Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 3

दधिमुख

विज्ञापनम् / Dadhimukha Reports the Madhuvana Incident

Devanagari script

स तु विश्वासितस्तेन सुग्रीवेण महात्मना।उत्थाय सुमहाप्राज्ञो वाक्यं दधिमुखोऽब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

sa tu viśvāsitas tena sugrīveṇa mahātmanā |

utthāya sumahāprājño vākyaṃ dadhimukho ’bravīt ||

Translation

Nang mapanatag siya dahil sa dakilang-loob na si Sugrīva, tumindig ang lubhang marunong na si Dadhimukha at nagsalita ng ganitong mga salita.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; refers to Dadhimukha

• tu: but/then
• tu: Sambandha-nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) marking contrast/continuation

• viśvāsitaḥ: reassured
• viśvāsitaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa / Bhāva (भावे; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√śvas (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; 'reassured/caused to trust'

• tena: by him
• tena: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्तृकरणम्; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3), Singular; agent in passive: 'by him'

• sugrīveṇa: by Sugriva
• sugrīveṇa: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्तृकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3), Singular; apposition to tena; 'by Sugriva'

• mahātmanā: by the great-souled (one)
• mahātmanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3), Singular; adjective of sugrīveṇa: 'by the great-souled'

• utthāya: having risen
• utthāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having risen'

• sumahāprājñaḥ: very wise
• sumahāprājñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + mahā + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; adjective of dadhimukhaḥ

• vākyam: speech/words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; object of abravīt

• dadhimukhaḥ: Dadhimukha
• dadhimukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; subject of abravīt

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; 'said'

Context

"Then righteous Rama and Lakshmana rejoiced to hear the words of Sugriva, which were pleasing to the ears.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Dadhimukha

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights responsible leadership: a ruler reassures a subordinate so that truthful reporting and duty can proceed without fear.

What is the narrative situation?

At Kiṣkindhā, Dadhimukha—guardian of Madhuvana—has approached Sugrīva; after being reassured, he begins his report.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s steadiness and Dadhimukha’s disciplined duty—speaking only after proper assurance and protocol.