Shloka 53

वाली–रामसंवादः

Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma

Devanagari script

बालश्चाकृतबुद्धिश्च एकपुत्रश्च मे प्रियः।तारेयो राम भवता रक्षणीयो महाबलः।।

Transliteration

bālaś cākṛtabuddhiś ca eka-putraś ca me priyaḥ | tāreyo rāma bhavatā rakṣaṇīyo mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

Il n’est qu’un enfant, au discernement encore inachevé, mon fils unique et bien-aimé. Ô Rāma, le fils de Tārā, bien que puissant, doit être protégé par toi.

Word by Word

• bālaḥ: a boy, young
• bālaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying tāreyaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• akṛta-buddhiḥ: immature-minded
• akṛta-buddhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kṛta (अ+kṛ, कृदन्त) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'undeveloped in understanding'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eka-putraḥ: only son
• eka-putraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (dvigu-like semantic but not numeral compound classed here as tatpuruṣa); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'only son'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• me: my
• me: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive, Singular

• priyaḥ: dear
• priyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying tāreyaḥ

• tāreyaḥ: Tara's son (Angada)
• tāreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied 'asti' / of rakṣaṇīyaḥ predication)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक) + -eya (तद्धित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; patronymic taddhita (तद्धित) meaning 'son of Tārā'

• rāma: O Rama
• rāma: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• bhavatā: by you
• bhavatā: Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun/polite 'you'; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• rakṣaṇīyaḥ: must be protected
• rakṣaṇīyaḥ: Karma (कर्म) in obligation construction (protect him)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣ (धातु) > rakṣaṇīya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta gerundive (णीयत्/अनीयर्), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective: 'to be protected'

• mahā-balaḥ: very strong
• mahā-balaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying tāreyaḥ

Context

'O Rama! he is my only son through Tara and dear to me. He is young,innocent but strong.He deserves to be protected by you.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Tara
• Angada

FAQs

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

Dharma as protection (rakṣaṇa): strength alone is not enough; the young and inexperienced require a righteous guardian to ensure justice and stability.

What is the narrative situation?

Vali formally entrusts Angada to Rama’s care, framing it as a moral responsibility after Vali’s fall.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s role as protector—compassionate power guided by dharma.