Shloka 4.17.36

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

Devanagari script

सूचकश्च कदर्यश्च मित्रघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः4.17.36।।लोकं पापात्मनामेते गच्छन्ते नात्र संशयः।

Transliteration

sūcakaś ca kadaryaś ca mitraghno gurutalpagaḥ | lokaṃ pāpātmanām ete gacchante nātra saṃśayaḥ ||

Translation

A slanderer, a miser, a killer of a friend, and one who violates the guru’s bed—such people go to the realm of sinners; of this there is no doubt.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vāli
• Guru (as an ethical/religious institution)

FAQs

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

Dharma protects social trust: slander, miserliness that denies duty, betrayal of friendship, and violation of the teacher’s sanctity are portrayed as destructive sins with grave outcomes.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing his moral indictment, Vāli expands the catalogue of condemned behaviors to argue that unethical acts inevitably lead to suffering.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty, reverence for the guru, and integrity in speech—virtues that sustain righteous social order.