिशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'fool/simpleton'

Context

'Who is that petty, wicked, evil- minded one who caused the drops of blood to touch (fall on) me suddenly?

Characters & Entities

• sage (muni)
• blood (śoṇita)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes maintaining purity and respect for ascetic domains; reckless violence that pollutes others’ sanctified life is condemned as adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The sage reacts verbally to the blood that has fallen upon/near him, identifying the act as a moral offense and seeking the culprit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to sanctity and truth—naming wrongdoing frankly and refusing to normalize desecration.