Shloka 18

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

दमश्शमः क्षमा धर्मो धृतिस्सत्यं पराक्रमः।पार्थिवानां गुणा राजन्दण्डश्चाप्यपराधिषु।।

Transliteration

damaś śamaḥ kṣamā dharmo dhṛtis satyaṁ parākramaḥ |

pārthivānāṁ guṇā rājan daṇḍaś cāpy aparādhiṣu ||

Translation

രാജാവേ, ദമം, ശമം, ക്ഷമ, ധർമ്മം, ധൃതി, സത്യം, പരാക്രമം—ഇവയാണ് ഭൂപന്മാരുടെ ഗുണങ്ങൾ; കുറ്റക്കാരോടു ദണ്ഡനവും രാജധർമ്മം തന്നേ.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (quotative/thus)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• sarvabhūtāni: all beings
• sarvabhūtāni: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadharaya: 'सर्वाणि भूतानि'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• kathayanti: tell; proclaim
• kathayanti: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• yaśaḥ: fame
• yaśaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhuvi: on earth; in the world
• bhuvi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक: bhūmi/bhuvan)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

'O king! self-control (of organs of action and sense organs), righteousness, steadfastness, truthfulness, valiance and capacity to punish the offenders are virtues of a king.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma is defined as a balance of self-mastery, truth, endurance, and courage, coupled with just punishment—power must be ethically regulated and socially protective.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli shifts from personal accusation to a broader statement of political ethics, outlining what a righteous king is expected to embody.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness) and dhṛti (steadfastness) are foregrounded as central royal virtues, alongside disciplined restraint (dama/śama).