Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 9

मधुवनप्रवेशः — The Vanaras Enter Madhuvana

Honey-Grove Episode

Devanagari script

यद्रक्षति महावीर्य स्सदा दधिमुखः कपिः।मातुलः कपिमुख्यस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः।।।।

Transliteration

yad rakṣati mahāvīryaḥ sadā dadhimukhaḥ kapiḥ |

mātulaḥ kapimukhyasya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ ||5.61.9||

Translation

此处常由大勇的猿将达提穆迦（Dadhimukha）守护；他是大德苏格利瓦的舅父，亦为诸猿首领之最。

Word by Word

• yat: that (which)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun (यत्)

• rakṣati: protects/guards
• rakṣati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• mahāvīryaḥ: of great valor
• mahāvīryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (to दधिमुखः/कपिः)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• dadhimukhaḥ: Dadhimukha
• dadhimukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi-mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संज्ञा (proper name)

• kapiḥ: monkey
• kapiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; apposition to दधिमुखः

• mātulaḥ: maternal uncle
• mātulaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate/appositive

• kapimukhyasya: of the foremost of monkeys
• kapimukhyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi-mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive dependent on मātulaḥ (whose uncle)

• sugrīvasya: of Sugriva
• sugrīvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive in apposition to kapimukhyasya

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (to sugrīvasya)

Context

Dadhimukha, the foremost of all monkeys, of great valour and the maternal uncle of Sugriva was the caretaker of the garden.

Characters & Entities

• Dadhimukha
• Sugrīva
• Madhuvana (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma as entrusted responsibility: Dadhimukha’s role is to protect what is assigned to him, showing that loyalty includes safeguarding communal/royal resources.

What is the narrative situation?

The text identifies the official guardian of Madhuvana, preparing for the encounter between the returning vānara-s and the grove’s protector.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rakṣā-dharma (the duty to guard) and steadfastness—Dadhimukha is portrayed as valorous and consistently responsible.