Shloka 43

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

छिन्नचारित्रकक्ष्येण सतां धर्मातिवर्तिना।त्यक्तधर्माङ्कुशेनाहं निहतो रामहस्तिना।।

Transliteration

chinnacāritrakakṣyeṇa satāṃ dharmātivartinā | tyaktadharmāṅkuśenāhaṃ nihato rāmahastinā ||

Translation

善き行いの枷を断ち、正しき者のダルマを踏み越え、自制の鉤を捨て去った者――象のごとく猛きラーマの手によって、私は討たれた。

Word by Word

• chinna-cāritra-kakṣyeṇa: by (one) who has cut the restraint of good conduct
• chinna-cāritra-kakṣyeṇa: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chinna (छिन्न, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √chid) + cāritra (प्रातिपदिक) + kakṣyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative): चारित्रस्य कक्ष्या (restraint/cord of conduct) तां छिन्नः; पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; instrumental epithet

• satām: of the good/noble
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• dharma-ativartinā: by a transgressor of dharma
• dharma-ativartinā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ativartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: धर्मम् अतिवर्तते इति; पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• tyakta-dharma-aṅkuśena: by one who has cast off the goad of dharma
• tyakta-dharma-aṅkuśena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (त्यक्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √tyaj) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅkuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: धर्माङ्कुशः (dharma as goad/restraint) तं त्यक्तः; पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• nihataḥ: killed
• nihataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√han (हन् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• rāma-hastinā: by Rama (like an elephant)
• rāma-hastinā: Kartṛ (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + hastin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: रामः एव हस्ती (metaphoric epithet); पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Context

'Breaking through the chains of good character, trespassing the moral code of conduct of the sages, discharging the sharp arrow of righteousness, the elephantine (arrogant) Rama killed me.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma
• Dharma (as moral law of the righteous)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as a restraining force (aṅkuśa) that governs power; abandoning restraint turns strength into wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli, dying, intensifies his accusation that Rāma violated accepted norms of righteous conduct in battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and adherence to moral boundaries are highlighted as essential virtues for rulers and warriors.