Shloka 6

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

बहवस्सारवन्तश्च वनेषु विविधा द्रुमाः।वालिना तरसा भग्ना बलं प्रथयताऽत्मनः4.11.6।।

Transliteration

bahavaḥ sāravantaś ca vaneṣu vividhā drumāḥ | vālinā tarasā bhagnā balaṃ prathayatā ’tmanaḥ || 4.11.6 ||

Translation

جنگلوں میں بہت سے طرح طرح کے مضبوط درخت تھے، جنہیں والی نے اپنی قوت کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے تیزی سے توڑ ڈالا۔

Word by Word

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण of द्रुमाः

• सारवन्तः: sturdy, strong-wooded
• सारवन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सारवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of द्रुमाः

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• वनेषु: in forests
• वनेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of द्रुमाः

• द्रुमाः: trees
• द्रुमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वालिना: by Vali
• वालिना: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• तरसा: with force
• तरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; रीतिवाचक

• भग्नाः: broken
• भग्नाः: Karma (कर्म; affected entity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्रुमाः इत्यस्य विशेषण

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रथयता: by (him) displaying
• प्रथयता: Kartr (कर्ता; participial agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रथय् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (Present Active Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; वालिना इत्यस्य विशेषण (while displaying)

• आत्मनः: of himself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; स्वकीय (reflexive)

Context

'Vali would break several sturdy trees in the forest with his vigour and speed, exhibiting his strength.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• forest (vana)
• trees (druma)

FAQs

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

The verse implicitly contrasts power with dharma: raw strength, when merely exhibited, can become a source of arrogance and harm. Dharma demands that strength be governed by restraint and right purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration describes Vali’s extraordinary physical might through the image of him snapping sturdy forest trees.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prowess (vīrya) is highlighted—though the broader episode later frames that prowess as needing moral boundaries (maryādā).