Shloka 36

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

ततस्तेन महातेजा वीयौटत्सिक्तः कपीश्वरः।वेगेनाभिहतो वाली निपपात महीतले4.16.36।।

Transliteration

tatas tena mahātejā vīyauṭatsiktaḥ kapīśvaraḥ |

vegenābhihato vālī nipapāta mahītale || 4.16.36 ||

Translation

Da wurde Vāli, der strahlende Herr der Affen, stolz auf seine Kraft, von der Wucht jenes Pfeils getroffen und stürzte zu Boden.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘then’

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• mahātejāḥ: the very powerful one
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महद् तेजः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vīyauṭatsiktaḥ: puffed up with strength
• vīyauṭatsiktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + ut-sikta (उत्सिच्/उत्सिक्त, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वीर्येण उत्सिक्तः/वीर्य-उत्सिक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• kapīśvaraḥ: lord of monkeys
• kapīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कपीनाम् ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vegena: with speed/force
• vegena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• abhihataḥ: struck
• abhihataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-han (अभिहन्, धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle): पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vālī: Vali
• vālī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• nipapāta: fell down
• nipapāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-pat (निपत्, धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• mahītale: on the ground
• mahītale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahītala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मही-तल); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Context

The arrow of Rama, distinguished among men, adorned with silver and gold, which could crush the enemy shone like fire and smoke emitted from the mouth of Rudra at the time of dissolution (at the end of the aeon).

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma (implied)
• Earth/ground (mahītala)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates karmic reversal: pride in strength is unstable, and when dharma’s correction arrives, even the mighty are brought down.

What is the narrative situation?

After being hit, Vāli collapses onto the earth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The text contrasts tejas (radiance/power) with the vice of mada (pride), implying humility as the needed counter-virtue.