Shloka 30

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

भूमिर्हिरण्यं रूप्यं च विग्रहे कारणानि च।अत्र कस्ते वने लोभो मदीयेषु फलेषु वा।।

Transliteration

bhūmir hiraṇyaṃ rūpyaṃ ca vigrahe kāraṇāni ca | atra kas te vane lobho madīyeṣu phaleṣu vā || 4.17.30 ||

Translation

La terre, l’or et l’argent : voilà des causes ordinaires de querelle. Mais ici, dans la forêt, quelle convoitise peux-tu nourrir : pour mes biens, ou pour ces fruits ?

Word by Word

• भूमिः: land
• भूमिः: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हिरण्यम्: gold
• हिरण्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• रूप्यम्: silver
• रूप्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विग्रहे: in conflict/battle
• विग्रहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• कारणानि: causes, reasons
• कारणानि: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Deshadhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• कः: what? who?
• कः: Karta (कर्ता) / interrogative predicate
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी) एकवचन (ते = to you)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• लोभः: greed
• लोभः: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मदीयेषु: in my (belongings)
• मदीयेषु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; ‘in my’ (agreeing with ‘फलेषु’)

• फलेषु: in fruits
• फलेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

Context

'Submissiveness and modesty are the attributes of good rulers and should not be mixed up with benevolence and self-restraint. Kings ought not to act (as they like) impulsively.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma
• forest (vana)
• gold (hiraṇya)
• silver (rūpya)

FAQs

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

Right intention: violence requires a legitimate cause; greed or trivial gain cannot justify killing.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli questions Rāma’s motive, noting that typical royal motives (territory, wealth) do not apply in a forest setting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discerning justice: a ruler must act from lawful duty, not from appetite or baseless hostility.