Shloka 48

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

तस्य वेगप्रविद्धस्य वक्त्रात्क्षतजबिन्दवः।प्रपेतुर्मारुतोत्क्षिप्ता मतङ्गप्याश्रमं प्रति4.11.48।।

Transliteration

tasya vegapraviddhasya vaktrāt kṣatajabindavaḥ |

prapetur mārutotkṣiptā mataṅgasyāśramaṃ prati || 4.11.48 ||

Translation

จากปากของร่างนั้นซึ่งถูกเหวี่ยงด้วยแรงยิ่ง หยดโลหิตถูกลมพัดยกและกระจาย ตกลงไปทางอาศรมของฤๅษีมตังคะ

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive 'of him'

• वेग-प्रविद्धस्य: of the one flung with speed
• वेग-प्रविद्धस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रविद्ध (प्र-√व्यध् / √विध्, क्त/PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः: 'flung with speed' (qualifies तस्य)

• वक्त्रात्: from the mouth
• वक्त्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; Ablative 'from the mouth'

• क्षतज-बिन्दवः: drops of blood
• क्षतज-बिन्दवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षतज (प्रातिपदिक) + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः 'drops of blood'

• प्रपेतुः: fell down
• प्रपेतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• मारुत-उत्क्षिप्ताः: scattered by the wind
• मारुत-उत्क्षिप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्क्षिप्त (उद्-√क्षिप्, क्त/PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः 'thrown up/scattered by the wind' (qualifies बिन्दवः)

• मतङ्ग-अपि: even (to) Matanga's
• मतङ्ग-अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि (emphatic particle) with proper noun; here in sandhi as 'py'

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative with 'प्रति'

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Disha (दिशा/goal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition) governing accusative; 'towards'

Context

'Mighty Vali lifted on both shoulders the insensate body drained of life and hurled it speedily to a distance of a yojana.

Characters & Entities

• Dundubhi
• Māruta (wind)
• Matanga

FAQs

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

The sanctity of an āśrama is implied: violence and its remnants should not defile spaces of tapas and peace. Dharma includes protecting sacred environments and the lives devoted to spiritual discipline.

What is the narrative situation?

The aftermath of Dundubhi’s corpse being hurled reaches Matanga’s hermitage as blood drops are carried by the wind, foreshadowing repercussions tied to that sacred place.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes not a virtue but a narrative warning: actions—especially violent ones—can affect the innocent and the sacred, demanding ethical foresight.