Shloka 10

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

शापिताऽपि मम प्राणैर्निवर्तस्व जयेन च।अहं जित्वा निवर्तिष्ये तमहं भ्रातरं रणे4.16.10।।

Transliteration

śāpitā ’pi mama prāṇair nivartasva jayena ca | ahaṃ jitvā nivartiṣye tam ahaṃ bhrātaraṃ raṇe ||

Translation

ولو اضطررتُ أن أراهن بحياتي نفسها، وبنصري أيضًا—فارجعي. لن أعود حتى أهزمَ ذلك الأخَ لي في ساحة القتال.

Word by Word

• śāpitā: (though) cursed / bound by a vow
• śāpitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śap (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'cursed/sworn' (context: 'even if (I am) under a curse/vow')

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि (concessive particle: 'even/also')

• mama: my
• mama: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• prāṇaiḥ: by (my) life-breaths / on my life
• prāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन

• nivartasva: turn back / return
• nivartasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: नि; धातु: √वृत्/√वृत्त् (to turn back)

• jayena: with victory
• jayena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

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

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• jitvā: having conquered
• jitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ji (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; धातु: √जि (to conquer)

• nivartiṣye: I will return
• nivartiṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: नि

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन (emphatic repetition)

• bhrātaram: brother
• bhrātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

'I make a vow even on my life and my victory. Pray return with the retinue. I will be back only after winning the encounter with my brother.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Tārā
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

A vow (satya) carries moral weight, but Dharma also requires that vows be guided by wisdom; reckless promises can become instruments of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli insists on fighting Sugrīva and orders Tārā to return, promising he will come back only after victory.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial confidence and determination—yet shadowed by overconfidence that ignores prudent counsel.