Shloka 32

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

ततो रामो महातेजा आर्तं दृष्ट्वा हरीश्वरम्।शरं च वीक्षते वीरो वालिनो वधकारणात् 4.16.32।।

Transliteration

tato rāmo mahātejā ārtaṃ dṛṣṭvā harīśvaram |

śaraṃ ca vīkṣate vīro vālino vadhakāraṇāt || 4.16.32 ||

Translation

ಅನಂತರ ಮಹಾತೇಜಸ್ವಿಯಾದ ವೀರ ರಾಮನು ದುಃಖಿತನಾದ ಹರಿೇಶ್ವರನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ಆ ದುಃಖಕ್ಕೆ ಅಂತ್ಯಕಾರಣವಾಗಿ ವಾಲಿವಧವನ್ನು ಸಂಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿ ತನ್ನ ಬಾಣದತ್ತ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಹಾರಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• dhanuṣi: on the bow
• dhanuṣi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sandhāya: having fixed (it)
• sandhāya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√dhā (धा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त) of sam-√dhā ‘to fix/fit’

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āśīviṣa-upamam: like a venomous serpent
• āśīviṣa-upamam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśīviṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘āśīviṣasya upamam’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with śaram

• pūrayāmāsa: fully drew/strained (the bow)
• pūrayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pṝ (पॄ ‘to fill/complete’) Causative (णिच्) + Perfect periphrastic (लिट्)
• Form: Causative (णिजन्त); Periphrastic perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object-determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with cāpam

• cāpam: bow
• cāpam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāla-cakram: the wheel of Time/Death
• kāla-cakram: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘kālasya cakram’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: Upama (उपमा/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमावाचक अव्यय)

• antakaḥ: Death (the slayer)
• antakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

As if scared by the twang of the bowstring, winged and feathered birds and animals ran frightened in different directions.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva (harīśvara)
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Dharma here is presented as protective intervention: Rāma acts to end the distress of an ally and to restore a violated moral order, though later verses problematize and debate the method.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma observes Sugrīva suffering in the duel and prepares to act decisively against Vāli.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve (niścaya) in upholding a pledged alliance and acting to remove the cause of injustice.