Shloka 4.17.24

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

Devanagari script

विषये वा पुरे वा ते यदा पापं करोम्यहम्।न च त्वामवजाने च कस्मात्त्वं हंस्यकिल्बिषम्4.17.23।।फलमूलाशनं नित्यं वानरं वनगोचरम्।मामिहाप्रतियुध्यन्तमन्येन च समागतम्4.17.24।।

Transliteration

viṣaye vā pure vā te yadā pāpaṃ karomy aham | na ca tvām avajāne ca kasmāt tvaṃ haṃsy akilbiṣam || 4.17.23 ||

Translation

When have I ever committed any wrongdoing against your realm or your city? Nor have I insulted you. Why then would you kill me—one who is without offense?

Context

'I did no harm to your affairs or to your city. I did not insult you. Why did you choose to kill me, a monkey roaming in the forest and living on fruits and roots? I was not fighting you. Why did you come and strike a person like me?

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Accountability in punishment: Vāli argues that violence must be justified by a real offense; harming the blameless contradicts dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After being struck by Rāma’s arrow during the Vāli–Sugrīva combat, the wounded Vāli confronts Rāma and challenges the moral basis of the act.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Justice (nyāya): the demand that actions—especially killing—must be grounded in proven wrongdoing.