Shloka 32

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

त्वं तु कामप्रधानश्च कोपनश्चानवस्थितः।।राजवृत्तेश्च सङ्कीणश्शरासनपरायणः।

Transliteration

nayaś ca vinayaś cobhau nigrahānugrahāv api | rājavṛttir asaṅkīrṇā na nṛpāḥ kāmavṛttayaḥ || 4.17.31 ||

Translation

Staatsklugheit und Demut — ebenso Zügelung und Gunst — haben jeweils ihren rechten Platz. Das Verhalten des Königs darf nicht vermengt und ungeordnet sein; Könige dürfen nicht bloß nach Trieb und Begierde handeln.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• कामप्रधानः: desire-dominated
• कामप्रधानः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कर्मधारय: कामः प्रधानः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of त्वम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• कोपनः: wrathful
• कोपनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अनवस्थितः: unstable, unsteady
• अनवस्थितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनवस्थित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• राजवृत्तेः: of kingly conduct
• राजवृत्तेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• सङ्कीर्णः: confused, mixed up
• सङ्कीर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सङ्कीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शरासनपरायणः: devoted to the bow (archery)
• शरासनपरायणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरासन (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (शरासने परायणः/शरासनं परायणं यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

'Fulfilling your own desire is important for you. You are wrathful and unstable with royal course of conduct. Your business is with your bow and arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Self-governance as governance: a king must not be ruled by kāma (impulse/desire); rājadharma requires ordered judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli articulates a theory of kingship, implying that Rāma’s action appears impulsive rather than principled.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and discernment—knowing when to show favor, when to restrain, and how to keep royal conduct coherent.