Shloka 25

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

तौ भीमबलविक्रान्तौ सुपर्णसमवेगिनौ।प्रवृद्धौ घोरवपुषौ चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरे।परस्परममित्रघ्नौ च्छिद्रान्वेषणतत्परौ4.16.25।।

Transliteration

tau bhīmabalavikrāntau suparṇasamaveginau |

pravṛddhau ghoravapuṣau candrasūryāv ivāmbare |

parasparam amitraghnau chidrānveṣaṇatatparau || 4.16.25 ||

Translation

Beide, von furchtbarer Kraft und Kühnheit, schnell wie Garuḍa, wurden immer gewaltiger—wie Mond und Sonne am Himmel; einander Feindesbezwinger, suchten sie unablässig nach einer Lücke, um den anderen niederzustrecken.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• भीम-बल-विक्रान्तौ: terribly strong and mighty
• भीम-बल-विक्रान्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रान्त (कृदन्त; वि-√क्रम्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘terrible in strength and prowess’

• सुपर्ण-सम-वेगिनौ: as swift as Garuda
• सुपर्ण-सम-वेगिनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + वेगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘having speed equal to Garuḍa’

• प्रवृद्धौ: grown (in intensity)
• प्रवृद्धौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवृद्ध (कृदन्त; प्र-√वृध् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘grown/risen (in fury/strength)’

• घोर-वपुषौ: of fierce appearance
• घोर-वपुषौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘of fierce form’

• चन्द्र-सूर्यौ: the moon and the sun
• चन्द्र-सूर्यौ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; उपमान

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• अम्बरे: in the sky
• अम्बरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• परस्परम्: mutually/each other
• परस्परम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्परम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परस्पर-भावे (mutually/each other)

• अमित्रघ्नौ: enemy-slayers
• अमित्रघ्नौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक; from √हन्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘slayers of enemies’

• छिद्र-अन्वेषण-तत्परौ: intent on seeking openings
• छिद्र-अन्वेषण-तत्परौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वेषण (कृदन्त/भाव; अनु-√इष्/√एष्) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘intent on searching for weak points’

Context

Both of them endowed with terrible strength, fierce in appearance, and each seeking the weak points of the other advanced, as fast as Garuda, striking at the enemy. Their fight grew more and more fierce like the fight between Sun and Moon in the sky.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vālin
• Suparṇa (Garuḍa)
• Sun
• Moon
• sky

FAQs

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

The verse reflects the dharma of vigilant struggle: in conflict, one must maintain awareness, self-control, and discernment—seeking the ‘opening’ without abandoning rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

The duel intensifies; both fighters become more aggressive and watchful, each trying to find the other’s weakness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and strategic intelligence (chidra-anveṣaṇa), paired with extraordinary vigor.