Shloka 24

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

स तु वाली प्रचलितस्सालताडनविह्वलः।गुरुभारसमाक्रान्तो नौ सार्थ इव सागरे4.16.24।।

Transliteration

sa tu vālī pracalitaḥ sālatāḍanavihvalaḥ |

gurubhārasamākrānto nauḥ sārtha iva sāgare || 4.16.24 ||

Translation

ശാലപ്രഹാരങ്ങളാൽ വിറച്ചും വ്യാകുലനുമായ വാലി തളർന്നു കുലുങ്ങി; ഭാരമേറിയ ചരക്കുമായി കടലിൽ ആടിയുലയുന്ന വ്യാപാരക്കപ്പൽപോലെ.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• वाली: Vali
• वाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रचलितः: shaken
• प्रचलितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रचलित (कृदन्त; प्र-√चल् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘shaken/moved’

• साल-ताडन-विह्वलः: distressed by the sala-blows
• साल-ताडन-विह्वलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साल (प्रातिपदिक) + ताडन (कृदन्त; √ताड्) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘sala-blow-distressed’

• गुरु-भार-समाक्रान्तः: overburdened by heavy weight
• गुरु-भार-समाक्रान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक) + समाक्रान्त (कृदन्त; सम्-आ-√क्रम्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘overwhelmed by heavy load’

• नौः: ship
• नौः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सार्थः: a merchant convoy
• सार्थः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘caravan/merchant-company’ (here: merchant ship/convoy by implication)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• सागरे: in the ocean
• सागरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

Struck by the blows of the sala tree, Vali also lost his balance like the heavily loaded ship of a trader shaken up in the ocean.

Characters & Entities

• Vālin
• sāla tree
• ocean

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implicit: even the mighty can be destabilized by consequences of action; the epic repeatedly warns that power without right conduct is not invulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

Vālin momentarily loses balance after being hit by the uprooted tree wielded by Sugrīva.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s tactical initiative; Vālin’s momentary vulnerability underscores that victory can hinge on timely action.