Shloka 4.22.24

वालिविलापः — Vali’s Final Counsel and the Succession Charge

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वाऽथ विवृत्ताक्षः शरसम्पीडितो भृशम्।विवृतैर्दशनै र्भीमैर्बभूवोत्क्रान्तजीवितः।।

Transliteration

ity uktvā ’tha vivṛttākṣaḥ śara-sampīḍito bhṛśam | vivṛtair daśanair bhīmair babhūvotkrānta-jīvitaḥ ||

Translation

Having spoken thus, grievously tormented by the arrow, his eyes rolled upward and his dreadful teeth stood bared; and he became lifeless.

Context

Having spoken this, tormented by the arrow, eyes popping out and his dreadful teeth ejected, Vali remained drained of life.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the inevitability of the fruit of actions and the limits of bodily power: even a mighty king falls when the decisive moment arrives. Dharma here is reflected as the impartiality of consequence and the humility demanded by mortality.

What is the narrative situation?

Immediately after speaking his final words, Vāli—pierced by Rāma’s arrow—shows the physical signs of death and expires.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīratva (heroic stature) is implied by the solemnity of the death scene, while the narrative also evokes vairāgya (detachment) in the listener through the stark finality of life’s end.