Shloka 1

वाली–रामसंवादः

Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः प्रश्रितं वाक्यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम्।परुषं वालिना रामो निहतेन विचेतसा।।

Transliteration

ityuktaḥ praśritaṃ vākyaṃ dharmārtha-sahitaṃ hitam | paruṣaṃ vālinā rāmo nihatena vicetasā ||

Translation

Ainsi interpellé, Rāma répondit aux paroles dures de Vālin—des paroles qui, en apparence, étaient respectueuses et bienveillantes, invoquant le dharma et l’intérêt, mais proférées par un homme mortellement blessé et l’esprit troublé.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• niṣprabham: lusterless
• niṣprabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣprabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'tam'

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-निपात)

• ādityam: the sun
• ādityam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; upamāna

• mukta-toyam: water-drained
• mukta-toyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (प्रातिपदिक; √muc+kta) + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi 'whose water is released/drained'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'tam'

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle

• ambudam: a cloud
• ambudam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambuda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; upamāna

• ukta-vākyam: having spoken
• ukta-vākyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ukta (√vac+kta) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi 'whose speech has been spoken out' i.e., 'having spoken'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'tam'

• hari-śreṣṭham: best of monkeys
• hari-śreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound = harīṇāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• upaśāntam: calmed/quenched
• upaśāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upaśānta (प्रातिपदिक; upa-√śam+kta)
• Form: Past participle used adjectivally, Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'tam'

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle

• analam: fire
• analam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; upamāna

• dharma-artha-guṇa-sampannam: endowed with dharma, artha, and virtues
• dharma-artha-guṇa-sampannam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sampanna (प्रातिपदिक; sam-√pad+kta)
• Form: Compound = dharmārthaguṇaiḥ sampannaḥ; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'harīśvaram'

• harīśvaram: lord of monkeys
• harīśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound = harīṇām īśvaraḥ; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'harīśvaram'

• adhikṣiptaḥ: reproached
• adhikṣiptaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhi-√kṣip (क्षिप् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies 'rāmaḥ' (having been reproached)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक)

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (काल/क्रम)

• vālinam: Vāli
• vālinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Verb, Perfect (लिट्) (narrative past), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Context

To these harsh words though seemingly well-meaning, courteous and righteous, Vali who had been mortally wounded and confused in mind, Rama replied:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vālin
• dharma
• artha

FAQs

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

It signals that dharma-discourse can be complex: speech may claim righteousness (dharma) and utility (artha) yet still be sharp and emotionally charged. The epic prepares for a reasoned ethical defense by Rāma.

What is the narrative situation?

A transition verse: after Vālin’s reproach, the narrator notes Rāma is about to answer.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Measured response under accusation—Rāma is presented as replying within an ethical framework rather than mere anger.