Shloka 4.17.53
वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation (Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17)
इत्येवमुक्त्वा परिशुष्कवक्त्रःशराभिघाताद्व्यथितो महात्मा।समीक्ष्य रामं रविसन्निकाशंतूष्णीं बभूवामरराजसूनुः।।
ityevam uktvā pariśuṣkavaktraḥ śarābhighātād vyathito mahātmā | samīkṣya rāmaṃ ravisannikāśaṃ tūṣṇīṃ babhūvāmara-rāja-sūnuḥ ||
Having spoken thus, the great Vālin—his mouth parched and his body wracked with pain from the arrow’s blow—gazed intently at Rāma, radiant like the sun, and then fell silent, he who was the son of the lord of the gods (Indra).
Vali, son of Indra, felt severe pain as his body was pierced and his mouth got parched (speaking for long) and gradually became silent, gazing at Rama intently who was glowing like the Sun-god.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē saptadaśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana, composed by sage Valmiki.
The verse underscores the solemnity of death and the moral weight of conflict: speech ends, consequences remain, and the scene invites reflection on righteous action before silence (death) arrives.
After confronting Rāma, Vālin—pierced by the arrow—fixes his gaze on Rāma and becomes silent as his strength fails.
Gravitas and composure at life’s end: Vālin’s final gaze and silence convey dignity amid suffering.