Shloka 21

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

न त्वां विनिहतात्मानं धर्मध्वजमधार्मिकम्।जाने पापसमाचारं तृणैः कूपमिवावृतम्।।

Transliteration

na tvāṁ vinihatātmānaṁ dharma-dhvajam adhārmikam |

jāne pāpa-samācāraṁ tṛṇaiḥ kūpam ivāvṛtam ||

Translation

Je ne te savais pas de ceux qui ont tué leur propre conscience—impie tout en portant l’étendard du dharma—au comportement pécheur, tel un puits dont l’ouverture est cachée par l’herbe.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• anyena: with another (person)
• anyena: Sahakari (सहकारी/Instrumental associate: with another)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• samrabdham: engaged (in combat)
• samrabdham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + rabdh (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; √रभ्/रब्ध् (to engage/attack) with उपसर्ग sam; विशेषण (qualifying) mām

• pramattam: heedless; engrossed
• pramattam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + mad (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; √मद् (to be intoxicated/careless) with pra; विशेषण mām

• yoddhum: to fight
• yoddhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), √युध् (to fight)

• marhasi: you ought (to); it is proper
• marhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु) with m-augment (मर्‍ह)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; निषेधेन सह: 'न ... अर्हसि'

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-अव्यय (quotative)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• buddhiḥ: thought; understanding
• buddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• utpannā: arose; sprang up
• utpannā: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud + pad (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण बुद्धेः

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ādarśane: in (your) not being seen; at your non-appearance
• ādarśane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative: on the occasion of not seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādarśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'अ-दर्शन' (non-seeing) sense

• tava: of you; your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma

FAQs

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

True dharma must be inwardly real, not merely displayed: the verse condemns ‘dharma as a banner’ without righteous action, linking ethics to integrity (satya to self).

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli interprets Rāma’s act as concealed wrongdoing and accuses him of hypocrisy—appearing virtuous while acting contrary to dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity (alignment of inner conscience and outer action) is emphasized by contrast—Vāli’s criticism implies that righteousness must be transparent and consistent.