Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 21

मधुवनप्रवेशः — The Vanaras Enter Madhuvana

Honey-Grove Episode

Devanagari script

उवाच कांश्चित्परुषाणि धृष्टमसक्तमन्यांश्च तलैर्जघान।समेत्य कैश्चित्कलहं चकार तथैव साम्नोपजगाम कांश्चित्।।।।

Transliteration

uvāca kāṃścit paruṣāṇi dhṛṣṭam asaktam anyāṃś ca talair jaghāna |

sametya kaiścit kalahaṃ cakāra tathaiva sāmn opajagāma kāṃścit ||

Translation

他对一些人放出粗厉之言；对另一些人加以制止，使其噤声；又以掌击打数人。对有的人他迎面相争、起了争执；对另一些人则以和言相劝，试图安抚。

Word by Word

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कांश्चित्: some (persons)
• कांश्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग (indefinite ‘some’)

• परुषाणि: harsh words
• परुषाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘harsh (words)’ as object of uvāca

• धृष्टम्: boldly
• धृष्टम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative); अर्थे ‘boldly/impudently’

• असक्तम्: without restraint
• असक्तम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ-सक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative); अर्थे ‘without restraint/without attachment’

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• तलैः: with palms (of the hands)
• तलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• जघान: struck
• जघान: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समेत्य: approaching
• समेत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having approached/come together’

• कैश्चित्: with some
• कैश्चित्: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग (indefinite ‘with some’)

• कलहम्: quarrel
• कलहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चकार: made/did
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तथा: thus/in that way
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• साम्ना: by conciliation
• साम्ना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by conciliation’

• उपजगाम: approached
• उपजगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कांश्चित्: some (persons)
• कांश्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग

Context

He spoke harshly to some, to others he asked not to talk, some he slapped on the hind part with the palm of his hand. To some he spoke pleasantly and with some he quarrelled. And to others he spoke in a conciliatory manner.

Characters & Entities

• Dadhimukha (implied)
• vānaras

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance uses proportionate means: correction may require firmness, restraint, and also conciliation. The verse reflects layered methods of restoring order.

What is the narrative situation?

Dadhimukha attempts multiple tactics—rebuke, physical restraint, argument, and gentle persuasion—to stop the drunken monkeys.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical leadership: adapting one’s response to the situation while aiming at protection and order.