Shloka 28

वाली–रामसंवादः

Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma

Devanagari script

तदेभिः कारणैस्सर्वैर्महद्भिर्धर्मसंहितैः।।शासनं तप यद्युक्तं तद्भवाननुमन्यताम्।

Transliteration

tad ebhiḥ kāraṇaiḥ sarvair mahadbhiḥ dharmasaṃhitaiḥ | śāsanaṃ tava yad yuktaṃ tad bhavān anumanyatām ||

Translation

Darum ist aus all diesen gewichtigen, dem Dharma entsprechenden Gründen die Strafe, die dich getroffen hat, angemessen; nimm sie an.

Word by Word

• सर्वथा: in all respects
• सर्वथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (in every way)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: as/thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (thus/quotative)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (only/indeed)

• द्रष्टव्यः: should be regarded
• द्रष्टव्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: to be seen/should be regarded), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निग्रहः इति विशेषण

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• निग्रहः: punishment/restraint
• निग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वयस्यस्य: of a friend
• वयस्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• उपकर्तव्यम्: should be helped
• उपकर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया; विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: should be helped), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयवाक्ये

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (only)

• अनुपश्यतः: of one who follows
• अनुपश्यतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-पश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle: following/observing), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; वयस्यस्य इति विशेषण

Context

'Knowing all these reasons(many violations of dharma), it is proper for you as a king to approve of the punishment accorded to you in consonance with dharma.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vali
• dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma-based judgment should be acknowledged even by the offender; ethical reasoning aims not only to punish but to restore moral clarity and acceptance of justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama concludes a chain of arguments and asks Vali to recognize the punishment as justified by dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reasoned righteousness: Rama emphasizes principled justification rather than mere force.