Shloka 16

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

ततश्श्वेताम्बुदाकारः सौम्यः प्रीतिकराकृतिः।हिमवानब्रवीद्वाक्यं स्वे एव शिखरे स्थितः4.11.16।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śvetāmbudākāraḥ saumyaḥ prītikarākṛtiḥ | himavān abravīd vākyaṃ sve eva śikhare sthitaḥ ||

Translation

అప్పుడు శ్వేత మేఘసదృశుడై, సౌమ్యుడై, ప్రీతికర రూపముగల హిమవంతుడు తన స్వశిఖరంపై నిలిచి ఈ వాక్యమును పలికెను।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (प्रसङ्ग-निर्देशः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (then)

• śveta-ambuda-ākāraḥ: having the form of a white cloud
• śveta-ambuda-ākāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuda (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (determinative): 'श्वेत-अम्बुद-सदृश-आकारः'

• saumyaḥ: gentle
• saumyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of himavān)

• prīti-kara-ākṛtiḥ: of pleasing appearance
• prīti-kara-ākṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'प्रीतिं करोति या सा आकृतिः' (pleasing appearance)

• himavān: Himavan
• himavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—'said/spoke'

• vākyaṃ: words; a statement
• vākyaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• sve: on his own
• sve: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; स्व-शब्दः (reflexive possessive)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis: 'indeed/only')

• śikhare: on the peak
• śikhare: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• sthitaḥ: standing; situated
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु) + ta (क्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—'स्थितः' (standing/being situated)

Context

'Then the gentle Himavan of pleasing appearance stood in the form of a white cloud on the peak and spoke:

Characters & Entities

• Himavān

FAQs

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

Dharma is aligned with calm authority: Himavān’s gentle, pleasing form signals that moral speech and restraint precede force.

What is the narrative situation?

The scene shifts from Dundubhi’s provocation to Himavān’s composed response from the mountain peak.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure (praśānti) and dignified restraint—Himavān appears serene even when confronted.