Shloka 34
वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation
Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17
हत्वा बाणेन काकुत्स्थ मामिहानपराधिनम्।।किं वक्ष्यसि सतां मध्ये कर्म कृत्वा जुगुप्सितम्।
hatvā bāṇena kākutstha mām ihānaparādhinam | kiṃ vakṣyasi satāṃ madhye karma kṛtvā jugupsitam ||
Ô rejeton de Kakutstha, m’ayant tué ici d’une flèche alors que je ne t’avais fait aucun tort, et ayant accompli un acte honteux, que diras-tu pour ta défense au milieu des justes ?
'O scion of the Kakutsthas! Having killed me here with your arrow even though I have done you no harm, you have perpetrated an abominable act. How will you defend yourself in the midst of holy men after commiting such a sinful act?
FAQs
Actions must withstand the scrutiny of the virtuous; dharma includes accountability—especially for rulers—before the moral community (satāṃ madhye).
Vāli, mortally wounded, challenges Rāma about killing him despite Vāli’s claim of having committed no offense against Rāma.
Moral accountability and truthfulness in justification—being able to give a dharmic reason openly among the righteous.