Shloka 4.17.25

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

Devanagari script

त्वं नराधिपतेः पुत्रः प्रतीतः प्रियदर्शनः।लिङ्गमप्यस्ति ते राजनन्दृश्यते धर्मसंहितम्।।

Transliteration

phalamūlāśanaṃ nityaṃ vānaraṃ vanagocaram | mām ihāpratiyudhyantam anyena ca samāgatam || 4.17.24 ||

Translation

I am a forest-roaming monkey, always living on fruits and roots. Here I was not even fighting you; I was engaged with another—why did you come against me?

Context

'O prince, you are son to a king, handsome and famous. Even signs of righteousness are discernible in you.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Fair combat (yuddha-dharma): Vāli implies it is unrighteous to strike one who is not directly fighting you and is engaged elsewhere.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli, mortally wounded, highlights that Rāma shot while Vāli was fighting Sugrīva, not Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Appeal to propriety in warfare: the expectation of a direct, declared confrontation.