Shloka 4.17.10

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation (Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17)

Devanagari script

तं तदा पतितं सङ्ख्ये गतार्चिषमिवानलम्।बहुमान्य च तं वीर वीक्षमाणं शनैरिव।4.17.9।।ययातिमिव पुण्यान्ते देवलोकादिहच्युतम्। आदित्यमिव कालेन युगान्ते भुवि पातितम्।4.17.10।।महेन्द्रमिव दुर्धर्षंमुपेन्द्रमिव दुस्सहम्।महेन्द्रपुत्रं पतितं वालिनं हेममालिनम्।।4.17.11।।सिंहोरस्कं महाबाहुं दीप्तास्यं हरिलोचनम्।लक्ष्मणानुगतो रामो ददर्शोपससर्प च।।4.17.12।।

Transliteration

yayātim iva puṇyānte devalokād iha cyutam |

ādityam iva kālena yugānte bhuvi pātitam ||4.17.10||

Translation

He lay fallen like Yayāti cast down from the world of the gods when his merit was spent—like the Sun itself hurled to earth by Time at the end of an age.

Context

Rama followed by Lakshmana slowly approached the longarmed, lionchested, brightfaced, tawnyeyed Vali, and admiringly observed this unchallengeable son of Indra, unassailable like Indra himself. Adorned with a golden necklace, he had fallen on the ground like fire without flame, like king Yayati descended on the earth from the celestial realm on the exhaustion of his merits, or like the Sun cast down on the earth at the end of the aeon.

Characters & Entities

• Vālī
• Yayāti
• Āditya (Sun)
• Kāla (Time)
• Devaloka

FAQs

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

It teaches impermanence under dharma and satya: worldly eminence depends on merit and right conduct, and when merit is exhausted, even the mighty fall.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa behold Vālī fallen; the poet describes Vālī’s collapse through cosmic and legendary similes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a personal virtue, but the grandeur-and-fragility of power: Vālī’s greatness is acknowledged even as his fall is framed as governed by Kāla.