Shloka 37

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

स प्रहस्याब्रवीन्मन्दं क्रोधात्तमसुरोत्तमम्।विसृज्य ताः स्त्रियस्सर्वास्ताराप्रभृतिकास्तदा4.11.37।।

Transliteration

sa prahasyābravīn mandaṃ krodhāt tam asurottamam |

visṛjya tāḥ striyaḥ sarvās tārāprabhṛtikās tadā ||

Translation

瓦利闻言轻蔑一笑，屏退了塔拉等所有妻妾，随后怒气冲冲地对那恶魔首领说道。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• prahāsya: having laughed
• prahāsya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√has (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; action prior to main verb

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (लङ्/imperfect past), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• mandam: softly / slowly
• mandam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया)

• krodhāt: out of anger
• krodhāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; ablative of cause (हेतु)

• tam: to him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• asurottamam: the best of demons
• asurottamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: asurāṇām uttamaḥ (best among demons) used as apposition to tam

• visṛjya: having dismissed / sent away
• visṛjya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; prior action

• tāḥ: those
• tāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• striyaḥ: women
• striyaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana; (form identical with nominative plural; here governed by visṛjya)

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; agrees with striyaḥ

• tārāprabhṛtikāḥ: beginning with Tārā (and others)
• tārāprabhṛtikāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tārā + prabhṛti + ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: tārā-prabhṛtayaḥ (beginning with Tārā) + adjectival suffix -ka; agrees with striyaḥ

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

Context

'Then, Vali sent away Tara and all other women slowly and replied angrily to the foolish demon with a mischievous smile:

Characters & Entities

• Vali
• Dundubhi
• Tara

FAQs

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

Propriety before combat: sensitive witnesses (women of the household/court) are respectfully removed, aligning the confrontation with public decorum and yuddha-maryādā.

What is the narrative situation?

Vali prepares to respond to Dundubhi’s provocation by first sending Tara and other women away, then addressing Dundubhi.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective prudence and decorum—Vali ensures the setting is appropriate before engaging in conflict.