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Shloka 47

वाली–रामसंवादः

Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma

प्रतिवक्तुं प्रकृष्टे हि नापकृष्टस्तु शक्नुयात्4.18.47।।यदयुक्तं मया पूर्वं प्रमादाद्वाक्यमप्रियम्।तत्रापि खलु मे दोषं कर्तुं नार्हसि राघव।

prativaktuṃ prakṛṣṭe hi nāpakṛṣṭas tu śaknuyāt | yad ayuktaṃ mayā pūrvaṃ pramādād vākyam apriyam | tatrāpi khalu me doṣaṃ kartuṃ nārhasi rāghava ||

Wahrlich, ein Geringerer vermag einem Höheren nicht angemessen zu erwidern. Wenn ich früher aus Unachtsamkeit unpassende und unerfreuliche Worte sprach, so sollst du mir selbst dafür keine Schuld anrechnen, o Rāghava.

prativaktumto retort, to reply back
prativaktum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन) / infinitival complement
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु) with prati+; infinitive (तुमुन्)
FormKṛdanta infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to speak back/retort'
prakṛṣṭetowards/with a superior
prakṛṣṭe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootprakṛṣṭa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; 'in the case of a superior person' (contextual)
hiindeed, for
hi:
Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, emphatic particle (निपात)
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle
apakṛṣṭaḥan inferior (person)
apakṛṣṭaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता) of śaknuyāt
TypeNoun
Rootapakṛṣṭa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; 'inferior person'
tubut
tu:
Discourse particle
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात)
śaknuyātcould be able
śaknuyāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootśak (धातु)
FormVidhiliṅ (विधिलिङ्) potential/optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; with negation = 'would not be able'
yatthat which
yat:
Karma (कर्म) (of implied 'uktam')
TypeNoun
Rootyat (यद्-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; relative pronoun
ayuktamimproper, unjust
ayuktam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootayukta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; adjective qualifying vākyam
mayāby me
mayā:
Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्तृ) of implied 'said'
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun; Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular
pūrvamformerly, earlier
pūrvam:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpūrvam (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyaya, adverb of time (कालवाचक)
pramādātdue to negligence/error
pramādāt:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootpramāda (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular; cause/source
vākyamspeech, words
vākyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvākya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular
apriyamunpleasant
apriyam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootapriya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; adjective qualifying vākyam
tatrathere/in that matter
tatra:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatra (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, adverb (देश/विषय)
apieven, also
api:
Sambandha/Emphasis
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, particle (निपात)
khaluindeed
khalu:
Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkhalu (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, emphatic particle (निपात)
memy
me:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun; Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular
doṣamfault
doṣam:
Karma (कर्म) of kartum (to make/attribute)
TypeNoun
Rootdoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular
kartumto make, to attribute
kartum:
Prayojana/Complement (प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
FormKṛdanta infinitive (तुमुन्)
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle
arhasiought/should
arhasi:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootarh (धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्) present, Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular; with na = 'you should not'
rāghavaO Raghava (Rama)
rāghava:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootrāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular
V
Vālī
R
Rāma
D
dharma (implicit in moral apology)

FAQs

Accountability and repentance: improper speech arising from pramāda (heedlessness) should be acknowledged, and forgiveness sought rather than defended.

Having accepted Rāma’s position, Vālī reflects on his earlier harsh words and asks Rāma not to treat them as a lasting offense.

Contrition and humility—Vālī recognizes his lapse and requests forgiveness.