Shloka 4.18.22

वाली–रामसंवादः (Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma)

Devanagari script

न हि ते मर्षये पापं क्षत्रियोऽहं कुलोद्भवः।औरसीं भगिनीं वापि भार्यां वाप्यनुजस्य यः।।प्रचरेत नरः कामात्तस्य दण्डो वधः स्मृतः।

Transliteration

na hi te marṣaye pāpaṃ kṣatriyo 'haṃ kulodbhavaḥ | aurasīṃ bhaginīṃ vāpi bhāryāṃ vāpy anujasya yaḥ || pracaret naraḥ kāmāt tasya daṇḍo vadhaḥ smṛtaḥ ||

Translation

I will not pardon your sin; I am a kṣatriya of noble lineage. A man who, driven by lust, violates his own daughter, sister, or younger brother’s wife—his prescribed punishment is death.

Context

'I am a kshatriya born of a good family. I will not pardon you for your sin. Whosoever transgresses dharma against his own daughter, sister or brother's wife out of lust should be killed according to smriti.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vali
• smṛti (scriptural tradition)

FAQs

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

Sexual conduct is bounded by dharma; violating protected kin-relations is treated as a grave adharma, and classical legal-ethical tradition (smṛti) frames severe punishment for such acts.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama justifies punishing Vali by citing Vali’s taking of his brother Sugriva’s wife, aligning it with condemned transgressions described in dharma-text traditions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s adherence to scripturally grounded justice—he presents himself as duty-bound, not personally vindictive.