Shloka 28

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

साम दानं क्षमा धर्मस्सत्यं धृतिपराक्रमौ।पार्थिवानां गुणा राजन् दण्डश्चाप्यपराधिषु।।

Transliteration

sāma dānaṃ kṣamā dharmas satyaṃ dhṛtiparākramau | pārthivānāṃ guṇā rājan daṇḍaś cāpy aparādhiṣu || 4.17.28 ||

Translation

المسالمة، والعطاء، والحِلم، والدharma، والصدق، والثبات والبأس؛ وكذلك العقاب للمذنبين: تلك هي خصال الملوك المعروفة، أيها الأمير.

Word by Word

• साम: conciliation
• साम: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated quality
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; abstract noun

• दानम्: gift, generosity
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated quality
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• क्षमा: forbearance
• क्षमा: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated quality
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धर्मः: righteousness, duty
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated quality
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated quality
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धृतिपराक्रमौ: steadfastness and valor
• धृतिपराक्रमौ: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated qualities
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘धृतिः च पराक्रमः च’

• पार्थिवानाम्: of kings, of rulers
• पार्थिवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / genitive
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate-nominative list
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• दण्डः: punishment
• दण्डः: Karta (कर्ता) / additional item
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कार अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• अपराधिषु: among offenders, in the guilty
• अपराधिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

Context

'O Rama! we are mere animals wandering in the forest and living on roots and fruits. This is our nature. (But) you are a lord of men.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma
• daṇḍa (punitive power)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma: kings must balance gentler means (sāma, dāna, kṣamā) with truthful righteousness and measured punishment only for actual wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli frames his critique as a lesson in the proper duties and virtues expected of rulers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and disciplined governance—punishment is legitimate only when ethically grounded.