Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 1

दधिमुख

विज्ञापनम् / Dadhimukha Reports the Madhuvana Incident

Devanagari script

ततो मूर्ध्ना निपतितं वानरं वानरर्षभः।दृष्ट्वैवोद्विग्नहृदयो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह।।।।

Transliteration

tato mūrdhnā nipatitaṃ vānaraṃ vānararṣabhaḥ | dṛṣṭvaivodvignahṛdayo vākyam etad uvāca ha ॥5.63.1॥

Translation

Khi ấy, bậc hùng ngưu giữa loài vānara là Sugrīva, vừa thấy một vānara ngã sấp dưới chân mình, trán chạm đất, liền lòng dấy lo âu và cất lời nói rằng:

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) meaning 'then/thereupon'

• mūrdhnā: with (his) forehead
• mūrdhnā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3), Singular; 'with the head/forehead'

• nipatitam: prostrated
• nipatitam: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter Accusative Singular used adjectivally with vānaram (Masculine Acc Sg); sense: 'fallen/prostrated'

• vānaram: the monkey
• vānaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; object of dṛṣṭvā

• vānararṣabhaḥ: the bull among monkeys (Sugriva)
• vānararṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; vocative-like address in context but form is nominative; tatpuruṣa: 'bull among monkeys' (epithet of Sugriva)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having seen'

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• udvignahṛdayaḥ: anxious at heart
• udvignahṛdayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udvigna + hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; adjective of vānararṣabhaḥ; 'anxious-hearted'

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

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; modifies vākyam

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; 'said/spoke'

• ha: indeed (narrative particle)
• ha: Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात/भावसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) used for narrative emphasis

Context

Feeling anxious on seeing Dadhimukha touching his feet with his forehead, Sugriva, the bull among vanaras said:

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Dadhimukha (implied by context as the prostrating vanara)
• vānarāḥ

FAQs

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

Rajadharma and responsibility: a ruler becomes concerned when a duty-bound subordinate approaches in distress; governance requires attentive listening and readiness to address wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Dadhimukha approaches Sugrīva in a formal, urgent manner (prostration), prompting Sugrīva’s immediate concern.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s alertness and responsiveness to his subjects’ distress are emphasized.