Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 22
मधुवनप्रवेशः — The Vanaras Enter Madhuvana
Honey-Grove Episode
स तैर्मदात्संपरिवार्य वाक्यैर्भलाच्छ तेन प्रतिवार्यमाणैः।प्रधर्षितस्त्यक्तभयै स्समेत्य प्रकृष्यते चाप्यनवेक्ष्य दोषम्।।।।
sa tair madāt saṃparivārya vākyair balāc ca tena prativāryamāṇaiḥ |
pradharṣitas tyakta-bhayaiḥ sametya prakṛṣyate cāpy anavēkṣya dōṣam ||
Но, окружённый ими, осыпаемый пьяной бранью и сдерживаемый одной лишь силой, он был одолён теми бесстрашными. Сойдясь вместе, они схватили его и потащили, не взирая на собственную вину.
In their drunkenness they were using abusive language and with their strength they retaliated without fear. They invaded without considering their mistakes. They caught hold of Dadhimukha and pulled him.
FAQs
The verse shows adharma: intoxication leads to verbal abuse and mob force against a rightful guardian. Dharma requires recognizing fault (doṣa) and respecting legitimate authority.
The intoxicated vānaras respond to Dadhimukha’s restraint with abuse and violence, surrounding and dragging him.
By contrast, the virtue highlighted is accountability—seeing one’s own doṣa before acting—and restraint in speech and strength.