Shloka 17

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

रामः करुणवेदी च प्रजानां च हिते रतः।सानुक्रोशो जितोत्साहस्समयज्ञो दृढव्रतः।।4.17.16।।इति ते सर्वभूतानि कथयन्ति यशो भुवि।।4.17.17।।

Transliteration

iti te sarva-bhūtāni kathayanti yaśo bhuvi ||

Translation

“Assim, no mundo, todos os seres falam de tua fama.”

Word by Word

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• karuṇavedī: knower of compassion; compassionate-minded
• karuṇavedī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + vedin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) रामस्य

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• prajānām: of the subjects/people
• prajānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• hite: in welfare/benefit
• hite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• rataḥ: engaged; devoted
• rataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ram (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); 'रम' धातोः (√ram)

• sānukrośaḥ: compassionate
• sānukrośaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa- (उपसर्ग/सह) + anukrośa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadharaya: 'सः अनुक्रोशः यस्य'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) रामस्य

• jitotsāhaḥ: one whose zeal is conquered/controlled; self-possessed in effort
• jitotsāhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + utsāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha: 'जितः उत्साहः येन/यस्य'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• samayajñaḥ: knower of proper time/occasion
• samayajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samaya (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha: 'समयं जानाति'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• dṛḍhavrataḥ: steadfast in vows
• dṛḍhavrataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadharaya: 'दृढं व्रतम् यस्य'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• all beings (sarva-bhūta)

FAQs

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

Public moral reputation is presented as a social witness to dharma: a ruler’s virtues are expected to be consistent with actions, not merely proclaimed.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli underscores the contrast between Rāma’s celebrated renown and the act Vāli considers unfair, intensifying the moral challenge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue emphasized is truthful renown—fame grounded in real compassion and righteousness, validated by the wider world.