Dadhimukha

Dadhimukha was an elderly vānara (forest-dwelling monkey-like being). Sugrīva appointed him as the guardian of the Madhu Vana, a grove that had been kept in Sugrīva’s family for generations. It was set apart from the time of his grandfather Ṛksharajas.

The search party returned after finding Sītā. Full of joy, they entered the Madhu Vana without permission and ate its fruit and honey. Dadhimukha tried to stop them and was overruled, beaten and driven away. He then flew to Kishkindhā to report to Sugrīva. From this report Sugrīva understood for certain that Sītā had been found.

His role as guardian

Dadhimukha was formally appointed as the warden of the Madhu Vana. This was Sugrīva’s grove of great beauty, known above all for its honey.

The ban on entering it was complete. No vānara could enter it or eat its produce without Sugrīva’s clear permission. The grove had stayed untouched through the reigns of Ṛksharajas and Vāli. Dadhimukha’s post was one of dignity, age and responsibility. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 63)

The confrontation at the Madhu Vana

Aṅgada led the returning search party, and Hanumān was among them. They entered the Madhu Vana and gave themselves over to celebration. Dadhimukha arrived with his fellow wardens and tried to stop them. He reminded them of the ban, but they ignored him completely.

The wardens then tried to block the feasting and the damage with their own hands. The vānaras still had the energy that had carried them across the ocean and burned Laṅkā. They beat the wardens with their fists, kicked them, seized them by their limbs and hurled them through the air. Dadhimukha himself was old and dignified, yet he was roughly handled and thrown. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 63)

Going to Sugrīva

Dadhimukha had no other way left. He flew to Kishkindhā, came before Sugrīva and bowed at his feet. He reported that the Madhu Vana was wholly destroyed. The fruit was eaten, the honey was drained, the trees were knocked down and the wardens were beaten.

Lakshmaṇa saw how upset Dadhimukha was. He asked Sugrīva what had caused such distress.

Sugrīva did not show anger. He smiled. He told Lakshmaṇa that the Madhu Vana had never been touched in all the reigns since Ṛksharajas. No vānara would dare to enter it in this way unless he was overflowing with joy at a great success. The vānaras, he said, would not act so boldly unless their mission had succeeded. He concluded with certainty that Sītā had been found and that Hanumān was the one who had found her.

So Dadhimukha’s complaint brought the best news of the whole search. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 63)

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapters 63–64