Shloka 52

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

काममेवं विधो लोकः कालेन विनियुज्यते।क्षमं चेद्भवता प्राप्तमुत्तरं साधु चिन्त्यताम्।।

Transliteration

kāmamevaṃ vidho lokaḥ kālena viniyujyate | kṣamaṃ cedbhavatā prāptam uttaraṃ sādhu cintyatām ||

Translation

So ist wahrlich die Welt: Wenn die bestimmte Zeit kommt, wird sie dem Tod zugewiesen. Du hast meinen Tod erlangt, indem du dich verborgen hieltest; wenn du das für recht hältst, so bedenke es wohl und gib Antwort.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• evam: in this manner
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा)

• pariśuṣka-vaktraḥ: with a parched mouth
• pariśuṣka-vaktraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pariśuṣka (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) 'whose mouth is dried'; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies subject

• śara-abhighātāt: from the arrow’s blow
• śara-abhighātāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + abhighāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound = śarasya abhighātaḥ; Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• vyathitaḥ: pained/distressed
• vyathitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vyath (व्यथ् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle used adjectivally, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahātmā: the great-souled one
• mahātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (महान् आत्मा), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• samīkṣya: having looked at
• samīkṣya: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्)

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ravi-sannikāśam: sun-like
• ravi-sannikāśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक) + sannikāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound = raveḥ sannikāśaḥ; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'rāmam'

• tūṣṇīm: silently
• tūṣṇīm: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tūṣṇīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Verb, Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• amara-rāja-sūnuḥ: son of the king of gods (Indra’s son)
• amara-rāja-sūnuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + sūnu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound = amarāṇāṃ rājñaḥ sūnuḥ; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

'Indeed, in the world people meet with death when the time comes. Hiding yourself (from me) you have achieved it. Is it proper for you? You may think over and give your reply.'

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vālin
• kāla (Time/death)

FAQs

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

Dharma demands accountability: even if death is time-ordained, one must justify one’s actions truthfully and ethically. Vālin challenges the righteousness of killing from concealment.

What is the narrative situation?

Vālin presses Rāma for a reasoned defense: if Rāma considers the concealed shot acceptable, he should state and justify it openly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Demand for moral reasoning and truthful explanation—Vālin calls for a considered ‘uttara’ (answer) grounded in dharma.