Shloka 46
वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation
Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17
दृश्यमानस्तु युद्ध्येथा मया यदि नृपात्मज।अद्य वैवस्वतं देवं पश्येस्त्वं निहतो मया।।
dṛśyamānas tu yuddhyethā mayā yadi nṛpātmaja | adya vaivasvataṃ devaṃ paśyes tvaṃ nihato mayā ||
Ó príncipe, se tivesses lutado comigo às claras, frente a frente, hoje—morto por mim—terias visto Vaivasvata, o senhor da morte.
'O prince! had you fought me face to face you would have seen Vaivasvata, the lord of death today (you would have been killed by me).
FAQs
It invokes the ideal of open and fair combat as part of kṣatriya-dharma—valor should be tested transparently, not through concealment.
Vāli claims that in a direct duel he would have defeated Rāma, stressing that the manner of killing matters ethically.
Martial fairness and courage—meeting an opponent openly rather than relying on hidden advantage.