Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 20
मधुवनप्रवेशः — The Vanaras Enter Madhuvana
Honey-Grove Episode
स तैः प्रवृद्धैः परिभर्त्स्यमानो वनस्य गोप्ता हरिवीरवृद्धः।चकार भूयो मतिमुग्रतेजा वनस्य रक्षां प्रति वानरेभ्यः।।।।
sa taiḥ pravṛddhaiḥ paribhartsyamāno vanasya goptā harivīra-vṛddhaḥ |
cakāra bhūyo matim ugra-tejā vanasya rakṣāṃ prati vānarēbhyaḥ ||
ఆ పెద్దల చేత గట్టిగా మందలింపబడిన ఆ వానరవీరవృద్ధుడు—ఉగ్రతేజస్సుతో ఉపవనరక్షకుడు—మళ్లీ వానరుల నుండి ఆ తోటను ఎలా కాపాడాలనే విషయమై మనస్సు పెట్టాడు.
The elderly Dadhimukha who was the powerful protector of the garden reprimanded them and devised yet again a plan to protect it.
FAQs
Dharma as duty to protect entrusted resources: even under pressure, the guardian persists in safeguarding what belongs to the community/king.
Dadhimukha, responsible for the grove, is urged by elders to act; he plans again to restrain the unruly vānaras.
Steadfast responsibility (kartavya-niṣṭhā): he continues planning protection rather than yielding to fear or confusion.