Shloka 53

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

इह तेनाप्रवेष्टव्यं प्रविष्टस्य वधो भवेत्।वनं मत्संश्रयं येन दूषितं रुधिरस्रवैः4.11.53।।

Transliteration

iha tenāpraveṣṭavyaṃ praviṣṭasya vadho bhavet |

vanaṃ matsaṃśrayaṃ yena dūṣitaṃ rudhira-sravaiḥ || 4.11.53 ||

Translation

Ang sinumang dumungis sa kagubatang ito na nasa ilalim ng aking proteksyon gamit ang mga agos ng dugo ay hindi dapat pumasok dito; kung siya ay papasok, kamatayan ang kanyang magiging kapalaran.

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: Desha (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Kartr (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'by him/for him' (agent/concerned person)

• अप्रवेष्टव्यम्: must not enter
• अप्रवेष्टव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त/gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; with negation: 'not to be entered/should not enter'

• प्रविष्टस्य: of one who enters
• प्रविष्टस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/PPP used as noun), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'of one who has entered'

• वधः: death
• वधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Subject

• भवेत्: would occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिङ्-लकार (विधिलिङ्/optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 'would be/will occur'

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मत्-संश्रयम्: under my protection
• मत्-संश्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी; 'my') + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः 'under my protection' (qualifies वनम्)

• येन: by whom
• येन: Kartr (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'by whom'

• दूषितम्: defiled
• दूषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दूष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate with वनम्: 'defiled'

• रुधिर-स्रवैः: with drops of blood
• रुधिर-स्रवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः 'with blood-drops/oozings'

Context

'Whoever has desecrated this forest, protected by me, with drops of blood is forbidden to enter this place. Once he does it, he will die.

Characters & Entities

• blood (rudhira)

FAQs

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

Protected spaces have inviolable boundaries; dharma demands respect for sanctuaries, and deliberate violation invites proportionate consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

The sage formally forbids the violator from entering the protected forest and declares the fatal consequence if the ban is breached.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective stewardship—upholding a moral perimeter to safeguard ascetic life and the forest’s integrity.