Shloka 17

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

स वाली गाढसंवीतो मुष्टिमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्।सुग्रीवमेवाभिमुखो ययौ योद्धुं कृतक्षणः4.16.17।।

Transliteration

sa vālī gāḍhasaṃvīto muṣṭim udyamya vīryavān |

sugrīvam evābhimukho yayau yoddhuṃ kṛtakṣaṇaḥ || 4.16.17 ||

Translation

Mit fest gegürteter Kleidung hob der tapfere Vāli die Faust und schritt geradewegs auf Sugrīva zu, ungeduldig nach dem Augenblick des Kampfes.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वाली: Vali
• वाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गाढ-संवीतः: tightly wrapped/covered
• गाढ-संवीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाढ (प्रातिपदिक) + संवीत (कृदन्त; √वे (धातु) उपसर्ग-सं)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘संवीत’ = wrapped/covered

• मुष्टिम्: fist
• मुष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उद्यम्य: having raised
• उद्यम्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having raised/lifted’

• वीर्यवान्: valiant/strong
• वीर्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक विशेषण

• सुग्रीवम्: Sugriva
• सुग्रीवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); अवधारण (emphasis)

• अभिमुखः: facing/towards
• अभिमुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दिशावाचक विशेषण

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• योद्धुम्: to fight
• योद्धुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √युध् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to fight’

• कृत-क्षणः: ready/awaiting the moment
• कृत-क्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कृत’ = made/ready; समासार्थः ‘क्षणं कृतम्’ = having made/awaited the moment (ready for the moment)

Context

Vali tied up his cloth tightly, raised his fist and advanced towards Sugriva, ready for the encounter.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma warns against haste in violence; eagerness to strike can eclipse reflection, reconciliation, and truth-seeking (satya).

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli physically initiates the confrontation, moving directly toward Sugrīva with raised fist.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Boldness and fearlessness, expressed as aggressive readiness.