Shloka 4.18.61

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

Devanagari script

न सन्तापस्त्वया कार्य एतदर्थं प्लवङ्गम।।न वयं भवता चिन्त्या नाप्यात्मा हरिसत्तम।वयं भवद्विशेषेण धर्मतः कृतनिश्चयाः।।

Transliteration

na santāpas tvayā kārya etadarthaṃ plavaṅgama |

na vayaṃ bhavatā cintyā nāpy ātmā harisattama |

vayaṃ bhavadviśeṣeṇa dharmataḥ kṛtaniścayāḥ ||

Translation

“O monkey, do not grieve on this account. Do not worry about us, nor even about yourself, O best of monkeys. We have reached our decision in accordance with dharma, considering your particular offense.”

Context

'O best of monkeys, abandon all your anxiety on this score. Bother not about us or about yourself. Whatever has happened, has happened in consonance with dharma.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Dharma-based adjudication: actions are assessed case-wise (“your particular offense”), and the resulting decision is presented as principled rather than personal.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to Vāli’s turmoil by urging him to drop anxiety and by asserting that the course taken was a dharmic determination.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness in righteous judgment combined with reassurance—Rāma is firm in principle yet gentle in address.