Shloka 14
वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation
Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17
तं दृष्ट्वा राघवं वाली लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्।अब्रवीत्प्रश्रितं वाक्यं परुषं धर्मसंहितम्4.17.13।।त्वं नराधिपतेः पुत्रः प्रथितः प्रियदर्शनःकुलीनस्सत्त्वसम्पन्न स्तेजस्वी चरितव्रतः।।4.17.14।।पराङ्मुखवधं कृत्वा कोऽत्र प्राप्तस्त्वया गुणः।यदहं युद्धसंरब्धश्शरेणोरसि ताडित:4.17.15।।
tvaṃ narādhipateḥ putraḥ prathitaḥ priyadarśanaḥ |
kulīnaḥ sattvasaṃpannaḥ tejasvī caritavrataḥ ||4.17.14||
Du bist der Sohn eines Königs—berühmt und lieblich anzuschauen; von edler Herkunft, reich an Tugend, strahlend an Macht und fest in rechter Lebensführung.
On seeing powerful Rama and Lakshmana approaching,Vali spoke with pride and rigteousness to Rama, 'You are a prince, born of a noble family, son of a renowned king. You are famous, brilliant, handsome and follower of good practices.Having hit me when I was engaged otherwise in an encounter what merit have you gained?'
FAQs
Dharma is presented as a lived standard for rulers: noble birth and fame must be matched by consistent righteous conduct.
As part of his reproach, Vālī first establishes Rāma’s acknowledged virtues before questioning the righteousness of Rāma’s action.
Rāma’s ideal qualities—integrity of vows (vrata), moral character (sattva), and royal dignity—are foregrounded as the benchmark of dharmic behavior.