दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः
The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess
धारयन्माहिषं रूपं तीक्ष्णशृङ्गो भयावहः।प्रावृषीव महामेघस्तोयपूर्णो नभस्स्थले4.11.25।।ततस्तु द्वारमागम्य किष्किन्धाया महाबलः।ननर्द कम्पयन्भूमिं दुन्दुभिर्दुन्दुभिर्यथा4.11.26।।
dhārayan māhiṣaṃ rūpaṃ tīkṣṇa-śṛṅgo bhayāvahaḥ |
prāvṛṣīva mahā-meghas toyapūrṇo nabhas-sthale || 4.11.25 ||
tatas tu dvāram āgamya kiṣkindhāyā mahā-balaḥ |
nanarda kampayan bhūmiṃ dundubhir dundubhir yathā || 4.11.26 ||
Hóa thân thành trâu rừng, sừng nhọn đáng sợ, Dundubhi tựa như mây lớn mùa mưa, nặng trĩu nước giữa trời. Rồi đến trước cổng Kiṣkindhā, kẻ đại lực ấy gầm rống như trống trận, như làm rung chuyển cả mặt đất.
'Mighty Dundubhi assuming the form of a frightening buffalo with pointed horns looking like a huge, dark rain-cloud in the sky in monsoon marched to the entrance of Kishkinda and roared like a war-drum as if shaking the earth.
Dharma is contrasted with intimidation: strength used to terrorize and provoke disorder is a misuse of power, not righteous conduct.
Dundubhi arrives at Kishkindha’s entrance in a buffalo form and loudly challenges, creating fear and disturbance.
The episode foregrounds the absence of humility; the display is driven by arrogance and aggression rather than restraint.