Shloka 71

दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः

The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess

Devanagari script

रामोऽपिदारयेदेषां बाणेनैकेन च द्रुमम्।वालिनं निहतं मन्ये दृष्ट्वा रामस्य विक्रमम्4.11.71।।

Transliteration

rāmo 'pi dārayet eṣāṃ bāṇenaikena ca drumam |

vālinaṃ nihataṃ manye dṛṣṭvā rāmasya vikramam || 4.11.71 ||

Translation

若罗摩也能以一箭劈裂这些树木，那么——亲见罗摩之威勇——我便认定婆梨已如同被诛。

Word by Word

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अपि-कारक निपात (also/even)

• दारयेत्: could split / pierce
• दारयेत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दॄ/√दर् (धातु; caus./denom sense ‘split’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘could split’

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• बाणेन: with an arrow
• बाणेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: करण-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (बाणेन)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• द्रुमम्: tree
• द्रुमम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सामूहिकार्थे (one tree / a tree)

• वालिनम्: Vali
• वालिनम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निहतम्: killed
• निहतम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + √हन् (धातु) + क्त (PPP)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वालिनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मन्ये: I think
• मन्ये: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: हेतु/पूर्वकाल (Cause/prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having seen’

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• विक्रमम्: prowess
• विक्रमम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘दृष्ट्वा’ इत्यस्य कर्म

Context

'If I see Rama splitting these trees with one arrow, I will believe he can kill Vali with his prowess.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Rama
• Vālī
• sāla trees
• arrow (bāṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through demonstrable competence and truthful assurance: before taking a life in the name of justice, Sugriva seeks a clear sign that Rama’s intervention will succeed and not become unjust recklessness.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva sets a test for Rama—splitting the trees with one arrow—as the evidence needed to trust that Vālī can be defeated.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugriva’s discernment and reliance on satya: faith is grounded in witnessed capability, not mere words.