Shloka 56
दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः
The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess
यदि तेऽपी ह तिष्ठन्ति शपिष्ये तानपि ध्रुवम्4.11.56।।वनेऽस्मिन्मामके नित्यं पुत्रवत्परिरक्षिते।पत्राङ्कुरविनाशाय फलमूलाभवाय च4.11.57।।
yadi te 'pī ha tiṣṭhanti śapiṣye tān api dhruvam || 4.11.56 ||
vane 'smin māmake nityaṃ putravat parirakṣite |
patrāṅkura-vināśāya phala-mūlābhavāya ca || 4.11.57 ||
“若他们仍不离去，我也必定诅咒他们——在这片我恒常如护子般守护的森林里——若他们毁坏树叶与嫩芽，并使果实与根茎断绝。”
'If the monkeys stay back to destroy the leaves and shoots and plunder the fruits and roots of this forest which I have protected just like my son will also certainly invite my curse.
FAQs
Dharma includes stewardship: a protected forest is not to be exploited or vandalized; harming its living resources is treated as moral offense.
The sage warns that even the attendants will be cursed if they remain and damage the forest’s vegetation and food resources.
Guardianship and disciplined protection—treating the forest as a dependent (like a son) and enforcing accountability for harm.