Shloka 50

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

न्यस्तां सागरतोये वा पाताले वापि मैथिलीम्।आनयेयं तवादेशाच्छ्वेतामश्वतरीमिव।।

Transliteration

nyastāṃ sāgaratoye vā pātāle vāpi maithilīm | ānayeyaṃ tavādeśāc chvetām aśvatarīm iva ||

Translation

Ainda que Maithilī estivesse oculta nas águas do oceano ou mesmo no mundo subterrâneo, eu a traria de volta por tua ordem, assim como Śvetā foi trazida de volta para Aśvatarī.

Word by Word

• yuktam: proper/right
• yuktam: Vidhāna (विधान/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (युज् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle used predicatively, Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'proper/right'

• yat: that/which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative particle (सम्बन्ध-निपात) introducing clause

• prāpnuyāt: should obtain
• prāpnuyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Verb, Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugrīva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• svargate: when (I am) gone to heaven
• svargate: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svargata (प्रातिपदिक; gata=√gam+kta)
• Form: Compound/derivative = svargaṃ gataḥ; Masculine/Neuter Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular agreeing with 'mayi' (locative absolute sense)

• mayi: in me/when I
• mayi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; in locative absolute with 'svargate'

• ayuktam: improper
• ayuktam: Vidhāna (विधान/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + √yuj (युज्) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Negative participial adjective, Neuter, Nominative, Singular; 'improper'

• yat: that (it is)
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative particle (सम्बन्ध-निपात)

• adharmeṇa: by unrighteous means
• adharmeṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; means/manner

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nihataḥ: killed
• nihataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/State)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हन् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Context

'Had you sought my help earlier(before you met Sugriva), I would have restored Sita to you within a single day. I have been killed by you to oblige Sugriva. I would have handed over Ravana by the neck after killing him in the battle.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Ocean
• Pātāla
• Śvetā

FAQs

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

The verse implicitly contrasts capability with rightful action: having power to help does not automatically justify how one chooses to act; dharma evaluates both intent and method.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli continues claiming he could have retrieved Sītā from any hidden place, reinforcing his argument that Rāma had alternative, less contested options.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Extraordinary prowess and confidence in undertaking rescue—even from cosmic or inaccessible realms (ocean/underworld).