Shloka 40

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

तारया वाक्यमुक्तोऽहं सत्यं सर्वज्ञया हितम्।।तदतिक्रम्य मोहेन कालस्य वशमागतः।

Transliteration

tārayā vākyam ukto 'haṃ satyaṃ sarvajñayā hitam | tad atikramya mohena kālasya vaśam āgataḥ ||

Translation

സർവ്വജ്ഞയായ താര എനിക്കു ഹിതകരമായ സത്യവചനങ്ങൾ പറഞ്ഞു; എന്നാൽ മോഹത്തിൽ അവയെ ലംഘിച്ച് ഞാൻ കാലത്തിന്റെ (മൃത്യുവിന്റെ) അധീനതയിൽപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• tārayā: by Tārā
• tārayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• uktaḥ: told/said
• uktaḥ: Kriyā-phala/Predicative (विशेष्य-विशेषणभावः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (past passive participle) from √vac; पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘spoken/told (to me)’

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

• satyam: truth
• satyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; apposition to vākyam

• sarvajñayā: by the all-knowing (woman)
• sarvajñayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvajñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; adjective of Tārā

• hitam: beneficial
• hitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; qualifier of vākyam/satyam

• tat: that (advice)
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; object of atikramya

• atikramya: having transgressed
• atikramya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-√kram (क्रम् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive); ‘having transgressed/overstepped’

• mohena: through delusion
• mohena: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; cause/instrumental

• kālasya: of Time/Death
• kālasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्

• vaśam: control/power
• vaśam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; with āgataḥ: ‘come under control’

• āgataḥ: came/has come
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (past active participle-like usage); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘having come’

Context

'Tara knew everything. Her words were correct. They were meant for my well-being. However, due to my ignorance (or arrogance), I did not heed her words and fell under the sway of the lord of death;

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Tārā
• Kāla (Time/Death)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes heeding truthful, well-intended counsel; rejecting satya-hita advice due to delusion leads to ruin and suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

As he nears death, Vāli acknowledges that Tārā warned him for his good, but he ignored her and thus met his end.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom through receptivity—valuing good counsel and overcoming moha (delusion/pride).