Shloka 17

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

क्लेष्टुमर्हसि मां न त्वं दुन्दुभे धर्मवत्सल।रणकर्मस्वकुशलस्तपस्विशरणं ह्यहम्4.11.17।।

Transliteration

kleṣṭum arhasi māṃ na tvaṃ dundubhe dharmavatsala | raṇakarmasv akuśalas tapasviśaraṇaṃ hy aham ||

Translation

Hỡi Dundubhi, kẻ yêu mến Chánh pháp (dharma), ngươi không nên quấy nhiễu ta. Ta là nơi nương tựa của các ẩn sĩ khổ hạnh, và không tinh thông việc chiến trận.

Word by Word

• kleṣṭum: to trouble
• kleṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्/Infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kliś (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: कृदन्त, तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अर्थः—'क्लेष्टुम्' (to trouble)

• arhasi: you ought
• arhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—'you ought/are fit'

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd), सर्वनाम; (common gender)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेधार्थक निपात (negation)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st), सर्वनाम

• dundubhe: O Dundubhi
• dundubhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• dharma-vatsala: O lover of dharma
• dharma-vatsala: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'धर्मे वत्सलः' (fond of dharma)

• raṇa-karmasu: in acts of war
• raṇa-karmasu: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्/Locative sphere)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'रणस्य कर्म' (acts of battle); अधिकरण

• akuśalaḥ: unskilled
• akuśalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicative adjective of aham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेध (unskilled)

• tapasvi-śaraṇam: a refuge for ascetics
• tapasvi-śaraṇam: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative of aham)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapasvin (प्रातिपदिक) + śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'तपस्विनां शरणम्' (refuge of ascetics)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (हेतु/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: 'for/indeed')

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, प्रथमा, सर्वनाम

Context

'Dundubhi, it is not proper for you to trouble me, for I am devoted to righteousness. I am the resort of ascetics and not adept in warfare'.

Characters & Entities

• Himavān
• Dundubhi
• Tapasvins (ascetics)

FAQs

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

Dharma prioritizes protecting spiritual life over seeking conflict: Himavān asserts his role as shelter for ascetics and rejects warfare as improper for his station.

What is the narrative situation?

Himavān directly addresses Dundubhi, asking him not to harass the mountain, since it serves as a sanctuary for sages.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Restraint and truthfulness (satya): Himavān plainly states his nature and duty, refusing to be drawn into violence.