Shloka 4.17.7
वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation (Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17)
तस्य माला च देहश्च मर्मघाती च यश्शरः।त्रिधेव रचिता लक्ष्मीः पतितस्यापि शोभते।।
tasya mālā ca dehaś ca marmaghātī ca yaḥ śaraḥ | tridheva racitā lakṣmīḥ patitasyāpi śobhate ||
Even as he lay fallen, a threefold splendor still shone upon him—his garland, his body, and the arrow that had struck his vital parts.
Even though he had fallen down, the effulgence of his necklace on his body, and the arrow pierced into his vital parts remained.
It highlights the tragic dignity of the fallen hero: dharma-literature often portrays even death as a moment demanding reverence, reminding readers of the cost of violence.
The narrator depicts Vālin after he has been struck, emphasizing the striking visual contrast of ornament, body, and wounding arrow.
Heroic stature—Vālin’s ‘śrī’ is portrayed as persisting even in defeat, underscoring his greatness.