Shloka 4

Devanagari script

यदा तु दुन्दुभिं नाम दानवं महिषाकृतिम्।परिकालयते वाली मलयं प्रति पर्वतम्।।4.46.3।।तदा विवेश महिषो मलयस्य गुहां प्रति।विवेश वाली तत्रापि मलयं तज्जिघांसया।।4.46.4।।

Transliteration

tadā viveśa mahiṣo malayasya guhāṃ prati | viveśa vālī tatrāpi malayaṃ taj-jighāṃsayā ||

Translation

அப்போது அந்த எருமை வடிவன் (துந்துபி) மலய மலைக் குகைக்குள் நுழைந்தான்; அவனை வதைக்க வேண்டும் என்ற தீவிர எண்ணத்தால் வாலியும் அங்கேயே மலயத்தின் அந்தக் குகைக்குள் நுழைந்தான்.

Word by Word

ततःthen

अहम्I

तत्रthere

निक्षिप्तःwas stationed/left

गुहाद्वारिat the cave-entrance

विनीतवत्obediently, dutifully

नnot

चand

निष्क्रामतेdoes not come out/return

वालीVali

तदाthen

संवत्सरेwhen a year

गतेhad passed

Context

Vali chased the demon Dundubhi in buffalo form into a cave of mount Malaya in order to kill him.

Characters & Entities

Sugriva

Rama

Vālī

Dundubhi

cave (guhā)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how intention (saṅkalpa)—here, the will to kill—drives action; Dharma later evaluates whether such intent is restrained by wisdom and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Dundubhi flees into a cave; Vālī follows inside, escalating the episode that will separate the brothers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and determination—tempered in the larger story by the need for discernment.