Shloka 15

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

स ददर्श ततश्श्रीमान् सुग्रीवं हेमपिङ्गलम्।सुसंवीतमवष्टब्धं दीप्यमानमिवानलम्4.16.15।।

Transliteration

sa dadarśa tataḥ śrīmān sugrīvaṃ hemapiṅgalam |

susaṃvītam avaṣṭabdhaṃ dīpyamānam ivānalam || 4.16.15 ||

Translation

Da erblickte der ruhmreiche Vāli Sugrīva, goldrötlich von Farbe, wohlgerüstet und standhaft, lodernd wie Feuer.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/ततः (thereupon)

• śrīmān: splendid
• śrīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'possessed of splendor'

• sugrīvam: Sugriva
• sugrīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• hemapiṅgalam: golden-tawny
• hemapiṅgalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema+piṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'golden-tawny'

• susaṃvītam: well-girded / well-clad
• susaṃvītam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su+saṃvīta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'well-clad/fully girded'

• avaṣṭabdham: steadfast
• avaṣṭabdham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√stambh (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'steadied/firm'

• dīpyamānam: blazing
• dīpyamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dīp (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (Present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'shining'

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• analam: fire
• analam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; upamāna

Context

There Vali saw Sugriva in lustrous, red gold complexion standing ready for a combat steady like glowing fire.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare emphasizes readiness and steadiness; the verse frames combat as requiring firmness, not panic.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli finally spots Sugrīva, who stands poised and resolute for the impending fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast courage (dhairya) and martial readiness (yuddha-sajjā).