Shloka 47

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

त्वयाऽदृश्येन तु रणे निहतोऽहं दुरासदः।प्रसुप्तः पन्नगेनेव नरः पानवशं गतः।।

Transliteration

tvayādṛśyena tu raṇe nihato 'haṃ durāsadaḥ | prasuptaḥ pannageneva naraḥ pānavaśaṃ gataḥ ||

Translation

だがこの私は—戦場で近づき難き者—汝が姿を隠したまま戦い、討たれた。酒に伏して深く眠る人が、蛇に打たれて倒れるがごとく。

Word by Word

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartṛ (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• adṛśyena: unseen/invisible
• adṛśyena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dṛśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘by (one) unseen/invisible’ (instrumental epithet of tvayā)

• tu: but
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (but/indeed)

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

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

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

• durāsadaḥ: hard to assail
• durāsadaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durāsada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; predicate adjective

• prasuptaḥ: asleep
• prasuptaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√svap (स्वप् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘fast asleep’

• pannagena: by a snake
• pannagena: Karaṇa (करण) in simile
• Type: Noun
• Root: pannaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम् (like/as)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; upameya (thing compared)

• pāna-vaśam: the sway of drink (drunkenness)
• pāna-vaśam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: पानस्य वशः; पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; with gataḥ

• gataḥ: gone into
• gataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘gone/come to’

Context

bitten to death by a snake while fast asleep.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma
• serpent (pannaga)

FAQs

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

The verse argues that dharma in combat requires transparency; killing from concealment is likened to an ignoble act against a defenseless person.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli compares Rāma’s unseen shot to a snake killing a sleeping drunk—an image meant to underscore vulnerability and unfairness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sportsmanship/fairness in conflict—victory should not come through exploiting an opponent’s inability to respond.