Shloka 25

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

त्वं नराधिपतेः पुत्रः प्रतीतः प्रियदर्शनः।लिङ्गमप्यस्ति ते राजनन्दृश्यते धर्मसंहितम्।।

Transliteration

tvaṃ narādhipateḥ putraḥ pratītaḥ priyadarśanaḥ | liṅgam apy asti te rājan dṛśyate dharmasaṃhitam || 4.17.25 ||

Translation

Du bist der Sohn eines Königs, weithin bekannt und von anmutigem Anblick. Wahrlich, o Fürst, an dir sind die Zeichen dessen zu sehen, der mit dem Dharma im Einklang steht.

Word by Word

• phalamūlāśanam: one who eats fruits and roots
• phalamūlāśanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + āśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha: 'फल-मूलं आशनं यस्य'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण mām

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative: always)

• vānaram: a monkey
• vānaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to mām

• vanagocaram: roaming in the forest
• vanagocaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + gocara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha: 'वने गोचरः'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण mām/vānaram

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa (देश/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here)

• apratiyudhyantam: not fighting back; not engaging in combat
• apratiyudhyantam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + prati + yudh (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: नञ्-युक्त शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; √युध् with prati; विशेषण mām

• anyena: with another (person)
• anyena: Sahakari (सहकारी/Instrumental associate: with another)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• samāgatam: come; arrived (to meet)
• samāgatam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + ā + gam (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण mām

Context

'Who, born in a kshatriya family, versed in the Vedas and free from doubt will commit such a cruel act under the guise of righteousness?

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Public role and moral expectation: a prince who bears the signs of dharma is expected to act consistently with that reputation.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli contrasts Rāma’s royal, dharmic appearance and fame with the troubling act that has just occurred.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Royal decorum and moral credibility: dharma must be visible not only in status but in conduct.