Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 11

दधिमुख

विज्ञापनम् / Dadhimukha Reports the Madhuvana Incident

Devanagari script

एवं विज्ञाप्यमानं तं सुग्रीवं वानरर्षभम्।अपृच्छत्तं महाप्राज्ञो लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ vijñāpyamānaṃ taṃ sugrīvaṃ vānararṣabham | apṛcchat taṃ mahāprājño lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā ॥5.63.11॥

Translation

Ketika Sugrīva, sang lembu jantan di antara para vanara, sedang diberi makluman demikian, Lakṣmaṇa yang amat bijaksana dan pembunuh pahlawan musuh pun menyoalnya.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• vijñāpyamānam: being informed/being addressed
• vijñāpyamānam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + jñap (धातु) + yamāna (शानच्/Present passive participle)
• Form: कृदन्त (शानच्/यमान), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण (qualifies taṃ sugrīvam)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sugrīvam: Sugriva
• sugrīvam: Karma (कर्म/Object apposition to tam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vānararṣabham: bull among monkeys, best of vanaras
• vānararṣabham: Karma (कर्म/Object apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'वानराणाम् ऋषभः'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• apṛcchat: asked, inquired
• apṛcchat: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √prach (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mahāprājñaḥ: very wise
• mahāprājñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('महान् प्राज्ञः'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies lakṣmaṇaḥ)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• paravīrahā: slayer of enemy-heroes
• paravīrahā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + han (धातु)→hā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'परान् वीरान् हन्ति'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies lakṣmaṇaḥ)

Context

While Dadhimukha appealed thus to wise Sugriva, Lakshmana the killer of enemies happened to see them and enquired:

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Dadhimukha (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma values inquiry aimed at truth (satya): Lakṣmaṇa seeks clarification before judgment, modeling responsible speech and action.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa notices an urgent report being made to Sugrīva and asks what has happened.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s discernment and readiness to uphold order are emphasized.