Shloka 78

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

उपलब्धं च मे श्लाघ्यं सन्मित्रं मित्रवत्सल।त्वामहं पुरुषव्याघ्र हिमवन्तमिवाश्रितः4.11.78।।

Transliteration

upalabdhaṃ ca me ślāghyaṃ sanmitraṃ mitravatsala |

tvām ahaṃ puruṣavyāghra himavantam ivāśritaḥ || 4.11.78 ||

Translation

హే మిత్రవత్సల! నీలో నేను ప్రశంసనీయమైన సన్మిత్రుని పొందాను. హే పురుషవ్యాఘ్ర! హిమవంతుని ఆశ్రయించినట్లే నేను నిన్ను శరణు వేడుతున్నాను॥

Word by Word

• upalabdham: obtained
• upalabdham: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + labh (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘obtained/attained’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम्

• me: to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचनम्; ‘to me/for me’

• ślāghyam: praiseworthy
• ślāghyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ślāghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• sanmitram: a true friend
• sanmitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat + mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (sat mitram)

• mitravatsala: O friend-loving one
• mitravatsala: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (mitreṣu vatsalaḥ)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• puruṣavyāghra: O tiger among men
• puruṣavyāghra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (puruṣeṣu vyāghraḥ)

• himavantam: Himalaya
• himavantam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्ययम् (comparative particle)

• āśritaḥ: have sought refuge (in)
• āśritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + śri (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; ‘having taken refuge’

Context

'I have discovered in you a faithful friend. O tiger among men, O venerable one, you are to me like the Himalayas.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Rama
• Himavan (Himalaya)

FAQs

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

Dharma upholds faithful friendship (mitra-dharma): recognizing virtue in another and seeking righteous alliance grounded in trust and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva expresses trust in Rama, calling him a true friend and likening his protection to the steadfast Himalaya.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mitravatsalatā (loyalty to friends) and reliability—qualities Sugriva perceives in Rama.