Dundubhi

Dundubhi is a bull-shaped demon remembered for his immense size, his violent combat with Báli, and the continued presence of his vast frame in a later test of strength. Though his own actions are briefly told, his body links Báli’s prowess to Ráma’s demonstration before Sugríva.

Identity and Appearance

The poem identifies Dundubhi as a monster shaped like a bull and describes him as mountain-high. His extraordinary scale is not incidental: the account returns to his immense body after his death, making it a measure against which another hero’s strength can be shown.

Combat with Báli

Báli seizes Dundubhi by the horns and holds him fast, then drags him around with force. The struggle ends when Dundubhi’s strength fails: Báli lifts him and dashes him against the ground, leaving him bruised and shattered. Dundubhi’s brief episode thus presents him as a formidable opponent, but one overcome by Báli’s superior power.

The Body as a Later Test

Dundubhi’s vast frame remains significant after the battle. When Ráma speaks to reassure Sugríva and offers a demonstration to dispel lingering doubt, he approaches Dundubhi’s frame and touches it with his foot. The scene gives the defeated monster a second narrative function: his immense body, first evidence of the scale of Báli’s victory, becomes the object through which Ráma’s strength is presented.